Gas-liquid separator, compressor, and refrigeration cycle device

Abstract

This gas-liquid separator comprises: an external container that has a first top part, a first bottom part, and a first periphery part; a refrigerant inflow pipe; a separation part that separates lubricating-oil-containing refrigerant, which flows in through the refrigerant inflow pipe, into a gas refrigerant and a liquid mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil; an internal container that has a second top part, a second bottom part, and a second periphery part; and a gas outflow pipe. The internal container is positioned below the separation part inside the external container, the internal container forming, together with the external container, an external space where the liquid mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil separated by the separation part accumulates, and a gas inflow opening for the gas refrigerant separated by the separation part being formed in the second top part. An oil inflow opening is formed in the second top part, the oil inflow opening being configured from a through-hole located below the gas inflow opening and channeling the liquid mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil that has accumulated in the external space into an internal space within the internal container. In the gas outflow pipe, a first oil return hole is formed at a position between the first bottom part and the second bottom part, and a second oil return hole is formed at a position between the second bottom part and the oil inflow opening.

Description

Gas-liquid separator, compressor, and refrigeration cycle device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a gas-liquid separator, a compressor, and a refrigeration cycle device.

[0002] Conventionally, a gas-liquid separator is known that separates refrigerant flowing in from a refrigerant pipe into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant and supplies the gas refrigerant to a compressor (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The gas-liquid separator includes a container, a refrigerant inlet pipe that penetrates and is connected to the top of the container, and a gas outlet pipe that penetrates and is connected to the bottom of the container. The gas-liquid separator further includes a separation section that is disposed below the refrigerant inlet pipe within the container and separates the refrigerant containing lubricating oil that flows in from the refrigerant inlet pipe into gas refrigerant and a mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil. The gas outlet pipe is formed with a first oil return hole and a second oil return hole at different heights near the bottom of the container.

[0003] The gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1, configured as described above, separates an externally flowing refrigerant into a gas refrigerant and a mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil using a separation unit, discharges the gas refrigerant through a gas outlet pipe, and stores the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil at the bottom of the container. The gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1 also draws the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil stored at the bottom of the container into the gas outlet pipe through a first oil return hole and a second oil return hole, and discharges it from the gas outlet pipe together with the gas refrigerant. The fluid discharged from the gas outlet pipe is supplied to a compressor shell having a compression mechanism therein.

[0004] In this way, the gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1 maintains the sliding properties and sealing properties of the sliding parts of the compression mechanism inside the compressor shell by supplying lubricating oil to the compressor shell through the first oil return hole and the second oil return hole. Note that the first oil return hole is located lower than the second oil return hole, so that the gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1 can supply lubricating oil to the compressor shell through the first oil return hole even when the amount of the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil stored in the container is small.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-51253

[0006] However, when the lubricating oil and the liquid refrigerant are poorly compatible with each other, separation of the lubricating oil and the liquid refrigerant occurs, particularly in low ambient temperature environments, and a layer of a lubricating oil-rich mixture containing a large amount of relatively low-density lubricating oil accumulates at the bottom of the container above a layer of a liquid refrigerant-rich mixture containing a large amount of relatively high-density liquid refrigerant.

[0007] In the gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1, the first oil return hole and the second oil return hole are provided near the bottom of the container in the gas outflow pipe. Therefore, in the gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1, when the mixed liquid in the container separates into two layers as described above, both the first oil return hole and the second oil return hole are located in the liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid layer. Therefore, in the gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1, the mixed liquid drawn into the gas outflow pipe through both the first oil return hole and the second oil return hole is a liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid with a low proportion of lubricating oil. Therefore, the gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it is difficult to ensure the amount of lubricating oil return necessary to ensure the sliding and sealing properties of the compression mechanism, resulting in reduced oil return performance.

[0008] The present disclosure is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a gas-liquid separator, a compressor, and a refrigeration cycle device that can improve oil return performance.

[0009] The gas-liquid separator according to the present disclosure includes an external container having a first top, a first bottom, and a first peripheral portion; a refrigerant inlet pipe that penetrates the first top of the external container and allows a refrigerant containing lubricating oil to flow from the outside of the external container to the inside; a separation section that is disposed inside the external container and separates the refrigerant containing lubricating oil that has flowed in from the refrigerant inlet pipe into a gas refrigerant and a mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil; and an internal space that is disposed inside the external container below the separation section and has a second top, a second bottom, and a second peripheral portion, and forms an external space between the external container and the gas-liquid separator in which the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil separated in the separation section accumulates, and a gas inlet for the gas refrigerant separated in the separation section is formed in the second top. The system comprises a container, and a gas outflow pipe that penetrates the second bottom of the inner container and the first bottom of the outer container in the vertical direction, with one end located inside the inner container and the other end located outside the outer container, and that allows gas refrigerant that has flowed into the interior of the inner container from the gas inlet to flow out of the outer container, and the second top part of the inner container is formed with an oil inflow port that is composed of a through hole below the gas inflow port and allows a mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil that has accumulated in the external space to flow into the internal space of the inner container, and the gas outflow pipe is formed with a first oil return hole between the first bottom and the second bottom, and a second oil return hole between the second bottom and the oil inflow port.

[0010] The compressor according to the present disclosure includes the above-mentioned gas-liquid separator, a compressor shell connected to the outside of the gas-liquid separator and into which the gas refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator is drawn, a rotating electric machine arranged inside the compressor shell, a rotating shaft connected to the rotating electric machine and rotated by the power of the rotating electric machine, and a compression mechanism connected to the rotating shaft and compressing the refrigerant drawn from the gas-liquid separator by the power of the rotating electric machine transmitted by the rotating shaft.

[0011] The refrigeration cycle device according to the present disclosure includes the above-described compressor, a radiator in which the refrigerant compressed by the compressor radiates heat, a pressure reducer that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant flowing out from the radiator, and an evaporator in which the refrigerant flowing out from the pressure reducer evaporates.

[0012] In the gas-liquid separator, compressor, and refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present disclosure, the first oil return hole is located between the first bottom and the second bottom in the external space. Therefore, after the liquid level of the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil accumulated in the external space reaches the first oil return hole, the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil can be drawn from the external space into the gas outflow pipe and discharged to the outside together with the gas refrigerant. Here, if the mixture accumulated in the external space forms two layers, a lubricant-rich mixture containing a large amount of lubricating oil and a liquid refrigerant-rich mixture containing a large amount of liquid refrigerant, the mixture flowing from the external space into the internal space through the oil inlet is the lubricant-rich mixture. Therefore, the lubricant-rich mixture accumulates in the internal space. Because the lubricant-rich mixture accumulates in the internal space, the mixture flowing out of the gas outflow pipe through the second oil return hole is the lubricant-rich mixture. Therefore, the gas-liquid separator, the compressor, and the refrigeration cycle device can improve the oil return performance.

[0013] 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the overall configuration of a compressor according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a gas-liquid separator according to embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inner container of the gas-liquid separator according to embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a separation section of the gas-liquid separator according to embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the gas-liquid separator according to embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the gas-liquid separator according to embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the gas-liquid separator according to embodiment 2. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the flow of a gas refrigerant and a mixture of a liquid refrigerant and a lubricating oil in the schematic sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the inclined wall section of the inner container of the gas-liquid separator according to embodiment 1. FIG. 11 is a dimensional explanatory view of the gas-liquid separator according to embodiment 1. FIG. 12 is a dimensional explanatory view of the separation section of the compressor according to embodiment 1. FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view of a gas-liquid separator according to embodiment 2. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to embodiment 3.

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, identical or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted or simplified as appropriate. Furthermore, the shape, size, arrangement, etc. of the configurations shown in each drawing may be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0015] First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a compressor according to a first embodiment.

[0016] [Configuration of Compressor 1] As shown in Fig. 1 , the compressor 1 according to the first embodiment is a rolling piston compressor as an example of a compressor according to the present disclosure. The compressor 1 includes a compressor shell 10, a compression mechanism 20, a rotating electric machine 30, a rotating shaft 40, an intake pipe 2, a discharge pipe 3, and a centrifugal pump 45. The compressor 1 further includes a gas-liquid separator 5. The compression mechanism 20, the rotating electric machine 30, the rotating shaft 40, and the centrifugal pump 45 are housed inside the compressor shell 10. The gas-liquid separator 5 is disposed outside the compressor shell 10. In the following description, the direction in which the rotating shaft 40 extends is referred to as the axial direction, the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction around the rotating shaft is referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0017] The configuration of the compressor 1 will be described in detail below.

