Air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner (1000), wherein a compressor (201), a heat exchanger, a throttling assembly and a flow division assembly (500) are connected to form a refrigerant loop. The flow division assembly (500) comprises a first pipeline (510), a plurality of second pipelines (520) and a flow division member (530). A first end of the first pipeline (510) is connected to the compressor (201), and a second end of the first pipeline is connected to a first end of the flow division member (530). First ends of the plurality of second pipelines (520) are connected to the heat exchanger, and second ends of the plurality of second pipelines are connected to a second end of the flow division member (530). The flow division member (530) comprises different numbers of flow division channels, the flow division channels being in communication with the first pipeline (510) and the plurality of second pipelines (520). The flow division member (530) is configured to switch between different numbers of flow division channels, on the basis of the flow direction of the refrigerant and at least one of the workloads of the heat exchanger.

Description

air conditioner

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202322911190.X, filed on October 27, 2023; priority to Chinese patent application No. 202322911319.7, filed on October 27, 2023; and priority to Chinese patent application No. 202311416348.4, filed on October 27, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of air conditioning, and in particular to an air conditioner. Background Art

[0003] With the development of science and technology and the improvement of people's living standards, air conditioners have become one of the most commonly used household appliances. Air conditioners use a compressor, a condenser, a throttling assembly, and an evaporator to perform a cooling cycle or a heating cycle.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, a throttling assembly, and a diverter assembly. The compressor is configured to compress a refrigerant. The heat exchanger is configured to perform heat exchange with the refrigerant. The throttling assembly is configured to regulate the flow rate of the refrigerant. The compressor, the heat exchanger, and the throttling assembly are connected to form a refrigerant circuit. The diverter assembly includes a first pipeline, a plurality of second pipelines, and a diverter. The first end of the first pipeline is connected to the compressor. The first ends of the plurality of second pipelines are connected to the heat exchanger. The first end of the diverter is connected to the second end of the first pipeline, and the second end of the diverter is connected to the second ends of the plurality of second pipelines. The diverter includes different numbers of diverter channels, each of which connects the first pipeline and the plurality of second pipelines. The diverter is configured to switch between the different numbers of diverter channels according to at least one of the flow direction of the refrigerant or the workload of the heat exchanger, thereby changing the number of diverter channels connected to the heat exchanger. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG1 is a structural diagram of an air conditioner according to some embodiments;

[0007] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant flow between a flow diversion component and a heat exchanger according to some embodiments;

[0008] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of another refrigerant flow direction between a flow diversion component and a heat exchanger according to some embodiments;

[0009] FIG4 is a structural diagram of a flow diverter according to some embodiments;

[0010] FIG5 is a cross-sectional view of a flow divider according to some embodiments;

[0011] FIG6 is another structural diagram of a flow diverter according to some embodiments;

[0012] FIG7 is a side view of a flow divider according to some embodiments;

[0013] FIG8 is a structural diagram of a baffle according to some embodiments;

[0014] FIG9 is a side view of a baffle according to some embodiments;

[0015] FIG10 is a structural diagram of a first unidirectional channel and a first switch assembly according to some embodiments;

[0016] FIG11 is a structural diagram of a second unidirectional channel and a second switch assembly according to some embodiments;

[0017] FIG12 is a structural diagram of another flow diverter according to some embodiments;

[0018] FIG13 is a partial enlarged view of the circle A in FIG12;

[0019] FIG14A is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant flow between another flow diversion component and a heat exchanger according to some embodiments;

[0020] FIG14B is a schematic diagram of another refrigerant flow direction between another flow diversion component and a heat exchanger according to some embodiments;

[0021] FIG14C is a schematic diagram of yet another refrigerant flow direction between another flow diversion component and a heat exchanger according to some embodiments;

[0022] FIG15 is a structural diagram of a first flow guide tube according to some embodiments;

[0023] FIG16 is a cross-sectional view of a first flow conduit according to some embodiments;

[0024] FIG17 is a front view of a first flow conduit according to some embodiments;

[0025] FIG18 is a structural diagram of a second flow guide tube according to some embodiments;

[0026] FIG19 is a cross-sectional view of a second flow conduit according to some embodiments;

[0027] FIG20 is a front view of a second flow conduit according to some embodiments; and

[0028] FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a heat exchanger according to some embodiments.

[0029] Reference numerals: Air conditioner 1000; Indoor unit 100; First heat exchanger 101; First fan 102; Outdoor unit 200; Compressor 201; Four-way valve 202; Second heat exchanger 203; Expansion valve 204; Second fan 205; Controller 300; Heat exchanger 400; Fin 410; Heat exchange tube 420; Connecting tube 430; Subcooling tube 440; First subcooling sub-tube 4401; Second subcooling sub-tube 4402; Third subcooling sub-tube 4403; Flow diverter assembly 500; First pipeline 510; Second pipeline 520; Flow diverter 530; Flow diverter body 536; First sub-body 531; Second sub-body 532; Transition portion 533; Guide channel 534; Guide portion 535; First channel 501; second channel 502; first one-way channel 503; second one-way channel 504; first switch assembly 505; second switch assembly 506; rotating shaft 507; baffle 508; limiting portion 509; first sub-baffle 5081; second sub-baffle 5082; first hinge portion 5083; second hinge portion 5084; first guide tube 601; first body 6011; first guide hole 6012; first sub-guide hole 6013; second sub-guide hole 6014; second guide tube 602; second body 6021; second guide hole 6022; blocking portion 6023; connecting portion 6024; driver 700; signaler 800. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings to clearly and completely describe some embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments provided by the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field are within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0031] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprise" and its other forms, such as the third person singular form "comprises" and the present participle form "comprising", are to be interpreted as open and inclusive, that is, "including, but not limited to". In the description of the specification, the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "exemplary embodiments", "example", "specific example" or "some examples" are intended to indicate that the particular features, structures, materials or characteristics associated with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. The schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. In addition, the particular features, structures, materials or characteristics may be included in any one or more embodiments or examples in any appropriate manner.

[0032] In the following, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of some embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0033] When describing some embodiments, the word "connected" and its derivatives may be used. The term "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, "connected" can mean fixed, removable, or integrated; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediary. The embodiments disclosed herein are not necessarily limited to the contents of this document.

[0034] “At least one of A, B and C” has the same meaning as “at least one of A, B or C” and both include the following combinations of A, B and C: A only, B only, C only, the combination of A and B, the combination of A and C, the combination of B and C, and the combination of A, B and C.

[0035] The use of "adapted to" or "configured to" herein is intended to be open and inclusive language that does not exclude devices adapted or configured to perform additional tasks or steps.

[0036] As used herein, "about," "substantially," or "approximately" includes the stated value and an average value that is within an acceptable range of deviation from the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art taking into account the measurements in question and the errors associated with the measurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system).

[0037] As used herein, "parallel," "perpendicular," and "equal" include the stated conditions and conditions approximating the stated conditions within an acceptable range of deviation as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art taking into account the measurement in question and the errors associated with the measurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system).

[0038] Typically, the heat exchanger in an air conditioner is connected to a diverter assembly, the diverter of which can divert the refrigerant. However, the number of diverter channels in the diverter remains unchanged. As the state and workload of the heat exchanger change, the number of diverter channels required for the highest heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger also changes. In this case, the fixed diverter structure cannot match the different operating modes of the air conditioner. In different operating modes, especially after switching between cooling and heating modes, the number of diverter channels in the diverter cannot meet the demand, and the heat exchanger cannot achieve the highest heat exchange performance (such as energy efficiency ratio), thereby affecting the operating efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0039] In some embodiments, an air conditioner includes multiple flow diversion assemblies with different numbers of diversion channels, thereby enabling the air conditioner to utilize different numbers of diversion channels in different operating modes. However, multiple flow diversion assemblies increase the number of pipes within the air conditioner, making the pipes complex, hindering miniaturization of the air conditioner, and increasing the cost of the air conditioner.

[0040] To solve the above problems, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air conditioner 1000. In the air conditioner 1000, a diverter can switch different numbers of diverter channels in different operating modes of the air conditioner 1000, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger and further improving the operating efficiency of the air conditioner 1000.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1 , an air conditioner 1000 includes an indoor unit 100 .

