Refrigerant compressor for a refrigerant circuit, refrigerant circuit, and motor vehicle comprising a refrigerant circuit

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigerant compressor (100) for a refrigerant circuit (200), comprising a housing (10) with a low-pressure-side inlet (11) for a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant compressor (100) comprises a first high-pressure-side outlet (12) and a second high-pressure-side outlet (13) for the refrigerant, and the refrigerant compressor (100) has at least one valve (14) for selectively conducting the refrigerant to the first high-pressure-side outlet (12) and to the second high-pressure-side outlet (13). The housing (10) comprises a compressor cover (17), and the at least one valve (14) is inserted and / or integrated into the compressor cover (17) and / or is arranged in the compressor cover (17). The compressor cover (17) has an inlet opening (19) on an inner face (18), and the first high-pressure-side outlet (12) and the second high-pressure-side outlet (13) are arranged on an outer face (20) of the compressor cover (17). The at least one valve (14) switches a flow path for the refrigerant from the inlet opening (19) selectively to the first high-pressure-side outlet (12) and to the second high-pressure-side outlet (13) of the compressor cover (17).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Refrigerant compressor for a refrigerant circuit, refrigerant circuit and motor vehicle with a refrigerant circuit

[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerant compressor for a refrigerant circuit. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a refrigerant circuit having a refrigerant compressor and a motor vehicle having a refrigerant circuit.

[0004] In many areas of technology, for example, in automotive engineering, refrigerant circuits are used that can be selectively switched between a cooling circuit and a heat pump circuit. For this purpose, the refrigerant escaping from a high-pressure outlet of a refrigerant compressor in the refrigerant circuit is routed via a refrigerant line to a separate refrigerant valve assembly. Valves are provided within the refrigerant valve assembly, allowing the refrigerant to be selectively directed into the cooling circuit or the heat pump circuit. The refrigerant valve assembly includes valves assigned to both the hot and cold sides of the refrigerant circuit.This joint arrangement of the valves can result in unwanted heat transfer from the hot side to the cold side of the refrigerant circuit within the refrigerant valve assembly, thereby reducing the system efficiency of the refrigerant circuit.

[0005] From EP 2 456 980 B1 a piston compressor for refrigerant is known, the compressor comprising: a first cylinder and a second cylinder, a first suction-limiting discharge valve arrangement which is formed integrally with the compressor and is designed to interrupt a flow of the refrigerant to the first cylinder, and a second suction-limiting discharge valve arrangement which is formed integrally with the compressor and is designed to interrupt a flow of the refrigerant to the second cylinder.

[0006] DE 10 2018 214 369 A1 discloses a valve assembly for an electric refrigerant compressor of a motor vehicle, comprising a flexurally elastic valve plate for pressure-regulated opening and closing of an outlet opening of the refrigerant compressor, and a rigid stop plate for limiting the movement of the valve plate, wherein the stop plate and the valve plate are designed as a pre-assembled component.

[0007] WO 01 / 23760 A1 discloses a pressure valve device for a refrigerant compressor. The device comprises a valve plate with a discharge channel closed by a discharge valve that is attached to the valve plate at one end and held to the plate at its free end by a spring. A valve stop is attached to the valve and the spring on the valve plate to lock one end of the valve and the other end of the valve.

[0008] DE 202 14 507 U1 discloses a refrigerant compressor for compressing essentially gaseous refrigerant, which can be connected to a refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle air conditioning system. The refrigerant compressor comprises a refrigerant cooler for removing heat from the refrigerant, a refrigerant expansion valve for expanding the refrigerant, and a refrigerant evaporator for transferring heat to the refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit can be operated both as a refrigeration machine and as a heat pump. It is provided that a switching valve is assigned to the refrigerant compressor, which has at least one connection formed integrally with the refrigerant compressor and / or integrated into a housing of the refrigerant compressor.