[0018] (Compressor Casing 10) The compressor casing 10, which constitutes the casing of the compressor 1, includes a head 11, a bottom 13, and a body 12. The head 11 constitutes the casing of the upper part of the compressor 1. The bottom 13 constitutes the casing of the lower part of the compressor 1. The body 12 constitutes the casing of the middle part of the compressor 1, with the head 11 attached to the upper part and the bottom 13 attached to the lower part.

[0019] A head portion 11 constituting an upper portion of the compressor housing 10 has, for example, a substantially cup shape as shown in Fig. 1. A discharge pipe 3 that connects the inside and outside of the compressor housing 10 is connected to the head portion 11.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1 , the body 12 constituting the middle portion of the compressor housing 10 has, for example, a substantially cylindrical shape. An intake pipe 2 for supplying refrigerant into the compressor housing 10 is connected to the body 12. A stator 32 of a rotating electric machine 30 is attached to the inner circumferential surface of the body 12. A compression mechanism 20 is also attached to the inner circumferential surface of the body 12. In the first embodiment, a rolling piston type compression mechanism is used as the compression mechanism 20. The rolling piston type compression mechanism is often attached to the inner circumferential surface of the body 12, below the position where the stator 32 is attached.

[0021] The bottom 13 constituting the lower part of the compressor shell 10 has, for example, a substantially cup shape, as shown in Fig. 1. Lubricating oil 6 is stored in the bottom 13. That is, the lubricating oil 6 is stored inside the compressor shell 10. The lubricating oil 6 is then supplied to the compression mechanism 20 and the like, thereby reducing friction at sliding parts of the compression mechanism 20 and the like.

[0022] (Compression mechanism 20) The compression mechanism 20 is connected to the rotating shaft 40 and compresses a refrigerant supplied from the outside using the power of the rotating electric machine 30 transmitted by the rotating shaft 40. In the first embodiment, the compression mechanism 20 is supplied with a refrigerant that flows out from a gas outlet pipe 54 (described later) of the gas-liquid separator 5. That is, the compression mechanism 20 draws in the external refrigerant via the suction pipe 2 and compresses this refrigerant. The refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism 20 is released into the compressor shell 10.

[0023] As described above, in the first embodiment, a rolling piston type compression mechanism is employed as the compression mechanism 20. Therefore, the compression mechanism 20 includes a cylinder that compresses the refrigerant drawn in from the outside. Specifically, the compression mechanism 20 includes a first cylinder 21A and a second cylinder 21B as the cylinders. The first cylinder 21A and the second cylinder 21B are configured in a cylindrical shape, and compress the refrigerant supplied from the suction pipe 2 in the compression spaces within the first cylinder 21A and the second cylinder 21B.

[0024] A first piston 22A is disposed within the first cylinder 21A and rotates slidably within the first cylinder 21A. The first piston 22A is connected to the rotary shaft 40 so as to be capable of eccentric rotation within the first cylinder 21A with respect to the center of rotation of the rotary shaft 40. Hereinafter, rotation eccentric to the center of rotation of the rotary shaft 40 will be referred to as "eccentric rotation." A second piston 22B is disposed within the second cylinder 21B and rotates slidably within the second cylinder 21B. The second piston 22B is connected to the rotary shaft 40 so as to be capable of eccentric rotation within the second cylinder 21B.

[0025] Furthermore, the first piston 22A is connected to the rotary shaft 40 so as to be able to rotate within the first cylinder 21A with a phase shift of 180 degrees relative to the rotational phase of the second piston 22B when it rotates within the second cylinder 21B. In other words, the second piston 22B is connected to the rotary shaft 40 so as to be able to rotate within the second cylinder 21B with a phase shift of −180 degrees relative to the rotational phase of the first piston 22A when it rotates within the first cylinder 21A.

[0026] An upper bearing 24A that rotatably supports the rotary shaft 40 is provided above the first cylinder 21A. The upper bearing 24A closes the upper opening of the first cylinder 21A. A partition plate 25 is provided below the first cylinder 21A. The partition plate 25 closes the lower opening of the first cylinder 21A and also closes the upper opening of the second cylinder 21B. That is, the partition plate 25 separates the space formed by the first cylinder 21A and the first piston 22A from the space formed by the second cylinder 21B and the second piston 22B. Meanwhile, a lower bearing 24B that rotatably supports the rotary shaft 40 is provided below the second cylinder 21B. The lower bearing 24B closes the lower opening of the second cylinder 21B.

[0027] The upper bearing 24A is provided with a valve (not shown) that discharges the refrigerant compressed by the first cylinder 21A and the first piston 22A. When this valve is opened, the space formed by the first cylinder 21A and the first piston 22A can be connected to a first muffler 23A (described later). The lower bearing 24B is provided with a valve (not shown) that discharges the refrigerant compressed by the second cylinder 21B and the second piston 22B. When this valve is opened, the space formed by the second cylinder 21B and the second piston 22B can be connected to a second muffler 23B (described later).

[0028] A first muffler 23A is attached to the upper bearing 24A so as to cover a valve (not shown). The first muffler 23A is provided with a refrigerant discharge portion (not shown). As a result, the refrigerant compressed by the first cylinder 21A and the first piston 22A is discharged into the space within the first muffler 23A via the valve, and then released into the inside of the compressor shell 10 from the refrigerant discharge portion.

[0029] A second muffler 23B is attached to the lower bearing 24B so as to cover a valve (not shown). The space within this second muffler 23B is connected to the space within the first muffler 23A via a refrigerant flow path (not shown). As a result, refrigerant compressed by the second cylinder 21B and the second piston 22B is discharged into the space within the second muffler 23B and then flows into the space within the first muffler 23A via the refrigerant flow path (not shown). The refrigerant that has flowed into the space within the first muffler 23A is then released into the interior of the compressor shell 10 from a refrigerant discharge port of the first muffler 23A.

[0030] (Rotating Electric Machine 30 and Rotating Shaft 40) The rotating electric machine 30 has a rotor 31 that transmits its own rotation to the rotating shaft 40, and a stator 32 configured by mounting a multi-phase winding on a laminated core.

[0031] The rotating shaft 40 is connected to the rotating electric machine 30 and rotates by the power of the rotating electric machine 30. The rotating shaft 40 also transmits the power of the rotating electric machine 30 to the compression mechanism 20. The rotating shaft 40 is connected to the rotor 31 of the rotating electric machine 30 and rotates together with the rotation of the rotor 31. The rotating shaft 40 rotates about an axis extending in the vertical direction on the page of FIG. 1 . In the first embodiment, the upper end side of the rotating shaft 40 is connected to the rotor 31 of the rotating electric machine 30, and the lower end side of the rotating shaft 40 is connected to the compression mechanism 20. More specifically, the lower end side of the rotating shaft 40 is rotatably supported by an upper bearing 24A and a lower bearing 24B of the compression mechanism 20.

[0032] The first piston 22A and the second piston 22B are connected to the rotating shaft 40 so as to be capable of eccentric rotational movement between a point rotatably supported by the upper bearing 24A and a point rotatably supported by the lower bearing 24B.

[0033] The rotating shaft 40 is also formed with an oil feed hole 42 that opens at an end 41, which is one end of the rotating shaft 40. The oil feed hole 42 extends along the rotation center of the rotating shaft 40. The end 41 is the lower end of the rotating shaft 40. The rotating shaft 40 is also formed with a first oil feed port 43 and a second oil feed port 44. The first oil feed port 43 and the second oil feed port 44 serve as flow paths for supplying the lubricating oil 6 sucked into the oil feed hole 42 to the sliding parts of the compression mechanism 20. One end of the first oil feed port 43 and the second oil feed port 44 communicates with the oil feed hole 42. The other end of the first oil feed port 43 and the second oil feed port 44 opens at a location on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 40 that faces the compression mechanism 20. Specifically, the other end of the first oil fill port 43 opens at a location radially opposite the upper bearing 24A of the compression mechanism 20. Furthermore, the other end of the second oil fill port 44 opens at a location radially opposite the lower bearing 24B of the compression mechanism 20.

[0034] (Suction pipe 2) The suction pipe 2 is a pipe that draws the gas refrigerant separated in the gas-liquid separator 5 into the compressor shell 10. That is, the suction pipe 2 is a pipe that draws low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant into the compressor shell 10. The suction pipe 2 is connected to the body portion 12 of the compressor shell 10. The number of suction pipes 2 is the same as the number of cylinders of the compression mechanism 20, and in this case, there are two suction pipes 2. One end of each of the two suction pipes 2 is connected to a first cylinder 21A and a second cylinder 21B of the compression mechanism 20. The other end of each of the two suction pipes 2 is connected to a gas outflow pipe 54 (described later) of the gas-liquid separator 5.