[0042] The indoor unit 100 includes a first heat exchanger 101 (indoor heat exchanger). The first heat exchanger 101 is configured to exchange heat between indoor air and a refrigerant transmitted through the first heat exchanger 101. For example, the first heat exchanger 101 operates as an evaporator in the cooling mode of the air conditioner 1000 and as a condenser in the heating mode of the air conditioner 1000.

[0043] The indoor unit 100 further includes a first fan 102 (indoor fan). The first fan 102 is disposed in the housing of the indoor unit 100 and is configured to draw indoor air into the indoor unit 100 through the indoor air inlet of the indoor unit 100 and to deliver the indoor air, after heat exchange with the first heat exchanger 101, through the indoor air outlet of the indoor unit 100.

[0044] The air conditioner 1000 further includes an outdoor unit 200. The indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200 are connected by a pipeline to transmit refrigerant.

[0045] The outdoor unit 200 includes a compressor 201 , which is configured to compress a refrigerant so that a low-pressure refrigerant is compressed to form a high-pressure refrigerant.

[0046] The outdoor unit 200 further includes a four-way valve 202. The four-way valve 202 is disposed in the refrigerant circuit and is configured to switch the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit to achieve a cooling mode or a heating mode of the air conditioner 1000.

[0047] The outdoor unit 200 also includes a second heat exchanger 203 (outdoor heat exchanger). The second heat exchanger 203 is configured to exchange heat between outdoor air and the refrigerant transmitted through the second heat exchanger 203. For example, the second heat exchanger 203 operates as a condenser in the cooling mode of the air conditioner 1000 and as an evaporator in the heating mode of the air conditioner 1000. For ease of description, the first heat exchanger 101 or the second heat exchanger 203 may also be referred to as the heat exchanger 400. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 400 may be a fin-tube heat exchanger.

[0048] The outdoor unit 200 also includes an expansion valve 204 (throttling component), which is connected between the first heat exchanger 101 and the second heat exchanger 203. The opening of the expansion valve 204 regulates the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through the first heat exchanger 101 and the second heat exchanger 203, thereby adjusting the refrigerant flow rate between the first heat exchanger 101 and the second heat exchanger 203. It should be noted that the compressor 201, the second heat exchanger 203, the expansion valve 204, and the first heat exchanger 101 are connected in sequence to form the refrigerant circuit.

[0049] The outdoor unit 200 further includes a second fan 205 (outdoor fan) configured to draw outdoor air into the outdoor unit 200 through the outdoor air inlet of the outdoor unit 200 and to send the outdoor air, after heat exchange with the second heat exchanger 203 , out through the outdoor air outlet of the outdoor unit 200 .

[0050] In some embodiments, the air conditioner 1000 includes one or more indoor units 100. This helps meet the diverse needs of users.

[0051] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG1 , the air conditioner 1000 further includes a controller 300 configured to control the operation of various components within the air conditioner 1000. The controller 300 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The controller 300 may also be other devices having processing functions, such as circuits, devices, or software modules.

[0052] The following describes the diversion components in some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0053] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the air conditioner 1000 further includes a flow diversion assembly 500 (distribution unit). The flow diversion assembly 500 is connected to the heat exchanger 400 (such as the first heat exchanger 101 or the second heat exchanger 203) and the compressor 201. The flow diversion assembly 500 is configured to divert or converge the incoming refrigerant.

[0054] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG2 and FIG3 , the flow dividing assembly 500 includes a first pipeline 510 (main pipeline). A first end of the first pipeline 510 is connected to the compressor 201 .

[0055] The flow splitting assembly 500 further includes a plurality of second pipes 520 (flow splitting pipes). First ends of the plurality of second pipes 520 are connected to the heat exchanger 400 .

[0056] The flow dividing assembly 500 further includes a flow dividing member 530 (distributor). A first end of the flow dividing member 530 is connected to the second end of the first pipeline 510 , and a second end of the flow dividing member 530 is connected to the second ends of the plurality of second pipelines 520 .

[0057] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 4, the diverter 530 includes a diverter body 536. The diverter body 536 may include a plurality of sub-bodies. For example, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, the diverter body 536 includes a first sub-body 531 (main joint portion) and a second sub-body 532 (sub-joint portion). The first sub-body 531 and the second sub-body 532 are respectively cylindrical. The refrigerant can flow unidirectionally between the first sub-body 531 and the second sub-body 532, which can reduce the flow resistance of the refrigerant, thereby reducing the impact on the flow rate of the refrigerant.

[0058] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG4 , the flow divider 530 further includes a first channel 501 (main channel). The first channel 501 is disposed in the flow divider body 536 , and its second end is connected to the first channel 501 . For example, the first channel 501 is disposed in the first sub-body 531 .

[0059] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG4 , the flow divider 530 further includes a plurality of second channels 502 (sub-channels). The plurality of second channels 502 are disposed within the flow divider body 536 , and the second ends of the plurality of second pipes 520 are respectively connected to the plurality of second channels 502 . For example, the second channels 502 are disposed within the second sub-body 532 .

[0060] In some embodiments, the diameter of the second sub-body 532 is greater than the diameter of the first sub-body 531. For example, the cross-sections of the first sub-body 531 and the second sub-body 532 are circular with different diameters. This allows for the refrigerant flow direction between the first channel 501 and the second channel 502 to be aligned, facilitating the provision of multiple second channels 502 within the second sub-body 532 and facilitating the construction of the integrated flow divider 530.

[0061] By simplifying the structure of the diverter 530 , it is convenient to connect the first sub-body 531 with the compressor 201 through the first pipeline 510 , and to connect the second sub-body 532 with the heat exchanger 400 through the plurality of second pipelines 520 .

[0062] 5 , the flow dividing body 536 further includes a transition portion 533. The transition portion 533 is disposed on a side of the second sub-body 532 close to the first sub-body 531 and is connected to the second sub-body 532 and the first sub-body 531. The diameter of the transition portion 533 decreases as it approaches the first sub-body 531.

[0063] In this case, the flow dividing body 536 further includes a flow guiding channel 534 . The flow guiding channel 534 is disposed in the transition portion 533 and connects the first channel 501 and the plurality of second channels 502 .

[0064] As shown in Figure 5, the flow diverter body 536 further includes a flow guide 535. The flow guide 535 is configured to guide the refrigerant flowing therethrough to reduce resistance to the refrigerant flowing between the first channel 501 and the second channel 502. The flow guide 535 is disposed at the center of the transition portion 533. The flow guide 535 is conical in shape, with the apex of the cone facing the first channel 501. The flow diversion channel 534 surrounds the flow guide 535.

[0065] In this way, by providing the transition portion 533 , the guide channel 534 and the guide portion 535 , the refrigerant can flow in the guide channel 534 along the guide portion 535 , thereby reducing the resistance of the refrigerant when flowing between the first channel 501 and the second channel 502 .

[0066] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG7 , when the cross-section of the flow splitter body 536 is circular, the plurality of second channels 502 are spaced apart along the circumference of the flow splitter body 536. The plurality of second channels 502 can be circular holes of equal diameter to ensure that the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into different second channels 502 is the same, thereby improving the uniformity of the refrigerant flow splitting.

[0067] The first channel 501 is located at the central axis of the flow-dividing body 536. On a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the flow-dividing body 536, the orthographic projections of the plurality of second channels 502 surround the orthographic projection of the first channel 501. Thus, by arranging the plurality of second channels 502 at intervals along the circumference of the flow-dividing body 536, the refrigerant can flow along the circumference of the flow-dividing body 536, thereby forming a circular flow within the flow-dividing member 530 and improving the uniformity of the refrigerant flow.

[0068] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the plurality of second channels 502 include a first one-way channel 503. The first one-way channel 503 is configured to be open when the refrigerant flows from the first pipeline 510 to the plurality of second pipelines 520, and to be closed when the refrigerant flows from the plurality of second pipelines 520 to the first pipeline 510. In this way, when the heat exchanger 400 functions as a condenser, the refrigerant flows from the first channel 501 to the first one-way channel 503.

[0069] The plurality of second channels 502 further include a second one-way channel 504. The second one-way channel 504 is configured to be closed when the refrigerant flows from the first pipeline 510 to the plurality of second pipelines 520, and to be open when the refrigerant flows from the plurality of second pipelines 520 to the first pipeline 510. When the heat exchanger 400 functions as an evaporator, the refrigerant flows from the second one-way channel 504 to the first channel 501.

