Refrigeration cycle device

The refrigeration cycle apparatus addresses inefficiencies in counterflow heat exchange by using a diverger and converger configuration with fewer diverger pipes and a bridge circuit to maintain consistent refrigerant flow, improving heat transfer efficiency with non-azeotropic mixed refrigerants.

EP4752462A1Pending Publication Date: 2026-06-03DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
Filing Date
2025-04-24
Publication Date
2026-06-03

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing refrigeration cycle apparatuses using non-azeotropic mixed refrigerants face challenges in maintaining effective counterflow heat exchange due to varying refrigerant flow directions during different operational modes, leading to inefficiencies and pressure losses, particularly when handling gas-liquid two-phase refrigerants.

Method used

The apparatus incorporates a diverger and converger configuration with fewer diverger pipes than converger pipes, ensuring each diverger pipe can be thicker and longer without significant resistance, and maintains consistent refrigerant flow direction through the use of a bridge circuit to achieve counterflow in both condenser and evaporator operations.

Benefits of technology

This configuration reduces pressure loss and ensures efficient heat exchange by maintaining consistent refrigerant flow direction, enhancing heat transfer performance across the heat exchanger, especially with non-azeotropic mixed refrigerants, by minimizing resistance and optimizing refrigerant distribution.

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Abstract

A refrigeration cycle apparatus (100) includes a heat source heat exchanger (13) and a bridge circuit (40). The heat source heat exchanger (13) includes a refrigerant inlet pipe (13a), a refrigerant outlet pipe (13b), a plurality of refrigerant paths (61), a diverger (50), and a converger (70). The bridge circuit (40) always causes a refrigerant (R) to flow into the heat source heat exchanger (13) at the refrigerant inlet pipe (13a) and flow out of the heat source heat exchanger (13) at the refrigerant outlet pipe (13b). The plurality of refrigerant paths (61) is connected to a plurality of diverger pipes (56) of the diverger (50) and a plurality of converger pipes (75) of the converger (70). The number of the diverger pipes (56) is smaller than the number of the converger pipes (75).
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