[0035] (Discharge Pipe 3) The discharge pipe 3 is a pipe that discharges the refrigerant compressed in the compression mechanism 20 to the outside of the compressor shell 10. In other words, the discharge pipe 3 is a pipe that discharges the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant inside the compressor shell 10 to the outside of the compressor shell 10. The discharge pipe 3 is connected to the head 11 of the compressor shell 10.

[0036] (Centrifugal Pump 45) The centrifugal pump 45 is a fluid machine that uses centrifugal force generated by the rotational motion of the rotating shaft 40 to pump up the lubricating oil 6 stored in the bottom 13 of the compressor shell 10. The centrifugal pump 45 is provided inside the oil feed hole 42 of the rotating shaft 40. The centrifugal pump 45 is formed by twisting a plate-shaped member. The lubricating oil 6 pumped up into the oil feed hole 42 by the centrifugal pump 45 is supplied to sliding parts of the compression mechanism 20. Specifically, a portion of the lubricating oil 6 pumped up into the oil feed hole 42 passes through a first oil feed port 43 and is supplied to the sliding part between the upper bearing 24A of the compression mechanism 20 and the rotating shaft 40. Furthermore, a portion of the lubricating oil 6 pumped up into the oil feed hole 42 passes through a second oil feed port 44 and is supplied to the sliding part between the lower bearing 24B of the compression mechanism 20 and the rotating shaft 40. As the lubricating oil 6, for example, mineral oil-based, alkylbenzene-based, polyalkylene glycol-based, polyvinyl ether-based, polyol ester-based lubricating oil, or the like is used.

[0037] [Gas-Liquid Separator 5] (Structure of Gas-Liquid Separator) The gas-liquid separator 5 will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and the following FIGS. 2 to 5. FIG.

[0038] Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the gas-liquid separator 5 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the inner vessel 51 of the gas-liquid separator 5 according to the first embodiment, as viewed from above. Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the separation section 55 of the gas-liquid separator 5 according to the first embodiment.

[0039] The gas-liquid separator 5 separates the refrigerant containing lubricating oil that flows in from the outside into a gas refrigerant and a mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil. The gas refrigerant flows out, while the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil is stored inside. The gas-liquid separator 5 functions as an accumulator that stores excess refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle circuit. The gas-liquid separator 5 is provided in the refrigeration cycle circuit to prevent liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor outer casing 10 and causing liquid compression. The gas-liquid separator 5 also functions to return lubricating oil to the compressor outer casing 10. As described below, the gas-liquid separator 5 supplies lubricating oil together with liquid refrigerant to the compressor outer casing 10 during oil return, but the amount of liquid refrigerant at this time is small enough to prevent problems caused by liquid compression. The gas-liquid separator 5 also functions as a muffler that reduces refrigerant noise and other noise generated when the refrigerant flows into the compressor outer casing 10.

[0040] The gas-liquid separator 5 includes an external container 50, an internal container 51, a fixing member 52, a refrigerant inlet pipe 53, a gas outlet pipe 54, and a separation section 55. The external container 50 is a vertically elongated container having a first top section 50a, a first bottom section 50b, and a first circumferential section 50c, and constitutes the outer shell of the gas-liquid separator 5. The external container 50 is divided at the first circumferential section 50c into an upper external container 50A having the first top section 50a and a lower external container 50B having the first bottom section 50b, and the upper external container 50A and the lower external container 50B are joined at the divided section of the first circumferential section 50c. The upper external container 50A is a cylindrical container with a bottom that is open at the bottom, and the lower external container 50B is a cylindrical container with a bottom that is open at the top.

[0041] The internal container 51 is a vertically long container smaller than the external container 50. The internal container 51 is disposed inside the external container 50 below a separation section 55 (described later). The internal container 51 is disposed inside the external container 50, and forms an external space S1 between the internal container 51 and the external container 50 in which a mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil separated in the separation section 55 accumulates. The internal container 51 includes a second top section 51a, a second bottom section 51b, and a second circumferential section 51c. The internal container 51 has a cylindrical cross section, with the second top section 51a located above the cylindrical second circumferential section 51c and the bottom section of the second circumferential section 51c located below the second circumferential section 51c, and the second top section 51a, second bottom section 51b, and second circumferential section 51c being integrally formed.

[0042] The second ceiling portion 51a has an inclined wall portion 51A whose diameter decreases from bottom to top. When viewed in axial cross section, the inclined wall portion 51A is an inclined wall that slopes upward toward the center of the inner container 51. As will be described in detail below, the inclined wall portion 51A has the function of preventing the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil separated in the separation portion 55 from directly flowing into the gas outflow pipe 54. In FIG. 3, the dotted portion indicates the inclined wall portion 51A.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4 , the second ceiling portion 51a has a gas inlet 51a1 formed in the center of the upper end of the inclined wall portion 51A, through which the gas refrigerant separated in the separation portion 55 flows. The gas inlet 51a1 is formed as a circular through-hole. The second ceiling portion 51a also has an oil inlet 51a2 formed therein, through which a mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil accumulated in the upper part of the external space S1 between the internal container 51 and the external container 50 flows into the internal space S2 of the internal container 51. The oil inlet 51a2 is formed as a groove extending downward from the circular edge of the gas inlet 51a1. The oil inlet 51a2 is not limited to a groove and may be formed as an independent through-hole separated from the gas inlet 51a1. In short, the oil inlet 51a2 may be formed as a through-hole formed below the gas inlet 51a1. Three oil inlets 51a2 are formed circumferentially around the gas inlet 51a1, spaced apart from each other. The number of oil inlet ports 51a2 is not limited to three, but may be two, or may be four or more.

[0044] The inner container 51 is fixed to the inside of the lower outer container 50B by fixing members 52. The fixing members 52 are plate-like members, and as shown in Fig. 3, four of them are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction between the inner container 51 and the lower outer container 50B, and connect the inner container 51 and the outer container 50B by welding or the like. The number of fixing members 52 is not limited to four, and may be two or more.

[0045] The refrigerant inlet pipe 53 is a pipe that allows refrigerant containing lubricating oil to flow from the outside of the external container 50 to the inside. The refrigerant inlet pipe 53 is provided so as to vertically penetrate the first top portion 50a of the external container 50. The gas outlet pipe 54 is a pipe that allows the gas refrigerant separated in the separation section 55 to flow out of the external container 50. One end of the gas outlet pipe 54 is located inside the internal container 51 and the other end is located outside the external container 50, and the gas outlet pipe 54 is provided so as to vertically penetrate the second bottom portion 51b of the internal container 51 and the first bottom portion 50b of the external container 50. The number of gas outlet pipes 54 provided is the same as the number of suction pipes 2 connected to the compressor shell 10; here, two gas outlet pipes are provided.

[0046] The gas outflow pipe 54 is divided into two parts, an inner pipe 54A located inside the outer container 50, and an outer pipe 54B located outside the outer container 50. The inner pipe 54A is formed to extend linearly, with its upper end located inside the inner container 51 and its lower end penetrating both the second bottom 51b of the inner container 51 and the first bottom 50b of the outer container 50 and protruding to the outside of the outer container 50. The inner pipe 54A has a free upper end and a lower end fixed to both the second bottom 51b of the inner container 51 and the first bottom 50b of the outer container 50.

[0047] The outer pipe 54B is configured as a pipe having a curved portion between one end connected to the inner pipe 54A and the other end connected to the suction pipe 2. The lower end of the inner pipe 54A protrudes downward below the outer container 50 and has an expanded diameter, and one end of the outer pipe 54B is inserted into the expanded diameter portion and connected to the inner pipe 54A.

[0048] The inner pipe 54A is formed with a first oil return hole 60A and a second oil return hole 60B. The first oil return hole 60A is formed in the inner pipe 54A outside the internal container 51. The first oil return hole 60A is formed in the inner pipe 54A below the second bottom 51b of the internal container 51. The first oil return hole 60A is connected to the external space S1 between the internal container 51 and the external container 50. The first oil return hole 60A is located between the first bottom 50b of the external container 50 and the second bottom 51b of the internal container 51. The second oil return hole 60B is formed in the bottom of the internal container 51 in the inner pipe 54A. The second oil return hole 60B is connected to the internal space S2 within the internal container 51. The second oil return hole 60B is located between the second bottom 51b of the internal container 51 and the oil inlet 51a2.

[0049] The gas outflow pipe 54 is divided into two pipes, an inner pipe 54A and an outer pipe 54B, for the following reason. If the gas outflow pipe 54 were not divided, the assembly procedure would be as follows, for example. Note that the following procedure is based on the premise that the outer container 50 has a structure divided into an upper outer container 50A and a lower outer container 50B.