[0070] The first unidirectional channel 503 and the second unidirectional channel 504 may extend in parallel with each other, and the refrigerant flow direction in the first unidirectional channel 503 is opposite to the refrigerant flow direction in the second unidirectional channel 504. For example, the first unidirectional channel 503 and the second unidirectional channel 504 extend along the axial direction of the flow dividing body 536 respectively.

[0071] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the plurality of second channels 502 further include a first switch assembly 505. The first switch assembly 505 is disposed in the first one-way channel 503 and is configured to open when the refrigerant flows from the first pipeline 510 to the plurality of second pipelines 520, so that the refrigerant enters the plurality of second pipelines 520 through the first one-way channel 503.

[0072] The second channels 502 further include a second switch assembly 506 . The second switch assembly 506 is disposed in the second one-way channel 504 and is configured to open when the refrigerant flows from the second pipes 520 to the first pipe 510 , allowing the refrigerant to enter the first pipe 510 through the second one-way channel 504 .

[0073] In some embodiments, the number of first one-way channels 503 is less than the number of second one-way channels 504 .

[0074] When heat exchanger 400 functions as a condenser, the number of diversion channels corresponding to the refrigerant flow rate and the maximum heat exchange performance of heat exchanger 400 is different from the number of diversion channels corresponding to the refrigerant flow rate and the maximum heat exchange performance of heat exchanger 400 when heat exchanger 400 functions as an evaporator. For example, when heat exchanger 400 functions as a condenser, the first number of diversion channels connected to heat exchanger 400 is smaller than the second number of diversion channels connected to heat exchanger 400 when heat exchanger 400 functions as an evaporator. In other words, the number of first one-way channels 503 is smaller than the number of second one-way channels 504.

[0075] Here, the first number can be understood as the number of diversion channels required for the highest heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400 when the heat exchanger 400 is used as a condenser; the second number can be understood as the number of diversion channels required for the highest heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400 when the heat exchanger 400 is used as an evaporator.

[0076] For example, the ratio of the number of first one-way channels 503 to the number of second one-way channels 504 is 2:3. It is understood that the ratio of the number of first one-way channels 503 to the number of second one-way channels 504 can also be 1:3, 1:2, 3:5, 3:4, or other ratios. Taking the ratio of the number of first one-way channels 503 to the number of second one-way channels 504 as 2:3 as an example, when the ratio of the number of first one-way channels 503 to the number of second one-way channels 504 is less than 2:3, the number of first one-way channels 503 is too small, and the difference between the number of first one-way channels 503 and the number of second one-way channels 504 is large, which reduces the heating effect of the heat exchanger 400 when it is used as a condenser, and the utilization rate of the heat exchange tubes in the heat exchanger 400; and when the ratio of the number of first one-way channels 503 to the number of second one-way channels 504 is greater than 2:3, the number of first one-way channels 503 is too large, and the number of diversion channels required for the highest heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400 when it is used as a condenser is small, which reduces the energy efficiency ratio of the heat exchanger 400.

[0077] Therefore, by setting the ratio of the number of the first one-way channels 503 to the number of the second one-way channels 504 to 2:3, the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 400 can be improved while improving the energy efficiency ratio of the heat exchanger 400.

[0078] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG7 , taking the case where the cross section of the diverter body 536 is divided into two semicircles by the center line L as an example, within the semicircle of the cross section of the diverter body 536, the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504 are alternately arranged along the circumference of the diverter body 536 (such as the circumference of the second sub-body 532). The first one-way channel 503 in the first semicircle and the second semicircle of the cross section of the diverter body 536 are symmetrical to each other, and the second one-way channel 504 are also symmetrical to each other. In other words, the first one-way channel 503 can be symmetrical along the center line L, and the second one-way channel 504 can be symmetrical along the center line L.

[0079] Furthermore, because the number of the second one-way channels 504 is greater than the number of the first one-way channels 503, in the first semicircle of the cross-section of the diverter body 536, along the circumference of the diverter body 536, the first one-way channel 503 is located between two adjacent second one-way channels 504. For example, in the first semicircle of the cross-section of the diverter body 536, three second one-way channels 504 and two first one-way channels 503 are provided.

[0080] Similarly, on the second semicircle of the cross section of the diverter body 536, along the circumference of the diverter body 536, the first one-way channel 503 is located between two adjacent second one-way channels 504. For example, on the second semicircle of the cross section of the diverter body 536, three second one-way channels 504 and two first one-way channels 503 are provided.

[0081] Thus, the uniformity of refrigerant diversion can be improved by using the symmetrical first one-way channel 503 and the symmetrical second one-way channel 504. Furthermore, as the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504 are part of the diverter 530, the diverter 530 has a compact refrigerant diversion structure, which helps reduce the space occupied by the diverter 530. The following describes the first switch assembly 505 and the second switch assembly 506 of some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0082] In some embodiments, the first switch assembly 505 and the second switch assembly 506 can be controlled to open and close. In some examples, the first switch assembly 505 and the second switch assembly 506 are controlled to open and close according to the operating parameters of the air conditioner 1000 by a driving component. For example, the first switch assembly 505 and the second switch assembly 506 can be solenoid valves, pneumatic control valves, electric valves, etc.

[0083] Here, the operating parameters of the air conditioner 1000 may include refrigerant flow direction, refrigerant pressure, refrigerant temperature, indoor ambient temperature, outdoor ambient temperature, etc. In this way, the accuracy of selecting the number of diversion channels can be improved, thereby improving the heat exchange effect of the air conditioner 1000.

[0084] Alternatively, the first switch assembly 505 and the second switch assembly 506 can automatically open and close using the pressure of the refrigerant during the flow of the refrigerant, thereby controlling the opening and closing of the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504. In this case, the first switch assembly 505 can open the first one-way channel 503 when the refrigerant flows from the first pipeline 510 to the plurality of second pipelines 520, and close the first one-way channel 503 when the refrigerant flows from the plurality of second pipelines 520 to the first pipeline 510. The second switch assembly 506 can open the second one-way channel 504 when the refrigerant flows from the plurality of second pipelines 520 to the first pipeline 510, and close the second one-way channel 504 when the refrigerant flows from the first pipeline 510 to the plurality of second pipelines 520. In this way, the first switch assembly 505 and the second switch assembly 506 can function as a one-way flow controller and a reverse blocking controller.

[0085] In this way, no additional driving components are required, which helps to simplify the structure of the diverter 530 and reduce costs.

[0086] Furthermore, the first switch assembly 505 and the second switch assembly 506 can form flow paths with opposite flow directions within the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504. When the air conditioner 1000 is in cooling mode or heating mode, the multiple heat exchangers 400 function as a condenser and an evaporator, respectively. The refrigerant flows in opposite directions through the diverter elements 530 corresponding to the condensers and the diverter elements 530 corresponding to the evaporators, and the refrigerant flows in one direction within the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504.

[0087] In this way, the heat exchanger 400 in different states may have different numbers of diversion channels, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400 when the air conditioner 1000 is in different modes.

[0088] It should be noted that the structures of the first switch component 505 and the second switch component 506 are similar. For the convenience of description, the following mainly introduces the first switch component 505.

[0089] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the first switch assembly 505 includes a rotating shaft 507. Both ends of the rotating shaft 507 are disposed on the inner wall of the first one-way channel 503, and the rotating shaft 507 extends radially along the first one-way channel 503. For example, the inner walls of the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504 are each provided with a plurality of mounting grooves. Both ends of the rotating shaft 507 are respectively mounted in the plurality of mounting grooves.

[0090] In the second switch assembly 506 , both ends of the rotating shaft 507 are disposed on the inner wall surface of the second one-way channel 504 , and the rotating shaft 507 extends along the radial direction of the second one-way channel 504 .

[0091] The first switch assembly 505 further includes a baffle 508 . The baffle 508 is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 507 and is configured to open and close the first one-way channel 503 .

[0092] Baffle 508 can be a single piece, rotating as a whole relative to rotation axis 507. This reduces the number of components, improves assembly efficiency, and enhances the sealing effect of baffle 508. Alternatively, baffle 508 can be a separate piece, each of which rotates relative to rotation axis 507. This facilitates the production and installation of baffle 508.

[0093] The following description mainly takes the baffle 508 as a split component as an example.