[0009] DE 10 2017 110 541 A1 discloses an air conditioning compressor comprising a low-pressure section with a suction inlet for drawing refrigerant into the air conditioning compressor, a high-pressure section with a high-pressure outlet for discharging compressed refrigerant from the air conditioning compressor, and a compressor drive arranged between the low-pressure section and the high-pressure section for compressing drawn-in refrigerant. The high-pressure outlet comprises a first outlet connection and a second outlet connection, which are connectable to separate connecting lines, and a switching device is provided, by means of which at least two switching positions are enabled.In a first switching position, the first outlet connection and the high-pressure section are connectable, and the second outlet connection and the high-pressure section are separable from one another. In a second switching position, the second outlet connection and the high-pressure section are connectable, and the first outlet connection and the high-pressure section are separable from one another. The present invention is based on the object of providing a refrigerant compressor for a refrigerant circuit, with which heat losses can be reduced in a refrigerant circuit that can be switched between a cooling circuit and a heat pump circuit.

[0010] To achieve the object underlying the invention, a refrigerant compressor for a refrigerant circuit is proposed, comprising a housing with a low-pressure side inlet for a refrigerant, wherein it is provided that the refrigerant compressor comprises a first high-pressure side outlet and a second high-pressure side outlet for the refrigerant, and that the refrigerant compressor has at least one valve for selectively directing the refrigerant to the first high-pressure side outlet and to the second high-pressure side outlet, wherein the housing comprises a compressor cover, wherein the at least one valve is inserted into and / or integrated into the compressor cover and / or arranged in the compressor cover, wherein the compressor cover has an inlet opening on an inner side, wherein the first high-pressure side outlet and the second high-pressure side outlet are arranged on an outer side of the compressor cover,and wherein the at least one valve selectively switches a flow path for the refrigerant from the inlet opening to the first high-pressure side outlet and to the second high-pressure side outlet of the compressor cover.,

[0011] While refrigerant compressors known from the prior art have only a single high-pressure side outlet, the refrigerant compressor according to the invention has a first high-pressure side outlet and a second high-pressure side outlet for a refrigerant.

[0012] According to the invention, the refrigerant compressor has at least one valve for selectively directing the refrigerant to the first high-pressure side outlet and to the second high-pressure side outlet.

[0013] When using the refrigerant compressor in a refrigerant circuit that can be switched between a cooling circuit and a heat pump circuit, an external refrigerant valve assembly connected via a refrigerant line to a high-pressure side outlet of the refrigerant compressor for switching the refrigerant flow between the cooling circuit and the heat pump circuit can be dispensed with.

[0014] By means of the refrigerant compressor according to the invention, a spatial separation of the valves assigned to the cold side and the hot side in the refrigerant circuit can thus be achieved, whereby thermal losses can be reduced and the system efficiency can be improved.

[0015] Refrigerant lines of the cooling circuit and the heat pump circuit can be directly connected to the first high-pressure side outlet and the second high-pressure side outlet of the refrigerant compressor without the need for the interposition of a refrigerant valve assembly as in the prior art.

[0016] In a refrigerant circuit equipped with a refrigerant compressor according to the invention, the valves assigned to the cold side of the refrigerant circuit can further be arranged in a separate refrigerant valve assembly.

[0017] When using the refrigerant compressor according to the invention in a refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant compressed by the refrigerant compressor can be selectively directed to the first high-pressure side outlet, for example for the cooling circuit, and to the second high-pressure side outlet, for example for the heat pump circuit, by means of the at least one valve.

[0018] It is preferably provided that the at least one valve comprises or is a multi-way valve.

[0019] By using a multi-way valve, the number of required valves can be reduced to a single valve. The multi-way valve can be switched so that refrigerant present on the high-pressure side of the refrigerant compressor can be selectively directed to the first high-pressure outlet and the second high-pressure outlet.

[0020] Furthermore, at least two valves can be provided, wherein the at least two valves comprise or are shut-off valves. In principle, more than two valves can also be provided, wherein the valves comprise both shut-off valves and multi-way valves.