[0050] First, the inner container 51 is fixed inside the lower outer container 50B by the fixing members 52. With respect to this assembly, an undivided gas outflow pipe is passed from below through the through-holes provided in the first bottom 50b of the lower outer container 50B and the second bottom 51b of the inner container 51. Then, the gas outflow pipe is fixed to the first bottom 50b of the outer container 50B and the second bottom 51b of the inner container 51 by welding or the like.

[0051] Here, welding of the gas outflow pipe to the first bottom 50b of the outer container 50 can be performed from outside the outer container 50. However, welding of the gas outflow pipe to the second bottom 51b of the inner container 51 must be performed through the gap between the fixing members 52 fixed around the periphery of the inner container 51, and in practice, welding is impossible because the torch of a welding machine cannot reach there. In other words, if the gas outflow pipe 54 is not divided into two pieces, it is impossible to fix the gas outflow pipe 54.

[0052] On the other hand, when the gas outflow pipe 54 is divided into two pipes, an inner pipe 54A and an outer pipe 54B, the gas outflow pipe 54 can be fixed to the inner container 51 and the outer container 50 as follows: First, the inner pipe 54A is passed from the inside of the inner container 51 through the through-hole in the second bottom 51b of the inner container 51 so that the lower end of the inner pipe 54A protrudes from the inner container 51. Then, the inner pipe 54A and the second bottom 51b of the inner container 51 are fixed together by, for example, welding.

[0053] The assembly comprising the inner container 51 and the inner pipe 54A is inserted into the lower outer container 50B, with the lower end of the inner pipe 54A projecting downward from the through-hole in the first bottom 50b of the lower outer container 50B. The lower end of the inner pipe 54A projecting downward from the through-hole in the first bottom 50b of the lower outer container 50B is then expanded in diameter, and the expanded portion is fixed to the lower outer container 50B by welding or the like. One end of the outer pipe 54B is then inserted into the expanded portion of the inner pipe 54A, and the expanded portion of the inner pipe 54A and one end of the outer pipe 54B are fixed to each other by welding or the like.

[0054] In this way, the gas-liquid separator 5 has the gas outflow pipe 54 divided into two pipes, the inner pipe 54A and the outer pipe 54B, which makes it possible to fix the gas outflow pipe 54 to the inner container 51 and the outer container 50.

[0055] The separation unit 55 is disposed inside the external container 50 and separates the refrigerant containing the lubricating oil 6 that flows in from the refrigerant inlet pipe 53 into a gas refrigerant and a mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil. The separation unit 55 is disposed between the end of the refrigerant inlet pipe 53 inside the external container 50 and the internal container 51. The separation unit 55 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the upper external container 50A.

[0056] The separation portion 55 is made of metal and, as shown in FIG. 5 , has a disk-shaped upper surface portion 55a and a cylindrical portion 55b extending downward from the outer periphery of the upper surface portion 55a. The upper surface portion 55a and the cylindrical portion 55b are integrally formed. The upper surface portion 55a is provided with three inclined surfaces 56 in the circumferential direction around the central axis O of the upper surface portion 55a. The inclined surfaces 56 are portions that slope downward from the radially inner side to the radially outer side of the upper surface portion 55a. The inclined surfaces 56 are also curved downward in a convex shape.

[0057] The lower edge 56a of the inclined surface portion 56 has an arc-like shape that convex radially outward when viewed in the axial direction of the central axis O. The upper edge 56b of the inclined surface portion 56 has an arc-like shape that convex radially inward when viewed in the axial direction of the central axis O. The lower edge 56a of the inclined surface portion 56 is separated and spaced apart from a flat portion of the upper surface portion 55a that is radially outward of the lower edge 56a. This spaced apart portion forms a communication hole 57 that connects the upper and lower parts of the upper surface portion 55a. Three communication holes 57 are formed in the circumferential direction around the central axis O, the same number as the number of inclined surface portions 56.

[0058] The inclined surface portion 56 is formed by pushing the radially inner portion of the upper surface portion 55a downward in a curved shape. The inclined surface portion 56 is separated from the radially inner portion by a circular arc-shaped cut C on the upper surface portion 55a, which is formed between points A and B and has a center axis O. The cut C corresponds to the outer peripheral edge of the communication hole 57. Therefore, the outer peripheral edge of the communication hole 57 is shaped like an arc of a circle centered on the center axis O of the upper surface portion 55a. The number of inclined surface portions 56 is not limited to three and may be four or more. However, the number of inclined surface portions 56 and the number of oil inlets 51a2 of the internal container 51 are the same. As shown in FIG. 3 , the oil inlets 51a2 are positioned between adjacent inclined surface portions 56 in the circumferential direction when viewed in the axial direction. The reason for this configuration will be described later.

[0059] (Operation of gas-liquid separator 5) FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the gas-liquid separator 5 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the flow of a gas refrigerant and a mixed liquid of a liquid refrigerant and a lubricant oil in a schematic cross section taken along line A-A in FIG. 2. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the outline arrows indicate the flow of the gas refrigerant, and the hatched arrows indicate the flow of the mixed liquid of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricant oil. Also, in FIG. 6, mixed liquids with different oil concentrations are shown using different types of hatching. In FIG. 6, "lubricant-rich" indicates a mixed liquid containing a large amount of lubricant oil and having a relatively high oil concentration. "Liquid refrigerant-rich" indicates a mixed liquid containing a large amount of liquid refrigerant and having a relatively low oil concentration. "Intermediate mixed liquid" indicates a mixed liquid with an oil concentration between "lubricant-rich" and "liquid refrigerant-rich".

[0060] 6( a): Refrigerant that flows into the external container 50 from the refrigerant inlet pipe 53 collides with the separation section 55 and is separated into a gas refrigerant and a mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil. The separated gas refrigerant and the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil are each guided by the sloped surface 56 of the separation section 55 and flow into the lower part of the separation section 55 through the communication hole 57. Here, the gas refrigerant that has flowed into the lower part of the separation section 55 flows into the gas outflow pipe 54 from the upper opening 54 a of the gas outflow pipe 54, as shown by the outline arrow, and flows out from the lower opening 54 b to be supplied to the compressor housing 10.

[0061] Meanwhile, the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil is guided by the sloped surface 56 as shown by the hatched arrow and flows through the communication hole 57 into the external space S1 between the internal container 51 and the external container 50 below the separation section 55. Figure 6(a) shows the state in which the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil has accumulated in the external space S1. The mixture accumulated in the external space S1 is an intermediate mixture with an intermediate oil concentration.

[0062] In the state shown in Fig. 6(a), an intermediate mixed liquid having an intermediate oil concentration is drawn into the gas outflow pipe 54 from the external space S1 through the first oil return hole 60A. The intermediate mixed liquid having an intermediate oil concentration drawn into the gas outflow pipe 54 flows out from the lower opening 54b together with the gas refrigerant flowing from the upper opening 54a toward the lower opening 54b of the gas outflow pipe 54, and is supplied to the compressor outer casing 10. That is, in the state shown in Fig. 6(a), the gas-liquid separator 5 supplies the intermediate mixed liquid having an intermediate oil concentration together with the gas refrigerant to the compressor outer casing 10 through the first oil return hole 60A.

[0063] 3, the oil inlet 51a2 provided at the top of the internal container 51 is located between the circumferentially adjacent inclined surfaces 56 in the separation section 55 when viewed in the axial direction. In other words, the inclined surfaces 56 are located at positions that avoid the oil inlet 51a2. Therefore, the gas-liquid separator 5 can prevent the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil separated in the separation section 55 from being guided by the inclined surfaces 56 and flowing through the oil inlet 51a2 into the internal container 51 and ultimately directly into the gas outlet pipe 54.

[0064] 6(b): As the liquid refrigerant and lubricant mixture continues to flow into the external space S1, the liquid level in the external space S1 rises. Here, the lubricant and the liquid refrigerant are not compatible with each other, particularly in low ambient temperatures, and the lubricant and the liquid refrigerant separate. Figure 6(b) shows the state in which the mixture stored in the external space S1 separates, forming two layers: a lubricant-rich layer containing a relatively low-density lubricant oil is positioned above a liquid refrigerant-rich layer containing a relatively high-density liquid refrigerant.

[0065] In the state shown in Fig. 6(b), the liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid is drawn from the external space S1 into the gas outflow pipe 54 through the first oil return hole 60A. The liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid drawn into the gas outflow pipe 54 flows out of the lower opening 54b together with the gas refrigerant flowing from the upper opening 54a toward the lower opening 54b of the gas outflow pipe 54, and is supplied to the compressor outer casing 10. That is, in the state shown in Fig. 6(b), the gas-liquid separator 5 supplies the liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid together with the gas refrigerant to the compressor outer casing 10 through the first oil return hole 60A.

