Phase separator and motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a phase separator (10) for a cooling system (110) for a motor vehicle (100), the phase separator (10) having a main body (12) with a vertical extent (H), at least one feed device (20) for feeding a fluid mixture into the main body (12), a separating device (30) within the main body (12) for separating a gas phase and a liquid phase of the fluid mixture along the vertical extent (H), a gas discharge device (22) for discharging the gas phase out of the main body (12) and at least one ejector device (40), wherein the at least one ejector device (40) is integrated within the at least one feed device (20) and is releasably fastened to the main body (12), wherein the at least one ejector device (40) and the at least one feed device (20) are arranged together such that the fluid mixture can be fed into the main body (12) at an angle to the vertical extent (H). The invention further relates to a motor vehicle (100) having a cooling system (110) with at least one phase separator (10).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Phase separator and motor vehicle

[0003] The present invention relates to a phase separator for a refrigeration system for a motor vehicle. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with a refrigeration system including a phase separator.

[0004] Currently known refrigeration systems for motor vehicles, representing the state of the art, sometimes include circuits with phase separators and ejectors. In known refrigerant systems with ejectors, such as CO2 refrigerant systems, ejectors and phase separators are installed as individual components within the refrigeration system. This creates numerous interfaces that require installation space and represent potential leak points. The necessary connections between the individual components, mostly via piping or hoses, simultaneously lead to pressure and heat losses, which reduce the efficiency of the refrigeration systems.

[0005] From the publications DE 11 2014 004 349 T5, DE 11 2015 004 841 T5, CN 116 053 522 A and DE 11 2013 000 817 T5, circuits are known in which ejectors are, in principle, integrated with gas-liquid separators, at least in sections. However, a disadvantage of the known devices is that the integration of the ejector with the gas-liquid separator, at least in sections, does not enable space-optimized, pressure-loss-optimized and / or advantageous separation of the phases of a fluid from the ejector.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least partially overcome, the disadvantages described above in the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a phase separator for a refrigeration system for a motor vehicle, which enables advantageous integration of at least one ejector device as well as advantageous phase separation in a particularly simple and / or space-saving manner.

[0007] In particular, the object of the invention is also to provide a motor vehicle with a refrigeration system with a phase separator.

[0008] The aforementioned problem is solved by the claims. In particular, the problem is solved by a phase separator for a refrigeration system for a motor vehicle having the features of independent claim 1. Furthermore, the problem is solved by a motor vehicle having the features of independent claim 10. Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features described in connection with the phase separator according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the motor vehicle according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention always makes, or can make, reciprocal references.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, the problem is solved by a phase separator for a refrigeration system for a motor vehicle. The phase separator comprises a base body with a vertical extension, at least one feed device for supplying a fluid mixture into the base body, a separation device within the base body for separating a gas phase and a liquid phase of the fluid mixture along the vertical extension, a gas discharge device for removing the gas phase from the base body, and at least one ejector device. The at least one ejector device is integrated within the at least one feed device and detachably attached to the base body. The at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device are jointly arranged such that the fluid mixture can be supplied to the base body at an angle to the vertical extension.

[0010] A phase separator according to the invention is designed for use in a refrigeration system in a motor vehicle. The refrigeration system is preferably an R744 refrigerant system. The refrigeration system preferably has an operating pressure of more than 100 bar, in particular 120 to 130 bar. Within the scope of the invention, the phase separator is designed as a phase separator and / or as an accumulator for separating a liquid phase from a gas phase.

[0011] The phase separator comprises a base body, in particular with an internal volume, wherein the base body is preferably understood as a housing. The base body is preferably made of aluminum or steel. The base body is preferably designed as a container, in particular as a thin-walled container and / or pressure vessel. The base body preferably has an internal volume, in particular a completely continuous internal volume. The base body has a height extension, wherein the height extension preferably corresponds to the longest extension of the base body. Preferably, the height extension corresponds to a vertical extension of the base body in a preferred installation position of the phase separator. The phase separator comprises at least a feed device for feeding a fluid mixture into the base body and a gas discharge device for removing the gas phase from the base body.A separation device is arranged within the base body, the separation device being designed to separate a gas phase and a liquid phase of the fluid mixture along its vertical extent. In other words, the separation device separates the gas phase and the liquid phase from each other within the base body. Within the scope of the invention, separation along the vertical extent is understood to mean that the gas phase and the liquid phase are separated from each other along the vertical extent. Preferably, the liquid phase is separated into a lower region of the base body along its vertical extent. Preferably, the gas phase is separated into an upper region of the base body. Preferably, the liquid phase is also separated from the gas phase, at least section by section, along a radial extent within the base body.The separation device is preferably understood as a centrifugal separation device and enables the separation of the liquid phase from the gas phase of the fluid mixture by means of centrifugal force and / or gravity within the base body.

[0012] The phase separator further comprises at least one ejector device, wherein the at least one ejector device is integrated within the at least one feed device and detachably attached to the base body. Preferably, due to its integration into the feed device, the ejector device does not have a separate housing and is therefore designed without a housing. In other words, the feed device and the base body are preferably designed as the housing of the ejector device. The detachable attachment is preferably force-fit and / or form-fit, for example, by means of screw connections. The at least one ejector device is preferably mountable, pluggable, and / or attachable to the at least one feed device from the outside.

[0013] The phase separator according to the invention is particularly advantageous because the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device are jointly arranged such that the fluid mixture can be fed into the base body at an angle to its vertical extent. The at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device are described in detail and / or arranged in an upper section of the base body with respect to its vertical extent. The fluid mixture can be fed into the base body by the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device and preferably encounters the separation device within the base body.The angled arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device in relation to the base body, particularly to the height of the base body, enables the generation of swirl in the fluid mixture within the base body, thus facilitating the advantageous function and operation of the separation device. Especially in combination with a separation device designed as a centrifugal separation device, the angled arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device allows for advantageous separation of the gas phase from the liquid phase, with the phase separator according to the invention requiring minimal installation space due to its integration and angled arrangement.

[0014] An angled arrangement is preferably understood as an angled arrangement in at least one spatial plane, preferably in two or three spatial planes, with respect to the height of the base body and / or to the spatial planes of the base body. Preferably, the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device are arranged diagonally to the base body, in particular to the height of the base body. The at least one ejector device is preferably designed to be adjustable and / or controllable.

[0015] A phase separator designed in this way is particularly advantageous because the angled arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device facilitates the advantageous separation of the gas phase from the liquid phase particularly easily, and the phase separator according to the invention requires little installation space due to the integration and the angled arrangement. A phase separator according to the invention advantageously minimizes pressure drops and thus enables a particularly efficient design.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a phase separator may be provided with a liquid discharge device for removing the liquid phase from the base body. A liquid discharge device, designed separately from the gas discharge device and at least partially, and in particular completely, advantageously enables the removal of the liquid phase from the phase separator. As described above, the phase separator according to the invention can be understood as a phase separator or as an accumulator. In practice, phase separators without a liquid discharge device are usually referred to as accumulators.A phase separator designed in this way is particularly advantageous because the additional liquid discharge device enables advantageous removal of the liquid phase from the base body, the angular arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device makes advantageous separation of the gas phase from the liquid phase particularly easy, and the phase separator according to the invention requires little installation space due to the integration and the angular arrangement.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a phase separator may be provided in that the base body comprises a lid device, wherein the lid device is configured to close the base body, in particular wherein the feed device, the gas discharge device, and / or the liquid discharge device are configured within the lid device. The lid device is preferably connectable to the base body by a material bond, a force bond, and / or a form-fit connection, for example, by screwing. Preferably, the lid device is welded to the base body. The lid device is preferably arranged in an upper section of the base body relative to its height. Preferably, the lid device closes an internal volume of the base body.Preferably, the lid assembly and / or the base body includes a sealing device for sealing the connection between the lid assembly and the base body. The lid assembly preferably includes the feed device, the gas discharge device, and / or the liquid discharge device. The lid assembly is preferably designed separately from the base body, thus enabling advantageous manufacturing and / or accessibility, for example, for the assembly of the feed device, the gas discharge device, and / or the liquid discharge device. Furthermore, the lid assembly preferably provides advantageous access to an internal volume of the base body, allowing, for example, the arrangement of the separator device within the base body.Preferably, the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device are jointly arranged in and / or on the lid device such that the fluid mixture can be fed into the base body at an angle to its height. A phase separator designed in this way is particularly advantageous due to the lid device, as it facilitates the manufacture and / or assembly of the phase separator. The angled arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device makes the advantageous separation of the gas phase from the liquid phase particularly easy. Furthermore, the phase separator according to the invention requires little installation space due to its integration and angled arrangement.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a phase separator may be provided in such a way that the base body, the lid device, and / or the separation device are at least partially rotationally symmetrical about an axis of rotational symmetry, wherein the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device are arranged at an angle, in particular tangentially, to and / or outside the axis of rotational symmetry of the base body and / or the separation device. Preferably, the base body, the lid device, and / or the separation device are arranged concentrically to one another, i.e., with a common axis of rotational symmetry. Preferably, the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device are arranged at an angle, in particular tangentially, to and / or outside the axis of rotational symmetry of the base body and / or the separation device.As an example, at least one ejector device and at least one feed device are arranged diagonally to the rotational symmetry axis of the lid device and outside the rotational symmetry axis of the lid device within the lid device. Such an arrangement enables advantageous swirl generation for the fluid mixture upon entry into the base body and the separation device, and thus advantageous phase separation.A phase separator designed in this way is particularly advantageous due to the design of the base body, the lid device and / or the separation device, since the phase separator can be manufactured particularly easily and with a small installation space requirement, wherein the angular arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device makes it particularly easy to separate the gas phase from the liquid phase, and the phase separator according to the invention requires little installation space due to the integration and the angular arrangement.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a phase separator may be provided that the phase separator comprises at least two feed devices, each with an ejector device, wherein each ejector device is integrated within its respective feed device and is detachably attached to the base body, and wherein the ejector devices and the respective feed devices are arranged together such that the fluid mixture can be fed into the base body at an angle to its vertical extent. Preferably, the phase separator is used for more than one circuit and / or comprises at least two feed devices. Each of the at least two feed devices comprises an ejector device. Preferably, all feed devices and ejector devices are identically configured.The at least two feed devices each have an integrated ejector device, wherein the ejector devices and the respective feed device are arranged together such that the fluid mixture can be fed into the base body at an angle to its vertical extent. A phase separator designed in this way is particularly advantageous due to the arrangement of the feed devices and ejector devices, since it enables the generation of swirl for the fed fluid mixtures, especially from several circuits, into the base body, thus advantageously facilitating the phase separation of several fed fluid mixtures. Furthermore, the angled arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device facilitates the advantageous separation of the gas phase from the liquid phase particularly easily. The phase separator according to the invention requires little installation space due to its integration and angled arrangement.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a phase separator may be provided in which the at least two feed devices are arranged offset from each other by 180°. The arrangement and / or angle specification is preferably to be understood in relation to the axis of rotational symmetry and / or the height. In a phase separator with two feed devices, the feed devices are preferably offset from each other by 180°. In a phase separator with three feed devices, the feed devices are preferably offset from each other by 120°. In a phase separator with four feed devices, the feed devices are preferably offset from each other by 90°. In principle, the feed devices are preferably arranged at uniform intervals to generate advantageous swirl of the fluid mixtures within the base body and thus enable advantageous phase separation.A phase separator designed in this way is particularly advantageous due to the arrangement of the feed devices and ejector devices, since it enables the generation of swirl for the supplied fluid mixtures, especially from several circuits, into the base body, thus making advantageous phase separation of several supplied fluid mixtures particularly advantageous, wherein the angular arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device makes advantageous separation of the gas phase from the liquid phase particularly easy, and the phase separator according to the invention requires little installation space due to the integration and the angular arrangement.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a phase separator may be provided with at least one ejector device comprising a mixing tube and a diffuser, in particular wherein the mixing tube and the diffuser are made of plastic. To illustrate, the pressure-resistant housing of the ejector device is eliminated by integrating the ejector device into the phase separator. The diffuser of the ejector device is not subjected to a pressure differential and / or only to a minimal degree. This makes it possible to manufacture the diffuser from, for example, plastic. The outlet of the ejector device preferably opens directly into the base body of the phase separator in a centrifugal separator. The angled, in particular tangential, arrangement of the outlet of the ejector device directly induces the rotation of the refrigerant, which supports the separation of the liquid and gaseous phases.A phase separator designed in this way is particularly advantageous due to the design of the ejector devices, since the choice of material advantageously saves costs, the angular arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device makes it particularly easy to separate the gas phase from the liquid phase, and the phase separator according to the invention requires little installation space due to the integration and the angular arrangement.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a phase separator may be provided with a base body comprising a siphon device for supplying a lubricating fluid, wherein the gas discharge device for mixing the lubricating fluid into the gas phase is configured at least partially through the siphon device. The siphon device is preferably configured with respect to the height of the base body in a bottom section of the base body. Preferably, a lubricating fluid, for example oil, is provided in the siphon device during operation of the phase separator. Preferably, the gas discharge device extends at least partially through the siphon device, thus enabling the mixing of the lubricating fluid into the gas phase.The gas phase enriched with lubricating fluid in this way is supplied, for example, to an air conditioning compressor of the refrigeration system, and the lubricating fluid enables efficient operation and a long service life for the refrigeration system. The siphon device and the lubricating fluid are preferably arranged in the base body below the separated liquid phase, particularly at the bottom of the base body. A phase separator designed in this way is particularly advantageous due to the design of the siphon device, as it facilitates the mixing of the lubricating fluid into the gas phase. Furthermore, the angled arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device facilitates the advantageous separation of the gas phase from the liquid phase, and the phase separator according to the invention requires little installation space due to its integration and angled arrangement.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a phase separator may be provided with at least one ejector device comprising a fastening device for detachable attachment to a counter-fastening device of the base body, in particular the lid device. The detachable fastening is preferably friction-fit and / or positive-locking, for example by means of screw connections. By way of example, the ejector device and the base body each comprise a flange as a fastening device and counter-fastening device for the detachable fastening to one another.A phase separator designed in this way is particularly advantageous due to the design of the ejector device and the base body, since manufacturing and / or assembly of the phase separator is made particularly easy, the angled arrangement of the at least one ejector device and the at least one feed device makes advantageous separation of the gas phase from the liquid phase particularly easy, and the phase separator according to the invention requires little installation space due to the integration and the angled arrangement.

[0024] According to a second aspect of the invention, the problem is solved by a motor vehicle comprising a refrigeration system with at least one phase separator according to the first aspect. The described motor vehicle offers all the advantages already described for the phase separator according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0025] A phase separator according to the invention and a motor vehicle are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The drawings schematically show: Figure 1 in a perspective sectional view of a phase separator with a base body and an ejector device,

[0026] Figure 2 shows a perspective top view of a phase separator with a base body and an ejector device.

[0027] Figure 3 shows a perspective sectional view of a phase separator with a base body and two ejector devices, and

[0028] Figure 4 shows a side view of a motor vehicle with a refrigeration system including a phase separator.

[0029] Elements with the same function and mode of operation are each provided with the same reference numerals in Figs. 1 to 4.

[0030] Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective sectional view of a phase separator 10 with a base body 12 and an ejector device 40. The phase separator 10 comprises the base body 12 with a height H, a feed device 20 for feeding a fluid mixture into the base body 12, a separation device 30 within the base body 12 for separating a gas phase and a liquid phase of the fluid mixture along the height H, a gas discharge device 22 for removing the gas phase from the base body 12, and an ejector device 40. The ejector device 40 is integrated within the feed device 20 and detachably attached to the base body 12, with the ejector device 40 and the feed device 20 being arranged together such that the fluid mixture can be fed into the base body 12 at an angle to the height H.The phase separator 10 comprises a liquid discharge device 24 for removing the liquid phase from the base body 12. The base body 12 further comprises a cover device 14, the cover device 14 being designed for the releasable closure of the base body 12. The feed device 20, the gas discharge device 22, and the liquid discharge device 24 are located within the cover device 14. The base body 12, the cover device 14, and the separation device 30 are sectionally rotationally symmetrical about an axis of rotational symmetry A. The ejector device 40 and the feed device 20 are perpendicular, here tangential, to and outside the axis of rotational symmetry A of the base body 12 and the...

[0031] The separator device 30 is arranged. The ejector device 40 comprises a mixing tube 42 and a diffuser 44, wherein the mixing tube 42 and the diffuser 44 are made of plastic. The base body 12 includes a siphon device 16 for supplying a lubricating fluid. The gas discharge device 22 is designed to mix the lubricating fluid into the gas phase, at least section by section, through the siphon device 16. The ejector device 40 includes a fastening device 46 for detachable attachment to a counter-fastening device 18 of the base body 12, here the cover device 14.

[0032] Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective top view of a phase separator 10 with a base body 12 and an ejector device 40. The feed device 20 and the lid device 14 of the phase separator 10 are not shown in Figure 2 for clarity. The phase separator 10 comprises a separation device 30 within the base body 12 for separating a gas phase and a liquid phase of the fluid mixture along the vertical dimension H, a gas discharge device 22 for removing the gas phase from the base body 12, and an ejector device 40. The ejector device 40 and the feed device 20 (not shown) are arranged such that the fluid mixture can be fed into the base body 12 at an angle to the vertical dimension H.The angled arrangement of the ejector device 40 relative to the base body 12 generates a swirl in the fluid mixture within the base body 12, thereby enabling the advantageous function and operation of the separator device 30. The base body 12 and the separator device 30 are sectionally rotationally symmetrical about an axis of rotational symmetry A. The ejector device 40 comprises a mixing tube 42 and a diffuser 44, the mixing tube 42 and the diffuser 44 being made of plastic.

[0033] Figure 3 schematically shows a phase separator 10 with a base body 12 and two ejector devices 40 in a perspective sectional view. The phase separator 10 comprises two feed devices 20, each with an ejector device 40. Each ejector device 40 is integrated within its respective feed device 20 and is detachably attached to the base body 12. The ejector devices 40 and the respective feed devices 20 are arranged such that the fluid mixture can be fed into the base body 12 at an angle to the vertical dimension H. The two feed devices 20 are arranged offset from each other by 180°.

[0034] Figure 4 schematically shows a side view of a motor vehicle 100 with a refrigeration system 110 and a phase separator 10. Reference numeral list

[0035] 10 phase separators

[0036] 12 basic shapes

[0037] 14 Lid device

[0038] 16 Syphon device

[0039] 18 Counter-fastening device

[0040] 20 Feeding device

[0041] 22 GAS DISPOSAL DEVICE

[0042] 24 Liquid drainage device

[0043] 30 Separation device

[0044] 40 Ejector device

[0045] 42 Mixing tube

[0046] 44 Diffuser

[0047] 46 Fastening device

[0048] 100 motor vehicles

[0049] 110 refrigeration system

[0050] A rotation symmetry axis

[0051] H Height extension

Claims

Patent claims 1. Phase separator (10) for a refrigeration system (110) for a motor vehicle (100), the phase separator (10) comprising a base body (12) with a height extension (H), at least one feed device (20) for feeding a fluid mixture into the base body (12), a separation device (30) within the base body (12) for separating a gas phase and a liquid phase of the fluid mixture along the height extension (H), a gas discharge device (22) for discharge of the gas phase from the base body (12), and at least one ejector device (40), wherein the at least one ejector device (40) is integrated within the at least one feed device (20) and is detachably attached to the base body (12), wherein the at least one ejector device (40) and the at least one feed device (20) are jointly arranged such that the fluid mixture is discharged perpendicular to the height extension (H). (H) can be supplied into the base body (12).

2. Phase separator (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the phase separator (10) comprises a liquid discharge device (24) for discharging the liquid phase from the base body (12).

3. Phase separator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (12) comprises a lid device (14), wherein the lid device (14) is designed to close the base body (12), in particular, wherein the feed device (20), the gas discharge device (22) and / or the liquid discharge device (24) are designed within the lid device (14).

4. Phase separator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (12), the lid device (14) and / or the separation device (30) are designed at least sectionally rotationally symmetrical about an axis of rotational symmetry (A), wherein the at least one ejector device (40) and the at least one feed device (20) are arranged at an angle, in particular tangentially, to and / or outside the axis of rotational symmetry (A) of the base body (12) and / or the separation device (30).

5. Phase separator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the phase separator (10) comprises at least two feed devices (20) each with an ejector device (40), wherein each ejector device (40) is integrated within the respective feed device (20) and is detachably attached to the base body (12), wherein the ejector devices (40) and the respective feed device (20) are jointly arranged such that the fluid mixture can be fed into the base body (12) at an angle to the height extension (H).

6. Phase separator (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least two feed devices (20) are arranged offset from each other by 180°.

7. Phase separator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one ejector device (40) comprises a mixing tube (42) and a diffuser (44), in particular wherein the mixing tube (42) and the diffuser (44) are made of plastic.

8. Phase separator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (12) comprises a siphon device (16) for providing a lubricating fluid, wherein the gas discharge device (22) for mixing the lubricating fluid into the gas phase is configured at least sectionally by the siphon device (16).

9. Phase separator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one ejector device (40) comprises a fastening device (46) for detachable fastening to a counter-fastening device (18) of the base body (12), in particular the cover device (14).

10. Motor vehicle (100) comprising a refrigeration system (110) with at least one phase separator (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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