[0094] It is understood that the shape of the baffle 508 in the first one-way channel 503 is the same as the inner contour of the first one-way channel 503, and the shape of the baffle 508 in the second one-way channel 504 is the same as the inner contour of the second one-way channel 504. In this way, the reliability of the contact between the baffle 508 and the first one-way channel 503 or the second one-way channel 504 can be improved, thereby helping to reduce the probability of refrigerant leakage when the first switch assembly 505 and the second switch assembly 506 are closed.

[0095] As shown in Figures 10 and 11 , the first switch assembly 505 further includes a stopper 509 (stop block). The stopper 509 is disposed on and protrudes from the inner wall of the first one-way channel 503. The stopper 509 within the first one-way channel 503 is located on the side of the baffle 508 that is closer to the first channel 501 and abuts against the baffle 508 to limit the rotational direction of the baffle 508 within the first one-way channel 503.

[0096] The limiting portion 509 of the second switch assembly 506 is disposed on and protrudes from the inner wall surface of the second one-way passage 504. The limiting portion 509 in the second one-way passage 504 is located on the side of the baffle 508 away from the first passage 501 and abuts against the baffle 508 to limit the rotation direction of the baffle 508 in the second one-way passage 504.

[0097] Thus, by providing the limiting portion 509, the baffles 508 in the first switch assembly 505 and the second switch assembly 506 can rotate in opposite directions, so that the baffle 508 in the first one-way channel 503 rotates away from the first channel 501 to open the first one-way channel 503, and the baffle 508 in the second one-way channel 504 rotates toward the first channel 501 to open the second one-way channel 504. In this way, one-way flow of refrigerant in different channels can be achieved.

[0098] When the baffle 508 in the first one-way channel 503 is blocked by the stopper 509, the baffle 508 rotates to a position perpendicular to the central axis of the first one-way channel 503, thereby closing the first one-way channel 503. When the baffle 508 in the second one-way channel 504 is blocked by the stopper 509, the baffle 508 rotates to a position perpendicular to the central axis of the second one-way channel 504, thereby closing the second one-way channel 504. In this way, the refrigerant can be prevented from circulating in the one-way channel in the reverse direction.

[0099] When the refrigerant flows from the first pipeline 510 to the plurality of second pipelines 520, the refrigerant flows from the first channel 501 to the plurality of second channels 502. At this point, the refrigerant enters the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504, respectively. In the first one-way channel 503, the refrigerant's pressure pushes the baffle 508, causing it to rotate away from the stopper 509 (e.g., away from the first channel 501), thereby allowing the refrigerant to pass through the first one-way channel 503. In the second one-way channel 504, because the side of the baffle 508 away from the first pipeline 510 is blocked by the stopper 509, the baffle 508 cannot rotate, thus blocking the refrigerant in the second one-way channel 504.

[0100] When the refrigerant flows from the plurality of second pipelines 520 to the first pipeline 510, the refrigerant flows from the plurality of second channels 502 to the first channel 501. At this time, the refrigerant enters the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504 respectively. In the second one-way channel 504, the refrigerant uses its pressure to push the baffle 508, causing the baffle 508 to rotate in a direction away from the limiter 509 (e.g., toward the first channel 501), thereby allowing the refrigerant to pass through the second one-way channel 504. In the first one-way channel 503, because the side of the baffle 508 close to the first pipeline 510 is blocked by the limiter 509, the baffle 508 cannot rotate, thereby blocking the refrigerant in the first one-way channel 503.

[0101] 8 and 9 , the baffle 508 includes a first sub-baffle 5081. The first sub-baffle 5081 is located at one side of the rotation shaft 507 in the radial direction.

[0102] The baffle 508 further includes a second sub-baffle 5082. The second sub-baffle 5082 is located on the other side of the rotation shaft 507 in the radial direction, so that the second sub-baffle 5082 is arranged opposite to the first sub-baffle 5081.

[0103] The baffle 508 further includes a first hinge portion 5083 . The first hinge portion 5083 is disposed at one end of the first sub-baffle 5081 close to the rotation axis 507 and is rotatably sleeved on the outer side of the rotation axis 507 .

[0104] The baffle 508 further includes a second hinge portion 5084 . The second hinge portion 5084 is disposed at one end of the second sub-baffle 5082 close to the rotation axis 507 and is rotatably sleeved on the outer side of the rotation axis 507 .

[0105] In this way, the baffle 508 can stably rotate about the rotation axis 507 through the first hinge portion 5083 and the second hinge portion 5084. For example, the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082 are symmetrically mounted on either side of the rotation axis 507. The inner contour of the first one-way channel 503 has the same shape as the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082 therein, and the inner contour of the second one-way channel 504 has the same shape as the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082 therein. The first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082 rotate toward the same side of the baffle 508 in the axial direction of the second channel 502 to open the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504, respectively.

[0106] It is understandable that the first sub-baffle 5081 or the second sub-baffle 5082 cannot rotate toward the side of the baffle 508 close to the limiting portion 509 because it is blocked by the limiting portion 509 .

[0107] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8 , the first hinge portion 5083 and the second hinge portion 5084 are arranged along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 507 , and the baffle 508 may include a plurality of first hinge portions 5083 and a plurality of second hinge portions 5084 .

[0108] It is understood that during the rotation of the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082, the angle between the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle can be any value between 0° and 180°. For example, the angle between the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle can be 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 150°, or 180°.

[0109] When the first one-way passage 503 or the second one-way passage 504 is opened, the first sub-baffle 5081 rotates toward the second sub-baffle 5082, and the second sub-baffle 5082 rotates toward the first sub-baffle 5081, allowing the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082 to fit together. At this point, the angle between the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082 is 0°. When the first and second sub-baffles 5081, 5082 are open, the smaller the angle between them, the less resistance the first and second switch assemblies 505, 506 exert on the refrigerant, and the greater the refrigerant flow rate.

[0110] When closing the first one-way passage 503 or the second one-way passage 504, the first sub-baffle 5081 rotates away from the second sub-baffle 5082 until it is stopped by the stopper 509. The second sub-baffle 5082 rotates away from the first sub-baffle 5081 until it is stopped by the stopper 509. At this point, the angle between the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082 is 180°, and the first and second sub-baffles 5081 and 5082 are coplanar. Here, rotation away from the sub-baffles can be understood as rotation toward the stopper 509. It is understood that when the first and second sub-baffles 5081 and 5082 are closed, the smaller the angle between them, the faster the first and second switch assemblies 505 and 506 close.

[0111] In this way, when the refrigerant passes through the first one-way channel 503 or the second one-way channel 504, it can push the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082 to rotate, so that the refrigerant passes from both sides of the rotating shaft 507, and the refrigerant is evenly distributed, which facilitates improving the heat exchange effect of the heat exchanger 400.

[0112] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 7, the rotating shaft 507 extends radially along the diverter body 536 (such as the radial direction of the second sub-body 532), and the first switch assembly 505 and the second switch assembly 506 respectively include a pair of limiting portions 509, and the pair of limiting portions can be symmetrically located on both sides of the rotating shaft 507.

[0113] For example, the first sub-baffle 5081 is blocked by the stopper 509 on one side of the rotation axis 507, and the second sub-baffle 5082 is blocked by the stopper 509 on the other side of the rotation axis 507. The positions of the two stoppers 509 correspond to the positions of the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082, respectively. The two stoppers 509 abut against the middle of the first sub-baffle 5081 and the middle of the second sub-baffle 5082, respectively, thereby providing stable and reliable support for the baffles 508. In this way, when the stoppers 509 block the first sub-baffle 5081 and the second sub-baffle 5082, the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504 are effectively sealed.

[0114] The following mainly describes the flow path of the refrigerant when the heat exchanger 400 serves as a condenser and an evaporator, taking the heat exchanger 400 as the second heat exchanger 203 as an example.

[0115] When the second heat exchanger 203 functions as a condenser, as shown in FIG2 , the refrigerant pressure is relatively high, and the first pipeline 510 is connected to the exhaust pipe of the compressor 201. The pressure drop has little effect on the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400. In this case, a smaller number of diverter channels (i.e., the first unidirectional channels 503) can be used to circulate the refrigerant, thereby increasing the flow rate of the refrigerant in the first unidirectional channels 503 and thereby increasing the heat transfer coefficient of the heat exchanger 400.