[0066] 6(c): As the mixture of lubricating oil and liquid refrigerant continues to flow into the external space S1, the lubricating oil-rich mixture flows from the external space S1 through the oil inlet 51a2 into the internal space S2 of the internal container 51, as indicated by the cross-hatched arrows. FIG. 6(c) shows a state in which the lubricating oil-rich mixture that has flowed into the internal container 51 from the external space S1 has not yet reached the height position of the second oil return hole 60B.

[0067] In the state shown in Fig. 6(c), the lubricant-oil-rich mixed liquid has not yet reached the height position of the second oil return hole 60B. Therefore, the gas-liquid separator 5 supplies the liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid together with the gas refrigerant to the compressor shell 10 through the first oil return hole 60A, as in Fig. 6(b).

[0068] 6(d): As the mixture of lubricating oil and liquid refrigerant continues to flow into the external space S1, the lubricating oil-rich mixture continues to flow from the external space S1 into the internal space S2 through the oil inlet 51a2, as indicated by the cross-hatched arrows. FIG. 6(d) shows a state in which the lubricating oil-rich mixture that has flowed from the external space S1 into the internal space S2 has accumulated to a position higher than the second oil return hole 60B.

[0069] In the state shown in Fig. 6(d), the lubricant-oil-rich mixed liquid reaches the height position of the second oil return hole 60B in the internal container 51. Therefore, the gas-liquid separator 5 supplies the liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid to the compressor outer shell 10 through the first oil return hole 60A, and supplies the lubricant-oil-rich mixed liquid to the compressor outer shell 10 through the second oil return hole 60B. That is, in the state shown in Fig. 6(d), the gas-liquid separator 5 supplies both the liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid and the lubricant-oil-rich mixed liquid together with the gas refrigerant to the compressor outer shell 10.

[0070] As described above, the gas-liquid separator 5 supplies lubricating oil to the compressor outer casing 10 only through the first oil return hole 60A until the liquid level in the internal container 51 reaches the second oil return hole 60B. When the refrigeration cycle is stable, the refrigerant flows into the gas-liquid separator 5 in a single-phase gas state, and the liquid level does not reach the second oil return hole 60B. The first oil return hole 60A performs the oil return function to return oil even when the liquid level in the gas-liquid separator 5 is low. After the liquid level in the internal container 51 reaches the second oil return hole 60B, the gas-liquid separator 5 supplies lubricating oil to the compressor outer casing 10 through both the first oil return hole 60A and the second oil return hole 60B.

[0071] The gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1 has a single container, which corresponds to the outer container 50 of the gas-liquid separator 5. Therefore, when a two-layer structure is formed in the container, in which a layer of a lubricant-rich mixed liquid containing a large amount of lubricant oil is located above a layer of a liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid containing a large amount of liquid refrigerant, both the first oil return hole and the second oil return hole are located in the layer of the liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid. In other words, in the gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1, both the first oil return hole and the second oil return hole are located in the layer of the mixed liquid containing a small amount of lubricant oil. Therefore, in the gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1, the oil concentration in the mixed liquid supplied to the compressor shell through both the first oil return hole and the second oil return hole is low, resulting in reduced sliding and sealing performance in the compressor 1.

[0072] In contrast, the gas-liquid separator 5 includes an internal container 51 within an external container 50, and the lubricant-rich mixed liquid is stored in the internal space S2 of the internal container 51, with the second oil return hole located in the internal space S2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6(d), the gas-liquid separator 5 can supply the lubricant-rich mixed liquid to the compressor shell 10 through the second oil return hole 60B after the liquid level of the lubricant-rich mixed liquid reaches the height position of the second oil return hole 60B. Therefore, the gas-liquid separator 5 can improve oil return performance compared to the gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1, in which the mixed liquid in the external space S1 separates into a layer of lubricant-rich mixed liquid and a layer of liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid, and then supplies only the liquid refrigerant-rich mixed liquid to the compressor shell from both of the two oil return holes. Furthermore, since the first oil return hole 60A is located in the external space S1 where the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil begins to accumulate, the function of the first oil return hole 60A is similar to that of the first oil return hole of the gas-liquid separator of Patent Document 1.

[0073] (Function of Sloped Wall Portion 51A of Internal Container 51) Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the function of the sloped wall portion 51A of the internal container 51 of the gas-liquid separator 5 according to embodiment 1. In Figure 8, the dotted line indicates a case where the second top portion 51a of the internal container 51 does not have the sloped wall portion 51A and is cylindrical with the same diameter from bottom to top. In the gas-liquid separator 5, the sloped wall portion 51A of the second top portion 51a of the internal container 51 can prevent the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil from directly flowing into the gas outflow pipe 54, as described below, compared to a case where the second top portion 51a of the internal container 51 is cylindrical as shown by the dotted line.

[0074] As shown by the dotted line, if the top surface of the second top portion 51a of the inner container 51 is flat, the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil separated in the separation portion 55 bounces off the flat surface. The bounced mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil is caught in the flow of the gas refrigerant from the refrigerant inlet pipe 53 toward the gas outlet pipe 54, and is likely to flow into the gas outlet pipe 54.

[0075] In contrast, in the gas-liquid separator 5, the second top 51a of the internal container 51 has an inclined wall 51A, which forms an inclined surface that slopes downward. Therefore, the gas-liquid separator 5 can suppress the above-mentioned splashing compared to a configuration in which the upper surface of the second top 51a of the internal container 51 is flat. As a result, the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil can be prevented from directly flowing into the gas outflow pipe 54.

[0076] (Dimensions of each component of gas-liquid separator 5) Fig. 9 is a dimensional explanatory diagram of the gas-liquid separator 5 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 10 is a dimensional explanatory diagram of the separation section 55 of the compressor 1 according to embodiment 1. The gas-liquid separator 5 has the following dimensional relationships (1) to (5).

[0077] (1) The outer diameter φA of the internal container 51 is smaller than the diameter φB of an imaginary circle including each of the arc-shaped notches C. If the outer diameter φA is larger than the diameter φB, the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil separated in the separation section 55 will likely flow directly into the gas outflow pipe 54. Although the outer diameter φA is smaller than the diameter φB, if the outer diameter φA is too small, the volume of the internal container 51 will be reduced, and the amount of lubricating oil supplied to the compressor shell 10 from the second oil return hole 60B will be reduced. In light of the above, the outer diameter φA is set to be 0.9 to 1.0 times the diameter φB.

[0078] (2) The diameter φC of the gas inlet 51a1 of the inner container 51 is larger than the diameter φD of an imaginary circle circumscribing the two gas outlet pipes 54 so as to include them inside. In other words, the diameter φD is the sum of the center-to-center distance between the two gas outlet pipes 54 and the diameter of the gas outlet pipe 54. When the diameter φC is larger than the diameter φD, the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil can be prevented from flowing directly into the gas outlet pipe 54. Note that although the diameter φC is larger than the diameter D, if the diameter φC is too large, the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil separated in the separation unit 55 is likely to flow directly into the gas outlet pipe 54.

[0079] On the other hand, if the diameter φC is equal to or smaller than the diameter φD, the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil is more likely to flow directly into the gas outlet pipe 54 for the following reason. At the stage shown in FIG. 6(d), the liquid level of the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil accumulated outside the internal container 51 is located at the same height as the oil inlet 51a2. Therefore, when the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil separated in the separation section 55 flows into this liquid level, it is expected that the mixture will be scattered above the liquid level, i.e., near the oil inlet 51a2. If the diameter φC is equal to or smaller than the diameter φD, the mixture scattered near the oil inlet 51a2 is more likely to flow directly into the gas outlet pipe 54 through the upper end surface 51aa of the internal container 51 due to the flow of gas refrigerant and gravity. In light of the above, the diameter φC is set to be 1.0 to 1.1 times the diameter φD.

[0080] (3) The distance E between the upper end 54aa of the inner pipe 54A and the upper end surface 51aa of the internal container 51 is shorter than the distance F between the upper end 54aa of the inner pipe 54A and the lower end 56c of the inclined portion 56 of the separation portion 55. Although the distance E is shorter than the distance F, if the distance E is too shorter than the distance F, the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil is likely to flow directly into the gas outlet pipe 54 for the following reason. At the stage shown in FIG. 6( d ), the liquid level of the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil accumulated outside the internal container 51 is located at the same height as the oil inlet 51a2. Therefore, it is expected that the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil separated in the separation portion 55 flows into the liquid level, causing the mixture to splash above the liquid level, i.e., near the oil inlet 51a2.

