An evaporator and refrigeration equipment

Abstract

An evaporator comprises a cylinder body 1 and a refrigerant shell 2 disposed circumferentially on an inner cylindrical surface (11, fig 2) of the cylinder body. At least one refrigerant channel 3 is c

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application relates to the field of refrigeration technology, and more particularly, to an evaporator and refrigeration equipment. BACKGROUND

[0002] The evaporator is an important component in refrigeration equipment and is a type of heat exchanger. Low-temperature condensed liquid undergoes heat exchange with the outside air through the evaporator, vaporizing and absorbing heat to achieve a cooling effect. Currently, the evaporators of some refrigeration equipment generally include an evaporator body and a coil pipe. The evaporator body includes an inner shell and an outer shell, and the coil pipe is disposed on the inner shell and is in contact with an inner wall of the outer shell. When a condensed liquid flows through the coil pipe, the condensed liquid performs heat exchange with the outside through a wall of the coil pipe and a wall of the outer shell to achieve a cooling effect. However, in the above structure, heat needs to be conducted through the wall of the coil pipe and the wall of the outer shell. Due to the multiple heat conduction media, the heat conduction efficiency is affected, leading to a lower cooling effect. Moreover, the overall structure is relatively complex and the cost is high. SUMMARY

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the application is to provide an evaporator and refrigeration equipment that can improve the heat conduction efficiency and cooling performance of the evaporator, and has a simple overall structure and low production cost.

[0004] To solve the above technical problem, the application provides an evaporator, comprising a cylinder body and a refrigerant shell. The refrigerant shell is disposed circumferentially on an inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder body. At least one refrigerant channel is cooperatively defined between the refrigerant shell and the cylinder body. The refrigerant channel is disposed in a winding manner on the inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder body. The inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder body is arranged to be acted upon by a condensed liquid in the refrigerant channel. Two ends of the refrigerant channel are connected to a condenser and a compressor through pipes, respectively.

[0005] As an improvement of the above solution, the refrigerant shell is provided with a serpentine groove extending in a reciprocatingly bent manner along a circumferential direction or a height direction of the inner cylindrical surface. The serpentine groove is in a Z-shaped folded form. A groove opening of the serpentine groove faces the inner cylindrical surface. The serpentine groove and the inner cylindrical surface cooperatively define the refrigerant channel.

[0006] As an improvement of the above solution, the serpentine groove comprises a plurality of main sections and a plurality of connecting sections. Two adjacent main sections are disposed in parallel. Each of the connecting sections connects the same end of two adjacent main sections, respectively. The connecting section has an arc-shaped elbow.

[0007] As an improvement of the above solution, a head end and a tail end of the serpentine groove are provided with an input part and an output part, respectively. The input part and the output part are in communication with the refrigerant channel, respectively. One end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the condenser in sequence through the input part and a refrigerant input pipe. The other end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the compressor in sequence through the output part and a refrigerant output pipe.

[0008] As an improvement of the above solution, the input part and the output part are both disposed at the same end of the refrigerant shell.

[0009] As an improvement of the above solution, the serpentine groove is provided with an input part and an output part. Any one of the input part and the output part is disposed in a middle section of the serpentine groove, and the other is disposed at a head end and a tail end of the serpentine groove, respectively. The input part and the output part are in communication with the refrigerant channel, respectively. The input part and the output part are disposed at opposite ends of the refrigerant shell, respectively. One end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the condenser in sequence through the input part and a refrigerant input pipe. The other end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the compressor in sequence through the output part and a refrigerant output pipe.

[0010] As an improvement of the above solution, a head end and a tail end of the serpentine groove are in communication with each other. One end of the serpentine groove is provided with an input part. The other end of the serpentine groove is provided with an output part. The input part and the output part are in communication with the refrigerant channel, respectively. One end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the condenser in sequence through the input part and a refrigerant input pipe. The other end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the compressor in sequence through the output part and a refrigerant output pipe.

[0011] As an improvement of the above solution, the input part is internally provided with an input groove in communication with the refrigerant channel. The input part is provided with an outwardly extending input port. The input port is in communication with the input groove. The refrigerant input pipe is inserted into the input port. The output part is internally provided with an output groove in communication with the refrigerant channel. The output part is provided with an outwardly extending output port. The output port is in communication with the output groove. The refrigerant output pipe is inserted into the output port.

[0012] As an improvement of the above solution, the serpentine groove is provided with a plurality of middle input ports at intervals along a flow direction of the refrigerant channel. The middle input ports are in communication with the refrigerant channel. The middle input ports are located between the input port and the output port. The middle input ports are connected to the condenser through corresponding refrigerant input pipes.

[0013] As an improvement of the above solution, a cross-section of the serpentine groove is semi-circular, triangular, square, or rectangular. The cylinder body is made of a thermally conductive material.

[0014] The application also provides refrigeration equipment, comprising a main body. The evaporator described above is disposed within the main body. The refrigeration equipment is an ice cream machine, a slush machine, a cold drink machine, or an ice maker.

[0015] The beneficial effects of implementing the application are as follows:

[0016] In the application, a refrigerant channel is cooperatively defined between the refrigerant shell and the cylinder body. The refrigerant channel is disposed in a winding manner on the inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder body. A condensed liquid in the refrigerant channel acts on the inner cylindrical surface to directly perform heat exchange with the outside through a shell wall of the cylinder body. By reducing the heat conduction media, the heat conduction efficiency of the evaporator can be effectively improved, thereby greatly enhancing the cooling performance of the evaporator. Moreover, the overall structure is simple, which can save assembly space and reduce production costs. At the same time, the refrigerant channel can guide the flow of the condensed liquid to increase a flow velocity and a heat exchange effect of the condensed liquid. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a first embodiment of the evaporator of the application;

[0018] FIG. 2 is an exploded structural schematic diagram of the evaporator of the application;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the evaporator of the application;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the refrigerant shell of the application;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a second embodiment of the evaporator of the application;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a third embodiment of the evaporator of the application;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a fourth embodiment of the evaporator of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, FIGS. 1 to 4 show schematic structural diagrams of a first embodiment of the evaporator of the application. The evaporator comprises a cylinder body 1 and a refrigerant shell 2. The refrigerant shell 2 is disposed circumferentially on an inner cylindrical surface 11 of the cylinder body 1. At least one refrigerant channel 3 is cooperatively defined between the refrigerant shell 2 and the cylinder body 1. The refrigerant channel 3 is disposed in a winding manner on the inner cylindrical surface 11 of the cylinder body 1. A condensed liquid in the refrigerant channel 3 acts on the inner cylindrical surface 11 of the cylinder body 1 to perform heat exchange with the outside through a shell wall of the cylinder body 1. Two ends of the refrigerant channel 3 are connected to a condenser and a compressor through pipes, respectively.

[0026] During operation, the condenser transports the condensed liquid to the refrigerant channel 3 through a pipe. The condensed liquid flowing into the refrigerant channel 3 acts on the inner cylindrical surface 11 of the cylinder body 1. The condensed liquid absorbs heat from the outside through the shell wall of the cylinder body 1, thereby realizing heat exchange with the outside air. The gas produced after the condensed liquid vaporizes is discharged back to the compressor through a refrigerant output pipe 5. Herein, the refrigerant channel 3 can guide the flow of the condensed liquid, so that the condensed liquid flowing into the refrigerant channel 3 forms a consistent flow trend, i.e., flow direction, avoiding vortices and resistance that hinder the flow of the condensed liquid due to inconsistent directions, thereby increasing a flow velocity and heat exchange efficiency of the condensed liquid. At the same time, the condensed liquid only needs to pass through the shell wall of the cylinder body 1 (i.e., a single layer of heat conduction medium) to achieve heat exchange with the outside. By reducing the heat conduction media, the heat conduction efficiency can be effectively improved, thereby enhancing the cooling performance of the evaporator. Moreover, the overall structure can be simplified, assembly space can be saved, and production costs can be reduced.

[0027] Specifically, the refrigerant shell 2 is provided with a serpentine groove 21 extending in a reciprocatingly bent manner along a circumferential direction of the inner cylindrical surface 11. The serpentine groove is in a Z-shaped folded form. A groove opening of the serpentine groove 21 faces the inner cylindrical surface 11. The serpentine groove 21 and the inner cylindrical surface 11 cooperatively define the refrigerant channel 3, so that the condensed liquid in the refrigerant channel 3 flows in a reciprocatingly bent manner up and down along the serpentine channel and comes into contact with the inner cylindrical surface 11 through the groove opening. This can increase a heat exchange area. The condensed liquid performs heat exchange with the outside through the shell wall of the cylinder body 1, thereby improving the heat conduction efficiency and the cooling performance of the evaporator by reducing the heat conduction media.

[0028] Herein, as shown in FIG. 4, the serpentine groove 21 comprises a plurality of main sections 211 and a plurality of connecting sections 212. Two adjacent main sections 211 are disposed in parallel. Each of the connecting sections 212 connects the same end of two adjacent main sections 211, respectively. The connecting section 212 has an arc-shaped elbow to facilitate the smooth flow of the condensed liquid.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a head end and a tail end of the serpentine groove 21 are provided with an input part 22 and an output part 23, respectively. The input part 22 and the output part 23 are in communication with the refrigerant channel 3, respectively. One end of the refrigerant channel 3 is connected to the condenser in sequence through the input part 22 and a refrigerant input pipe 4. The other end of the refrigerant channel 3 is connected to the compressor in sequence through the output part 23 and a refrigerant output pipe 5. During operation, the condenser causes the condensed liquid to flow into the refrigerant channel 3 through the refrigerant input pipe and the input part 22, so that the condensed liquid gradually vaporizes in the refrigerant channel 3 and performs heat exchange through the shell wall of the cylinder body 1. After the condensed liquid in the refrigerant channel 3 vaporizes, the gas produced by its vaporization is discharged back to the compressor through the output part 23 and the refrigerant output pipe 5, realizing a cooling cycle and improving a cooling effect of the evaporator.

[0030] Preferably, the input part 22 and the output part 23 are both disposed at the same end of the refrigerant shell 2, so that the refrigerant input pipe 4 connected to the input part 22 and the refrigerant output pipe 5 connected to the output part 23 are both disposed in a same space within the cylinder body 1, making the overall structure compact, reducing an overall space occupied by the evaporator, and improving a space utilization rate of the evaporator.

[0031] Further, the input part 22 is internally provided with an input groove 24 in communication with the refrigerant channel 3. The input part 22 is provided with an outwardly extending input port 25. The input port 25 is in communication with the input groove 24. One end of the refrigerant input pipe 4 is inserted into the input port 25 and connected by welding to improve connection stability and sealing performance. The output part 23 is internally provided with an output groove 26 in communication with the refrigerant channel 3. The output part 23 is provided with an outwardly extending output port 27. The output port 27 is in communication with the output groove 26. The refrigerant output pipe 5 is inserted into the output port 27. One end of the refrigerant output pipe 5 is inserted into the output port 27 and connected by welding to improve connection stability and sealing performance. During operation, the condensed liquid transported by the condenser flows into the refrigerant channel 3 in sequence through the refrigerant input pipe, the input port 25, and the input groove 24, so that the condensed liquid gradually vaporizes in the refrigerant channel 3 to perform heat exchange. After the condensed liquid in the refrigerant channel 3 vaporizes, the gas produced by its vaporization is discharged back to the compressor in sequence through the output groove 26, the output port 27, and the refrigerant output pipe 5, realizing the cooling cycle and improving the cooling effect of the evaporator.

[0032] Herein, a cross-section of the serpentine groove 21 is semi-circular. Through a contact diameter of the semi-circle (i.e., a diameter of the groove opening), a contact width between the condensed liquid and the cylinder body 11 is maximized, i.e., a heat exchange contact area is increased, thereby improving a heat conduction efficiency of the condensed liquid, and in turn, improving a cooling efficiency of the evaporator. Preferably, the crosssection of the serpentine groove 21 can also be triangular, square, or rectangular, etc., which is not limited herein, as long as the shape of the cross-section maximizes the contact diameter (i.e., the diameter of the groove opening).

[0033] Preferably, the cylinder body 1 is made of a thermally conductive material. In this embodiment, the material of the cylinder body 1 is preferably metal, which has a good heat conduction effect and can improve the cooling performance. In other embodiments, a user can also use other thermally conductive materials with good heat conduction effects.

[0034] Preferably, in this embodiment, the material of the refrigerant shell 2 is preferably plastic or silicone to reduce unnecessary heat loss and improve a heat transfer effect to the outside through the cylinder body 1, thereby improving the cooling effect of the evaporator. In other embodiments, a user can also use other materials with relatively poor heat conduction performance.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 5 shows a schematic structural diagram of a second embodiment of the evaporator of the application. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in that the serpentine groove 21 is provided with a plurality of middle input ports 28 at intervals along a flow direction of the refrigerant channel 3. The middle input ports 28 are in communication with the refrigerant channel 3. The middle input ports 28 are located between the input port 25 and the output port 27. The middle input ports 28 are connected to the condenser through corresponding refrigerant input pipes. When the evaporator is in operation, the condensed liquid from the condenser flows simultaneously into different positions of the refrigerant channel 3 through the input port 25 and the plurality of middle input ports 28 and acts on corresponding positions of the inner cylindrical surface 11 of the cylinder body 1, so that the low-temperature condensed liquid can quickly perform heat exchange work at different positions of the evaporator, accelerating an overall circulation heat exchange rate of the condensed liquid, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the evaporator.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 6 shows a schematic structural diagram of a third embodiment of the evaporator of the application. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in that the serpentine groove 21 is provided with an input part 22 and an output part 23. Any one of the input part 22 and the output part 23 is disposed in a middle section of the serpentine groove 21, and the other is disposed at a head end and a tail end of the serpentine groove 21, respectively, to form either a refrigerant channel 3 with a single input and two independent outputs, or a refrigerant channel 3 with a single output and two independent inputs.

[0037] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, this embodiment forms a refrigerant channel 3 with a single input and two independent outputs. The input part 22 and the output part 23 are disposed at opposite ends of the refrigerant shell 2, respectively. Moreover, the two output parts 23 are disposed at different heights on a same vertical plane to ensure the formation of two refrigerant channels 3 with the same path length, so that the condensed liquid performs uniform heat conduction work on the inner cylindrical surface, improving a uniformity of a cooling effect. One end of the two refrigerant channels 3 is connected to the condenser in sequence through the same input part 22 and the refrigerant input pipe 4. The other end of the two refrigerant channels 3 is connected to the compressor in sequence through the corresponding output part 23 and the refrigerant output pipe 5. During operation, after the condensed liquid output from the condenser flows in from the input part 22, it will flow along the flow directions of a left-side refrigerant channel 3 and a right-side refrigerant channel 3, respectively. The vaporized gas is output from the corresponding output parts 23 to the compressor. This method can accelerate a contact heat exchange efficiency between the condensed liquid and the inner cylindrical surface, thereby effectively improving a heat exchange effect of the condensed liquid, and in turn, improving the cooling efficiency of the evaporator.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 7 shows a schematic structural diagram of a fourth embodiment of the evaporator of the application. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in that a head end and a tail end of the serpentine groove 21 are in communication with each other. One end of the serpentine groove 21 is provided with an input part 22. The other end of the serpentine groove 21, directly opposite the input part 22, is provided with an output part 23, so as to divide the entire head-to-tail connected refrigerant channel 3 into a left-side refrigerant channel 3 and a right-side refrigerant channel 3. The input part 22 and the output part 23 are in communication with the left-side and right-side refrigerant channels 3, respectively. One end of the two refrigerant channels 3 is connected to the condenser in sequence through the same input part 22 and the refrigerant input pipe 4. The other end of the two refrigerant channels 3 is connected to the compressor in sequence through the same output part 23 and the refrigerant output pipe 5. During operation, after the condensed liquid output from the condenser flows in from the input part 22, it will flow along the flow directions of the left-side refrigerant channel 3 and the right-side refrigerant channel 3, respectively. The vaporized gas is output from the same output part to the compressor, so as to accelerate a contact heat exchange efficiency between the condensed liquid and the inner cylindrical surface, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange effect of the condensed liquid, and in turn, improving the cooling efficiency of the evaporator.

[0039] The application also provides refrigeration equipment, comprising a main body. The evaporator described above is disposed within the main body. Herein, the refrigeration equipment is an ice cream machine, a slush machine, a cold drink machine, or an ice maker. Since the evaporator described above has the technical effects described above, the refrigeration equipment including the evaporator should also have the technical effects described above, which will not be described again one by one herein.

[0040] In summary, in the application, a refrigerant channel is cooperatively defined between the refrigerant shell and the cylinder body. The refrigerant channel is disposed in a winding manner on the inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder body. A condensed liquid in the refrigerant channel acts on the inner cylindrical surface to directly perform heat exchange with the outside through a shell wall of the cylinder body. By reducing the heat conduction media, the heat conduction efficiency of the evaporator can be effectively improved, thereby greatly enhancing the cooling performance of the evaporator. Moreover, the overall structure is simple, which can save assembly space and reduce production costs. At the same time, the refrigerant channel can guide the flow of the condensed liquid to increase a flow velocity and a heat exchange effect of the condensed liquid.

[0041] The above are the preferred embodiments of the application. It should be pointed out that for those of ordinary skill in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the application. These improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the protection scope of the application.

Claims

1. An evaporator, comprising:a cylinder body; anda refrigerant shell disposed circumferentially on an inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder body, wherein the refrigerant shell and the cylinder body cooperatively define at least one refrigerant channel;wherein the refrigerant channel is disposed in a winding manner on the inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder body, wherein the inner cylindrical surface of the cylinder body is arranged to be acted upon by a condensed liquid in the refrigerant channel, and wherein two ends of the refrigerant channel are connected to a condenser and a compressor through pipes, respectively.

2. The evaporator of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant shell is provided with a serpentine groove extending in a reciprocatingly bent manner along a circumferential direction or a height direction of the inner cylindrical surface, the serpentine groove is in a Z-shaped folded form, a groove opening of the serpentine groove faces the inner cylindrical surface, and the serpentine groove and the inner cylindrical surface cooperatively define the refrigerant channel.

3. The evaporator of claim 2, wherein the serpentine groove comprises a plurality of main sections and a plurality of connecting sections, two adjacent main sections are disposed in parallel, each of the connecting sections connects the same end of two adjacent main sections, respectively, and the connecting section has an arc-shaped elbow.

4. The evaporator of claim 2, wherein a head end and a tail end of the serpentine groove are provided with an input part and an output part, respectively, and the input part and the output part are in communication with the refrigerant channel, respectively;wherein one end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the condenser in sequence through the input part and a refrigerant input pipe, and the other end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the compressor in sequence through the output part and a refrigerant output pipe.

5. The evaporator of claim 4, wherein the input part and the output part are both disposed at the same end of the refrigerant shell.

6. The evaporator of claim 2, wherein the serpentine groove is provided with an input part and an output part, wherein any one of the input part and the output part is disposed in a middle section of the serpentine groove and the other is disposed at a head end and a tail end of the serpentine groove, respectively, wherein the input part and the output part are in communication with the refrigerant channel, respectively, and wherein the input part and the output part are disposed at opposite ends of the refrigerant shell, respectively;wherein one end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the condenser in sequence through the input part and a refrigerant input pipe, and the other end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the compressor in sequence through the output part and a refrigerant output pipe.

7. The evaporator of claim 2, wherein a head end and a tail end of the serpentine groove are in communication with each other, one end of the serpentine groove is provided with an input part, the other end of the serpentine groove is provided with an output part, and the input part and the output part are in communication with the refrigerant channel, respectively;wherein one end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the condenser in sequence through the input part and a refrigerant input pipe, and the other end of the refrigerant channel is connected to the compressor in sequence through the output part and a refrigerant output pipe.

8. The evaporator of any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the input part is internally provided with an input groove in communication with the refrigerant channel, the input part is provided with an outwardly extending input port, the input port is in communication with the input groove, and the refrigerant input pipe is inserted into the input port;and wherein the output part is internally provided with an output groove in communication with the refrigerant channel, the output part is provided with an outwardly extending output port, the output port is in communication with the output groove, and the refrigerant output pipe is inserted into the output port.

9. The evaporator of claim 8, wherein the serpentine groove is provided with a plurality of middle input ports at intervals along a flow direction of the refrigerant channel, and the middle input ports are in communication with the refrigerant channel;wherein the middle input ports are located between the input port and the output port, and the middle input ports are connected to the condenser through corresponding refrigerant input pipes.

10. The evaporator of any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein a cross-section of the serpentine groove is semi-circular, triangular, square, or rectangular; and wherein the cylinder body is made of a thermally conductive material.

11. A refrigeration equipment, comprising:a main body; andthe evaporator of any one of claims 1 to 10 disposed within the main body,wherein the refrigeration equipment is an ice cream machine, a slush machine, a cold drink machine, or an ice maker.

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