[0116] When the second heat exchanger 203 functions as an evaporator, as shown in FIG3 , the refrigerant pressure is low, and the first pipeline 510 is connected to the return air pipe of the compressor 201. The pressure drop significantly affects the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400. In this case, a larger number of diverter channels (i.e., second one-way channels 504) are required to circulate the refrigerant to reduce the pressure drop on the refrigerant side, thereby preventing the evaporation temperature from slipping too much due to excessive pressure drop and affecting the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400. Here, the evaporation temperature slip can be understood as the difference between the inlet evaporation temperature and the outlet evaporation temperature of the evaporator.

[0117] It should be noted that the dotted arrows in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 indicate the flow direction of the refrigerant.

[0118] In the air conditioner 1000 provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the refrigerant can flow unidirectionally within the first one-way channel 503 via the first switch assembly 505, and the refrigerant can flow unidirectionally within the second one-way channel 504 via the second switch assembly 506, with the refrigerant flow directions of the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504 being opposite. In this way, channels for refrigerant flow in different directions can be formed within the same diverter 530, and the diverter 530 can have different flow areas for different refrigerant flow directions. This allows switching between the first one-way channel 503 and the second one-way channel 504 according to the different states of the heat exchanger 400, thereby allowing the selection of a corresponding number of diverter channels according to the state of the heat exchanger 400.

[0119] Here, the state of the heat exchanger 400 can be understood as the corresponding working state when the heat exchanger 400 is used as a condenser or an evaporator. The flow area can be understood as the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel through which the refrigerant flows.

[0120] Of course, in some embodiments, the structure of the diverter 530 for switching different numbers of diverter channels may also be other structures.

[0121] As shown in FIG12 to FIG14A , the flow divider 530 includes a first flow guide tube 601 (inner tube). The first end of the first pipeline 510 is connected to the compressor 201 , and the second end is connected to the first flow guide tube 601 .

[0122] The flow divider 530 also includes a second flow conduit 602 (outer pipe). The first ends of the plurality of second pipes 520 are connected to the heat exchanger 400, and the second ends are connected to the second flow conduit 602. The second flow conduit 602 is sleeved outside the first flow conduit 601 and contacts the first flow conduit 601 to seal the gap between the second and first flow conduits 602 and 601.

[0123] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 15 to 17, the first flow guide tube 601 includes a first body 6011. The cross section of the first body 6011 may be circular.

[0124] The first flow guide tube 601 further includes a plurality of first flow guide holes 6012 (inner flow guide holes). The plurality of first flow guide holes 6012 are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the first body 6011 and penetrate the tube wall of the first body 6011.

[0125] In some examples, as shown in FIG15 to FIG17 , the plurality of first flow guiding holes 6012 includes a plurality of first sub-flow guiding holes 6013 (a first group of flow guiding holes). The number of the plurality of first sub-flow guiding holes 6013 is the same as the number of the second flow guiding holes 6022 .

[0126] The plurality of first flow-guiding holes 6012 further include a plurality of second sub-flow-guiding holes 6014 (a second group of flow-guiding holes). The number of the plurality of first sub-flow-guiding holes 6013 is greater than the number of the plurality of second sub-flow-guiding holes 6014.

[0127] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 18 to 20, the second flow conduit 602 includes a second body 6021. The cross section of the second body 6021 may be circular.

[0128] The second flow guide tube 602 further includes a plurality of second flow guide holes 6022 (external flow guide holes). The plurality of second flow guide holes 6022 are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the second body 6021 and penetrate the wall of the second body 6021. The plurality of second flow guide holes 6022 are connected to the plurality of second pipelines 520.

[0129] In some embodiments, at least one of the first flow conduit 601 or the second flow conduit 602 is rotatable, and the first flow conduit 601 and the second flow conduit 602 are configured to rotate relative to each other between a first relative position and a second relative position. For example, one of the first flow conduit 601 and the second flow conduit 602 is stationary, while the other of the first flow conduit 601 and the second flow conduit 602 rotates. Of course, the first flow conduit 601 and the second flow conduit 602 can also rotate separately, thereby reducing the rotation amplitude of the first flow conduit 601 and the second flow conduit 602 and preventing the first pipeline 510 and the plurality of second pipelines 520 from becoming entangled. It should be noted that the first flow conduit 601 or the second flow conduit 602 can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The following description mainly uses the example of the first flow conduit 601 rotating and the second flow conduit 602 being stationary.

[0130] The positions of the plurality of first flow guide holes 6012 in the axial direction of the first body 6011 may correspond to the positions of the plurality of second flow guide holes 6022 in the axial direction of the first body 6011. When the first flow guide tube 601 rotates to the first relative position or the second relative position, the plurality of second flow guide holes 6022 communicate with the plurality of first sub-flow guide holes 6013 or the plurality of second sub-flow guide holes 6014.

[0131] At the first relative position, multiple first sub-flow guide holes 6013 and multiple second flow guide holes 6022 are connected to form a first flow guide channel. For example, when multiple first sub-flow guide holes 6013 and multiple second flow guide holes 6022 are connected, the refrigerant can flow to multiple second pipelines 520 through the first flow guide tube 601 and the second flow guide tube 602 in sequence, or flow to the first pipeline 510 through the second flow guide tube 602 and the first flow guide tube 601 in sequence. At this time, the number of second pipelines 520 through which the refrigerant flows is the same as the number of first flow guide holes 6012 and second flow guide holes 6022 connected. When the first flow guide hole 6012 and the second flow guide hole 6022 are not connected, the refrigerant will not flow through the second pipeline 520 at that location.

[0132] At the second relative position, the plurality of second sub-guiding holes 6014 and part of the second guiding holes 6022 are connected to form a second guiding channel.

[0133] Because the number of first sub-conduit holes 6013 and the number of second sub-conduit holes 6014 are different, the flow area of ​​the first conduit channel is different from the flow area of ​​the second conduit channel, and the first sub-conduit holes 6013 and the second sub-conduit holes 6014 respectively connect to different numbers of second pipelines 520. When refrigerant flows through one of the first sub-conduit holes 6013 and the second sub-conduit holes 6014, the other is blocked to prevent the refrigerant from passing through.

[0134] In some embodiments, the number of diverter channels of the diverter 530 may be selected according to the operating state and workload of the heat exchanger 400 .

[0135] In some examples, when the heat exchanger 400 functions as a condenser and the workload is greater than or equal to a preset value, the first flow guide tube 601 is controlled to rotate to a first relative position so that the plurality of first sub-flow guide holes 6013 overlap with the plurality of second flow guide holes 6022, thereby increasing the flow area of ​​the first flow guide channel. In this case, the number of flow diversion channels connected to the heat exchanger 400 when the heat exchanger 400 functions as a condenser is greater than the number of flow diversion channels connected to the heat exchanger 400 when the heat exchanger 400 functions as an evaporator.

[0136] Here, the workload can be understood as the heat exchange capacity (or heat exchange amount) of the heat exchanger 400. The heat exchange capacity can be related to parameters such as the heat transfer coefficient, refrigerant flow rate, refrigerant flow rate, heat exchange area, and heat exchange temperature difference of the heat exchanger 400.

[0137] It is understood that the preset value is a pre-set value and is related to the maximum heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger 400. In some examples, the preset value is 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of the maximum heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger 400. The larger the preset value, the stronger the maximum heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger 400, and the higher the workload that the heat exchanger 400 can withstand. Of course, the preset value can also be other values. The maximum heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger 400 can be understood as the maximum heat exchange capacity that the heat exchanger 400 can withstand. In addition, a workload of the heat exchanger 400 greater than or equal to the preset value can be understood as a high workload of the heat exchanger 400.

[0138] As shown in FIG14A , when heat exchanger 400 functions as a condenser and its workload is greater than or equal to a preset value, the refrigerant pressure is high, and first pipeline 510 is connected to the exhaust pipe of compressor 201. In this case, due to the high workload of heat exchanger 400, it is necessary to increase the number of diversion channels (i.e., the first diversion channels corresponding to the plurality of first sub-diversion holes 6013) to circulate the refrigerant. This can reduce the pressure drop on the refrigerant side, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of heat exchanger 400.

[0139] In some examples, when the heat exchanger 400 is functioning as a condenser and its workload is less than a preset value, the first flow guide tube 601 is controlled to rotate to a second relative position so that the plurality of second sub-flow guide holes 6014 overlap with a portion of the second flow guide holes 6022, thereby forming a second flow guide channel with a smaller flow area. In this case, the number of diversion channels connected to the heat exchanger 400 is relatively small. Here, the workload of the heat exchanger 400 being less than the preset value can be understood as the workload of the heat exchanger 400 being relatively low.

[0140] As shown in FIG14B , when the heat exchanger 400 is used as a condenser and the workload is less than a preset value, the refrigerant is in a high-pressure area, the first pipeline 510 is connected to the exhaust pipe of the compressor 201, and the pressure drop has little effect on the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400. In this case, the number of diversion channels (i.e., the second flow guide channels corresponding to the plurality of second sub-flow guide holes 6014) can be reduced to circulate the refrigerant, thereby increasing the flow rate of the refrigerant in the second flow guide channels, thereby increasing the heat transfer coefficient of the heat exchanger 400 and improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400.

[0141] For example, when the heat exchanger 400 serves as a condenser and the workload is less than a preset value, the number of diversion channels at the inlet of the heat exchanger 400 is reduced by approximately one-half.

[0142] In some examples, when the heat exchanger 400 functions as an evaporator, the first guide tube 601 is controlled to rotate to a first relative position so that the plurality of first sub-guide holes 6013 and the plurality of second guide holes 6022 overlap, thereby forming a first guide channel.

[0143] As shown in FIG14C , when the heat exchanger 400 is used as an evaporator, the diverter 530 is located at the outlet of the heat exchanger 400, and the dryness of the refrigerant increases during the evaporation process. In addition, the refrigerant is in a low-pressure area, and the first pipeline 510 is connected to the return air pipe of the compressor 201. The pressure drop will affect the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400. In this case, it is necessary to increase the number of diverter channels (i.e., the first guide channels corresponding to the multiple first sub-guide holes 6013) to circulate the refrigerant. In this way, the pressure drop on the refrigerant side can be reduced, thereby avoiding the excessive slip of the evaporation temperature caused by excessive pressure drop, which affects the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400.

[0144] In this way, by adjusting the number of corresponding diversion channels according to the operating state and workload of the heat exchanger 400, the heat exchanger 400 can operate at the highest heat exchange performance in various states, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400. It should be noted that the dotted arrows in Figures 14A to 14C represent the flow direction of the refrigerant.

[0145] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG18 , one end of the second flow conduit 602 is closed to form a blocking portion 6023 (a closed end surface). The second flow guide hole 6022 is adjacent to the blocking portion 6023. In this case, one end of the first flow conduit 601 abuts against the blocking portion 6023, thereby blocking the first flow conduit 601. The first flow guide hole 6012 is adjacent to the blocking portion 6023.

[0146] For example, the first guide holes 6012 are spaced apart around the periphery of the first body 6011 near the blocking portion 6023, and the second guide holes 6022 correspond to the positions of the first guide holes 6012. Here, the term "corresponding positions" can be understood as meaning that, in the first relative position or the second relative position, the central axis of the second guide hole 6022 substantially coincides with the central axis of the corresponding first guide hole 6012, thereby enabling communication between the first guide hole 6012 and the second guide hole 6022.

[0147] In this way, by arranging the first flow guide hole 6012 and the second flow guide hole 6022 close to the blocking part 6023, the refrigerant can be blocked by the blocking part 6023 when flowing in the first flow guide tube 601, thereby facilitating the refrigerant to enter the first flow guide hole 6012 and the second flow guide hole 6022, and facilitating the refrigerant to flow along a predetermined path.

[0148] It can be understood that when the refrigerant enters the first flow guide 601 through the first pipeline 510 under the drive of the compressor 201, since one end of the first flow guide 601 is blocked by the blocking portion 6023, the refrigerant can flow into the diverter 530 along the axial direction of the diverter 530 and flow out of the diverter 530 along the radial direction of the diverter 530, thereby forming a relatively uniform refrigerant flow path, which is beneficial to improve the uniformity of the refrigerant diversion and facilitates improving the cooling or heating effect of the air conditioner 1000.

[0149] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 14A to 14C, the second flow guide tube 602 also includes a plurality of connecting portions 6024 (liquid separation joints). A plurality of connecting portions 6024 are arranged along the circumference of the second body 6021 and are respectively communicated with a plurality of second flow guide holes 6022. The connecting portion 6024 extends radially along the second body 6021 and away from the direction of the second body 6021, and a plurality of second pipelines 520 are respectively connected to the plurality of connecting portions 6024 (such as plugging) to be communicated with the plurality of second flow guide holes 6022 through the plurality of connecting portions 6024. In addition, the connecting portion 6024 can be hollow cylindrical. In this way, the refrigerant can flow between the plurality of second pipelines 520 and the diverter 530 through the connecting portion 6024.

[0150] By extending the connecting portion 6024 radially outward from the second body 6021, the connecting portion 6024 is easily connected to the second pipe 520, thereby improving the reliability of the connection between the second pipe 520 and the diverter 530 and the stability of the operation of the air conditioner 1000. This structure is simple, reliable, and can be flexibly adjusted and replaced.

[0151] Furthermore, by providing multiple connecting portions 6024 connected to the multiple second pipelines 520, the refrigerant can be evenly guided into the multiple second pipelines 520, reducing the flow resistance of the refrigerant and ensuring the refrigerant flow rate. Furthermore, because the connecting portions 6024 extend outward, the refrigerant can flow radially outward a predetermined distance before flowing into the corresponding second pipeline 520. This prevents the refrigerant from rapidly flowing into the second pipeline 520 after being ejected from the second guide holes 6022, thereby improving the stability of the refrigerant flow.

[0152] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 16 and 19, a plurality of first sub-flow guide holes 6013 are evenly arranged along the circumference of the first body 6011, and a plurality of second sub-flow guide holes 6014 are evenly arranged along the circumference of the first body 6011. A plurality of second flow guide holes 6022 are evenly arranged along the circumference of the second body 6021. This allows the refrigerant to flow evenly to different second pipelines 520, balances the pressure distribution in the air conditioner 1000, stabilizes the flow rate or flow velocity of the refrigerant, and thereby improves the stability and reliability of the air conditioner 1000.

[0153] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 17 and 20, the plurality of second guide holes 6022 and the plurality of first guide holes 6012 are circular holes with equal diameters. When the refrigerant passes through the plurality of second guide holes 6022 and the plurality of first guide holes 6012, the circular holes having the same diameter can make the flow velocity and flow rate of the refrigerant in the circular holes at different positions substantially the same, thereby improving the uniformity of the refrigerant distribution, thereby improving the operating stability and heat exchange effect of the air conditioner 1000.

[0154] Furthermore, the shape of the circular hole matches the cross-sectional shape of the connecting portion 6024 and the second pipeline 520. This allows the refrigerant to flow smoothly between the diverter 530 and the second pipeline 520, reducing pressure loss within the air conditioner 1000. Furthermore, the identically shaped structures provide a better seal after connection, reducing the risk of refrigerant leakage and improving the reliability of the air conditioner 1000.

[0155] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG16 , the number of the plurality of first sub-flow-guiding holes 6013 is twice the number of the plurality of second sub-flow-guiding holes 6014, and the second sub-flow-guiding holes 6014 are located between two adjacent first sub-flow-guiding holes 6013 in the circumferential direction of the first body 6011. Furthermore, the two first sub-flow-guiding holes 6013 adjacent to the second sub-flow-guiding hole 6014 are symmetrically arranged with respect to the central axis K of the second sub-flow-guiding hole 6014.

[0156] In some examples, the plurality of first sub-flow guide holes 6013 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the first body 6011 at intervals of 180 / N°, and the number is 2N (i.e., a multiple of 2). The plurality of second sub-flow guide holes 6014 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the first body 6011 at intervals of 360 / N°, and the number is N. The plurality of second flow guide holes 6022 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the second body 6021 at intervals of 180 / N°, and the number is 2N. For example, the plurality of first flow guide holes 6012 includes six first sub-flow guide holes 6013 and three second sub-flow guide holes 6014.

[0157] Since the number of the first sub-conducting holes 6013 is twice the number of the second sub-conducting holes 6014 , the central axis K of any second sub-conducting hole 6014 can be located on the symmetry axis of two adjacent first sub-conducting holes 6013 to ensure uniform distribution of the refrigerant.

[0158] 14A to 14C , the air conditioner 1000 further includes a driver 700. The driver 700 is disposed on the outer periphery of the second air duct 602 and is configured to drive the first air duct 601 and the second air duct 602 to rotate relative to each other at the first relative position and the second relative position.

[0159] In some examples, the driver 700 is annular and surrounds the second flow conduit 602 and is in close contact with the second flow conduit 602. The driver 700 can drive the first flow conduit 601 to rotate to a predetermined angle through electromagnetic force, so that the plurality of first sub-flow conduit holes 6013 or the plurality of second sub-flow conduit holes 6014 overlap with the plurality of second flow conduit holes 6022, thereby forming a first flow conduit channel and a second flow conduit channel with different flow rates, thereby changing the number of diversion channels.

[0160] In this case, the air conditioner 1000 further includes an annunciator 800, which is located outside the diverter 530 and is connected to the driver 700. The annunciator 800 includes a signal acquisition device and a signal generation device, which can determine the working state of the air conditioner 1000 based on parameters such as the external air state and the exhaust state of the compressor 201, and send a signal to the driver 700. For example, the annunciator 800 can be a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, an angular displacement sensor, or a current sensor. It should be noted that the annunciator 800 can also be integrated into the controller 300, or be set independently of the controller 300.

[0161] In some embodiments, the actuator 700 may include an electromagnetic actuator that adjusts the relative position between the first flow conduit 601 and the second flow conduit 602 through electromagnetic force. For example, the electromagnetic actuator is similar to the coil structure in a solenoid valve. The electromagnetic force generated by the coil structure when energized drives the first flow conduit 601 to rotate. This allows for quick switching between the first and second flow conduit channels, facilitating the adjustment of the number of diversion channels.

[0162] In the air conditioner 1000 provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure, by providing a first flow conduit 601 and a second flow conduit 602, the refrigerant can flow sequentially through the first flow conduit 601 and the second flow conduit 602 toward the radially outer side of the diverter 530. Furthermore, the first flow conduit 601 and the second flow conduit 602 can rotate relative to each other. By adjusting the position of the first flow conduit 601 to a first relative position and a second relative position, the first flow guide hole 6012 and the second flow guide hole 6022 can form diverter channels with different flow areas, thereby forming first and second flow guide channels with different flow rates, thereby controlling the refrigerant flow rate. In this way, when the air conditioner 1000 is in cooling mode or heating mode, the number of diverter channels in the diverter 530 can adapt to the maximum heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400.

[0163] Therefore, for different states of the heat exchanger 400, the relative rotation angle of the first flow guide tube 601 and the second flow guide tube 602 can be flexibly adjusted, and the number of diversion channels can be changed without setting one-way valves with different directions and flow areas, thereby improving the compactness of the structure of the diverter 530 and accurately distributing the refrigerant flow, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400.

[0164] In addition, since the first guide hole 6012 and the second guide hole 6022 are respectively located on the tube walls of the first body 6011 and the second body 6021, the refrigerant can flow from the inside to the outside or from the outside to the inside along the radial direction of the diverter 530, so that the refrigerant can form a circulation in the diverter 530, and the refrigerant is evenly distributed, thereby improving the uniformity of the refrigerant diversion.

[0165] The structure of the heat exchanger 400 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is introduced below.

[0166] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG21 , the heat exchanger 400 includes a plurality of heat exchange tubes 420. The plurality of heat exchange tubes 420 are connected to the compressor 201. The refrigerant from the compressor 201 flows through the plurality of heat exchange tubes 420 for heat exchange. The first ends of the plurality of heat exchange tubes 420 are respectively connected to the plurality of second pipelines 520.

[0167] The heat exchanger 400 further includes a plurality of fins 410. The fins 410 are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the corresponding fins (e.g., the MN direction in FIG. 21 ). A plurality of heat exchange tubes 420 are interspersed through the fins 410 and spaced apart along the length direction of the fins 410 (e.g., the UD direction in FIG. 21 ).

[0168] The heat exchanger 400 further includes a connecting pipe 430 (a flute-shaped pipe) connected to the second ends of the plurality of heat exchange pipes 420 .

[0169] The heat exchanger 400 may be a single-row structure. For example, a row of heat exchange tubes 420 is disposed along the thickness direction of the plurality of fins 410 , and the plurality of heat exchange tubes 420 are connected to the plurality of second pipes 520 on the same side of the plurality of fins 410 .

[0170] The following description mainly takes the diverter 530 adopting the structure shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 as an example.

[0171] As shown in FIG2 , when the heat exchanger 400 functions as a condenser, the refrigerant in the first portion of the heat exchange tubes 420 connected to the first one-way channel 503 flows in the same direction. The refrigerant flows through the flow diversion assembly 500 into the first portion of the heat exchange tubes 420, flowing within the first portion of the heat exchange tubes 420, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400. The refrigerant then flows from the second end of the first portion of the heat exchange tubes 420 into the connecting tube 430 and is collected.

[0172] As shown in FIG3 , when heat exchanger 400 functions as an evaporator, the refrigerant in the second portion of heat exchange tubes 420 connected to second one-way channel 504 flows in the same direction. The refrigerant flows into the second portion of heat exchange tubes 420 through connecting tube 430 and flows within the second portion of heat exchange tubes 420, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of heat exchanger 400. The refrigerant then converges in diverter 530.

[0173] The flow dividing member 530 adopts the structure shown in FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C as an example for description.

[0174] As shown in FIG14A , when heat exchanger 400 functions as a condenser and its workload is greater than or equal to a preset value, the refrigerant in the third portion of heat exchange tubes 420 connected to the plurality of first sub-flow holes 6013 flows in the same direction. The refrigerant is diverted to the third portion of heat exchange tubes 420 by diversion assembly 500, thereby allowing the refrigerant to flow within the third portion of heat exchange tubes 420, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of heat exchanger 400. The refrigerant then flows from the second end of the third portion of heat exchange tubes 420 into connecting tube 430 and is collected there.

[0175] As shown in FIG14B , when the heat exchanger 400 acts as a condenser and the workload is less than a preset value, the flow direction of the fourth portion of the heat exchange tube 420 connected to the plurality of second sub-flow holes 6014 is the same, and the remaining working process is similar to the working process when the heat exchanger 400 acts as a condenser and the workload is greater than or equal to the preset value, and will not be repeated here.

[0176] As shown in FIG14C , when the heat exchanger 400 functions as an evaporator, the refrigerant in the third portion of the heat exchange tubes 420 connected to the plurality of first sub-flow holes 6013 flows in the same direction. The refrigerant flows into the third portion of the heat exchange tubes 420 through the connecting tubes 430, thereby allowing the refrigerant to flow within the third portion of the heat exchange tubes 420, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400. The refrigerant then converges in the diverter 530.

[0177] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 21, the heat exchanger 400 further includes a subcooling tube 440. The subcooling tube 440 is interspersed with the plurality of fins 410 and is located on one side (e.g., the lower side) of the plurality of heat exchange tubes 420 in the height direction (e.g., the UD direction). The first end of the subcooling tube 440 is connected to the connecting tube 430, and the second end is connected to the throttling assembly (i.e., the expansion valve 204). The subcooling tube 440 can increase the volume of the refrigerant circulating in the heat exchanger 400, thereby increasing the capacity of the heat exchanger 400 to accommodate the liquid refrigerant, thereby improving the heat exchange effect of the heat exchanger 400.

[0178] In some examples, the supercooling pipe 440 includes a first supercooling sub-pipe 4401 . A first end of the first supercooling sub-pipe 4401 is connected to the connecting pipe 430 .

[0179] The supercooling tube 440 further includes a second supercooling sub-tube 4402. The second end of the first supercooling sub-tube 4401 is connected to the first end of the second supercooling sub-tube 4402.

[0180] The subcooling tube 440 also includes a third subcooling sub-tube 4403. The second end of the second subcooling sub-tube 4402 is bent toward the third subcooling sub-tube 4403 to connect with the first end of the third subcooling sub-tube 4403. The second end of the third subcooling sub-tube 4403 is connected to the throttling assembly. The first subcooling sub-tube 4401 and the third subcooling sub-tube 4403 extend parallel to each other.

[0181] It should be noted that the shape of the heat exchange tube 420 may be similar to that of the supercooling tube 440 .

[0182] In the description of the above embodiments, specific features, structures, materials or characteristics may be combined in an appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0183] Those skilled in the art will understand that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the above specific embodiments, and that certain elements of the embodiments may be modified and replaced without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is limited by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange with the refrigerant; A throttling component configured to adjust the flow of the refrigerant; The compressor, the heat exchanger and the throttling assembly are connected to form a refrigerant circuit; as well as The shunt assembly comprises: a first pipeline, a first end of the first pipeline being connected to the compressor; a plurality of second pipelines, wherein first ends of the plurality of second pipelines are connected to the heat exchanger; and A diverter, wherein the first end of the diverter is connected to the second end of the first pipeline, and the second end of the diverter is connected to the second ends of the plurality of second pipelines. The diverter includes different numbers of diverter channels, and the diverter channels connect the first pipeline with the plurality of second pipelines. The diverter is configured to switch between the different numbers of diverter channels according to at least one of the flow direction of the refrigerant or the workload of the heat exchanger to change the number of diverter channels connected to the heat exchanger.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: The flow divider comprises: Divide the body; A first channel is disposed in the flow dividing body, and the second end of the first pipeline is connected to the first channel; and A plurality of second channels are arranged in the flow dividing body, the second ends of the plurality of second pipelines are respectively connected to the plurality of second channels, and the first channel is connected to the plurality of second channels, and the plurality of second channels include: A first one-way channel is configured to be opened when the refrigerant flows from the first pipeline to the plurality of second pipelines, and closed when the refrigerant flows from the plurality of second pipelines to the first pipeline; The second one-way channel is configured to be closed when the refrigerant flows from the first pipeline to the multiple second pipelines, and to be opened when the refrigerant flows from the multiple second pipelines to the first pipeline; the number of the first one-way channels is less than the number of the second one-way channels.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein: The plurality of second channels further comprises: a first switch assembly, disposed in the first one-way channel and configured to be opened when the refrigerant flows from the first pipeline to the plurality of second pipelines, so that the refrigerant enters the plurality of second pipelines through the first one-way channel; and The second switch assembly is disposed in the second one-way channel and is configured to open when the refrigerant flows from the plurality of second pipelines to the first pipeline, so that the refrigerant enters the first pipeline through the second one-way channel.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein: Either of the first switch component and the second switch component comprises: A rotating shaft, both ends of which are arranged on the inner wall surface of the first one-way channel or the second one-way channel, and the rotating shaft extends along the radial direction of the first one-way channel or the second one-way channel; a baffle rotatably connected to the rotating shaft and configured to open and close the first one-way passage or the second one-way passage; and a limiting portion, which is arranged on the inner wall surface of the first one-way channel or the second one-way channel and protrudes from the corresponding inner wall surface; Wherein, the limiting portion in the first one-way channel is located on a side of the baffle plate close to the first channel and abuts against the baffle plate to limit the rotation direction of the baffle plate in the first one-way channel; The limiting portion in the second one-way channel is located on a side of the baffle away from the first channel and abuts against the baffle to limit the rotation direction of the baffle in the second one-way channel.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein: The baffle comprises: first sub-baffle; A second sub-baffle, wherein the first sub-baffle and the second sub-baffle are respectively located on two sides of the rotation axis in a radial direction; A first hinge portion is provided at one end of the first sub-baffle plate close to the rotating shaft and is rotatably sleeved on the rotating shaft; and The second hinged portion is arranged at one end of the second sub-baffle plate close to the rotating shaft and is rotatably sleeved on the rotating shaft.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The rotating shaft extends in a radial direction of the diverter body. The first switch assembly and the second switch assembly respectively include a pair of limiting portions, and the pair of limiting portions are symmetrically located on both sides of the rotating shaft.

7. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein: The cross-section of the diverter body is circular, the multiple second channels are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the diverter body, the first channel is located at the central axis of the diverter body, and on a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the diverter body, the orthographic projections of the multiple second channels surround the orthographic projection of the first channel.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein: In a semicircle of a cross section of the flow dividing body, the first one-way channel and the second one-way channel are alternately arranged along the circumference of the flow dividing body; The first one-way channel in the first semicircle of the cross-section of the diverter body is symmetrical with the first one-way channel in the second semicircle of the cross-section of the diverter body, and the second one-way channel in the first semicircle of the cross-section of the diverter body is symmetrical with the second one-way channel in the second semicircle of the cross-section of the diverter body.

9. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein: The diversion body comprises: A first sub-body is cylindrical, wherein the first channel is disposed in the first sub-body; and The second sub-body is cylindrical, the diameter of the second sub-body is larger than the diameter of the first sub-body, and the plurality of second channels are arranged in the second sub-body.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein: The diversion body also includes: a transition portion, connecting the second sub-body and the first sub-body, wherein a diameter of the transition portion decreases in a direction approaching the first sub-body; a flow guide channel, disposed in the transition portion and connecting the first channel and the plurality of second channels; and The guide portion is arranged at the center of the transition portion, the guide portion is in a cone shape, and the apex of the cone faces the first channel, and the guide channel surrounds the guide portion.

11. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: The flow divider comprises: A first flow guide pipe is connected to the second end of the first pipeline, and the first flow guide pipe includes: A first entity; and A plurality of first flow guide holes are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the first body and penetrate the tube wall of the first body, and the plurality of first flow guide holes include: a plurality of first sub-flow guide holes; and a plurality of second sub-flow guiding holes, wherein the number of the plurality of first sub-flow guiding holes is greater than the number of the plurality of second sub-flow guiding holes; A second flow guide pipe is connected to the second ends of the plurality of second pipelines, the second flow guide pipe is sleeved on the first flow guide pipe, and at least one of the first flow guide pipe or the second flow guide pipe is rotatable, and the second flow guide pipe includes: Second entity; and A plurality of second flow guide holes are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the second body and penetrate the tube wall of the second body, and the plurality of second flow guide holes are connected with the plurality of second pipelines; Wherein, the first flow guide tube and the second flow guide tube are configured to rotate relative to each other between a first relative position and a second relative position; in the first relative position, the plurality of first sub-flow guide holes are connected to the plurality of second flow guide holes to form a first flow guide channel; in the second relative position, the plurality of second sub-flow guide holes are connected to a portion of the second flow guide holes to form a second flow guide channel.

12. The air conditioner according to claim 11, wherein: The first flow guide tube and the second flow guide tube are configured as follows: When the heat exchanger is a condenser and the workload is greater than or equal to a preset value, rotating to the first relative position; When the heat exchanger is the condenser and the workload is less than the preset value, rotating to the second relative position; and When the heat exchanger is an evaporator, it rotates to the first relative position.

13. The air conditioner according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: One end of the second flow guide tube is closed to form a blocking portion, the second flow guide hole and the first flow guide hole are close to the blocking portion, and one end of the first flow guide tube abuts against the blocking portion.

14. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein: The second flow guide pipe also includes a plurality of connection parts, which are arranged along the circumference of the second body and are respectively connected to the plurality of second flow guide holes. The plurality of connection parts extend along the radial direction of the second body and in a direction away from the second body, and the plurality of second pipelines are respectively connected to the plurality of connection parts.

15. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein: The plurality of first sub-flow guide holes are evenly arranged along the circumference of the first body, and the plurality of second sub-flow guide holes are evenly arranged along the circumference of the first body; the plurality of second flow guide holes are evenly arranged along the circumference of the second body; the plurality of second flow guide holes and the plurality of first flow guide holes are respectively circular holes with equal diameters.

16. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein: The number of the second flow guiding holes is equal to the number of the first sub-flow guiding holes.

17. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein: The number of the plurality of first sub-flow guiding holes is twice the number of the plurality of second sub-flow guiding holes, and the plurality of second sub-flow guiding holes are located between two adjacent first sub-flow guiding holes in the circumferential direction of the first body.

18. The air conditioner according to claim 17, wherein: Two first sub-flow guiding holes adjacent to any second sub-flow guiding hole among the plurality of second sub-flow guiding holes are symmetrically arranged with respect to the second sub-flow guiding hole.

19. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein: The heat exchanger comprises: A plurality of fins are arranged at intervals along a thickness direction of the plurality of fins; a plurality of heat exchange tubes, interspersed with the plurality of fins and arranged at intervals along the length direction of the plurality of fins, wherein the first ends of the plurality of heat exchange tubes are respectively connected to the plurality of second pipelines; and The connecting pipe is connected to the second ends of the plurality of heat exchange pipes.

20. The air conditioner according to claim 19, wherein: The heat exchanger also includes a subcooling tube, which is inserted through the multiple fins and located on one side of the multiple heat exchange tubes in the height direction. The first end of the subcooling tube is connected to the connecting tube, and the second end is connected to the throttling assembly.

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