CN117677809A - Refrigerant storage container and refrigeration cycle device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The refrigerant storage container has: a container body storing a refrigerant; an inflow pipe inserted into an upper space in the container body and having an inflow port through which a refrigerant flows into the container body; and an outflow pipe inserted into an upper space in the container body, the outflow pipe having an outflow port through which the refrigerant flows out of the container body, the outflow pipe having an inner space in which the outflow port of the outflow pipe is located, the cross-sectional area of the inner space of the container body being larger as the outflow pipe is further away from the outflow port toward the bottom surface of the container body.

Description

Refrigerant storage container and refrigeration cycle device having the same

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerant storage container storing a refrigerant in an interior of the container and a refrigeration cycle device having the refrigerant storage container.

Background

In the refrigeration cycle apparatus, when the liquid refrigerant is sucked into the compressor, the refrigerating machine oil in the compressor housing is diluted, and heat generation and sticking occur in the compressor sliding portion. Accordingly, the following structure of a refrigeration cycle apparatus has been proposed: a refrigerant storage container is provided upstream of a suction port through which the refrigerant is sucked into the compressor, and separates the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant, and stores the liquid refrigerant in the container. For example, patent document 1 discloses a gas-liquid separator that is disposed in a refrigeration cycle and separates a refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant and a gas refrigerant. The gas-liquid separator has a function of a refrigerant storage container, and has: a gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe provided at an upper portion of the container for flowing out the gas refrigerant from the gas-liquid separator; a liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe provided at a lower portion of the container for flowing out the liquid refrigerant from the gas-liquid separator; a first plate dividing the refrigerant inflow chamber and the liquid-phase refrigerant retention chamber; and a second plate dividing the refrigerant inflow chamber and the vapor-phase refrigerant collecting chamber.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2015-172469

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the gas-liquid separator described in patent document 1, the first plate divides the refrigerant inflow chamber and the liquid-phase refrigerant retention chamber, and therefore, the retained liquid refrigerant is suppressed from being rolled up and entering the refrigerant inflow chamber. Further, the second plate divides the refrigerant inflow chamber and the gas-phase refrigerant collection chamber, and therefore, the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant inflow chamber is suppressed from entering the gas-phase refrigerant collection chamber as droplets. As a result, in the gas-liquid separator of patent document 1, the stagnant liquid refrigerant is prevented from entering the refrigerant outflow pipe from which the gas refrigerant flows out.

However, as in patent document 1, the area into which the refrigerant flows, the area into which the liquid refrigerant is stored, and the area into which the gas refrigerant is stored may be divided by only the plate, and thus, the liquid refrigerant that has remained therein may not be prevented from being rolled up and scattered droplets from entering the refrigerant outflow pipe. For example, when the liquid refrigerant is stored in the upper portion of the container, the stored liquid refrigerant fluctuates and is scattered, and the scattered droplets may reach the refrigerant outflow pipe and flow into the compressor together with the gas refrigerant. The larger the area of the gas-liquid interface, the wider the range of fluctuation of the liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant storage container. Further, the amount of scattered droplets increases in proportion to the area of the gas-liquid interface. Therefore, when the liquid refrigerant storage amount is smaller than the maximum storage amount, the liquid refrigerant scattered due to fluctuation of the gas-liquid interface may reach the refrigerant outflow pipe and flow out of the refrigerant storage container together with the gas refrigerant.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerant storage container in which liquid refrigerant is suppressed from flowing out of the refrigerant storage container together with gas refrigerant, and a refrigeration cycle device having the refrigerant storage container.

Means for solving the problems

The refrigerant storage container of the present disclosure has: a container body storing a refrigerant; an inflow pipe inserted into an upper space in the container body, the inflow pipe having an inflow port through which the refrigerant flows into the container body; and an outflow pipe inserted into the upper space in the container body, the outflow pipe having an outflow port through which the refrigerant flows out of the container body, wherein the greater the distance from the outflow port toward the bottom surface of the container body, the greater the cross-sectional area of the inner space of the container body in which the outflow port of the outflow pipe is located.

The refrigeration cycle device of the present disclosure includes: the refrigerant storage container; and a compressor connected to the refrigerant storage container via the outflow pipe.

Effects of the invention

According to the present disclosure, in the container body of the gas-liquid storage container, the area of the cross section of the inner space where the outflow port of the outflow pipe from which the refrigerant flows out of the gas-liquid storage container is located becomes larger toward the bottom surface of the container body. The outflow pipe is inserted into the upper space of the container body, and therefore, the area of the cross section of the inner space near the outflow port is smaller than the area of the cross section of the inner space near the bottom surface of the container body. Therefore, when the liquid refrigerant is stored in the vicinity of the outflow port, the area of the gas-liquid interface due to the fluctuation is also small, and therefore, the amount of scattered liquid droplets can be suppressed. Therefore, droplets scattered from the gas-liquid interface are prevented from reaching the refrigerant outflow pipe and flowing into the compressor together with the gas refrigerant.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigeration cycle device including a refrigerant storage container according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a front view showing the refrigerant storage container of embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the refrigerant storage container according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the height of the container body and the cross-sectional area of the refrigerant storage container of embodiment 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between the height of the container body and the volume in the container body of the refrigerant storage container according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 6 is a front view showing a refrigerant storage container according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing A-A section of fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a front view showing a refrigerant storage container according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a section B-B of fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a section C-C of fig. 8.

Detailed Description

Next, a refrigerant storage container and a refrigeration cycle device having the same according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. Further, the present disclosure includes all combinations of the structures that can be combined among the structures shown in the following embodiments. The refrigerant storage container and the refrigeration cycle device shown in the drawings show an example of a structure, and the structure of the present disclosure is not limited to the refrigerant storage container and the refrigeration cycle device shown in the drawings. In the following description, terms indicating directions (for example, "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "front", "rear", etc.) are used as appropriate for easy understanding, but these are for explanation, and do not limit the present disclosure.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding portions, and this is common throughout the specification. In the drawings, the relative dimensional relationship, shape, and the like of the respective structural members may be different from the actual ones. In each of the drawings, the X direction indicates the left-right direction of the refrigerant storage container, and the direction from right to left is indicated by an arrow. The Y direction indicates the front-rear direction of the refrigerant storage container, and the front-rear direction is indicated by an arrow. The Z direction indicates the up-down direction of the refrigerant storage container, and the direction from bottom to top is shown by an arrow.

Embodiment 1

(refrigeration cycle apparatus 100)

A refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 having a refrigerant storage container 101 according to embodiment 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 including a refrigerant storage container 101 according to embodiment 1. As shown in fig. 1, a refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to embodiment 1 includes a compressor 10, a flow path switching device 11, an outdoor heat exchanger 12, an expansion mechanism 13, an indoor heat exchanger 14, and a refrigerant storage container 101. The compressor 10, the flow path switching device 11, the outdoor heat exchanger 12, the expansion mechanism 13, the indoor heat exchanger 14, and the refrigerant storage container 101 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 15. Thereby, the refrigerant circuit 200 in which the refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant pipe 15 is formed.

In the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100, the refrigerant storage container 101 is connected to the compressor 10 via the outflow pipe 3 that is a part of the refrigerant piping 15. The compressor 10 compresses the sucked refrigerant to a high temperature and high pressure state and discharges the refrigerant. The compressor 10 is, for example, an inverter compressor. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 10 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 12 or the indoor heat exchanger 14 via the flow path switching device 11.

The flow path switching device 11 has a function of switching the flow path of the refrigerant. The cooling and heating are switched by the flow path switching device 11. In the cooling operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 10 flows in the order of the outdoor heat exchanger 12, the expansion mechanism 13, the indoor heat exchanger 14, and the refrigerant storage container 101, and returns to the compressor 10. On the other hand, during the heating operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 10 flows in the order of the indoor heat exchanger 14, the expansion mechanism 13, the outdoor heat exchanger 12, and the refrigerant storage container 101, and returns to the compressor 10. That is, the outdoor heat exchanger 12 functions as a condenser and the indoor heat exchanger 14 functions as an evaporator when cooling the room, and the indoor heat exchanger 14 functions as a condenser and the outdoor heat exchanger 12 functions as an evaporator when heating the room. The flow path switching device 11 is, for example, a four-way valve. The flow path switching device 11 may be constituted by combining a two-way valve or a three-way valve.

The expansion mechanism 13 is a decompression device that decompresses and expands the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit 200. As an example, the expansion mechanism 13 is constituted by an electronic expansion valve whose opening degree is controlled to be variable.

In the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100, the refrigerant drawn into the compressor 10 is desirably superheated gas. However, the state of the refrigerant sucked into the compressor 10 depends on the refrigerant distribution in the refrigerant circuit 200. As a result, the refrigerant containing the liquid refrigerant may be sucked into the compressor 10. When the liquid refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 10, the refrigerating machine oil in the casing of the compressor 10 is diluted, and heat generation and sticking may occur in the sliding portion of the compressor 10. Therefore, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100, the refrigerant storage container 101 is provided on the upstream side of the compressor 10 in the flow direction of the refrigerant. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator and passing through the flow path switching device 11 flows into the refrigerant storage container 101 from the inflow pipe 2 that is a part of the refrigerant piping 15. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant storage container 101 is separated into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant, and the liquid refrigerant is retained in the refrigerant storage container. The gas refrigerant flows out of the refrigerant storage container 101 through the outflow pipe 3, and is sucked into the compressor 10. Therefore, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the liquid refrigerant is separated from the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant in the refrigerant storage container 101 and stored, and therefore, the liquid refrigerant can be prevented from being sucked into the compressor 10.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is not limited to the air conditioner capable of switching the cooling and heating operation as described above. The refrigerant storage container 101 may be applied to a refrigeration cycle device such as a dehumidifier and a refrigerator/freezer.

(refrigerant storage container 101)

The refrigerant storage container 101 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the refrigerant storage container 101 of embodiment 1. The arrows shown in fig. 2 conceptually illustrate the flow of the refrigerant. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the refrigerant storage container 101 of embodiment 1.

As shown in fig. 2, the refrigerant storage container 101 has a container body 1, an inflow pipe 2, and an outflow pipe 3. The container body 1 has a substantially truncated cone shape in which the cross-sectional area of the inner space gradually increases from the upper end toward the bottom surface. The refrigerant stays in the inner space of the container body 1. The inflow tube 2 and the outflow tube 3 are inserted into an upper space inside the container body 1. As shown in fig. 2, the inflow tube 2 and the outflow tube 3 may be inserted from the upper end portion of the container body 1. Although not shown, the inflow pipe 2 and the outflow pipe 3 may be inserted from the side of the container body 1 so as to be located in the upper space inside the container body 1.

The refrigerant passes through the inflow tube 2 in a gas-liquid two-phase state, and flows into the container body 1 from the inflow port 2a of the inflow tube 2. The liquid refrigerant flowing in from the inflow port 2a falls down to the bottom surface of the container body 1 by gravity and stays in the container body 1. When the liquid refrigerant retained in the container body 1 increases, the gas-liquid interface GLI increases. In other words, when the liquid refrigerant retained in the container body 1 increases, the gas-liquid interface GLI moves to the upper portion of the container body 1. Thus, the more the hold-up of the liquid refrigerant increases, the closer the gas-liquid interface GLI is to the inflow pipe 2 and the outflow pipe 3.

The gas refrigerant flowing into the container body 1 from the inflow port 2a flows into the outflow pipe 3 from the outflow port 3a. The gas refrigerant flowing into the outflow pipe 3 flows out of the container body 1 through the outflow pipe 3 and is sucked into the compressor 10.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the end of the inflow tube 2 located in the container body 1 has a bent portion 2b bent in the X direction. The inflow port 2a is provided in the curved portion 2b so as to face the side surface of the container body 1. The inlet 2a is provided so as to face the side surface of the container body 1, and thus the distance between the inlet 2a and the outlet 3a can be extended. Therefore, the possibility of liquid refrigerant flowing from the inflow port 2a into the outflow port 3a can be suppressed. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a device for the treatment of a disease. The velocity of the liquid refrigerant flowing in the inflow tube 2 is suppressed at the bent portion 2b. Therefore, the potential of the liquid refrigerant flowing out from the inflow port 2a is weak, and fluctuation of the gas-liquid interface GLI when the liquid refrigerant falls down to the gas-liquid interface GLI can be suppressed. The inflow port 2a is preferably provided at a position not overlapping the outflow pipe 3 in the vertical direction of the container body 1.

(Container body 1)

Next, the container body 1 will be described with reference to fig. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the height and the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 of the refrigerant storage container 101 of embodiment 1. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between the height of the container body 1 and the volume in the container body of the refrigerant storage container 101 according to embodiment 1. As described above, the container body 1 has a substantially truncated cone shape in which the cross-sectional area of the internal space gradually increases from the upper end toward the bottom surface. In fig. 4 and 5, for comparison with the container body 1 having a substantially truncated cone shape, a virtual container body VC having a cylindrical shape is shown by a broken line inside the container body 1.

In fig. 4, a cross-sectional area relationship diagram showing a relationship between the height of the container body and the area of the cross section of the container body is shown on the right side toward the paper surface. The container body 1 and the virtual container body VC of the refrigerant storage container 101 are shown on the left side of the drawing. In the container body 1, a 1 st height position HPt and a 2 nd height position Hpt2 indicating height positions are shown. In the cross-sectional area relationship diagram, a height corresponding to the 1 st height position HPt1 is shown by the 1 st reference line L1, and a height corresponding to the 2 nd height position Hpt2 is shown by the 2 nd reference line.

In the cross-sectional area relationship diagram, the vertical axis shows the height in the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC, and the horizontal axis shows the area of the cross-section of the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC. The vertical axis increases in height toward the upper side of the paper surface, and the horizontal axis increases in cross-sectional area toward the right side of the paper surface. In the cross-sectional area relationship diagram, the relationship between the height and the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 is shown by a solid line, and the relationship between the height and the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC is shown by a thick broken line. The container body 1 has a substantially truncated cone shape in which the cross-sectional area increases toward the bottom surface, and therefore the cross-sectional area decreases as the container body 1 is positioned at the upper portion. On the other hand, the virtual container body VC is cylindrical, and therefore, the cross-sectional area is constant regardless of the height in the virtual container body VC.

As shown in fig. 4, at the 1 st height position HPt1, the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 and the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC are equal. Thus, in the cross-sectional area relationship diagram, a point indicating the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 at the 1 st height position HPt1 and a point indicating the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC at the 1 st height position HPt1 overlap at the 1 st point XPt 1. In the cross-sectional area relationship diagram, a point indicating the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 at the 2 nd height position HPt2 is indicated as a 3 rd point XPt. Further, in the cross-sectional area relationship diagram, a point indicating the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC at the 2 nd height position HPt2 is indicated as a 2 nd point XPt. At the 2 nd height position HPt2, the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC. Thus, point 3 XPt3 is located to the right of point 2 XPt.

Fig. 5 shows an internal volume relationship diagram showing a relationship between the height of the container body and the internal volume of the container body, toward the right side of the paper surface. Similarly to fig. 4, the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC showing the 1 st height position HPt1 and the 2 nd height position Hpt2 are shown on the left side of the paper surface. Fig. 5 shows a 3 rd height position HPt indicating the upper end portions of the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC. In the internal volume map, a height corresponding to the 3 rd height position HPt3 is shown by the 3 rd reference line L3.

In the internal volume relationship diagram in fig. 5, the vertical axis shows the height in the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC, and the horizontal axis shows the internal volume of the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC. The vertical axis increases the height toward the upper side of the paper, and the horizontal axis increases the internal volume toward the right side of the paper. In the internal volume relationship diagram, the relationship between the height of the container body 1 and the internal volume is shown by a solid line, and the relationship between the height of the virtual container body VC and the internal volume is shown by a thick broken line. The container body 1 has a substantially truncated cone shape in which the cross-sectional area increases toward the bottom surface, and therefore the larger the portion near the bottom surface of the container body 1, the larger the increased internal volume. On the other hand, since the virtual container body VC is cylindrical, the increased internal volume is constant regardless of the height in the virtual container body VC.

As shown in fig. 5, between the 1 st height position HPt1 and the 3 rd height position HPt, the shape of the container body 1 is identical to and the shape of the virtual container body VC is repeated. In other words, the volume of the container body 1 increased between the 1 st height position HPt1 and the 3 rd height position HPt is the same as the volume of the virtual container body VC increased between the 1 st height position HPt1 and the 3 rd height position HPt3. In this way, in the internal volume map, the difference between the internal volume of the container body 1 and the internal volume of the virtual container body VC does not increase between the 1 st reference line L1 and the 3 rd reference line L3. In the internal volume map, a point indicating the internal volume of the container body 1 at the 2 nd height position HPt2 is indicated as a 5 th point XPt. In the cross-sectional area relationship diagram, a point indicating the internal volume of the virtual container body VC at the 2 nd height position HPt2 is indicated as a 4 th point XPt4. At the 2 nd height position HPt2, the inner volume of the container body 1 is larger than the inner volume of the virtual container body VC. Thus, point 5 XPt5 is to the right of point 4 XPt.

As described above, since the container body 1 has a substantially truncated cone shape, the internal volume is larger than that of a cylindrical virtual container body VC having the same height and the same upper end shape. Thus, the amount of liquid refrigerant that can be stored in the container body 1 is larger than the amount of liquid refrigerant that can be stored in the virtual container body VC. Further, since the container body 1 has a substantially truncated cone shape, the amount of liquid refrigerant per unit height increases as the container body approaches the bottom surface. Thus, the time required for the distance between the gas-liquid interface GLI and the outflow port 3a to approach is longer than that for the virtual container main body VC. In other words, in the container body 1, the time for which the liquid refrigerant is stored can be prolonged while the distance between the outflow port 3a and the gas-liquid interface GLI is kept. In the container body 1, there is a case where the gas-liquid interface GLI fluctuates due to the inertial force of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing in. When the fluctuation occurs at the gas-liquid interface GLI, the liquid refrigerant is scattered as droplets inside the container body 1. When the distance between the outflow port 3a and the gas-liquid interface GLI is set apart, there is a low possibility that the droplets will reach the outflow port 3a even if the droplets fly away from the gas-liquid interface GLI. This can suppress the outflow of the liquid refrigerant from the container body 1.

Further, the larger the area of the gas-liquid interface GLI, the wider the range of fluctuation at the gas-liquid interface GLI. Further, the amount of scattered droplets increases in proportion to the area of the gas-liquid interface GLI. In the container body 1, when the distance between the gas-liquid interface GLI and the outflow port 3a is short, the cross-sectional area of the gas-liquid interface GLI is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the bottom surface of the container body 1. This reduces the amount of scattered droplets, and therefore the possibility that the droplets reach the outflow port 3a becomes low. Therefore, the container body 1 can store a large amount of liquid refrigerant at a position distant from the outflow port 3a, and in the case where the distance between the outflow port 3a and the gas-liquid interface GLI is short, the possibility of liquid droplets reaching the outflow port 3a can be suppressed.

As described above, the refrigerant storage container 101 of the present embodiment includes: a container body 1 that stores a refrigerant; an inflow pipe 2 inserted into an upper space in the container body 1, and having an inflow port 2a through which the refrigerant flows into the container body 1; and an outflow pipe 3 inserted into an upper space in the container body 1, and having an outflow port 3a through which the refrigerant flows out of the container body 1. The further away from the outflow port 3a toward the bottom surface of the container body 1, the larger the cross-sectional area of the inner space of the container body 1 in which the outflow port 3a of the outflow pipe 3 is located.

According to this structure, the area of the cross section of the inner space of the container body 1 becomes smaller as the flow outlet 3a is located closer. That is, even if the liquid refrigerant stays in the container body 1, the distance between the gas-liquid interface GLI and the outflow port 3a becomes short, and the amount of liquid droplets scattered due to fluctuation of the gas-liquid interface GLI can be suppressed to be small. This can suppress the outflow of the liquid refrigerant from the container body 1.

In the structure of the refrigerant storage container 101 according to the present embodiment, the inflow pipe 2 and the outflow pipe 3 are inserted from the upper end portion of the container body 1, and the inflow port 2a of the inflow pipe 2 is positioned below the outflow port 3a of the outflow pipe 3. According to this structure, since the inflow port 2a is located below the outflow port 3a, the possibility of the liquid refrigerant falling from the inflow port 2a flowing into the outflow port 3a becomes low. Further, since the outflow port 3a is located above the inflow port 2a, even if the gas-liquid interface GLI fluctuates and droplets are scattered due to the liquid refrigerant flowing into the container body 1 from the inflow port 2a, the scattered droplets do not easily flow into the outflow port 3a.

In the structure of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the refrigerant storage container 101 and the compressor 10 connected to the refrigerant storage container 101 via the outflow pipe 3 are provided. According to this structure, the liquid refrigerant can be prevented from being sucked from the refrigerant storage container 101 to the compressor 10 through the outflow pipe 3. Therefore, the possibility of heat generation sticking of the compressor sliding portion due to dilution of the refrigerating machine oil of the compressor 10 can be reduced.

Embodiment 2

The structure of the container body 1A and the inflow tube 2A of the refrigerant storage container 101A according to the present embodiment is different from the structure of the container body 1 and the inflow tube 2 according to embodiment 1, respectively. Next, the refrigerant storage container 101A of the present embodiment will be described mainly with respect to differences from the refrigerant storage container 101 of embodiment 1. In the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to embodiment 1, the refrigerant storage container 101 according to embodiment 1 can be replaced with the refrigerant storage container 101A according to the present embodiment. The configuration of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 other than the refrigerant storage container is the same as that of embodiment 1, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of embodiment 1, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

(Container body 1A)

The container body 1A will be described with reference to fig. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 is a front view showing a refrigerant storage container 101A according to embodiment 2. The solid arrows shown in fig. 6 conceptually illustrate the flow of the refrigerant. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing A-A section of fig. 6. As shown in fig. 6, a container body 1A of a refrigerant storage container 101A according to the present embodiment has a cylindrical shape. A shielding plate 4 is provided in the container body 1A. The inflow tube 2A and the outflow tube 3 are inserted into an upper space inside the container body 1A. As shown in fig. 6, the inflow tube 2A and the outflow tube 3 may be inserted from the upper end portion of the container body 1A.

(shielding plate 4)

The shielding plate 4 divides the interior of the container body 1A into a 1 st region SP1 where the outflow port 3a of the outflow pipe 3 is located and a 2 nd region SP2 where the inflow port 2A of the inflow pipe 2A is located. As shown in fig. 6, the shielding plate 4 is provided so as to face the bottom surface of the container body 1A, and the further away from the outflow port 3a, the larger the cross-sectional area of the internal space of the container body 1A where the outflow port 3a is located. In other words, in the present embodiment, the container body 1A is cylindrical, but by providing the shielding plate 4 inside the container body 1A, the internal space where the outflow port 3a is located is formed as the 1 st region SP1 in a truncated cone shape.

The internal space of the container body 1A is partitioned into a 1 st area SP1 surrounded by the shielding plate 4, a 2 nd area SP2 between the side surface of the container body 1A and the shielding plate 4, and a 3 rd area SP3 between the lower end portion of the shielding plate 4 and the bottom surface of the container body 1A. The 1 st area SP1 and the 2 nd area SP2 are connected to the 3 rd area SP3. Thus, the 1 st area SP1, the 2 nd area SP2 and the 3 rd area SP3 communicate. An outflow port 3a is disposed in the 1 st area SP1, and an inflow port 2a is disposed in the 2 nd area SP2.

The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows from the inflow port 2a into the 2 nd region SP2. The gas refrigerant flows into the 1 st zone SP1 through the 3 rd zone SP3. The gas refrigerant flowing into the 1 st area SP1 flows into the outflow pipe 3 from the outflow port 3a, and flows out of the container body 1A. The liquid refrigerant passes through the 2 nd zone SP2 and stays in the 3 rd zone SP3. As the stagnant liquid refrigerant increases, the gas-liquid interface GLI rises. When the liquid refrigerant having a volume exceeding that of the 3 rd region SP3 stagnates, the liquid refrigerant stagnates in the 1 st and 2 nd regions SP1 and SP2. Thus, the gas-liquid interface GLI is located in the 1 st and 2 nd regions SP1 and SP2. The 2 nd and 3 rd regions SP2 and SP3 are passages through which the refrigerant flowing in from the inflow port 2a reaches the 1 st region SP1 and the outflow port 3a.

In fig. 6, the shielding plate 4 is connected to the upper end portion of the container body 1A, but the shielding plate 4 may be connected to the side surface of the container body 1A. For example, the shielding plate 4 may be connected to the inner surface of the container body 1A via a hanger attached to the inner surface of the container body 1A.

Further, a through hole may be provided in the shielding plate 4 for the outflow pipe 3 to pass through. When the inflow pipe 2A is inserted from the side of the container body 1A, the outflow pipe 3 passes through the through hole to reach the 1 st region SP1. This enables the outflow port 3a to be disposed in the 1 st area SP1. In this case, the inflow pipe 2A may be inserted into the 2 nd region SP2 from the upper end portion of the container body 1A, or may be inserted into the 2 nd region SP2 from the side surface of the container body 1A.

(inflow tube 2A)

As shown in fig. 7, in the structure of the present embodiment, the inflow pipe 2A and the outflow pipe 3 are partitioned by the shielding plate 4. Therefore, the liquid refrigerant does not directly flow from the inflow port 2a into the outflow port 3a. Further, since the liquid droplets caused by the fluctuation of the liquid refrigerant flowing out from the inflow port 2a falling down to the gas-liquid interface GLI are generated at the gas-liquid interface GLI of the 2 nd area SP2, it is impossible to reach the outflow port 3a located in the 1 st area SP1 partitioned by the shielding plate 4. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the distance between the inflow port 2a and the outflow port 3a may not be significantly separated, and the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the container body 1A may not be reduced. Therefore, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, the inflow pipe 2A may not have the bent portion 2b.

The refrigerant storage container 101A of the present embodiment has a shielding plate 4 provided in the container body 1A, and the shielding plate 4 partitions the interior of the container body 1A into a 1 st region SP1, which is an interior space where the outflow port 3a of the outflow pipe 3 is located, and a 2 nd region SP2 where the inflow port 2A of the inflow pipe 2A is located. A 3 rd region SP3 is formed between the lower end portion of the shielding plate 4 and the bottom surface of the container body 1A. The 1 st area SP1 and the 2 nd area SP2 are connected to the 3 rd area SP3.

According to this structure, the inflow port 2a and the outflow port 3a are partitioned by the shielding plate 4. This can suppress the liquid refrigerant flowing out from the inflow port 2a from flowing into the outflow port 3a. Further, since the container body 1A is cylindrical, the volume of the liquid refrigerant that can be stored is larger than that of a truncated cone-shaped container body having the same height and the same bottom surface cross-sectional area. Further, since the shielding plate 4 is provided inside the cylindrical container body 1A, when the distance between the outflow port 3a and the gas-liquid interface GLI is short, the cross-sectional area of the gas-liquid interface GLI near the outflow port 3a is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the bottom surface of the container body 1A. Therefore, when the distance between the outflow port 3a and the gas-liquid interface GLI is short, the area where the fluctuation occurs in the gas-liquid interface GLI is small, and therefore, the amount of scattered droplets can be suppressed.

In the refrigerant storage container 101A according to the present embodiment, the shielding plate 4 is a hollow truncated cone shape having an upper surface and a bottom surface opening, which expands from the upper end portion of the container body 1A toward the bottom surface. The space inside surrounded by the shielding plate 4 is the 1 st area SP1, and the space between the side surface of the container body 1A and the shielding plate 4 is the 2 nd area SP2. This structure can be achieved only by connecting the hollow truncated cone-shaped shielding plate 4 to the cylindrical container body 1A, and therefore, the process for manufacturing the refrigerant storage container 101A is not complicated.

Embodiment 3

The structure of the shielding plate 4A of the refrigerant storage container 101B according to the present embodiment is different from the shielding plate 4 according to embodiment 2. Next, the shielding plate 4A of the present embodiment will be described mainly with respect to differences from the shielding plate 4 of embodiment 2. In the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to embodiment 1, the refrigerant storage container 101 according to embodiment 1 can be replaced with the refrigerant storage container 101B according to the present embodiment. The configuration of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 other than the refrigerant storage container is the same as that of embodiment 1, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in embodiment 1 and embodiment 2, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

(shielding plate 4A)

The shielding plate 4A will be described with reference to fig. 8 to 10. Fig. 8 is a front view showing a refrigerant storage container 101B according to embodiment 3. The solid arrows shown in fig. 8 conceptually illustrate the flow of the refrigerant. Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a section B-B of fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a section C-C of fig. 8. As shown in fig. 8 and 10, the shielding plate 4A has a plurality of through holes 6. The through hole 6 is circular in shape, for example. The shape of the through hole 6 may be elliptical. Further, the plurality of through holes 6 need not all have the same shape and size. In the container body 1A of the present embodiment, the section B-B without the through hole 6 shown in fig. 8 is the same as the section A-A of the container body 1A shown in fig. 6 of embodiment 2. Thus, the same cross-sectional view is shown in fig. 7 and 9.

As shown in fig. 8, the plurality of through holes 6 are provided at the same height position in the vertical direction of the container body 1A. As shown in fig. 10, a plurality of through holes 6 are provided in the circumferential direction of the shielding plate 4A. Although 2 through holes 6 are shown in fig. 10, 1 or more through holes 6 may be used. In addition to the plurality of through holes 6 provided at the same height position in the vertical direction of the container body 1A, the through holes 6 may be provided at different height positions.

In the container body 1A, the liquid refrigerant exceeding the volume of the 3 rd region SP3 stagnates in the 1 st region SP1 and the 2 nd region SP2. When the liquid refrigerant stagnates in the 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd regions SP1, SP2 and SP3, the pressure in the 2 nd region SP2 is higher than the pressure in the 1 st region SP1. Therefore, pulsation of the refrigerant occurs between the 1 st and 2 nd regions SP1 and SP2. However, in the present embodiment, since the through-holes 6 are provided in the shielding plate 4, the gas refrigerant flows from the 2 nd area SP2 into the 1 st area SP1 via the through-holes 6. Therefore, the pressure rise in the 2 nd area SP2 is suppressed. Therefore, pulsation of the refrigerant between the 1 st and 2 nd regions SP1 and SP2 is suppressed.

In the refrigerant storage container 101B according to the present embodiment, the shielding plate 4A has the through hole 6, and the 1 st area SP1 and the 2 nd area SP2 communicate with each other through the through hole 6. According to this structure, the gas refrigerant flowing into the 2 nd region SP2 flows into the 1 st region SP1 through the through hole 6. Therefore, pressure fluctuations inside the container body 1A are suppressed, and as a result, pulsation of the refrigerant is suppressed.

In the refrigerant storage container 101B according to the present embodiment, the shielding plate 4A has a plurality of through holes 6, and at least 2 or more through holes 6 among the plurality of through holes 6 are provided at the same height position in the vertical direction of the container body 1A. According to this structure, compared with the case where the through holes 6 are provided in parallel in the vertical direction of the container body 1A, the gas refrigerant flows from the 2 nd area SP2 to the 1 st area SP1 efficiently.

Although embodiments 1 to 3 have been described above, the refrigerant storage containers 101, 101A, and 101B and the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 are not limited to the above-described embodiments 1 to 3, and various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the container body 1 of embodiment 1 may be provided with the refrigerant storage container of the shielding plate 4 of embodiment 2. The container body 1A of embodiment 2 may be provided with the refrigerant storage container of the inflow pipe 2 of embodiment 1. Embodiments 1 to 3 can be combined with each other within a range that does not interfere with the functions or structures of the embodiments.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a container body; 1A: a container body; 2: an inflow tube; 2A: an inflow tube; 2a: an inflow port; 2b: a bending portion; 3: an outflow tube; 3a: an outflow port; 4: a shielding plate; 4A: a shielding plate; 6: a through hole; 10: a compressor; 11: a flow path switching device; 12: an outdoor heat exchanger; 13: an expansion mechanism; 14: an indoor heat exchanger; 15: refrigerant piping; 100: a refrigeration cycle device; 101: a refrigerant storage container; 101A: a refrigerant storage container; 101B: a refrigerant storage container; 200: a refrigerant circuit; GLI: a gas-liquid interface; VC: a virtual container body; HPt1: a 1 st height position; HPt2: a 2 nd height position; HPt3: a 3 rd height position; l1: a 1 st datum line; l2: a 2 nd datum line; l3: a 3 rd datum line; XPt1: point 1; XPt2: point 2; XPt3: point 3; XPt4: point 4; XPt5: point 5; SP1: region 1; SP2: region 2; SP3: zone 3.

Claims (7)

1. A refrigerant-storage container, wherein the refrigerant-storage container has:

a container body storing a refrigerant;

an inflow pipe inserted into an upper space in the container body, the inflow pipe having an inflow port through which the refrigerant flows into the container body; and

an outflow pipe inserted into the upper space in the container body and having an outflow port through which the refrigerant flows out of the container body,

the further the outlet is from the bottom surface of the container body, the larger the cross-sectional area of the inner space of the container body in which the outlet of the outflow pipe is located.

2. The refrigerant-storage container as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the inflow pipe and the outflow pipe are inserted from an upper end portion of the container body,

the inflow port of the inflow tube is located below the outflow port of the outflow tube.

3. The refrigerant-storage container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the refrigerant storage container has a shielding plate provided in the container body,

the shielding plate divides the interior of the container body into a 1 st region which is the interior space where the outflow port of the outflow pipe is located and a 2 nd region where the inflow port of the inflow pipe is located,

a 3 rd region is formed between the lower end portion of the shielding plate and the bottom surface of the container body,

the 1 st region and the 2 nd region are connected with the 3 rd region.

4. The refrigerant-storage container as claimed in claim 3, wherein,

the shielding plate is in a hollow truncated cone shape with an upper surface and a bottom surface opening and expanding from the upper end part of the container main body towards the bottom surface,

the space of the inner side surrounded by the shielding plate is the 1 st region,

the space between the side surface of the container body and the shielding plate is the 2 nd region.

5. The refrigerant-storage container as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein,

the shielding plate is provided with a through hole,

the 1 st region and the 2 nd region communicate via the through hole.

6. The refrigerant-storage container as claimed in claim 5, wherein,

the shielding plate is provided with a plurality of through holes,

at least 2 or more of the plurality of through holes are provided at the same height position in the vertical direction of the container body.

7. A refrigeration cycle apparatus, wherein the refrigeration cycle apparatus has:

a refrigerant-storage container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6; and

a compressor connected to the refrigerant storage container via the outflow pipe.