[0021] Of the at least two shut-off valves, a first shut-off valve is preferably assigned to the first high-pressure side outlet, and a second shut-off valve is assigned to the second high-pressure side outlet. Thus, by selectively switching the two shut-off valves, the refrigerant can be directed to the first high-pressure side outlet or to the second high-pressure side outlet.

[0022] It is preferably provided that the at least one valve is inserted into the housing and / or integrated and / or arranged in the housing.

[0023] By integrating and / or arranging at least one valve in the refrigerant compressor, additional components can be dispensed with.

[0024] According to the invention, it is provided that the housing comprises a compressor cover, and that the at least one valve is inserted into the compressor cover and / or integrated and / or arranged in the compressor cover.

[0025] The compressor cover seals off the refrigerant compressor on the high-pressure side from the outside environment. Refrigerant compressed by the refrigerant compressor is thus directed through the compressor cover and, by appropriately switching the at least one valve integrated and / or arranged in the compressor cover, to the first high-pressure side outlet and to the second high-pressure side outlet.

[0026] It is preferably provided that the housing, preferably the compressor cover, has a valve seat, wherein the at least one valve is arranged in the valve seat.

[0027] It can further be provided that at least one seal is arranged on or in the valve seat. The seal on or in the valve seat provides a seal against the outside environment. Using additional seals, the refrigerant paths leading to the first high-pressure outlet and the second high-pressure outlet in the housing or compressor cover can be sealed from each other.

[0028] It is further provided that the compressor cover has an inlet opening on an inner side, and that the first high-pressure side outlet and the second high-pressure side outlet are arranged on an outer side of the compressor cover, and that the at least one valve selectively switches a flow path for the refrigerant from the inlet opening to the first high-pressure side outlet and to the second high-pressure side outlet of the compressor cover.

[0029] One advantage of integrating or locating at least one valve in the compressor cover is that the rest of the refrigerant compressor largely requires no further structural modifications. In other words, only the compressor cover needs to be adapted. This reduces material requirements and significantly reduces leaks to the outside environment.

[0030] In an embodiment not encompassed by the invention, it can be provided that the refrigerant compressor comprises a valve block, wherein the at least one valve is inserted into the valve block and / or integrated and / or arranged in the valve block.

[0031] It is preferably provided that the valve block is fastened, preferably screwed, to the housing, preferably to a compressor cover of the housing.

[0032] In other words, the housing of the refrigerant compressor can be designed largely without structural changes compared to the state of the art.

[0033] Rather, the housing of the refrigerant compressor can be provided with only one high-pressure outlet, as is known from the prior art. By arranging at least one valve in the valve block and attaching or screwing the valve block to the housing, the construction costs can be reduced.

[0034] In this case, a seal is preferably provided between the valve block and the housing. Furthermore, it can be provided that the housing, in particular the compressor cover, has an outlet opening, that the valve block has an inlet opening, that the valve block is fastened to the housing, in particular to the compressor cover, in such a way that the outlet opening and the inlet opening are arranged next to one another in a fluid-conducting manner, that the first high-pressure-side outlet and the second high-pressure-side outlet are arranged on the valve block, and that the at least one valve selectively switches a flow path for the refrigerant from the inlet opening to the first high-pressure-side outlet and to the second high-pressure-side outlet.

[0035] The housing of the refrigerant compressor thus has a high-pressure side outlet opening, similar to the prior art. The valve block is attached, in particular screwed, directly to the housing in such a way that the inlet opening of the valve block lies at the outlet opening of the housing or the valve cover, so that they are arranged fluidically adjacent to one another. High-pressure refrigerant escaping from the outlet opening of the housing is thus introduced into the valve block through the inlet opening of the valve block. Within the valve block, the refrigerant is guided either to the first high-pressure side outlet or to the second high-pressure side outlet of the valve block by means of the at least one valve.

