Built-in member and gas-liquid separator

Abstract

To provide a built-in member improving a gas-liquid separation efficiency of a heating medium without complicating a built-in structure.SOLUTION: A built-in member is housed inside a gas-liquid separator of a heating medium circulation device and includes: a body having an almost truncated cone shape; and a through hole which is formed on the side surface of the body and through which a heating medium passes. The body is disposed between an inflow port which is provided on the side surface of the gas-liquid separator and into which the heating medium flows; and an outflow port which is provided at a position lower than the inflow port and through which the heating medium flows out.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a built-in member and a gas-liquid separator. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a heat medium circulation system including a gas-liquid separation section provided in a heat medium circuit downstream of a user-side heat exchanger and upstream of a user-side terminal, which separates at least refrigerant leaked into the heat medium circuit from the heat medium, and a discharge device connected to the gas-liquid separation section, which discharges at least the refrigerant separated in the gas-liquid separation section to the outside, wherein the gas-liquid separation section is connected to an inlet pipe through which at least the heat medium flows into the gas-liquid separation section and an outlet pipe through which the heat medium flows out of the gas-liquid separation section, and the position where at least the heat medium flows into the gas-liquid separation section is lower than the position where the heat medium flows out of the gas-liquid separation section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-126030 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure provides a built-in member and a gas-liquid separator that can increase the gas-liquid separation efficiency of a heat medium without complicating the internal structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The built-in member in the present disclosure is a built-in member housed inside a gas-liquid separator of a heat medium circulation device, and comprises a main body having an approximately truncated cone shape, and a passage hole formed on the side of the main body through which the heat medium passes, and a plate-shaped stopper member is provided at the upper end of the main body, and an opening is formed in the stopper member that connects the top and bottom of the stopper member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] In the built-in member of the present disclosure, when the heat medium collides with the main body of the built-in member, a force is generated that presses the main body downward, so the force of the heat medium flow can stably hold the main body, eliminating the need for a separate fixing member for the built-in member. Furthermore, the collision of the heat medium with the main body of the built-in member can increase the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium. Furthermore, the stopper member can stabilize the posture of the main body, allowing for stable separation of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a circuit of a heat medium circulator according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] A perspective view showing the inside of a refrigeration device [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a gas-liquid separator according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a built-in member according to the first embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a front view of a built-in member according to the first embodiment; [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a built-in member according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time when the inventors came up with the idea of ​​the present disclosure, a gas-liquid separator was known that included an inlet pipe through which a heat medium flows into the gas-liquid separator and an outlet pipe through which the heat medium flows out of the gas-liquid separator, and that separated the refrigerant or air contained in the heat medium from the heat medium. However, the inventors discovered that in conventional technology, in order to promote separation of the heat medium from the refrigerant or air, it is necessary to form a flow path inside the gas-liquid separator through which the heat medium flows, which poses a problem that the internal structure of the gas-liquid separator may become complicated, and in order to solve this problem, they have come up with the subject matter of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a built-in member and a gas-liquid separator that can increase the gas-liquid separation efficiency of a heat medium without complicating the internal structure.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description may be omitted. For example, detailed description of well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. [1-1.Configuration] [1-1-1. Refrigeration circuit configuration] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a heat medium circulator 1 according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the heat medium circulating device 1 is an outdoor unit of a heat pump type hot water heater. The hot water heater is a device that heats a room by causing a heat medium (for example, water) heated by a refrigeration cycle of the heat medium circulating device 1 to flow through a heat exchanger of an indoor unit. The hot water heater of this embodiment can also perform cooling operation by causing a heat medium cooled by a refrigeration cycle of the refrigeration device 1 to flow through the indoor unit. In FIG. 1, the flow of the refrigerant and heat medium during cooling operation of the hot water heater is indicated by arrows.

[0011] The heat medium circulating device 1 is provided with a compressor 2. The compressor 2 is a device that draws in, compresses, and discharges a refrigerant. In the heat medium circulating device 1, a flow path switching mechanism 3 is connected to the discharge side and the suction side of the compressor 2. The flow path switching mechanism 3 switches the destination of the refrigerant discharged to the compressor 2 between an air heat exchanger 4 serving as a heat source side heat exchanger and a water heat exchanger 10 serving as a user side heat exchanger, and causes the destination heat exchangers 4, 10 to function as condensers. The flow path switching mechanism 3 also draws the refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator of one of the heat exchangers 4, 10 into the compressor 2. The flow path switching mechanism 3 is, for example, a four-way valve.

[0012] The air heat exchanger 4 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant inside and the outside air. The air heat exchanger 4 is, for example, a fin-tube type heat exchanger. The heat medium circulating device 1 is provided with a blower 5 that flows the outside air through the air heat exchanger 4. In this embodiment, the blower 5 is an axial flow fan.

[0013] The water heat exchanger 10 is a plate-type heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant flowing inside and a heat medium. The heat medium heated or cooled by the water heat exchanger 10 circulates between the heat medium circulator 1 and the indoor unit to air-condition the room.

[0014] The air heat exchanger 4 and the water heat exchanger 10 are connected via an expansion valve 6. A receiver tank 15 that stores low-temperature, high-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant cooled by the condenser is provided between the water heat exchanger 10 and the expansion valve 6 (see FIG. 2). The expansion valve 6 is a valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant that flows from the condenser of each heat exchanger 4, 10 via the receiver tank 15 to make it a two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant, and allows it to flow into the evaporator of each heat exchanger 4, 10. In this embodiment, the opening of the expansion valve 6 can be adjusted by electronic control, and the flow rate of the refrigerant is adjusted by changing the opening.

[0015] On the inlet side of the water heat exchanger 10, a circulation pump 16 and a valve 16a that can be connected to an external water pipe are provided. A gas-liquid separator 20 that removes refrigerant or air from the heat medium is provided downstream of the water heat exchanger 10. A valve 18a that can be connected to a water pipe external to the heat medium circulating device 1 via an outlet-side water pipe 18 is provided on the outlet-side water pipe 18. In addition, a flow rate sensor 19 that measures the flow rate of the heat medium is provided on the outlet-side water pipe 18.

[0016] [1-1-2. Configuration of the heat medium circulator] 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the heat medium circulating device, in which the symbol X indicates the left side of the heat medium circulating device 1, the symbol Y indicates the front side of the heat medium circulating device 1, and the symbol Z indicates the upper side. 1, the heat medium circulator 1 is provided with a blower chamber 7, which is a space partitioned off to the left by a partition plate 9, and a machine chamber 8, which is a space partitioned off to the right by the partition plate 9. The partition plate 9 is made of sheet metal and is disposed in an orientation that is generally perpendicular to the left-right direction.

[0017] The blower chamber 7 is provided with an air heat exchanger 4 and a blower 5. The air heat exchanger 4 is provided on the right side and rear side of the blower chamber 7. The blower 5 blows air inside the heat medium circulating device 1 forward, thereby drawing in outside air through the air heat exchanger 4 and exchanging heat between the outside air and the refrigerant inside the air heat exchanger 4. In this embodiment, a heat medium circulating device 1 in which two blowers 5 are provided vertically in the blower chamber 7 will be described as an example, but the number of blowers 5 of the heat medium circulating device 1 is not particularly limited.

[0018] The machine room 8 is provided with a compressor 2, a flow path switching mechanism 3, an expansion valve 6, a receiver tank 15, a water heat exchanger 10, and a gas-liquid separator 20. The compressor 2 is placed on the bottom plate 1a of the heat medium circulator 1 via rubber legs. The flow path switching mechanism 3 is disposed above the compressor 2. The water heat exchanger 10 is provided at a position spaced above the bottom plate 1a via a support member 8a made of sheet metal.

[0019] A valve 18a is provided on the outlet side of the gas-liquid separator 17, which can be connected to a water pipe outside the refrigeration device 1 via an outlet-side water pipe 18. In addition, a flow rate sensor 19 that measures the flow rate of water is provided on the outlet-side water pipe 18.

[0020] [1-1-3. Configuration of gas-liquid separator] Next, the configuration of the gas-liquid separator 20 in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the gas-liquid separator according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the gas-liquid separator 20 includes a separator body 21 having a substantially cylindrical shape. An exhaust section 22 is attached to the top of the separator body 21 to collect the separated refrigerant or air and discharge it from the heat medium circulator 1.

[0021] An inlet 23 to which an inlet pipe for the heat medium is connected is provided on the lower side of the separator body 21. An outlet 24 to which an outlet pipe for the heat medium is connected is provided on the bottom surface of the separator body 21. The heat medium is sent into the separator body 21 through the inlet 23, and after the heat medium and the refrigerant or air are separated inside the separator body 21, the heat medium is sent to the outside through the outlet 24.

[0022] The separator body 21 accommodates an internal member 30 therein. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the built-in member according to embodiment 1. Fig. 5 is a front view of the built-in member according to embodiment 1. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the built-in member according to embodiment 1. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the built-in member 30 has a main body 31 that is substantially frustum-shaped, with the outer diameter of the lower part being larger. The upper end of the main body 31 has a height substantially the same as the upper edge position of the inlet 23. The lower end of the main body 31 is disposed so as to cover the entire outlet 24.

[0023] A plurality of annular horizontal support members 32 extending in the circumferential direction are provided on the peripheral surface of the main body 31. A plurality of vertical support members 33 extending in the up-down direction are provided on the main body 31 at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the main body 31. By providing the horizontal support members 32 and the vertical support members 33, slit-shaped passage holes 34 are formed between the horizontal support members 32 and the vertical support members 33. This allows the heat medium flowing in from the inlet 23 to pass from the outside of the main body 31 to the inside of the main body 31 through the passage holes 34, allowing the heat medium to flow from the inside of the main body 31 to the outlet 24.

[0024] Furthermore, a plurality of minute notches 35 are formed on the outer surface of the vertical support member 33. These notches 35 form minute irregularities on the outer surface of the vertical support member. In this embodiment, the notches 35 are formed in the vertical support members 33, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the notches 35 may be formed in the horizontal support members 32, or may be formed in both the vertical support members 33 and the horizontal support members 32.

[0025] A substantially disc-shaped stopper member 40 is integrally provided at the upper end of the main body 31. The outer diameter of the stopper member 40 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the lower end of the main body 31. The stopper member 40 has a plurality of substantially fan-shaped openings 41 formed therein for communicating the top and bottom of the stopper member 40 . The stopper member 40 is provided so that its height position is substantially the same as the height of the upper edge of the inlet 23 .

[0026] [1-2. Operation] The operation of the heat medium circulator 1 configured as above will be described. 1, during cooling operation, the flow path switching mechanism 3 causes the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 to flow through the air heat exchanger 4 to dissipate heat. The refrigerant that has dissipated heat in the air heat exchanger 4 is liquefied, passes through the expansion valve 6, and becomes a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant before flowing into the water heat exchanger 10. The refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state that has flowed into the water heat exchanger 10 absorbs heat from the heat medium flowing through the water heat exchanger 10 and evaporates, becoming a gas refrigerant and returning to the compressor 2. On the other hand, the heat medium that has undergone heat exchange in the water heat exchanger 10 is circulated between the indoor unit and the water heat exchanger 10 while cooling the water by driving the circulation pump 16, thereby cooling the room.

[0027] Here, the heat medium that has flowed into the water heat exchanger and exchanged heat with the refrigerant flows into the separator body 21 from the inlet 23 of the gas-liquid separator 20 . The heat transfer medium flowing in from the inlet 23 collides with the main body 31 of the built-in member 30 . At this time, since the main body 31 is formed in a substantially truncated cone shape, when the heat transfer medium collides with the main body 31, a force is generated that presses the main body 31 downward. Therefore, the main body 31 can be fixed to the bottom surface of the separator main body 21 by the force of the heat medium flowing in from the inlet 23, and a separate fixing member for the built-in member 30 is not required.

[0028] Furthermore, the stopper member 40 is provided, and since there is only a small amount of space for the outer periphery of the stopper member 40 to abut against the inner surface of the separator body 21, it is possible to prevent the stopper member 40 from moving too much. This makes it possible to stabilize the posture of the body 31, and to stably separate the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium.

[0029] In this embodiment, since the main body 31 is provided with the vertical support members 33 and the horizontal support members 32, when the heat transfer medium collides with the main body 31, it collides with the vertical support members 33 and the horizontal support members 32, which increases the number of collisions of the heat transfer medium. This increases the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat transfer medium. In addition, since notches 35 are formed on the outer surface of the vertical support member 33, when the heat transfer medium collides with the vertical support member 33, the uneven shape formed by the notches 35 can increase the number of collisions of the heat transfer medium, thereby increasing the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat transfer medium.

[0030] The heat transfer medium, which collides with the vertical support members 33 and the horizontal support members 32 and from which the refrigerant and air are separated, flows into the main body 31 through the passage holes 34 and is discharged from the outlet 24 . On the other hand, the refrigerant and air separated from the heat medium are accumulated in the upper part of the separator body 21 and are discharged from the heat medium circulating device 1 to the outside via the exhaust part 22.

[0031] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, the built-in member 30 in this embodiment comprises a main body 31 having an approximately truncated cone shape, and a through hole 34 formed on the side of the main body 31 through which the heat transfer medium passes, and a plate-shaped stopper member 40 is provided at the upper end of the main body 31, and an opening 41 is formed in the stopper member 40 to connect the top and bottom of the stopper member 40. As a result, when the heat medium collides with the main body 31 of the built-in member 30, a force is generated that presses the main body 31 downward, and the force of the heat medium flowing can stably hold the main body 31, eliminating the need for a separate fixing member for the built-in member 30. Also, the collision of the heat medium with the main body 31 of the built-in member 30 can increase the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium. Furthermore, the stopper member 40 can stabilize the posture of the main body 31, allowing for stable separation of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium.

[0032] In addition, in this embodiment, the built-in member 30 has a plurality of circumferentially extending horizontal support members 32 and a plurality of vertical support members 33 extending in the up-down direction provided on the peripheral surface of the main body 31, and the through hole 34 is formed between the horizontal support members 32 and the vertical support members 33. As a result, since the main body 31 is provided with the vertical support members 33 and the horizontal support members 32, when the heat transfer medium collides with the main body 31, it collides with the vertical support members 33 and the horizontal support members 32, which increases the number of collisions of the heat transfer medium. As a result, the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat transfer medium can be increased.

[0033] In addition, in the built-in member 30 of this embodiment, a plurality of minute notches 35 are formed on the outer surface of at least one of the vertical support members 33 or the horizontal support members 32. As a result, notches 35 are formed on the outer surface of at least one of the vertical support members 33 or the horizontal support members 32, so that when the heat transfer medium collides with the vertical support member 33, the uneven shape formed by the notches 35 increases the number of collisions of the heat transfer medium, thereby increasing the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat transfer medium.

[0034] In addition, in the built-in member 30 in this embodiment, the main body 31 is arranged between an inlet 23 provided on the side of the gas-liquid separator 20 through which the heat medium flows in, and an outlet 24 provided at a position lower than the inlet 23 through which the heat medium flows out. As a result, when the heat medium flowing in from the inlet 23 collides with the main body 31 of the built-in member 30, a force is generated that presses the main body 31 downward, and the force of the heat medium flowing in from the inlet 23 can fix the main body 31 to the underside of the separator main body 21, eliminating the need for a separate fixing member for the built-in member 30. In addition, when the heat medium flowing in from the inlet 23 collides with the main body 31 of the built-in member 30, the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium can be increased.

[0035] In addition, in the built-in member 30 of this embodiment, the main body 31 has a height higher than the inlet 23 through which the heat medium flows into the gas-liquid separator 20, and the inside of the main body 31 is arranged to cover the outlet 24 through which the heat medium flows out of the gas-liquid separator 20. This makes it possible to ensure a space above the separator body 21 for storing the separated refrigerant or air, and allows for smooth exhaust from the separator body 21.

[0036] (Other embodiments) As described above, the first embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the components described in the first embodiment above to create new embodiments. Therefore, other embodiments will be exemplified below.

[0037] In the first embodiment, the height of the main body 31 is formed to be approximately the same as the height of the inlet 23, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the height of the main body 31 may be formed to be higher than the height of the inlet 23. In other words, the height can be set arbitrarily as long as the shape allows the heat medium flowing in from the inlet 23 to collide with the side surface of the main body 31.

[0038] Also, for example, a embossing process may be applied to the surface of the main body 31 of the built-in member 30. By applying the embossing process in this way, extremely fine irregularities can be formed on the surface of the main body 31, which can increase the number of collisions with the inflowing heat transfer medium, and a high separation rate can be expected.

[0039] (Addendum) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques. (Technology 1) A built-in component housed inside a gas-liquid separator of a heat medium circulation device, the built-in component comprising a main body having a substantially truncated cone shape and a passage hole formed on a side surface of the main body through which the heat medium passes, a plate-shaped stopper member being provided on the upper end of the main body, and an opening being formed in the stopper member that communicates between the top and bottom of the stopper member. With this configuration, when the heat medium collides with the main body of the built-in member, a force is generated that presses the main body downward, so the force of the heat medium flow can stably hold the main body, eliminating the need for a separate fixing member for the built-in member. Furthermore, the collision of the heat medium with the main body of the built-in member can increase the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium. Furthermore, the stopper member can stabilize the posture of the main body, allowing for stable separation of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium.

[0040] (Technology 2) The built-in member according to Technology 1, wherein a plurality of lateral support members extending in the circumferential direction and a plurality of vertical support members extending in the up-down direction are provided on the peripheral surface of the main body, and the through hole is formed between the lateral support members and the vertical support members. With this configuration, the main body is provided with vertical support members and horizontal support members, so that when the heat transfer medium collides with the main body, it collides with the vertical support members and horizontal support members, thereby increasing the number of collisions of the heat transfer medium, and therefore increasing the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat transfer medium.

[0041] (Technology 3) The built-in member according to Technology 2, wherein a plurality of minute notches are formed on the outer surface of at least one of the vertical support member and the horizontal support member. According to this configuration, notches are formed on the outer surface of at least one of the vertical support members or the horizontal support members, so that when the heat medium collides with the vertical support member, the uneven shape formed by the notches increases the number of collisions of the heat medium, thereby increasing the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium.

[0042] (Technology 4) The built-in member according to any one of Technology 1 to Technology 3, wherein the main body is disposed between an inlet provided on a side surface of the gas-liquid separator and through which the heat medium flows in, and an outlet provided at a position lower than the inlet and through which the heat medium flows out. With this configuration, when the heat medium flowing in from the inlet collides with the main body of the built-in member, a force is generated that presses the main body downward, so that the force of the heat medium flowing in from the inlet can fix the main body to the underside of the separator main body, eliminating the need for a separate fixing member for the built-in member.In addition, by having the heat medium flowing in from the inlet collide with the main body of the built-in member, the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium can be increased.

[0043] (Technology 5) The built-in member according to any one of Technology 1 to Technology 4, wherein the main body has a height higher than an inlet through which the heat medium flows into the gas-liquid separator, and the inside of the main body is arranged to cover an outlet through which the heat medium flows out of the gas-liquid separator. According to this configuration, a space for storing the separated refrigerant or air can be secured above the separator body, and exhaust from the separator body can be smoothly carried out.

[0044] (Technology 6) A gas-liquid separator containing the built-in member according to any one of claims 1 to 5. With this configuration, when the heat medium flowing in from the inlet collides with the main body of the built-in member, a force is generated that presses the main body downward, so that the force of the heat medium flowing in from the inlet can fix the main body to the underside of the separator main body, eliminating the need for a separate fixing member for the built-in member.In addition, by having the heat medium flowing in from the inlet collide with the main body of the built-in member, the separation rate of the refrigerant and air contained in the heat medium can be increased. [Industrial Applicability]

[0045] The present disclosure can be suitably used for built-in members that can increase the gas-liquid separation efficiency of a heat medium without complicating the internal structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1 Heat medium circulation device 2 Compressor 3. Flow path switching mechanism 4. Air heat exchanger 5. Blower 6 Expansion valve 7 Blower room 8 Machine room 9 Partition 10 Water heat exchanger 15 Receiver Tank 16 Circulation pump 18 Outlet side water piping 19 Flow Sensor 20 Gas-liquid separator 21 Separator body 22 Exhaust section 23 Inlet 24 Outlet 30 Built-in components 31 Main Unit 32 Horizontal support member 33 Vertical support member 34 Passing hole 35 Notch 40 Stopper member 41 Aperture

Claims

1. A built-in member accommodated inside a gas-liquid separator of a heat medium circulating device, The heat transfer device includes a main body having a substantially truncated cone shape and a passage hole formed in a side surface of the main body through which a heat transfer medium passes, A plate-shaped stopper member is provided at the upper end of the main body, An opening communicating the top and bottom of the stopper member is formed in the stopper member. Built-in components.

2. A plurality of horizontal support members extending in the circumferential direction and a plurality of vertical support members extending in the up-down direction are provided on the circumferential surface of the main body, The through hole is formed between the lateral support member and the vertical support member. The built-in member according to claim 1 .

3. A plurality of minute notches are formed on the outer surface of at least one of the vertical support member or the horizontal support member. The built-in member according to claim 2 .

4. The main body is disposed between an inlet provided on a side surface of the gas-liquid separator and through which the heat medium flows in, and an outlet provided at a position lower than the inlet and through which the heat medium flows out. The built-in member according to claim 1 .

5. The main body has a height higher than an inlet through which the heat medium flows into the gas-liquid separator, and the inside of the main body is arranged to cover an outlet through which the heat medium flows out of the gas-liquid separator. The built-in member according to claim 1 .

6. A built-in member according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is housed in the container. Gas-liquid separator.

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