Gas-Liquid Separator Layout for High-Pressure Refrigerant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioning systems, the challenge is to design a gas-liquid separator that can handle high-pressure refrigerants while maintaining a compact structure and ensuring the strength of components, particularly collecting pipes, to prevent liquid shock in compressors and optimize refrigerant flow.
Innovation Solution
The gas-liquid separator comprises a first cylinder with a recessed side wall and a heat exchange assembly, including a collecting pipe that extends parallel to the cylinder's axis, allowing for a more compact design and increased pressure resistance by offsetting the collecting pipe's position, thus enhancing the strength and flow efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the collecting pipe is positioned conventionally in the gas-liquid separator, then the structure is simpler, but the pressure resistance and strength of components are insufficient for high-pressure refrigerants
Solution Approach 1:
The collecting pipe is repositioned from a conventional radial arrangement to an axial arrangement, extending parallel to the axial direction of the first cylinder. This dimensional repositioning allows the pipe to leverage the cylindrical wall structure for enhanced support, improving pressure resistance while maintaining structural simplicity through the recessed portion design.
Solution Approach 2:
A recessed portion is created in the cylindrical wall at the specific location where the collecting pipe is positioned. This local structural modification provides targeted reinforcement and support for the collecting pipe, enhancing its strength and pressure resistance capability without requiring complex reinforcement structures along the entire pipe length.
2Strength
If the gas-liquid separator is designed with sufficient component strength for high-pressure refrigerants, then pressure resistance is improved, but the device size increases and compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly thickening all components to handle high pressure, a recessed portion is created only at the specific location where the collecting pipe requires support. This localized structural enhancement provides the necessary pressure resistance exactly where needed, avoiding unnecessary increases in overall device volume and maintaining compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The collecting pipe is repositioned to extend axially, allowing it to benefit from the natural structural strength of the cylindrical wall in the axial direction. This orientation change enables the pipe to withstand high pressures more effectively without requiring additional volumetric space for reinforcement structures.
3Productivity
If the collecting pipe diameter is increased to ensure adequate flow rate, then flow efficiency is improved, but the pipe wall thickness must be reduced which weakens pressure resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The collecting pipe is repositioned to extend axially rather than radially, changing its spatial orientation. This dimensional change allows the pipe to achieve adequate flow capacity through its length while the axial orientation provides natural structural support from the cylindrical wall, enabling the pipe to maintain both sufficient diameter for flow and adequate wall thickness for pressure resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
A recessed portion is created in the cylindrical wall to provide localized support and reinforcement for the collecting pipe. This local structural enhancement allows the pipe to maintain adequate wall thickness for pressure resistance while still having sufficient diameter and length for optimal refrigerant flow, resolving the trade-off between flow capacity and pressure resistance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively prevents liquid shock, ensures the strength of components under high pressure, and maintains a compact size, improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the air conditioning system.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchange assembly (20) arranged in the interlayer space (202), the heat exchange assembly (20) being configured to exchange heat with the first refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A gas-liquid separator includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder and a heat exchange assembly. The first cylinder is surrounded by the second cylinder at a predetermined distance. The heat exchange assembly is arranged between the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The heat exchange assembly includes a collecting pipe. An extension direction of the collecting pipe is parallel to an axial direction of the first cylinder. At least a part of a side wall surface of the first cylinder is formed with an avoidance portion recessed inwardly. At least a part of the collecting pipe is arranged between the avoidance portion and the second cylinder.