[0036] A further solution to the problem underlying the invention lies in a refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle, comprising a refrigerant compressor as described above, wherein the refrigerant circuit is switchable between a cooling circuit and a heat pump circuit, wherein a refrigerant can be selectively fed into the cooling circuit and the heat pump circuit by means of the at least one valve of the refrigerant compressor.

[0037] It can be provided that the cooling circuit and the heat pump circuit of the refrigerant circuit are designed separately from each other.

[0038] Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that the cooling circuit and the heat pump circuit share components of the refrigerant circuit. For example, it can be provided that the cooling circuit and the heat pump circuit are interconnected in such a way that they share a throttle valve and / or one or more heat exchangers. Preferably, the refrigerant circuit can be an R744 circuit.

[0039] In an R744 cycle, CO2 is used as a refrigerant.

[0040] A further solution to the problem underlying the invention consists in providing a motor vehicle with a refrigerant circuit as described above.

[0041] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0042] Fig. 1 a first refrigerant compressor,

[0043] Fig. 2 a second refrigerant compressor,

[0044] Fig. 3 a refrigerant circuit with a refrigerant compressor, and

[0045] Fig. 4 a motor vehicle with a refrigerant circuit.

[0046] Fig. 1 schematically shows a refrigerant compressor 100 for a refrigerant circuit 200 (Fig. 3) in accordance with the invention. The refrigerant compressor 100 comprises a housing 10 with a low-pressure side inlet 11 for a refrigerant. The refrigerant compressor 100 further comprises a first high-pressure side outlet 12 and a second high-pressure side outlet 13 for the refrigerant. The refrigerant compressor 100 additionally comprises a valve 14, which is designed to selectively direct the refrigerant to the first high-pressure side outlet 12 and to the second high-pressure side outlet 13. As shown, the valve 14 can be a multi-way valve 15, which is inserted into a valve seat 16.

[0047] The housing 10 comprises a compressor cover 17. An inlet opening 19 is provided on an inner side 18 of the compressor cover 17. The first high-pressure side outlet 12 and the second high-pressure side outlet 13 are arranged on an outer side 20 of the compressor cover 17. The valve 14 is integrated into the compressor cover 17 or arranged in the compressor cover 17 and then serves to selectively switch a flow path for the refrigerant from the inlet opening 19 of the compressor cover 17 to the first high-pressure side outlet 12 and to the second high-pressure side outlet 13. A seal 21 is provided in the valve seat 16 for sealing against the outside environment. Fig. 2 shows a further refrigerant compressor 100 for a refrigerant circuit 200 in accordance with the invention. Compared to the refrigerant compressor 100 according to Fig.1, a valve block 22 is provided, which is fastened to the compressor cover 17 of the housing 10 by means of a screw 23. The compressor cover 17 of the housing 10 has an outlet opening 24, which is fluidly connected to an inlet opening 25 of the valve block 22. The valve block 22 comprises the first high-pressure side outlet 12 and the second high-pressure side outlet 13. The valve 14 is arranged in a valve seat 16 in the valve block 22. A seal 26 is provided between the compressor cover 17 and the valve block 22. Refrigerant compressed by the refrigerant compressor 100 thus exits the outlet opening 24 of the compressor cover 17 and into the inlet opening 25 of the valve block 22. By appropriately switching the valve 14, the refrigerant can be selectively directed to the first high-pressure side outlet 12 or to the second high-pressure side outlet 13.

[0048] Fig. 3 schematically shows a refrigerant circuit 200 in accordance with the invention. The refrigerant circuit 200 is designed as an R744 refrigerant circuit and comprises a refrigerant compressor 100. The refrigerant circuit 200 is switchable between a cooling circuit 27 and a heat pump circuit 28. The flow direction of the refrigerant during operation of the cooling circuit 27 is represented by the open arrows 36. The filled arrows 37 indicate the flow direction of the refrigerant in the heat pump circuit 28. A throttle valve 29 and an external heat exchanger 30, in particular a gas cooler 31, and an integrated heat exchanger 32 are arranged in the refrigerant circuit 200. An evaporator 34 and a second gas cooler 35 are also provided for cooling or heating a space, for example, a passenger compartment 33 of a motor vehicle 300 (Fig. 4).The cooling circuit 27 and the heat pump circuit 28 jointly utilize the refrigerant compressor 100, the throttle valve 29, the outdoor heat exchanger 30, and the integrated heat exchanger 32. The evaporator 34 is used only by the cooling circuit 27. The second gas cooler 35 is used only in the heat pump circuit 28. By selectively directing the refrigerant into the first high-pressure side outlet 12 and the second high-pressure side outlet 13 using the valve 14 of the refrigerant compressor 100, switching can be performed between the cooling circuit 27 and the heat pump circuit 28. In the refrigerant circuit 200, additional switchable valves 38 are also provided for controlling the flow direction of the refrigerant in the cooling circuit 27 and the heat pump circuit 28.

[0049] Fig. 4 shows a motor vehicle 300 with a refrigerant circuit 300 in accordance with the invention. By means of the refrigerant circuit 300, a passenger compartment 33 of the motor vehicle 300 can be selectively heated or cooled.

[0050] List of reference symbols

[0051] Refrigerant compressor

[0052] Refrigerant circuit

[0053] motor vehicle

[0054] Housing

[0055] Low-pressure side inlet

[0056] First high-pressure side outlet

[0057] Second high-pressure side outlet

[0058] valve

[0059] Multi-way valve

[0060] valve seat

[0061] Compressor cover

[0062] inside

[0063] Inlet opening

[0064] outside

[0065] seal

[0066] valve block

[0067] screw

[0068] Outlet opening

[0069] Inlet opening

[0070] seal

[0071] Cooling circuit

[0072] Heat pump circuit

[0073] throttle valve

[0074] Outdoor heat exchanger

[0075] Gas cooler

[0076] Integrated heat exchanger

[0077] passenger compartment

[0078] evaporator

[0079] Second gas cooler

[0080] Arrow

[0081] Arrow

[0082] valve

Claims

Patent claims 1. Refrigerant compressor (100) for a refrigerant circuit (200), comprising a housing (10) with a low-pressure side inlet (11) for a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant compressor (100) comprises a first high-pressure side outlet (12) and a second high-pressure side outlet (13) for the refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant compressor (100) has at least one valve (14) for selectively directing the refrigerant to the first high-pressure side outlet (12) and to the second high-pressure side outlet (13), wherein the housing (10) comprises a compressor cover (17), wherein the at least one valve (14) is inserted into and / or integrated into the compressor cover (17) and / or arranged in the compressor cover (17), characterized in that the compressor cover (17) has an inlet opening (19) on an inner side (18),and that the first high-pressure side outlet (12) and the second high-pressure side outlet (13) are arranged on an outer side (20) of the compressor cover (17), and that the at least one valve (14) selectively switches a flow path for the refrigerant from the inlet opening (19) to the first high-pressure side outlet (12) and to the second high-pressure side outlet (13) of the compressor cover (17).

2. Refrigerant compressor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one valve (14) comprises or is a multi-way valve (15), and / or that at least two valves (14) are provided, wherein the at least two valves (14) comprise or are shut-off valves.

3. Refrigerant compressor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one valve (14) is inserted into the housing (10) and / or integrated and / or arranged in the housing (10).

4. Refrigerant compressor (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the housing (10), preferably the compressor cover (17), has a valve seat (16), wherein the at least one valve (14) is arranged in the valve seat (16).

5. Refrigerant circuit (200) of a motor vehicle (300), comprising a refrigerant compressor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the Refrigerant circuit (200) is switchable between a cooling circuit (27) and a heat pump circuit (28), wherein by means of the at least one valve (14) of the refrigerant compressor (100) a refrigerant can be selectively fed into the cooling circuit (27) and the heat pump circuit (28).

6. Motor vehicle (300) with a refrigerant circuit (200) according to claim 5.

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