[0081] If the distance E is too small compared to the distance F, the distance from the upper end of the inclined wall portion 51A, which acts as a barrier to prevent the mixed liquid from scattering near the oil inlet 51a2, to the upper end 54aa of the inner pipe 54A becomes short. As a result, the mixed liquid that has scattered near the oil inlet 51a2 is more likely to flow directly into the gas outlet pipe 54. In light of the above, the distance E is set to be 0.1 to 0.3 times the distance F.

[0082] (4) The vertical distance G of the inclined wall portion 51A of the inner container 51 is longer than (φA - φC) / 2. As described above, the vertical distance G is longer than (φA - φC) / 2, which prevents the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil separated in the separation unit 55 from bouncing off the second ceiling portion 51a, becoming entrained in the flow of gas refrigerant, and flowing directly into the gas outflow pipe 54. On the other hand, if the vertical distance G is less than (φA - φC) / 2, the inclination of the inclined wall portion 51A of the second ceiling portion 51a becomes smaller, and the upper surface of the second ceiling portion 51a approaches a flat surface, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 8 . Therefore, if the vertical distance G is less than (φA - φC) / 2, the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil separated in the separation unit 55 is more likely to flow directly into the gas outflow pipe 54.

[0083] Although the vertical distance G is set to be longer than (φA-φC) / 2, if it is too long, the volume of the inner container 51 will be reduced, and the amount of lubricating oil supplied from the second oil return hole 60B to the compressor outer casing 10 will be reduced. In light of the above, the vertical distance G is set to be in the range of 1.0 to 1.3 times (φA-φC) / 2.

[0084] (5) The circumferential width H of the oil inlet 51a2 of the internal container 51 is smaller than the circumferential distance I between adjacent sloped portions 56 in the separation section 55. This is because, if the circumferential width H is equal to or greater than the circumferential distance I, the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil separated in the separation section 55 tends to flow directly into the gas outlet pipe 54. Although the circumferential width H is smaller than the circumferential distance I, if the circumferential width H is too small, the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil tends to flow directly into the gas outlet pipe 54 for the following reason. At the stage shown in FIG. 6(d), in order for the liquid level of the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil accumulated outside the internal container 51 to be maintained at the height position of the oil inlet 51a2, the amount of the mixture inside and outside the internal container 51 must be balanced. Specifically, the amount of the mixture flowing into the internal container 51 from the oil inlet 51a2 and the amount of the mixture separated in the separation section 55 and flowing out of the internal container 51 must be balanced.

[0085] If the circumferential width H is too small compared to the circumferential distance I, the flow path of the oil inlet 51a2 narrows, reducing the amount of mixed liquid flowing into the internal container 51 from the oil inlet 51a2. If the amount of mixed liquid flowing into the internal container 51 from the oil inlet 51a2 decreases, the balance of the mixed liquid amounts is lost. If the balance of the mixed liquid amounts is lost and the amount of mixed liquid separated in the separation section 55 and flowing out of the internal container 51 becomes greater than the amount of mixed liquid flowing into the internal container 51 from the oil inlet 51a2, it is expected that the liquid level outside the internal container 51 will rise above the position of the oil inlet 51a2. If the liquid level outside the internal container 51 rises above the position of the oil inlet 51a2 in this way, the mixed liquid scattered above the liquid level will likely flow directly into the gas outlet pipe 54. In light of the above, the circumferential width H is set to a value in the range of 0.8 to 0.9 times the circumferential distance I.

[0086] By satisfying the above dimensional settings (1) to (5), the gas-liquid separator 5 can store excess refrigerant while improving the oil return performance to the compressor shell 10. Note that the gas-liquid separator 5 is not limited to a configuration that satisfies all of the above dimensional settings (1) to (5), and includes a configuration that satisfies some of them.

[0087] The gas-liquid separator 5 is formed such that the vertical distance J of the oil inlet 51 a 2 is shorter than the vertical distance G of the inclined wall portion 51 A of the internal container 51 .

[0088] [Operation of Compressor 1] When current is supplied from a power source (not shown) to windings provided on the laminated core of the stator 32, the stator 32 generates a rotating magnetic field. The rotating magnetic field of the stator 32 acts on the permanent magnets provided on the rotor 31, causing the rotor 31 to rotate. The rotation of the rotor 31 is transmitted to the first piston 22A and the second piston 22B via the rotating shaft 40, causing the first piston 22A and the second piston 22B to perform eccentric rotation. The eccentric rotation of the first piston 22A and the second piston 22B draws refrigerant into the compressor 1. Specifically, the eccentric rotation of the first piston 22A and the second piston 22B causes low-pressure refrigerant outside the compressor 1 to flow into the gas-liquid separator 5 together with lubricating oil.

[0089] As described above, the gas-liquid separator 5 separates the refrigerant that has flowed in together with the lubricating oil into gas refrigerant and a mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil, and causes the gas refrigerant to flow out from the gas outflow pipe 54. The gas refrigerant that has flowed out from the gas outflow pipe 54 flows into the compression mechanism 20 in the compressor outer casing 10 via the suction piping 2. At this time, the gas-liquid separator 5 returns the lubricating oil to the compressor outer casing 10 via the first oil return hole 60A and the second oil return hole 60B depending on the internal condition.

[0090] A portion of the gas refrigerant that flows into the compression mechanism 20 is compressed by the first cylinder 21A and the first piston 22A to become high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. This high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the first muffler 23A through a valve in the upper bearing 24A. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has flowed into the first muffler 23A is released into the space within the compressor outer casing 10 from a refrigerant discharge port (not shown) provided in the first muffler 23A. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant released into the space within the compressor outer casing 10 then moves to the upper part of the space within the compressor outer casing 10 through gaps, etc., between the rotating electric machine 30 and the like, and is discharged from the discharge piping 3.

[0091] The remainder of the gas refrigerant that has flowed into the compression mechanism 20 is compressed by the second cylinder 21B and the second piston 22B to become high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. This high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the second muffler 23B via a valve in the lower bearing 24B. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has flowed into the second muffler 23B is sent from the second muffler 23B through a refrigerant flow path (not shown) to the first muffler 23A. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the first muffler 23A is then released into the space within the compressor shell 10 from a refrigerant discharge port (not shown) provided in the first muffler 23A. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant released into the space within the compressor shell 10 then moves to the upper part of the space within the compressor shell 10 through gaps, etc., between the rotating electric machine 30 and the like, and is discharged from the discharge piping 3.

[0092] Furthermore, the lubricating oil stored in the bottom portion 13 within the compressor outer casing 10 is sucked up from the lower end of the oil feed hole 42 by a centrifugal pump 45 that rotates together with the rotating shaft 40. The lubricating oil sucked up from the lower end of the oil feed hole 42 flows from a first oil feed port 43 into the gap between the upper bearing 24A and the rotating shaft 40. Furthermore, the lubricating oil sucked up from the lower end of the oil feed hole 42 flows from a second oil feed port 44 into the gap between the lower bearing 24B and the rotating shaft 40. By the lubricating oil flowing between these gaps, the rotating shaft 40 can smoothly transmit the rotational driving force to the first piston 22A and the second piston 22B.

[0093] A portion of the lubricating oil that flows between the upper bearing 24A and the rotating shaft 40 from the first oil fill port 43 flows between the upper bearing 24A and the upper surface of the first piston 22A. The lubricating oil that flows between the upper bearing 24A and the upper surface of the first piston 22A flows into the compression space in the first cylinder 21A. Furthermore, a portion of the lubricating oil that flows between the lower bearing 24B and the rotating shaft 40 from the second oil fill port 44 flows between the lower bearing 24B and the lower surface of the second piston 22B. The lubricating oil that flows between the lower bearing 24B and the lower surface of the second piston 22B flows into the compression space in the second cylinder 21B. The lubricating oil is used to smoothly rotate the first piston 22A and the second piston 22B, but a portion of the lubricating oil flows into the compression space, is compressed together with the low-pressure gas refrigerant, and is discharged in a state contained in the high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant.

[0094] [Effects of First Embodiment] As described above, the compressor 1 of the first embodiment includes the external container 50, the refrigerant inlet pipe 53, the separation unit 55, the internal container 51, and the gas outlet pipe 54. The external container 50 has a first top portion 50a, a first bottom portion 50b, and a first circumferential portion 50c. The refrigerant inlet pipe 53 is disposed through the first top portion 50a of the external container 50 and is a pipe through which the refrigerant containing lubricating oil flows from the outside of the external container 50 to the inside of the external container 50. The separation unit 55 is disposed inside the external container 50 and separates the refrigerant containing lubricating oil that flows in from the refrigerant inlet pipe 53 into a gas refrigerant and a mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil. The internal container 51 is disposed below the separation unit 55 inside the external container 50. The internal container 51 has a second top 51a, a second bottom 51b, and a second periphery 51c, and forms, between the internal container 51 and the external container 50, an external space S1 in which a mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil separated in the separation section 55 accumulates. A gas inlet 51a1 for the gas refrigerant separated in the separation section 55 is formed in the second top 51a of the internal container 51. An oil inlet 51a2 formed as a through-hole below the gas inlet 51a1 is formed in the second top 51a of the internal container 51, and allows the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil accumulated in the external space S1 to flow into the internal space S2 of the internal container 51. A gas outlet pipe 54 is provided vertically penetrating the second bottom 51b of the internal container 51 and the first bottom 50b of the external container 50. The gas outflow pipe 54 has one end located inside the inner container 51 and the other end located outside the outer container 50, and is a pipe that allows the gas refrigerant that has flowed into the inner container 51 from the gas inlet 51a1 to flow out of the outer container 50. The gas outflow pipe 54 has a first oil return hole 60A formed between the first bottom 50b and the second bottom 51b, and a second oil return hole 60B formed between the second bottom 51b and the oil inlet 51a2.

[0095] With the above configuration, in the gas-liquid separator 5 of embodiment 1, the first oil return hole 60A is located between the first bottom 50b and the second bottom 51b in the external space S1. Therefore, in the gas-liquid separator 5 of embodiment 1, after the liquid level of the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil accumulated in the external space S1 reaches the first oil return hole, the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil can be drawn from the external space S1 into the gas outflow pipe 54 and discharged to the outside together with the gas refrigerant. Furthermore, in the gas-liquid separator 5 of embodiment 1, the second oil return hole 60B is located between the second bottom 51b and the oil inlet 51a2. That is, the second oil return hole 60B is located inside the internal container 51. A lubricating oil-rich mixture flows from the external space S1 into the internal space S2 of the internal container 51 through the oil inlet 51a2. Therefore, after the liquid level of the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil reaches the height position of the second oil return hole 60B, the gas-liquid separator 5 of the first embodiment can supply the lubricating oil-rich mixture through the second oil return hole 60B to the compressor shell 10. In other words, the gas-liquid separator 5 of the first embodiment can increase the proportion of lubricating oil in the mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil flowing out from the gas outflow pipe 54 while maintaining the function of an accumulator that stores excess refrigerant, thereby improving oil return performance.

[0096] Furthermore, by satisfying some or all of the dimensional settings (1) to (5) above, the gas-liquid separator 5 of embodiment 1 can store excess refrigerant while improving the oil return performance to the compressor casing 10.

[0097] Embodiment 2. Figure 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a gas-liquid separator 5 according to embodiment 2. In the gas-liquid separator 5 of embodiment 2, the axial lengths of the lower external container 50B and the upper external container 50A of the external container 50 are specified. The following description will focus on the configuration of embodiment 2 that differs from embodiment 1, and configurations not described in embodiment 2 are the same as embodiment 1.

[0098] 11 , in the external container 50 of the second embodiment, the axial length of the lower external container 50B is longer than that of the upper external container 50A. The internal container 51 is fixed to the lower external container 50B by a fixing member 52 provided at the upper part of the interior of the lower external container 50B.

[0099] [Effects of Second Embodiment] Because the internal container 51 is vertically long, it is preferable that the fixing member 52 be positioned as high as possible in order to stably fix the internal container 51 to the external container 50. In the external container 50 of the second embodiment, the axial length of the lower external container 50B is longer than that of the upper external container 50A, and therefore the fixing member 52 can be positioned higher than in a configuration in which the axial length of the lower external container 50B is shorter than that of the upper external container 50A. Therefore, in the gas-liquid separator 5 of the second embodiment, the internal container 51 can be fixed to the external container 50 at an upper position, and therefore the internal container 51 can be stably fixed to the external container 50, and the fixing strength can be increased.

[0100] Third Embodiment The third embodiment relates to a refrigeration cycle apparatus including the compressor 1 of the first or second embodiment.

[0101] 12 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to embodiment 3. The refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 includes the compressor 1 according to embodiment 1 or 2, a radiator in which the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 radiates heat, a pressure reducer 203 such as an electric expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant flowing out from the radiator, and an evaporator in which the refrigerant flowing out from the pressure reducer 203 evaporates.

[0102] The refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 is used for various purposes, such as a hot water supply apparatus and a freezing apparatus. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 is used as an air conditioner. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 12 includes an indoor heat exchanger 204 that functions as a radiator during heating operation and an outdoor heat exchanger 202 that functions as an evaporator during heating operation. The refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 12 is also capable of cooling operation. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 includes a four-way switching valve 201. The four-way switching valve 201 switches between the heat exchanger connected to the discharge pipe 3, which is the refrigerant discharge port of the compressor 1, and the heat exchanger connected to the gas-liquid separator 5, which is the refrigerant intake port of the compressor 1. During cooling operation, the indoor heat exchanger 204 functions as an evaporator, and the outdoor heat exchanger 202 functions as a radiator.

[0103] When the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 is used as an air conditioner, for example, the indoor heat exchanger 204 is mounted in an indoor device. Also, for example, the four-way switching valve 201, the outdoor heat exchanger 202, and the pressure reducer 203 are mounted in an outdoor device. Also, for example, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 uses R407C refrigerant, R410A refrigerant, R32 refrigerant, carbon dioxide refrigerant, or the like.

[0104] The following describes the operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 during heating operation and cooling operation. When the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 performs heating operation, the four-way switching valve 201 switches to the flow path shown by the solid lines in Fig. 12. As a result, the discharge pipe 3 of the compressor 1 is connected to the indoor heat exchanger 204, and the gas-liquid separator 5 of the compressor 1 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 202. In other words, the indoor heat exchanger 204 functions as a radiator, and the outdoor heat exchanger 202 functions as an evaporator.

[0105] In this state, when the high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 is discharged from the compressor 1, the high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger 204. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has flowed into the indoor heat exchanger 204 condenses while releasing heat to the indoor air, and flows out of the indoor heat exchanger 204 as a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. At this time, the indoor air is warmed. Note that some types of refrigerants, such as carbon dioxide refrigerants, do not condense when releasing heat. When a refrigerant that condenses when releasing heat is used, the radiator may also be called a condenser.

[0106] The high-pressure liquid refrigerant that flows out of the indoor heat exchanger 204 flows into the pressure reducer 203. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant that flows into the pressure reducer 203 is reduced in pressure by the pressure reducer 203 to become a low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant, and flows out of the pressure reducer 203. The low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant that flows out of the pressure reducer 203 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 202. The low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant that flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 202 absorbs heat from the outdoor air and evaporates, and flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 202 as a low-pressure gas refrigerant or a two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant. The low-pressure gas refrigerant or a two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant that flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 202 is drawn into the gas-liquid separator 5. The low-pressure gas refrigerant out of the refrigerant drawn into the gas-liquid separator 5 is drawn into the compressor 1 via the gas outflow pipe 54. The low-pressure gas refrigerant drawn into the compressor 1 is compressed by the compression mechanism 20 to become high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. This high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant is discharged again from the compressor 1. That is, when the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 performs heating operation, the refrigerant circulates as shown by the solid arrows in FIG.

[0107] When the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 performs cooling operation, the four-way switching valve 201 switches to the flow path shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 12 . As a result, the discharge pipe 3 of the compressor 1 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 202, and the gas-liquid separator 5 of the compressor 1 is connected to the indoor heat exchanger 204. That is, the outdoor heat exchanger 202 functions as a radiator, and the indoor heat exchanger 204 functions as an evaporator. In this state, when high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 is discharged from the compressor 1, the high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 202. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has flowed into the outdoor heat exchanger 202 condenses while radiating heat to the outdoor air, and becomes high-pressure liquid refrigerant, which flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 202.

[0108] The high-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 202 flows into the pressure reducer 203. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant that flowed into the pressure reducer 203 is reduced in pressure by the pressure reducer 203 to become a low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant, which flows out of the pressure reducer 203. The low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant that flows out of the pressure reducer 203 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 204. The low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant that flows into the indoor heat exchanger 204 absorbs heat from the indoor air and evaporates, and flows out of the indoor heat exchanger 204 as a low-pressure gas refrigerant or a two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant. At this time, the indoor air is cooled. The low-pressure gas refrigerant or two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant that flows out of the indoor heat exchanger 204 is drawn into the gas-liquid separator 5 of the compressor 1. Then, low-pressure gas refrigerant out of the refrigerant drawn into the gas-liquid separator 5 of the compressor 1 is drawn into the compressor 1 via the gas outflow pipe 54. The low-pressure gas refrigerant drawn into the compressor 1 is compressed by the compression mechanism 20 of the compressor 1 to become high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. This high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant is discharged again from the compressor 1. That is, when the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 performs cooling operation, the refrigerant circulates as shown by the dashed arrows in FIG.

[0109] The refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 having the above configuration includes the compressor 1 of the first or second embodiment, and therefore can increase the proportion of lubricating oil in the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil flowing out of the gas-liquid separator 5. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 can improve the sliding properties and sealing properties of the sliding parts in the compressor 1.

[0110] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Compressor, 2 Suction pipe, 3 Discharge pipe, 5 Gas-liquid separator, 6 Lubricating oil, 10 Compressor shell, 11 Head, 12 Body, 13 Bottom, 20 Compression mechanism, 21A First cylinder, 21B Second cylinder, 22A First piston, 22B Second piston, 23A First muffler, 23B Second muffler, 24A Upper bearing, 24B Lower bearing, 25 Partition plate, 30 Rotating electric machine, 31 Rotor, 32 Stator, 40 Rotating shaft, 41 End, 42 Oil supply hole, 43 First oil supply port, 44 Second oil supply port, 45 Centrifugal pump, 50 External container, 50A Upper external container, 50B Lower external container, 50a First top part, 50b First bottom part, 50c First circumferential part, 51 Internal container, 51A Inclined wall portion, 51a second top portion, 51a1 gas inlet, 51a2 oil inlet, 51aa upper end surface, 51b second bottom portion, 51c second peripheral portion, 52 fixing member, 53 refrigerant inlet pipe, 54 gas outlet pipe, 54A inner pipe, 54B outer pipe, 54a upper opening, 54aa upper end, 54b lower opening, 55 separation portion, 55a upper surface portion, 55b cylindrical portion, 56 inclined portion, 56a lower end edge, 56b upper end edge, 56c lower end, 57 communication hole, 60A first oil return hole, 60B second oil return hole, 200 refrigeration cycle device, 201 four-way switching valve, 202 outdoor heat exchanger, 203 pressure reducer, 204 indoor heat exchanger, C notch, E distance, F Distance, G vertical distance, H circumferential width, I circumferential distance, J vertical distance, O central axis, S space, S1 external space, S2 internal space, φA outer diameter, φC diameter.

Claims

1. an outer container having a first top portion, a first bottom portion, and a first periphery; A refrigerant inlet pipe is provided through the first top portion of the external container, and allows a refrigerant containing lubricating oil to flow from the outside of the external container to the inside of the external container; a separation unit that is disposed inside the external container and separates the refrigerant containing the lubricating oil that has flowed in from the refrigerant inlet pipe into a gas refrigerant and a mixed liquid of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil; an internal container disposed below the separation section inside the external container, the internal container having a second top section, a second bottom section, and a second circumferential section, the internal container forming an external space between the external container and the internal container in which the mixed liquid of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil separated in the separation section accumulates, and a gas inlet for the gas refrigerant separated in the separation section is formed in the second top section; a gas outflow pipe that is provided to vertically penetrate the second bottom of the internal container and the first bottom of the external container, one end of which is located inside the internal container and the other end of which is located outside the external container, and that causes the gas refrigerant that has flowed into the internal container from the gas inflow port to flow out of the external container, The second top portion of the internal container is provided with an oil inlet formed by a through hole below the gas inlet, and the oil inlet is configured to allow the mixture of the liquid refrigerant and the lubricating oil accumulated in the external space to flow into the internal space of the internal container; The gas outflow pipe is formed with a first oil return hole at a position between the first bottom and the second bottom, and a second oil return hole at a position between the second bottom and the oil inlet. Gas-liquid separator.

2. The outer container comprises: a first periphery dividing the container into an upper outer container having the first top portion and a lower outer container having the first bottom portion, and the upper outer container and the lower outer container are joined together at a dividing portion of the first periphery; The gas outflow pipe is an inner pipe located inside the outer container; an outer pipe located outside the outer container and having one end connected to the inner pipe and a curved portion between the one end and the other end; the inner pipe is connected to the first bottom and the second bottom, The outer pipe has one end inserted into the inner pipe and connected to the inner pipe.

2. The gas-liquid separator of claim 1.

3. The inner container has a circular cross-sectional shape, and the second top portion has an inclined wall portion whose diameter decreases from the bottom to the top, The separation portion has a disk-shaped upper surface portion, the upper surface portion has a plurality of inclined surface portions that incline downward in a circumferential direction about a central axis of the upper surface portion from a radially inner side of the upper surface portion toward a radially outer side of the upper surface portion, and lower end edges of the plurality of inclined surface portions are spaced apart from a portion of the upper surface portion that is radially outer than the lower end edge, and the spaced apart portion forms a communication hole that communicates an upper portion with a lower portion of the upper surface portion, an outer circumferential edge of the communication hole is an arc shape of a circle having a center on the central axis of the upper surface portion, The outer diameter φA of the second periphery of the inner container is Smaller than the diameter φB of the circle The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The gas outlet pipe is provided with two pieces, The diameter φC of the gas inlet is The diameter φD is larger than the diameter of an imaginary circle that circumscribes the two gas outflow pipes so as to include them therein. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The distance E between the upper end of the inner pipe and the upper end surface of the inner container is 4. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 3, which is dependent on claim 2, wherein the distance between the upper end of the inner pipe and the lower end of the inclined surface of the separation portion is shorter than a distance F between the upper end of the inner pipe and the lower end of the inclined surface of the separation portion.

6. The inner container has a circular cross-sectional shape, and the second top portion has a slanted wall portion whose diameter decreases from the bottom to the top, The separation portion has a disk-shaped upper surface portion, the upper surface portion has a plurality of inclined surface portions that incline downward in a circumferential direction about a central axis of the upper surface portion from a radially inner side of the upper surface portion toward a radially outer side of the upper surface portion, and lower end edges of the plurality of inclined surface portions are spaced apart from a portion of the upper surface portion that is radially outer than the lower end edge, and the spaced apart portion forms a communication hole that communicates an upper portion with a lower portion of the upper surface portion, an outer circumferential edge of the communication hole is an arc shape of a circle having a center on the central axis of the upper surface portion, The outer diameter φA of the second periphery of the inner container is Smaller than the diameter φB of the circle, The vertical distance G of the inclined wall portion of the inner container is Longer than (φA-φC) / 2 5. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 4.

7. The inner container has a circular cross-sectional shape, and the second top portion has a slanted wall portion whose diameter decreases from the bottom to the top, The separation portion has a disk-shaped upper surface portion, the upper surface portion has a plurality of inclined surface portions that incline downward in a circumferential direction about a central axis of the upper surface portion from a radially inner side of the upper surface portion toward a radially outer side of the upper surface portion, and lower end edges of the plurality of inclined surface portions are spaced apart from a portion of the upper surface portion that is radially outer than the lower end edge, and the spaced apart portion forms a communication hole that communicates an upper portion with a lower portion of the upper surface portion, an outer circumferential edge of the communication hole is an arc shape of a circle having a center on the central axis of the upper surface portion, The outer diameter φA of the second periphery of the inner container is Smaller than the diameter φB of the circle, The circumferential width H of the oil inlet of the inner container is The distance I between the adjacent inclined surface portions in the separation portion is smaller than the circumferential distance I between the adjacent inclined surface portions in the separation portion.

5. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 4.

8. The axial length of the lower outer container is longer than that of the upper outer container, The inner container is fixed to the lower outer container by a fixing member provided at an upper part inside the lower outer container. A gas-liquid separator according to claim 3 dependent on claim 2.

9. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 or 2; a compressor shell connected to the outside of the gas-liquid separator and into which the gas refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator is drawn; a rotating electric machine disposed inside the compressor shell; a rotating shaft connected to the rotating electric machine and rotated by the power of the rotating electric machine; a compression mechanism connected to the rotary shaft and configured to compress the refrigerant drawn from the gas-liquid separator by using power of the rotary electric machine transmitted by the rotary shaft; A compressor equipped with

10. A compressor according to claim 9; a radiator through which the refrigerant compressed by the compressor radiates heat; a pressure reducer that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant flowing out from the radiator; an evaporator in which the refrigerant flowing out from the pressure reducer evaporates; A refrigeration cycle device comprising: