US20250129979A1

US20250129979A1 - Liquid separator for refrigeration and air conditioner

Info

Publication number: US20250129979A1
Application number: US18/688,992
Authority: US
Inventors: Zhuangwei SI; Dubo ZHANG
Original assignee: Hanshan Ruike Metal Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hanshan Ruike Metal Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-09-02
Filing date: 2022-08-07
Publication date: 2025-04-24
Also published as: KR20230118566A; JP2023553760A; CN216204506U; WO2023029888A1

Abstract

A liquid separator for refrigeration and an air conditioner. The liquid separator for refrigeration includes a liquid separator body and a mixing and flow-guiding plate. The liquid separator body includes a liquid separator inner chamber. The plate is arranged in the liquid separator inner chamber, where a recessed chamber portion is arranged on the plate, a first mixing chamber is formed in the recessed chamber portion, a second mixing chamber is formed between the plate and a liquid outlet end of the liquid separator body, and throttling flow-guiding holes in communication with the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber are evenly distributed along a circumferential direction of the plate; and the recessed chamber portion allows two phases of refrigerants entering the first mixing chamber to be mixed and flow back along the first mixing chamber, and then flow to the second mixing chamber through the throttling flow-guiding holes.

Description

TECHNIQUE FIELD

The invention relates to the technical field of air conditioners, and in particular to, a liquid separator for refrigeration and an air conditioner.

BACKGROUND

As an important part in a refrigeration cycle system, a liquid separator is arranged between a throttling device and an evaporator and used to distribute a refrigerant flowing out of the throttling device evenly and equally to various shunt branches of the evaporator.
However, in an actual operation, uneven mixing of gas and liquid phases of refrigerants and uneven flow of refrigerants entering various shunt branch pipes often occur, thereby affecting the heat transfer performance of an evaporator and the working performance of an overall refrigeration system. At present, liquid separators used in a refrigeration system have two types of structures: throttling nozzle structure and Venturi structure. The two types of liquid separators commonly used have the following problems. Because the mixed fluid of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerants is not fully mixed, the flow of refrigerants entering various shunt branch pipes is uneven, further affecting the heat transfer effect. In addition, for a liquid separator with a throttling nozzle structure, when a refrigerant at an inlet end enters an orifice, the flow rate of the refrigerant increases due to sudden reduction of the cross-sectional area of the orifice, leading to direct collision of the refrigerant with an inner wall of the liquid separator, which further causes a noise.
In addition, most of the existing liquid separators for air conditioners are made of yellow brass or red copper, and liquid inlet holes and liquid outlet holes thereof are turned, and therefore they are high in material cost and complicated in processing technology.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome at least one disadvantage in the prior art, the invention provides a liquid separator for refrigeration.
To achieve the above objective, the invention provides a liquid separator for refrigeration. The liquid separator for refrigeration includes a liquid separator body and a mixing and flow-guiding plate. The liquid separator body is provided with a liquid separator inner chamber. The mixing and flow-guiding plate is arranged in the liquid separator inner chamber, where a recessed chamber portion is arranged on the mixing and flow-guiding plate, a first mixing chamber is formed in the recessed chamber portion, a second mixing chamber is formed between the mixing and flow-guiding plate and a liquid outlet end of the liquid separator body, and a plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes in communication with the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber are evenly distributed along a circumferential direction of the mixing and flow-guiding plate; and the recessed chamber portion allows two phases of refrigerants entering the first mixing chamber to be mixed and then flow back along the first mixing chamber, and then flow to the second mixing chamber through the throttling flow-guiding holes.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the mixing and flow-guiding plate are recess holes, through holes, or a combination of the recess holes and the through holes; and the recess holes are formed by being enclosed by openings of two curved stretching portions that are located at both sides of the mixing and flow-guiding plate and are centrally symmetric.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the mixing and flow-guiding plate includes a plate body and the recessed chamber portion that is formed in a center of the plate body and extends toward the liquid outlet end of the liquid separator body, and a transmission channel is formed between the plate body and a liquid inlet end of the liquid separator body.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the liquid separator for refrigeration further includes a liquid inlet pipe, where the liquid inlet pipe is seal-welded to a liquid inlet pipe hole of the liquid separator body.
According to an embodiment of the invention, an output end of the liquid inlet pipe extends into the first mixing chamber, and a distance between an output end face of the liquid inlet pipe and an opening end face of the first mixing chamber is less than or equal to 1 times an outer diameter of the liquid inlet pipe.
According to an embodiment of the invention, an output end face of the liquid inlet pipe is located outside the first mixing chamber, and a distance between an output end face of the liquid inlet pipe and an opening end face of the first mixing chamber is less than or equal to 0.8 times an outer diameter of the liquid inlet pipe.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a flanged portion facing an interior or exterior of the liquid separator body is arranged in a circumferential direction of the liquid inlet pipe hole, and the liquid inlet pipe is internally or externally sleeved on the flanged portion and seal-welded with the flanged portion.
According to an embodiment of the invention, when the liquid inlet pipe is a stainless steel pipe or a carbon steel pipe, the liquid separator for refrigeration further includes a copper sleeve connecting pipe, where the copper sleeve connecting pipe is internally sleeved on an end portion of the liquid inlet pipe, and a pipeline copper pipe is internally sleeved on the copper sleeve connecting pipe; and a length of an overlap region where the pipeline copper pipe, the copper sleeve connecting pipe, and the liquid inlet pipe are sleeved is L11, a sleeving length of the pipeline copper pipe and the copper sleeve connecting pipe is L01, a sleeving length of the copper sleeve connecting pipe and the liquid inlet pipe is L21, and 0.2 L01≤L11≤0.8 L01 and 0.2 L21≤L11≤0.8 L21 are satisfied.
According to an embodiment of the invention, when the liquid inlet pipe is a copper pipe and the liquid separator body is made of stainless steel, the liquid inlet pipe is internally sleeved on a flanged portion in a circumferential direction of the liquid inlet pipe hole, and a pipeline copper pipe is internally sleeved on the liquid inlet pipe; and a length of an overlap region where the pipeline copper pipe, the liquid inlet pipe, and the flanged portion are sleeved is L11′, a sleeving length of the pipeline copper pipe and the liquid inlet pipe is L01′, a sleeving length of the liquid inlet pipe and the flanged portion is L21′, and 0.2 L01′≤L11′≤0.8 L01′ and 0.2 L21′≤L11′≤0.8 L21′ are satisfied.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the liquid separator body includes a cylinder body, at least one lining plate, a plurality of shunt branch pipes, and an end cover. The cylinder body is integrally formed and has a single open end, and a bottom of the cylinder body is provided with a plurality of shunt branch pipe holes. The at least one lining plate is arranged on an inner bottom of the cylinder body, where each lining plate is provided with a plurality of lining plate holes corresponding to the plurality of shunt branch pipe holes. The plurality of shunt branch pipes respectively extend into the shunt branch pipe holes, where extension ends of the shunt branch pipes extend into corresponding lining plate holes, and each of the shunt branch pipes is seal-welded into a corresponding shunt branch pipe hole and a corresponding lining plate hole. The end cover covers the open end of the cylinder body, where the end cover is seal-welded with the cylinder body to form the liquid separator inner chamber, the end cover is provided with a liquid inlet pipe hole, and the liquid inlet pipe hole directly faces the first mixing chamber.
According to an embodiment of the invention, each ling plate is further provided with a through hole, and the through hole is located within a circumferential center line formed by the plurality of lining plate holes; and when multiple lining plates are provided, through holes on the multiple lining plates are correspondingly overlapped to form a concave cavity.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the liquid separator body includes a cylinder body, at least two lining plates, and a plurality of shunt branch pipes. The cylinder body is integrally formed and has two open ends, a liquid inlet end of the cylinder body is provided with a liquid inlet pipe hole, and the liquid inlet pipe hole directly faces the first mixing chamber. The at least two lining plates are seal-welded to a liquid outlet end of the cylinder body after overlapped, the liquid separator inner chamber is formed between the cylinder body and the lining plates, and each of the lining plates is provided with a plurality of lining plate holes; and after the at least two lining plates are overlapped, corresponding lining plate holes are overlapped to form overlapping holes. The plurality of shunt branch pipes respectively extend into and are seal-welded to the respective overlapping holes.
According to an embodiment of the invention, an interior lining plate is provided with a through hole, and the through hole is located in a circumferential center line formed by the plurality of lining plate holes; and when multiple interior lining plates are provided, through holes on the multiple interior lining plates are overlapped to form a concave cavity.
According to an embodiment of the invention, an inner side wall of the cylinder body is provided with a limiting fixing portion protruding toward an interior of the cylinder body, the limiting fixing portion is configured to fix the lining plates into the cylinder body, and the limiting fixing portion includes a plurality of dot-like limiting fixing portions, a plurality of arc limiting fixing portions or annular limiting fixing portions; or at least one lining plate is interference-fitted in the cylinder body.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a cross-sectional shape of the cylinder body is any one of a circle, a square, or an ellipse, and cross-sectional shapes of the lining plates and the mixing and flow-guiding plate match with the cross-sectional shape of the cylinder body.
According to an embodiment of the invention, when the plurality of shunt branch pipes and the plurality of lining plates are respectively made of stainless steel or carbon steel, the liquid separator for refrigeration further includes a plurality of copper sleeve connecting pipes, the plurality of copper sleeve connecting pipes are internally sleeved on end portions of the shunt branch pipes, respectively; a plurality of pipeline copper pipes are internally sleeved on the copper sleeve connecting pipes, respectively; and a length of an overlap region where a corresponding pipeline copper pipe, a corresponding copper sleeve connecting pipe, and a corresponding shunt branch pipe are sleeved is L12, a sleeving length of the pipeline copper pipe and the copper sleeve connecting pipe is L02, a sleeving length of the copper sleeve connecting pipe and the shunt branch pipe is L22, and 0.2 L02≤L12≤0.8 L02 and 0.2 L22≤L12≤0.8 L22 are satisfied.
When the plurality of shunt branch pipes are copper pipes and the cylinder body is made of stainless steel, each of the shunt branch pipes is internally sleeved into an overlapping hole formed by overlapping a corresponding shunt branch pipe hole and at least one of the lining plate holes; or each of the shunt branch pipes is internally sleeved into an overlapping hole formed by overlapping corresponding lining plate holes after at least two lining plates made of stainless steel are overlapped; the plurality of pipeline copper pipes are internally sleeved on the shunt branch pipes, respectively; a length of an overlap region where each of the pipeline copper pipes, a corresponding shunt branch pipe, and the overlapping hole are sleeved is L12′, a sleeving length of the pipeline copper pipe and the shunt branch pipe is L02′, a sleeving length of the shunt branch pipe and the overlapping hole is L22′, and 0.2 L02′≤L12′≤0.8 L02′ and 0.2 L22′≤L12′≤0.8 L22′ are satisfied.
In another aspect, the invention further provides an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes a throttling device, an evaporator, and the liquid separator for refrigeration, where the liquid separator for refrigeration is connected between the throttling device and the evaporator, the throttling device outputs the refrigerants to the first mixing chamber of the liquid separator for refrigeration, and the refrigerants are output to the evaporator after mixed using the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber.
To sum up, in the liquid separator for refrigeration and the air conditioner provided in the invention, the mixing and flow-guiding plate is arranged in the liquid separator inner chamber, the first mixing chamber is formed in the recessed chamber portion of the mixing and flow-guiding plate, and the second mixing chamber is formed between the mixing and flow-guiding plate and the liquid outlet end of the liquid separator body. The gas-liquid mixed refrigerants entering the liquid separator inner chamber is subjected to primary mixing in the first mixing chamber, and then subjected to secondary mixing after entering the second mixing chamber through the plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes. Secondary mixing of refrigerants enables the refrigerants in the gas-liquid state to be fully mixed, thereby greatly improving uniformity of the mixed refrigerants. In addition, the plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes are in communication with the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber, and at the same time, reduced cross sections thereof are used to throttle refrigerants with the change in refrigerant velocity, thereby further improving the mixing effect of the second mixing chamber, and well resolving a problem that a refrigeration system has a low energy efficiency ratio caused by uneven mixing of refrigerants in the existing liquid separator.
To make the above objective and other objectives, features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, the following further describes the invention in detail with reference to preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration according to Embodiment 1 of the invention.

FIG. 1B is an enlarged schematic diagram of location A in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of routing of partial refrigerants in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a schematic structural diagram of a mixing and flow-guiding plate in the liquid separator for refrigeration in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is a schematic sectional view of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a schematic structural diagram of a mixing and flow-guiding plate in a liquid separator for refrigeration according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a schematic sectional view of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration with the mixing and flow-guiding plate in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a schematic structural diagram of a mixing and flow-guiding plate in a liquid separator for refrigeration according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B is a schematic sectional view of FIG. 4A along line B-B.

FIG. 4C is a schematic structural diagram of a mixing and flow-guiding plate in a liquid separator for refrigeration according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A is a schematic structural diagram of a cylinder body in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a bottom of the cylinder body in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a lining plate in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an end cover in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are a schematic structural diagram of a mixing and flow-guiding plate fitting with cylinder bodies having different cross-sectional shapes according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, and FIG. 9C are a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration according to Embodiment 2 of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration according to Embodiment 3 of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration according to Embodiment 4 of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of assembly of a cylinder body, a lining plate, and a mixing and flow-guiding plate in FIG. 14 .

FIG. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17A is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration according to Embodiment 5 of the invention.

FIG. 17B and FIG. 17C are an enlarged schematic diagram of location C and location D in FIG. 17A.

FIG. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19A is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid separator for refrigeration according to Embodiment 6 of the invention.

FIG. 19B is an enlarged schematic diagram of location E in FIG. 19A.

FIG. 19C is an enlarged schematic diagram of location F in FIG. 19A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1A to FIG. 2B and FIG. 5A to FIG. 7 , the liquid separator for refrigeration provided in the embodiment includes a liquid separator body 10 and a mixing and flow-guiding plate 5. The liquid separator body 10 is provided with a liquid separator inner chamber. The mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 is arranged in the liquid separator inner chamber, where a recessed chamber portion 52 is arranged on the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5, a first mixing chamber 501 is formed in the recessed chamber portion 52, a second mixing chamber 502 is formed between the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 and a liquid outlet end of the liquid separator body 10, and a plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes 503 in communication with the first mixing chamber 501 and the second mixing chamber 502 are evenly distributed along a circumferential direction of the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5. The recessed chamber portion 52 allows two phases of refrigerants entering the first mixing chamber 501 to be mixed and then flow back along the first mixing chamber 501, and then flow to the second mixing chamber 502 through the throttling flow-guiding holes 503.
Specifically, in the embodiment, the liquid separator body 10 includes a cylinder body 1, at least one lining plate 2, a plurality of shunt branch pipes 3, and an end cover 4. The cylinder body 1 is integrally formed and has a single open end, and a bottom of the cylinder body 1 is provided with a plurality of shunt branch pipe holes 11. The at least one lining plate 2 is arranged on an inner bottom of the cylinder body 1, where the second mixing chamber 502 is formed between the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 and the lining plate 2. Each lining plate 2 is provided with a plurality of lining plate holes 21 corresponding to the plurality of shunt branch pipe holes 11. The plurality of shunt branch pipes 3 respectively extend into the plurality of shunt branch pipe holes 11, where extension ends thereof extend into corresponding lining plate holes 21, and each of the shunt branch pipes 3 is seal-welded to a corresponding shunt branch pipe hole 11 and a corresponding lining plate hole 21. The end cover 4 covers an open end of the cylinder body 1, where the end cover 4 is seal-welded with the cylinder body 1 to form the liquid separator inner chamber, the end cover 4 is provided with a liquid inlet pipe hole 41, and the liquid inlet pipe hole 41 directly faces the first mixing chamber 501.
In the embodiment, the liquid separator inner chamber refers to an inner chamber formed among the end cover 4, a side wall of the cylinder body 1, and the lining plate 2 after the end cover 4 is seal-welded to the open end of the cylinder body 1.
As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 includes a plate body 51 and a recessed chamber portion 52 that is formed in a center of the plate body 51 and extends toward a bottom of the cylinder body 1, and the first mixing chamber 501 is formed in the recessed chamber portion 52, and the plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes 503 are evenly distributed along a circumferential direction of the plate body 51.
In the liquid separator for refrigeration provided in the embodiment, the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 provides two mixing chambers distributed radially in the liquid separator inner chamber for the refrigerants. The mixed two phases of gas and liquid refrigerants fed from the liquid inlet pipe hole 41 enters the first mixing chamber 501, and flows back along the first mixing chamber 501 after mixed fully. Subsequently, the above two phases of refrigerants enters from the throttling flow-guiding hole 503 into the second mixing chamber 502 for secondary mixing. Twice mixing of the two phases of refrigerants in the first mixing chamber 501 and the second mixing chamber 502 causes it to be fully mixed. Further, the arrangement of the throttling flow-guiding hole 503 realizes diversion communication between the first mixing chamber 501 and the second mixing chamber 502 and throttles the two phases of refrigerants with a reduced cross section thereof. After the two phases of refrigerants is throttled, the gas phase of the gas-liquid mixed two-phase refrigerants has a higher velocity than the liquid phase thereof, thereby showing a tendency to break through the liquid phase in front, and further improving the mixing uniformity of the refrigerants mixed in the second mixing chamber 502.
In the embodiment, two mixing chambers distributed in a radial direction enable the refrigerants subjected to primary mixing to flow back along the first mixing chamber 501 and then reach the second mixing chamber 502 through the throttling flow-guiding hole 503. A trend diagram of the two phases of refrigerants is shown by an arrow in FIG. 1C. Such arrangement further greatly extends a transmission path of the refrigerants in the liquid separator inner chamber, thereby providing more space for mixing of the two phases of refrigerants. Specifically, a flowing back refrigerant reaches the throttling flow-guiding hole 503 through a transmission channel 505 formed between the end cover 4 and the plate body 51.
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes 503 evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 are recess holes; and the recess holes are formed by being enclosed by openings of two curved stretching portions 53 that are located at both sides of the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 and are centrally symmetric. Specifically, a forming method of the recess hole includes: firstly, punching a long and narrow through hole on the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5, where the long and narrow through hole may be a relatively small elliptical hole with a short radius or a rectangular hole with a relatively small width; secondly, stretching an edge of the long and narrow through hole to two sides of the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 to form the two curved stretching portions 53 that are centrally symmetric.
A recess hole formed by the two curved stretching portions 53 is used to perform radial flow guiding on the two phases of refrigerants subjected to primary mixing, so that the two phases of refrigerants passing through the throttling flow-guiding hole 503 is dispersed to a peripheral wall of the cylinder body 1 and reflected back to the second mixing chamber 502 through the peripheral wall of the cylinder body 1, thereby greatly improving the mixing effect of the two phases of refrigerants in the second mixing chamber 502. At the same time, radial flow guiding of the recess hole further greatly extends a mixing path of the two phases of refrigerants in the second mixing chamber 502, ensuring the mixing uniformity of the two phases of refrigerants. Further, the throttling flow-guiding hole 503 designed into a recess hole structure throttles the two phases of refrigerants during radial flow guiding, which increases the flow rate of the two phases of refrigerants. Under a combined action of throttling and radial flow guiding, the two phases of refrigerants are allowed to form a high-rate and uniform rotational flow in an area of the second mixing chamber 502 near the throttling flow-guiding hole 503, so that gas and liquid phases in the two phases of refrigerants are fully mixed.
In the embodiment, other three sides of the curved stretching portions 53 except for openings thereof are integrally connected to the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5, respectively. Such connection has high strength and sufficient rigidity. Therefore, when the two phases of refrigerants pass through the throttling flow-guiding hole 503, the curved stretching portions 53 does not generate noise caused by vibration. However, a specific structure of the throttling flow-guiding hole of the invention is not limited. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C, the throttling flow-guiding hole 503 can also be a through hole. Such arrangement can simplify a manufacturing process of the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 and reduce the manufacturing cost. Alternatively, in other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the throttling flow-guiding hole may also be composed of a plurality of through holes 5031 and a plurality of recess holes 5032.
In the embodiment, a bottom of the recessed chamber portion 52 is a plane. However, as shown in FIG. 4C, the bottom of the recessed chamber portion may also be a hemispherical surface.
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the liquid separator for refrigeration further includes a liquid inlet pipe 6, where the liquid inlet pipe 6 is seal-welded into a liquid inlet pipe hole 41 of the end cover 4. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the liquid separator for refrigeration may not include the liquid inlet pipe, and a liquid inlet pipe hole is directly connected with an external air conditioning pipeline.
As shown in FIG. 1A, an output end of the liquid inlet pipe 6 extends into the first mixing chamber 501, and a distance D1 between an output end face of the liquid inlet pipe 6 and an opening end face of the first mixing chamber 501 is less than or equal to 1 times an outer diameter d of the liquid inlet pipe 6. The output end of the liquid inlet pipe 6 extends into the first mixing chamber 501 to ensure that all the two phases of refrigerants output can enter the first mixing chamber 501. Setting of the distance D1 ensures that there is enough space in the first mixing chamber 501 to realize mixing of refrigerants, thereby improving the mixing uniformity. Further, in this structure, a throttling gap 504 is further formed between an extension portion of the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the first mixing chamber 501, and the refrigerants are mixed in a first mixing chamber 501 having a large cross-sectional area and throttled by a throttling gap 504 having a small cross-sectional area, and then reaches the throttling flow-guiding hole 503. Preferably, the distance D1 from the output end face of the liquid inlet pipe 6 to the opening end face of the first mixing chamber is equal to 0.5 times the outer diameter d of the liquid inlet pipe 6. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the distance D1 from the output end face of the liquid inlet pipe to the opening end face of the first mixing chamber may also be another value less than 1 times the outer diameter d of the liquid inlet pipe.
In the embodiment, the plate body 51 of the mixing and flow-guiding plate is fixedly connected to the end cover 4. Preferably, the plate body is welded to the end cover 4 through resistance welding. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, other ways of fixing a mixing and flow-guiding plate to an end cover all fall within the protection scope of the invention, such as self-fluxing welding or self-fluxing wire welding including laser welding and argon arc welding. The mixing and flow-guiding plate can be fixedly connected to the end cover through a fastener or mechanical fixing such as riveting. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the mixing and flow-guiding plate can also be fixed to a cylinder body or a lining plate. For example, a bottom of the mixing and flow-guiding plate is welded to a bottom of the cylinder body or the lining plate. Similarly, other ways of fixing the mixing and flow-guiding plate to the cylinder body or the lining plate all fall within the protection scope of the invention.
In the liquid separator for refrigeration provided in the embodiment, the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 forms two mixing chambers in the liquid separator inner chamber to fully mix the two phases of refrigerants, which well resolves the problem of a low energy efficiency ratio of a refrigeration system caused by unevenly mixing the refrigerants in the existing liquid separator.
In the embodiment, a liquid separator body combined with the cylinder body 1, the lining plate 2, and the end cover 4 further greatly reduces the manufacturing process and manufacturing cost of the liquid separator for refrigeration. However, the invention imposes no any limitation on the structure of the liquid separator body. The mixing and flow-guiding plate provided in the invention is also suitable for liquid separator bodies with other structures, as shown in FIG. 9A, the liquid separator body may be of an integral structure, and the shunt branch pipe hole is manufactured through drilling. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9B and FIG. 9C, the liquid separator body is of a split structure, but the shunt branch pipe hole is formed through drilling. A difference between FIG. 9C and FIG. 9B is that an extension length of the liquid inlet pipe is different.
In the embodiment, the cylinder body 1 and the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 are both thin-walled plates that are integrally formed after stretched, and the bottom of the cylinder body 1 and the plate body 51 are relatively thin, which can well meet requirements for a punching process. Therefore, a plurality of shunt branch pipe holes 11 and a plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes 503 may be manufactured through the punching process. Compared with the existing liquid separator body made by a turning process, a stretching process and a stamping process not only have relatively simple manufacturing procedure and relatively low machining cost, but also have relatively high machining efficiency. However, the invention imposes no any limitation on a forming method of a cylinder body. In other embodiments, other integral forming processes such as casting process may be also used to form the cylinder body and the mixing and flow-guiding plate.
The thickness of the bottom of the cylinder body 1 cannot meet requirements for an insertion depth of the shunt branch pipe while meeting the stretching process and the stamping process. In order to resolve this problem, in the embodiment, at least one lining plate 2 is arranged on an inner bottom of the cylinder body 1, where each lining plate 2 is provided with a plurality of lining plate holes 21 coaxially corresponding to the plurality of shunt branch pipe holes 11, and an overlapping thickness of a hole depth H1 of the shunt branch pipe hole and a hole depth H2 of the lining plate hole is more than or equal to 2.5 mm. Overlapping of the hole depth H1 of the shunt branch pipe hole and the hole depth H2 of the lining plate hole provides enough depth for insertion of the shunt branch pipe 3, thereby ensuring requirements for the insertion depth of the shunt branch pipe 3 during welding. A welding strength of the shunt branch pipe 3 is shared by the hole depth H1 of the shunt branch pipe hole and the hole depth H2 of the lining plate hole, thereby greatly increasing a welded connection strength. Specifically, in the field of air conditioning, in order to ensure the welding strength, an overlapping thickness of the hole depth H1 of the shunt branch pipe hole and the hole depth H2 of the lining plate hole is set to be greater than or equal to 2.5 mm. Preferably, an overlapping sum of the hole depths of the shunt branch pipe hole and the lining plate hole is 5 mm. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the overlapping sum of the hole depths of the shunt branch pipe hole and the lining plate hole may be other values greater than 2.5 mm.
In the embodiment, the cylinder body 1 is of a single-ended open structure integrally formed by the stretching process, and the inner bottom of the cylinder body 1 and the peripheral wall thereof completely cover contact end surfaces of the lining plates 2 and peripheral walls thereof, and an integral structure is formed between the lining plates 2 and the cylinder body 1 and has relatively strong tensile strength; and all the lining plates 2 are not separated from the inner bottom of the cylinder body 1. In addition, covering of the peripheral walls of the lining plates 2 with the peripheral walls of the cylinder body 1 not only extends a transmission path where the refrigerants in the cylinder body 1 are transmitted to the shunt branch pipe hole 11 and the shunt branch pipe 3, and the transmission path further includes a bend. Further, the transmission path has a very small gap, and thus the refrigerants entering the transmission path is very few. These factors greatly reduce impact pressure of the refrigerants in the cylinder body 1 on a junction between the shunt branch pipe hole 11 and the shunt branch pipe 3, thus greatly reducing a leakage risk of the junction and greatly improving the performance of products.
In the embodiment, the cylinder body 1 is integrally formed by stretching a thin-walled plate, the bottom of the cylinder body 1 stretched meets the requirements for the stamping process, and thus the shunt branch pipe hole 11 can be manufactured by the stamping process. Similarly, the lining plate 2 arranged on the inner bottom of the cylinder body further supports the lining plate hole 21 manufactured by the punching process. On the one hand, compared with the turning process, the stamping process is simple, efficient and low in cost, which well resolves the problem of machining difficulty in the existing liquid separator. On the other hand, the arrangement of the lining plate 2 further achieves the effect of extending the insertion depth of the shunt branch pipe 3, ensuring the welding strength and stability.
Further, in the embodiment, the bottom of the cylinder body 1 and the side wall thereof are integrally formed by stretching and are not required for welded connection in circumferential directions thereof. Although welded connection is required between the end cover 4 and the cylinder body 1, a distance from the end cover 4 to the cylinder body 1 is relatively far, avoiding the influence of welding and melting during secondary welding, which greatly facilitates synchronous welding of the plurality of shunt branch pipe holes 11 and ensures the stability of the plurality of shunt branch pipes 3 welded.
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, an inner side wall of the cylinder body 1 is provided with a limiting fixing portion 12 protruding to an interior of the cylinder body, and the limiting fixing portion 12 is used to fix the lining plate 2 into the inner bottom of the cylinder body 1. Specifically, when the lining plate 2 and the cylinder body 1 are assembled, the lining plate 2 is placed into the cylinder body 1, and consecutive annular limiting fixing portions are formed on a side wall of the cylinder body 1 using a grooving process, thereby fixing the lining plate 2 into the cylinder body 1. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, a dotting process can also be used to form a plurality of dot-like limiting fixing portions or a plurality of arc limiting fixing portions distributed in a circumferential direction on the side wall of the cylinder body 1. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the lining plate can also be interference-fitted in the cylinder body or fixed in the cylinder body by fasteners such as screws.
In the embodiment, one lining plate 2 is provided, and preferably, the lining plate 2 is a red copper lining plate or a copper alloy lining plate. However, the invention imposes no any limitation on the number and materials of the lining plate. In other embodiments, the lining plate may be provided in plurality, and the lining plate may be made of carbon steel or stainless steel.
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , the lining plate 2 further has a through hole 22, and the through hole 22 is located in a circumferential center line S formed by the plurality of lining plate holes 21. The arrangement of the through hole 22 further reduces the material cost of the lining plate 2 while ensuring the strength of the lining plate 2. In addition, not only does the arrangement of the through hole 22 increase the space of the second mixing chamber 502, but also does the peripheral wall of the through hole 22 reflect the refrigerants, thus improving the mixing effect. In other embodiments, when multiple lining plates are provided, the through holes on the multiple lining plates are correspondingly overlapped to form a concave cavity with relatively large mixing space and reflection area. When the lining plate is provided in plurality, the through holes on the plurality of lining plates may be isometric. Alternatively, the through holes on the lining plates have an aperture gradually enlarged from the bottom of the cylinder body to the open end thereof.
In the embodiment, six shunt branch pipe holes 11 are evenly distributed along a circumferential direction of the cylinder body 1, and six lining plate holes 21 are arranged corresponding to the six shunt branch pipe holes 11, and the through holes 22 are located in a circumferential center line S formed by the six lining plate holes 21. However, the invention imposes no any limitation on the number of shunt branch pipe holes. In other embodiments, the number of shunt branch pipe holes can be adjusted according to the requirements for an air conditioning system piping.
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, an outer sleeve of the end cover 4 covers the open end of the cylinder body 1; the cylinder body 1, the end cover 4, and the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 are all made of stainless steel; the end cover 4 and the cylinder body 1, as well as the plate body 51 and the end cover 4 are hermetically welded through self-fluxing welding, such as argon arc welding, laser welding, or resistance welding. However, the invention imposes no any limitation on the assembling mode, welding mode, and material between the end cover and the cylinder body. In other embodiments, an inner sleeve of the end cover may also cover the open end of the cylinder body during assembly, as shown in FIG. 3C. In the welding mode, a welding wire can be additionally provided between the cylinder body and the end cover that are made of stainless steel, and between the plate body of the mixing and flow-guiding plate and the end cover thereof based on self-fluxing welding to realize seal welding. In terms of materials, the cylinder body, the end cover, and the mixing and flow-guiding plate can also be made of other materials, such as any one of carbon steel, copper, or copper alloy.
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 7 , the end cover 4 is provided with a flanged portion 42 facing an exterior of the cylinder body in a circumferential direction of the liquid inlet pipe hole 41, and the liquid inlet pipe 6 is internally or externally sleeved on the flanged portion 42 and seal-welded with the flanged portion 42. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the flanged portion can also face an interior of the cylinder body. In this case, the liquid inlet pipe is internally sleeved in the flanged portion. Specifically, in the embodiment, the liquid inlet pipe hole 41 is formed in the end cover 4 by punching a thin-walled stainless steel plate with a thickness less than 1 mm, and then stretched and flanged to form the flanged portion 42 and an end cover edge 43 sleeved on the cylinder body 1; the height of the flanged portion 42 ensures a welding depth between the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the liquid inlet pipe hole 41; and the height of the end cover edge 43 ensures a welding depth between the end cover 4 and the cylinder body 1.
In the embodiment, a cross-sectional shape of the cylinder body 1 is of a circle. Correspondingly, cross-sectional shapes of the end cover 4, the lining plate 2, and the mixing and flow-guiding plate 5 are of a circle. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the shape of the cylinder body that can meet a shunt structure falls within the protection scope of the invention. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the cylinder body may also be of a square or an ellipse, and a user can select the cross-sectional shape of the cylinder body according to application scenarios or material cost. FIG. 8A is a schematic structural diagram of a square mixing and flow-guiding plate fitting with a cylinder body having a square cross-sectional shape. FIG. 8B is a schematic structural diagram of an elliptical mixing and flow-guiding plate fitting with a cylinder body with an elliptical cross-sectional shape.
In the embodiment, the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the six shunt branch pipes 3 are all red copper pipes. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the liquid inlet pipe and the shunt branch pipe can also be any one of a brass pipe, a carbon steel pipe, or a stainless steel pipe.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10 , the embodiment further provides an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes a throttling device 100, an evaporator 300, and the liquid separator 200 for refrigeration, where the liquid inlet pipe 6 of the liquid separator for refrigeration is communicated with the throttling device 100, and six shunt branch pipes 3 of the liquid separator for refrigeration are communicated with the evaporator 300. The refrigerants output by the throttling device 100 are output to the first mixing chamber 501 through the liquid inlet pipe 6, and the refrigerants flow back after being mixed in the first mixing chamber 501, and are transmitted to the second mixing chamber 502 through the throttling flow-guiding holes 503, fully mixed, and then output to the evaporator 300 through the six shunt branch pipes 3. As shown in FIG. 10 , the air conditioner further includes a compressor 400 and a condenser 500 that are connected between the evaporator 300 and the throttling device 100. In the refrigeration state, the circulation of refrigerants is shown by an arrow in FIG. 10 .

Embodiment 2

The embodiment is substantially the same as Embodiment 1 and its change, except that as shown in FIG. 11 , an output end face of the liquid inlet pipe 6 is located outside the first mixing chamber 501, and a distance D2 between an output end face of the liquid inlet pipe 6 and an opening end face of the first mixing chamber 501 is less than or equal to 0.8 times an outer diameter d of the liquid inlet pipe. Preferably, the distance D2 between the output end face of the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the opening end face of the first mixing chamber 501 is equal to 0.5 times the outer diameter of the liquid inlet pipe. However, the invention is not limited thereto. FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of an end cover 4 whose inner sleeve covers an open end of a cylinder body.

Embodiment 3

The embodiment is substantially the same as Embodiment 2 and its change, except that as shown in FIG. 13 , the lining plate 2 is provided in two. Specifically, the two lining plates 2 are connected by resistance welding. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, in a structure with a plurality of lining plates, the flanged portion on the end cover can also face an interior of the cylinder body; the liquid inlet pipe is internally sleeved in the flanged portion; and the throttling flow-guiding holes on the mixing and flow-guiding plate can also be through holes or a combination of the through holes and the recess holes.

Embodiment 4

The embodiment is substantially the same as Embodiment 1 and its change, except that as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 , the liquid separator body 10 has a different structure. In the embodiment, the liquid separator body 10′ includes a cylinder body 1′, at least two lining plates 2′, and a plurality of shunt branch pipes 3′. The cylinder body 1′ is integrally formed, where the cylinder body has two open ends, a liquid inlet end of the cylinder body 1′ is provided with a liquid inlet pipe hole 11′. The at least two lining plates 2′ are seal-welded to a liquid outlet end of the cylinder body 1′ after overlapped, the liquid separator inner chamber is formed inside the cylinder body 1′, and each of the lining plates 2′ is provided with a plurality of lining plate holes 21′; and after the at least two lining plates 2′ are overlapped, corresponding lining plate holes 21′ are overlapped to form overlapping holes. The plurality of shunt branch pipes 3′ respectively extend into and are seal-welded to the respective overlapping holes.
In the embodiment, the lining plate 2′ is provided in two, two lining plates 2′ are welded and overlapped, and a depth H1′ of an overlapping hole formed by corresponding lining plate holes 21′ is 5 mm. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the number and thickness of the lining plate can also be adjusted, so that the hole depth of the overlapping hole meets insertion requirements for the shunt branch pipe, the lining plate may be provided in more than three, and a hole depth H1′ of the overlapping hole may be also other values greater than 2.5 mm
According to the difference of assembling locations, the lining plate 2 includes an exterior lining plate 2A′ and an interior lining plate 2B′. The liquid separator inner chamber refers to an inner chamber formed between an inner wall of the cylinder body 1′ and the interior lining plate 2B′ after the two lining plates 2′ are seal-welded to the cylinder body 1′; a first mixing chamber 501′ is formed in a recessed chamber portion 52′ of a mixing and flow-guiding plate, a second mixing chamber 502′ is formed between a plate body 51′ of the mixing and flow-guiding plate and the interior lining plate 2B′, and the first mixing chamber 501′ and the second mixing chamber 502′ are communicated through throttling flow-guiding holes 503′ on the plate body 51′.
In the embodiment, a flanged portion 12′ facing an exterior of the cylinder body is arranged in a circumferential direction of the liquid inlet pipe hole 11′, and the liquid inlet pipe 6′ is internally or externally sleeved on the flanged portion 12′ and seal-welded with the flanged portion 12′.
In the embodiment, the two lining plates are each provided with the lining plate hole 21 without through holes. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 16 , the exterior lining plate 2A′ is not provided with the through holes. The interior lining plate 2B′ is further provided with one through hole 22′ and the through hole 22′ is located in a circumferential center line formed by the plurality of lining plate holes 21′. The arrangement of the through holes 22′ further reduces the material cost of the interior lining plate 2B′ while ensuring the strength thereof. In addition, not only does the arrangement of the through hole 22′ increase the space of the second mixing chamber 502′, but also does the peripheral wall of the through hole 22′ reflect the refrigerants, thus improving the mixing effect.
In other embodiments, when multiple interior lining plates are provided, the through holes on the multiple interior lining plates are overlapped to form a concave cavity. For example, when the liquid separator body includes three lining plates, one of the three lining plates on an outer side thereof is an exterior lining plate, while two of the three lining plates on an inner side thereof are interior lining plates, and the corresponding through holes on the two interior lining plates are overlapped to form a concave cavity. When the interior lining plate is provided in plurality, the through holes on the plurality of interior lining plates may be isometric. Alternatively, the through holes on the interior lining plates have an aperture gradually enlarged from the exterior lining plate to a direction where the liquid inlet pipe hole is located.

Embodiment 5

Because most of the existing air conditioning pipes are copper pipes, in order to facilitate the connection between the liquid separator for refrigeration and external copper pipes, a liquid inlet pipe or a shunt branch pipe is of a composite structure of a stainless steel pipe and a copper pipe (or a carbon steel pipe and a copper pipe). Assembly and welding of the stainless steel pipe and the copper pipe: firstly, the stainless steel pipe and the copper pipe are brazed in a furnace to form a composite pipe fitting; secondly, a copper pipe end of the composite pipe fitting is connected with a pipeline copper pipe by flame brazing. Two problems occur in case of such welding connection: 1. the stainless steel pipe and the copper pipe being brazed in a furnace for a long time causes an enlarged metallographic grain of the copper pipe, reducing the tensile strength of the copper pipe, which directly reduces the compressive strength of an overall pipeline when a subsequent copper pipe is welded again with the pipeline copper pipe. 2. When such a composite pipe fitting and the pipeline copper pipe are welded by flame brazing, welding heat will reheat up a brazing layer formed between the stainless steel pipe and the copper pipe, which is very prone to causing product leakage.
In view of this, the embodiment provides another liquid separator for refrigeration. The embodiment is substantially the same as Embodiment 1 and its change, except that as shown in FIG. 17A, FIG. 17B, and FIG. 17C, in the embodiment, the liquid inlet pipe 6, six shunt branch pipes 3, and two lining plates 2 are all made of stainless steel. The liquid separator for refrigeration further includes a first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 and six second copper sleeve connecting pipes 72, where the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 is internally sleeved in the liquid inlet pipe 6, and the six second copper sleeve connecting pipes 72 are internally sleeved in the six shunt branch pipes 3, respectively. A first pipeline copper pipe 101 in an external system pipeline is internally sleeved in the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71, and six second pipeline copper pipes 102 are internally sleeved in the second copper sleeve connecting pipes 72, respectively.
For the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71, as shown in FIG. 17B, a length of an overlap region where the first pipeline copper pipe 101, the copper sleeve connecting pipe 71, and the liquid inlet pipe 6 are sleeved is L11, a socketing length of the pipeline copper pipe 101 and the copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 is L01, a sleeving length of the copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 and the liquid inlet pipe 6 is L21, and 0.2 L01≤L11≤0.8 L01 and 0.2 L21≤L11≤0.8 L21 are satisfied.
For each of the second copper sleeve connecting pipes 72, as shown in FIG. 17C, a length of an overlap region where the second pipeline copper pipe 102, the second copper sleeve connecting pipe 72, and the shunt branch pipe 3 are sleeved is L12, a sleeving length of the second pipeline copper pipe 102 and the second copper sleeve connecting pipe 72 is L02, a sleeving length of the second copper sleeve connecting pipe 72 and the shunt branch pipe 3 is L22, and 0.2 L02≤L12≤0.8 L02 and 0.2 L22≤L12≤0.8 L22 are satisfied.
The following takes the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 as an example to describe the additional provision of the structure of the copper sleeve connecting pipe in the embodiment, and a plurality of second copper sleeve connecting pipes 72 share a principle with the first copper sleeve connecting pipe.
Although there is still a problem that, with the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 and the liquid inlet pipe 6 being brazed in a furnace, the pipe fittings have reduced compressive strength during connection thereof, which is caused by a fact that the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 has a metallographic structure of coarse grains, the liquid inlet pipe 6, the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71, and the first pipeline copper pipe 101 are sequentially sleeved to form an overlap region having a length of L11, and the length L11 of the overlap region satisfies the following conditions: 0.2 L01≤L11≤0.8 L01 and 0.2 L21≤L11≤0.8 L21. It is proved through test that: in the overlap region having the length L11 satisfying the above dimension conditions, the exterior of the first pipeline copper pipe 101 is welded with two layers of outer walls (that is, the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 and the liquid inlet pipe 6) that are overlapped for reinforcement, which does not reduce the compressive strength here. Further, the above dimension conditions further ensure that the first pipeline copper pipe 101 only partially extends into a sleeving region of the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 and the liquid inlet pipe 6. Therefore, the first pipeline copper pipe 101 and the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 being brazed by flame will only partially affect a brazing layer formed between the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 and the liquid inlet pipe 6, effectively avoiding leakage caused by secondary fusion welding of the brazing layer.
In the liquid separator for refrigeration provided in the embodiment, the arrangement of the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 and the second copper sleeve connecting pipe 72 well solves the problems of low compressive strength and leakage caused by secondary fusion welding when the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the shunt branch pipe 3 that are made of stainless steel are welded with an exterior pipeline copper pipe, thereby greatly increasing the welding strength and safety of a branch pipe for refrigeration and an exterior copper pipe. Although the embodiment takes the liquid inlet pipe and the shunt branch pipe that are made of stainless steel as an example for description, the invention imposes no any limitation on this. In other embodiments, when the liquid inlet pipe and the branch pipe are carbon steel pipes, a welding structure provided in the embodiment is also applicable.
To facilitate controlling a sleeving length L01 of the first pipeline copper pipe 101 and the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71 during assembly thereof, in other embodiments, an inward protruding sleeving limit portion can be arranged on an inner wall of the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71, and the sleeving limit portion is used to define an insertion depth of the first pipeline copper pipe 101, thereby implementing accurate control of the sleeving length L01. Similarly, an inward protruding sleeving limit portion can be further arranged on an inner wall of the second copper sleeve connecting pipe 72, and the sleeving limit portion is used to define an insertion depth of the second pipeline copper pipe 102, thereby implementing accurate control of the sleeving length L02. The sleeving limit portion may be any one of a plurality of dot-like sleeving limit portions, a plurality of arc sleeving limit portions, or annular sleeving limit portions.
The first pipeline copper pipe 101 and the second pipeline copper pipe 102 may be part of a combined liquid separator, that is, the combined liquid separator includes the first pipeline copper pipe 101 and the second pipeline copper pipe 102. Alternatively, the combined liquid separator does not include two pipeline copper pipes, and the two pipeline copper pipes are pipe fittings on an external air conditioning component. For example, in an air conditioner in a refrigeration state, the first pipeline copper pipe 101 is an output pipe of the throttling device 100; and the second pipeline copper pipe 102 is an input pipe of the evaporator 300.
Although in the embodiment, end portions of the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the plurality of shunt branch pipes 3 are all welded to the pipeline copper pipe through additional provision of copper sleeve connecting pipes. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 18 , the liquid inlet pipe 6 is welded with the first pipeline copper pipe 101 through additional provision of the first copper sleeve connecting pipe 71. However, the plurality of shunt branch pipes 3 can be welded by flame, such as phosphorous bronze flame welding. In this case, two lining plates 2 are copper-based lining plates to increase the welding strength.

Embodiment 6

The embodiment shares an idea with Embodiment 5. In the embodiment, when the cylinder body 1, the end cover 4, and the plurality of lining plates 2 are all made of stainless steel, the plurality of shunt branch pipes 3 and the liquid inlet pipe 6 are made of copper. As shown in FIG. 19A, FIG. 19B, and FIG. 19C, after the liquid inlet pipe 6, the plurality of shunt branch pipes 3, the cylinder body 1, the end cover 4, and the plurality of lining plates 2 are brazed in a furnace, the first pipeline copper pipe 101 is internally sleeved on the liquid inlet pipe 6, and the plurality of second pipeline copper pipes 102 are internally sleeved on the shunt branch pipes 3, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 19B, the liquid inlet pipe 6 is internally sleeved on the flanged portion 42 on the end cover 4, and therefore an overlap region where the first pipeline copper pipe 101, the liquid inlet pipe 6, and the flanged portion 42 are sleeved is formed, and the length of the overlap region is L11′, a sleeving length of the first pipeline copper pipe 101 and the liquid inlet pipe 6 is L01′, a sleeving length of the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the flanged portion 42 is L21′, and 0.2 L01′≤L11′≤0.8 L01′ and 0.2 L21′≤L11′≤0.8 L21′ are satisfied. The overlap region where the first pipeline copper pipe 101, the liquid inlet pipe 6, and the flanged portion 42 are sleeved allows to the exterior of the first pipeline copper pipe 101 to be welded with two layers of outer walls (that is, the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the flanged portion 42) that are overlapped for reinforcement, thereby ensuring provision of enough compressive strength here. Further, the length L11′ satisfying the above dimension conditions further allows the first pipeline copper pipe 101 to only partially extend into a sleeving region of the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the flanged portion 42. Therefore, the first pipeline copper pipe 101 and the liquid inlet pipe 6 being brazed by flame will only partially affect a brazing layer formed between the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the flanged portion 42, effectively avoiding leakage caused by secondary fusion welding of the brazing layer.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 19C, each of the shunt branch pipes 3 is internally sleeved into an overlapping hole formed by overlapping the shunt branch pipe hole 11 and two lining plate holes 21. An overlap region where the overlapping hole, the shunt branch pipe 3, and the second pipeline copper pipe 102 are sleeved is formed, and the length of the overlap region is L12′, a sleeving length of the second pipeline copper pipe 102 and the shunt branch pipe 3 is L02′, a sleeving length of the shunt branch pipe 3 and the overlapping hole is L22′, and 0.2 L02′≤L12′≤0.8 L02′ and 0.2 L22′≤L12′≤0.8 L22′ are satisfied. The overlap region where the overlapping hole, the shunt branch pipe 3, and the second pipeline copper pipe 102 are sleeved allows to the exterior of the second pipeline copper pipe 102 to be welded with two layers of outer walls (that is, the shunt branch pipe 3 and the overlapping hole) that are overlapped for reinforcement, thereby ensuring provision of enough compressive strength here. Further, the length L12′ satisfying the above dimension conditions further allows the second pipeline copper pipe 102 to only partially extend into a sleeving region of the shunt branch pipe 3 and the overlapping hole. Therefore, the second pipeline copper pipe 102 and the shunt branch pipe 3 being brazed by flame will only partially affect a brazing layer formed between the shunt branch pipe 3 and the overlapping hole, effectively avoiding leakage caused by secondary fusion welding of the brazing layer.
To facilitate controlling a sleeving length L01′ of the first pipeline copper pipe 101 and the liquid inlet pipe 6 during assembly thereof, in other embodiments, an inward protruding sleeving limit portion can be arranged on an inner wall of the liquid inlet pipe 6, and the sleeving limit portion is used to define an insertion depth of the first pipeline copper pipe 101, thereby implementing accurate control of the sleeving length L01′. Similarly, an inward protruding sleeving limit portion can be further arranged on an inner wall of the shunt branch pipe 3, and the sleeving limit portion is used to define an insertion depth of the second pipeline copper pipe 102, thereby implementing accurate control of the sleeving length L02′. The sleeving limit portion may be any one of a plurality of dot-like sleeving limit portions, a plurality of arc sleeving limit portions, or annular sleeving limit portions.
Similarly, the first pipeline copper pipe 101 and the second pipeline copper pipe 102 may be part of a combined liquid separator, that is, the combined liquid separator includes the first pipeline copper pipe 101 and the second pipeline copper pipe 102. Alternatively, the combined liquid separator does not include two pipeline copper pipes, and the two pipeline copper pipes are pipe fittings on an external air conditioning component. For example, in an air conditioner in a refrigeration state, the first pipeline copper pipe 101 is an output pipe of the throttling device 100; and the second pipeline copper pipe 102 is an input pipe of the evaporator 300.
The embodiment takes the structure of the liquid separator body in Embodiment 1 as an example for description. However, the invention is not limited thereto. For the structure of the liquid separator body in Embodiment 4, the liquid inlet pipe 6 and the plurality of shunt branch pipes 3 that are made of copper can be also welded in ways as described in the embodiment. For the liquid separator body in Embodiment 4, the shunt branch pipes are internally sleeved in a corresponding overlapping hole formed by overlapping a plurality of lining plate holes, and the plurality of lining plates are made of stainless steel.
To sum up, in the liquid separator for refrigeration and the air conditioner provided in the invention, the mixing and flow-guiding plate is arranged in the liquid separator inner chamber, the first mixing chamber is formed in the recessed chamber portion of the mixing and flow-guiding plate, and the second mixing chamber is formed between the mixing and flow-guiding plate and the liquid outlet end of the liquid separator body. The gas-liquid mixed refrigerants entering the liquid separator inner chamber is subjected to primary mixing in the first mixing chamber, and then subjected to secondary mixing after entering the second mixing chamber through the plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes. Secondary mixing of refrigerants enables the refrigerants in the gas-liquid state to be fully mixed, thereby greatly improving uniformity of the mixed refrigerants. In addition, the plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes are in communication with the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber, and at the same time, reduced cross sections thereof are used to throttle refrigerants with the change in refrigerant velocity, thereby further improving the mixing effect of the second mixing chamber, and well resolving a problem that a refrigeration system has a low energy efficiency ratio caused by uneven mixing of refrigerants in the existing liquid separator.
Although the invention has been disclosed by preferred embodiments, they are not intended to limit the invention. Anyone familiar with the technology can make some alterations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, so the protection scope of the invention should be subject to the protection scope claimed in the claims.

Claims

1. A liquid separator for refrigeration, comprising:

a liquid separator body having a liquid separator inner chamber; and

a mixing and flow-guiding plate arranged in the liquid separator inner chamber, wherein a recessed chamber portion is arranged on the mixing and flow-guiding plate, a first mixing chamber is formed in the recessed chamber portion, a second mixing chamber is formed between the mixing and flow-guiding plate and a liquid outlet end of the liquid separator body, and a plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes in communication with the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber are evenly distributed along a circumferential direction of the mixing and flow-guiding plate; and the recessed chamber portion allows two phases of refrigerants entering the first mixing chamber to be mixed and then flow back along the first mixing chamber, and then flow to the second mixing chamber through the throttling flow-guiding holes.

2. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of throttling flow-guiding holes evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the mixing and flow-guiding plate are recess holes, through holes, or a combination of the recess holes and the through holes; and the recess holes are formed by being enclosed by openings of two curved stretching portions that are located at both sides of the mixing and flow-guiding plate and are centrally symmetric.

3. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 1, wherein the mixing and flow-guiding plate comprises a plate body and the recessed chamber portion that is formed in a center of the plate body and extends toward the liquid outlet end of the liquid separator body, and a transmission channel is formed between the plate body and a liquid inlet end of the liquid separator body.

4. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid inlet pipe, wherein the liquid inlet pipe is seal-welded to a liquid inlet pipe hole of the liquid separator body.

5. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 4, wherein an output end of the liquid inlet pipe extends into the first mixing chamber, and a distance between an output end face of the liquid inlet pipe and an opening end face of the first mixing chamber is less than or equal to 1 times an outer diameter of the liquid inlet pipe.

6. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 4, wherein an output end face of the liquid inlet pipe is located outside the first mixing chamber, and a distance between an output end face of the liquid inlet pipe and an opening end face of the first mixing chamber is less than or equal to 0.8 times an outer diameter of the liquid inlet pipe.

7. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 4, wherein a flanged portion facing an interior or exterior of the liquid separator body is arranged in a circumferential direction of the liquid inlet pipe hole, and the liquid inlet pipe is internally or externally sleeved on the flanged portion and seal-welded with the flanged portion.

8. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 4, wherein when the liquid inlet pipe is a stainless steel pipe or a carbon steel pipe, the liquid separator for refrigeration further comprises a copper sleeve connecting pipe, wherein the copper sleeve connecting pipe is internally sleeved on an end portion of the liquid inlet pipe, and a pipeline copper pipe is internally sleeved on the copper sleeve connecting pipe; and a length of an overlap region where the pipeline copper pipe, the copper sleeve connecting pipe, and the liquid inlet pipe are sleeved is L11, a sleeving length of the pipeline copper pipe and the copper sleeve connecting pipe is L01, a sleeving length of the copper sleeve connecting pipe and the liquid inlet pipe is L21, and 0.2 L01≤L11≤0.8 L01 and 0.2 L21≤L11≤0.8 L21 are satisfied.

9. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 4, wherein when the liquid inlet pipe is a copper pipe and the liquid separator body is made of stainless steel, the liquid inlet pipe is internally sleeved on a flanged portion in a circumferential direction of the liquid inlet pipe hole, and a pipeline copper pipe is internally sleeved on the liquid inlet pipe; and a length of an overlap region where the pipeline copper pipe, the liquid inlet pipe, and the flanged portion are sleeved is L11′, a sleeving length of the pipeline copper pipe and the liquid inlet pipe is L01′, a sleeving length of the liquid inlet pipe and the flanged portion is L21′, and 0.2 L01′≤L11′≤0.8 L01′ and 0.2 L21′≤L11′≤0.8 L21′ are satisfied.

10. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 1, wherein the liquid separator body comprises:

a cylinder body wherein the cylinder body is integrally formed and has a single open end, and a bottom of the cylinder body is provided with a plurality of shunt branch pipe holes;

at least one lining plate, arranged on an inner bottom of the cylinder body, wherein each lining plate is provided with a plurality of lining plate holes corresponding to the plurality of shunt branch pipe holes;

a plurality of shunt branch pipes, respectively extending into the shunt branch pipe holes, wherein extension ends of the shunt branch pipes extend into corresponding lining plate holes, and each of the shunt branch pipes is seal-welded into a corresponding shunt branch pipe hole and a corresponding lining plate hole; and

an end cover, covering the open end of the cylinder body, wherein the end cover is seal-welded with the cylinder body to form the liquid separator inner chamber, the end cover is provided with a liquid inlet pipe hole, and the liquid inlet pipe hole directly faces the first mixing chamber.

11. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 10, wherein each ling plate is further provided with a through hole, and the through hole is located within a circumferential center line formed by the plurality of lining plate holes; and when multiple lining plates are provided, through holes on the multiple lining plates are correspondingly overlapped to form a concave cavity.

12. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 1, wherein the liquid separator body comprises:

a cylinder body, wherein the cylinder body is integrally formed and has two open ends, a liquid inlet end of the cylinder body is provided with a liquid inlet pipe hole, and the liquid inlet pipe hole directly faces the first mixing chamber;

at least two lining plates, wherein the at least two lining plates are seal-welded to a liquid outlet end of the cylinder body after overlapped, the liquid separator inner chamber is formed between the cylinder body and the lining plates, and each of the lining plates is provided with a plurality of lining plate holes; and after the at least two lining plates are overlapped, corresponding lining plate holes are overlapped to form overlapping holes; and

a plurality of shunt branch pipes, respectively extending into and seal-welded to the respective overlapping holes.

13. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 12, wherein an interior lining plate is provided with a through hole, and the through hole is located in a circumferential center line formed by the plurality of lining plate holes; and when multiple interior lining plates are provided, through holes on the multiple interior lining plates are overlapped to form a concave cavity.

14. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 10, wherein an inner side wall of the cylinder body is provided with a limiting fixing portion protruding toward an interior of the cylinder body, the limiting fixing portion is configured to fix the lining plates into the cylinder body, and the limiting fixing portion comprises a plurality of dot-like limiting fixing portions, a plurality of arc limiting fixing portions or annular limiting fixing portions; or at least one lining plate is interference-fitted in the cylinder body.

15. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 10, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the cylinder body is any one of a circle, a square, or an ellipse, and cross-sectional shapes of the lining plates and the mixing and flow-guiding plate match with the cross-sectional shape of the cylinder body.

16. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 10, wherein when the plurality of shunt branch pipes and the plurality of lining plates are respectively made of stainless steel or carbon steel, the liquid separator for refrigeration further comprises a plurality of copper sleeve connecting pipes, the plurality of copper sleeve connecting pipes are internally sleeved on end portions of the shunt branch pipes, respectively; a plurality of pipeline copper pipes are internally sleeved on the copper sleeve connecting pipes, respectively; and a length of an overlap region where a corresponding pipeline copper pipe, a corresponding copper sleeve connecting pipe, and a corresponding shunt branch pipe are sleeved is L12, a sleeving length of the pipeline copper pipe and the copper sleeve connecting pipe is L02, a sleeving length of the copper sleeve connecting pipe and the shunt branch pipe is L22, and 0.2 L02≤L12≤0.8 L02 and 0.2 L22≤L12≤0.8 L22 are satisfied.

17. The liquid separator for refrigeration according to claim 10, wherein when the plurality of shunt branch pipes are copper pipes and the cylinder body is made of stainless steel, each of the shunt branch pipes is internally sleeved into an overlapping hole formed by overlapping a corresponding shunt branch pipe hole and at least one of the lining plate holes; or each of the shunt branch pipes is internally sleeved into an overlapping hole formed by overlapping corresponding lining plate holes after at least two lining plates made of stainless steel are overlapped; the plurality of pipeline copper pipes are internally sleeved on the shunt branch pipes, respectively; a length of an overlap region where each of the pipeline copper pipes, a corresponding shunt branch pipe, and the overlapping hole are sleeved is L12′, a sleeving length of the pipeline copper pipe and the shunt branch pipe is L02′, a sleeving length of the shunt branch pipe and the overlapping hole is L22′, and 0.2 L02′≤L12′≤0.8 L02′ and 0.2 L22′≤L12′≤0.8 L22′ are satisfied.

18. An air conditioner, comprising a throttling device, an evaporator, and the liquid separator for refrigeration as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid separator for refrigeration is connected between the throttling device and the evaporator, the throttling device outputs the refrigerants to the first mixing chamber of the liquid separator for refrigeration, and the refrigerants are output to the evaporator after mixed using the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber.