JP2015081749A - Oil separator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oil separator which improves separation characteristics of a refrigeration oil in a structure using a division plate.SOLUTION: An oil separator 100 includes a cylindrical container 103 where an internal space, in which a refrigerant may rotate, is divided into a first separation part 101 and a second separation part 102. A division plate 105 includes a circulation hole 107, which connects the first separation part 101 with the second separation part 102 and is formed isolated from a refrigerant passage hole 106, in addition to the refrigerant passage hole 106. A cylindrical body 109 extends from a position of the division plate 105, which is located at the outer side of the refrigerant passage hole 106 and at the inner side of the circulation hole 107, to a bottom part of the container 103.

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil separator that separates refrigerating machine oil from a gas phase refrigerant containing refrigerating machine oil flowing out of a compressor by inertial force and centrifugal force.

  Generally, refrigeration oil is used for lubrication of a compressor used in an air conditioner or the like. This refrigerating machine oil circulates in the refrigerant circulation system together with the refrigerant. The refrigerating machine oil sucked from the suction side of the compressor is supplied to each sliding portion inside the compressor and used for lubrication of each sliding portion. In addition, the refrigerating machine oil is supplied to the working chamber, and is used to prevent leakage of the vaporized refrigerant by sealing the gap in the working chamber.

  In the above circulation system, when a large amount of refrigerating machine oil is contained in the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor, the refrigerating machine oil tends to adhere to the inner wall surface of the heat transfer tube of the heat exchanger. And the refrigeration oil adhering to the inner wall face of a heat exchanger tube inhibits the heat transfer of a heat exchanger tube, and deteriorates the heat transfer efficiency of a heat exchanger. In order to avoid such a situation, an oil separator is provided in the circulation system. The oil separator separates the refrigeration oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, and returns the refrigeration oil to the suction side of the compressor.

  Here, as an example of a conventional oil separator, an oil separator disclosed in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the oil separator 1, a high-temperature and high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant containing refrigeration oil that has flowed out of the compressor is introduced into the first separation unit 11 from a refrigerant introduction pipe 13 provided in the upper part of the cylindrical sealed container 10. The In addition, the arrow in FIG. 1 has shown the flow of the refrigerant | coolant. In the first separation unit 11, the refrigerant collides with the separation plate 16. At this time, a part of the refrigerating machine oil is separated from the refrigerant and adheres to the separation plate 16. Next, the refrigerant passes through the refrigerant passage holes 17 and 21 (see FIG. 2) provided in the separation plate 16 and is introduced into the second separation unit 12. At this time, the refrigerant is swirled by the refrigerant passage hole 17. The refrigeration oil adheres to the inner wall surface of the sealed container 10 by the action of the centrifugal force due to the swirling flow. Furthermore, this refrigerating machine oil moves to the lower part of the sealed container 10 by the action of gravity, and forms an oil sump. The oil in the oil reservoir is led out of the oil separator 10 from the oil discharge pipe 15. Further, the refrigerant that has turned into the swirl flow rises after descending in the sealed container 10, is taken in from the opening 14 a of the refrigerant outlet pipe 14, and is led out of the oil separator 10 through the refrigerant outlet pipe 14. In this way, the refrigeration oil is separated from the refrigerant.

  In the oil separator 1, a cylindrical cover 20 is provided as a means for preventing the refrigerant introduced into the second separation unit 12 through the separation plate 16 from being taken into the opening 14 a of the refrigerant outlet pipe 14 by a short circuit. Is provided. Thereby, the refrigerant introduced into the second separation unit 12 is not directly taken into the opening 14 a of the refrigerant outlet tube 14. In addition, since the reversal of the flow of the refrigerant that has flowed down below the refrigerant outlet pipe 14 always occurs, the reversal of the refrigerating machine oil having a higher density than that of the refrigerant is surely separated by this reversal, and the refrigerating machine oil separation efficiency can be increased. It is said that.

JP-A-9-243209

  However, in the oil separator 1 according to Patent Document 1, the first separator 11 and the second separator 12 communicate with each other through the refrigerant passage hole 17 and the passage hole 21. Refrigerating machine oil adhering to the separation plate 16 accompanying the ejected refrigerant is also ejected from the refrigerant passage hole 17 and the passage hole 21 and flows into the second separation unit 12 as oil droplets. That is, the refrigerating machine oil adhering to the separation plate 16 may be scattered to the second separation unit 12 and the oil separation by the swirl flow may be performed substantially only by the second separation unit 12. Therefore, the oil separator 1 has a problem that it is difficult to further improve the effect of oil separation using the separation plate 16 in the first separation unit 11.

  The present invention separates refrigeration oil from refrigerant containing refrigeration oil and isolates the movement path between the refrigerant and the refrigeration oil, so that the separation characteristics of the refrigeration oil can be improved in a configuration using a separation plate. The purpose is to provide a vessel.

  The oil separator of the present invention is an oil separator that separates refrigerating machine oil from a refrigerant containing refrigerating machine oil, and includes a cylindrical container having an internal space in which the refrigerant can be swirled, and the internal space as a first separation unit. And the second separator, the refrigerant passage hole through which the refrigerant passes from the first separator to the second separator, and the refrigerating machine oil separated from the refrigerant from the first separator to the second separator The separation plate in which a circulation hole that passes to the part is formed, the refrigerant introduction pipe that causes the refrigerant to flow out to the first separation part and causes the refrigerant to flow in the first separation part, and the refrigerating machine oil are separated. A refrigerant outlet pipe for extracting the refrigerant from the second separation section, an oil discharge pipe for discharging the refrigeration oil separated from the refrigerant from the second separation section, an outer side of the refrigerant passage hole of the separation plate and the flow hole. A cylinder extending from the inside position toward the bottom of the container, and the front A space between the outer wall surface of the tubular body and the inner wall surface of the container employs a configuration and a flow path connecting to the flow hole.

  The oil separator according to the present invention improves the separation characteristics of the refrigerating machine oil in the configuration using the separation plate by separating the refrigerating machine oil from the refrigerant containing the refrigerating machine oil and isolating the moving path of the refrigerant and the refrigerating machine oil. be able to.

Sectional drawing which shows an example of a structure of the oil separator which concerns on patent document 1 A perspective view showing an example of composition of a separation board concerning patent documents 1 Sectional drawing which shows an example of a structure of the oil separator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The top view which shows an example of a structure of the separating plate which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows an example of a structure of the refrigerant | coolant passage hole which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows an example of a structure of the oil separator which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The top view which shows an example of a structure of the separation plate which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows an example of a structure of the oil separator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. The graph which shows an example of the relationship between the internal diameter / height of the cylinder of the oil separator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention, and an oil separation rate Sectional drawing which shows an example of a structure of the oil separator which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Each embodiment described below is an example, and the present invention is not limited to each embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the oil separator 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a cross section cut along the longitudinal direction of the oil separator 100. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 3 and is a top view showing an example of the configuration of separation plate 105 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B shown in FIG.

  The oil separator 100 is a device that separates refrigerating machine oil from a refrigerant containing refrigerating machine oil (hereinafter referred to as “oil” as appropriate). The oil separator 100 includes a container 103, a refrigerant introduction pipe 104, a separation plate 105, a cylinder body 109, a refrigerant outlet pipe 112, and an oil discharge pipe 113.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the container 103 is a cylindrical sealed container having an internal space in which the refrigerant can turn. A separation plate 105 is provided in the internal space of the container 103. Thereby, the internal space of the container 103 is divided into the first separation unit 101 and the second separation unit 102.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerant introduction tube 104 is provided so as to penetrate the ceiling portion of the container 103 and extends to the first separation unit 101. The opening 104 a of the refrigerant introduction pipe 104 is disposed toward the inner wall surface of the container 103. From the opening 104a, the refrigerant introduced by the refrigerant introduction pipe 104 flows out. Details of the refrigerant flow will be described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the separation plate 105 is formed with a plurality of refrigerant passage holes 106 through which the refrigerant passes. Each refrigerant passage hole 106 is provided with a guide portion 108 that guides the refrigerant passing therethrough in a swirl flow in the second separation portion 102. The shape of the guide portion 108 may be, for example, the shape shown in FIG. 5A or the shape shown in FIG. 5B. The guide unit 108 may be rephrased as, for example, a “turning promotion unit”.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the separation plate 105 is formed with a plurality of flow holes 107 by notching the outer periphery thereof. The circulation hole 107 is connected to a flow passage 110 described later. By forming such a circulation hole portion 107, the separation plate 105 includes a circumferential portion having a large diameter 105a and a circumferential portion having a small diameter 105b.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cylindrical tube body 109 is provided below the separation plate 105 (that is, the second separation portion 102). The cylindrical body 109 extends from the surface on the second separation portion 102 side of the separation plate 105 toward the bottom of the container 103. The upper end of the cylinder 109 is in contact with the separation plate 105, while the lower end of the cylinder 109 is not in contact with the bottom of the container 103. As shown in FIG. 4, the outermost diameter of the cylindrical body 109 is the same as the small diameter 105 b of the separation plate 105. A space between the outer wall of the cylinder 109 and the inner wall of the container 103 functions as the flow passage 110. That is, the flow passage 110 is connected to the circulation hole 107 and functions as a passage that guides the oil flowing in from the circulation hole 107 to the bottom of the container 103.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerant outlet tube 112 is provided so as to penetrate the bottom of the container 103 and extends to the second separation unit 102. The opening 112 a of the refrigerant outlet tube 112 is arranged toward the separation plate 105. A refrigerant swirling in the second separation unit 102 flows into the opening 112a. Details of the refrigerant flow will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the oil discharge pipe 113 is provided through the bottom of the container 103 and extends to the second separation unit 102. The oil discharge pipe 113 discharges the refrigeration oil accumulated at the bottom of the container 103 from the oil separator 10. The discharged refrigeration oil is returned to the suction side of the compressor.

  Next, the flow of the refrigerant introduced into the oil separator 100 and the flow of the refrigerating machine oil separated from the refrigerant will be described.

  The refrigerant flowing out from the compressor is introduced into the oil separator 100 through the refrigerant introduction pipe 104. The refrigerant flowing out from the opening 104 a of the refrigerant introduction pipe 104 collides with the inner wall surface of the container 103, then turns into a swirl flow along the inner wall surface, and descends in the first separation unit 101. Due to the centrifugal force caused by the swirling flow of the refrigerant, a part of the refrigerating machine oil adheres to the inner wall surface of the container 103 and is separated from the refrigerant. The refrigerating machine oil adhering to the inner wall surface of the container 103 moves downward along the inner wall surface of the container 103 by the action of gravity. Thereafter, the refrigerating machine oil flows into the flow passage 110 from the circulation hole 107.

  The swirling flow of the refrigerant descending in the first separation unit 101 passes through the refrigerant passage hole 106 provided in the separation plate 105 and flows into the second separation unit 102. At this time, when the swirling flow of the refrigerant collides with the separation plate 105, a part of the refrigerating machine oil adheres to the separation plate 105 and is separated from the refrigerant. The refrigeration oil adhering to the separation plate 105 moves toward the inner wall surface of the container 103 along the surface of the separation plate 105 (the surface on the first separation unit 101 side) due to the influence of the swirling flow. Thereafter, the refrigerating machine oil flows into the flow passage 110 from the circulation hole 107.

  The refrigerating machine oil that has flowed into the flow passage 110 from the circulation hole 107 moves to the bottom of the container 103 through the flow passage 110 by the action of gravity. Thereby, an oil sump (not shown, see FIG. 10 described later) is formed at the bottom of the container 103.

  On the other hand, the refrigerant that has flowed into the second separation portion 102 from the refrigerant passage hole 106 becomes a swirling flow along the inner wall surface of the cylindrical body 109 by the guide portion 108 and descends in the second separation portion 102. Due to the centrifugal force caused by the swirling flow of the refrigerant, a part of the refrigerating machine oil adheres to the inner wall surface of the cylinder 109 and is separated from the refrigerant. The refrigerating machine oil adhering to the inner wall surface of the cylinder 109 moves to the bottom of the container 103 along the inner wall surface of the cylinder 109 by the action of gravity. As a result, an oil sump is formed at the bottom of the container 103.

  The swirling flow of the refrigerant descending in the second separation unit 102 reaches the bottom of the container 103, and then reverses and rises toward the opening 112 a of the refrigerant outlet tube 112. Then, the refrigerant flows into the refrigerant outlet pipe 112 from the opening 112 a and is led out from the oil separator 100.

  As described above, according to the oil separator 100 of the present embodiment, the path (the circulation hole 107 and the flow passage 110) through which the refrigerating machine oil separated from the refrigerant in the first separation unit 101 moves, and the second separation unit A path (coolant passage hole 106) through which the refrigerant flowing out to 102 moves is provided separately. Thereby, the refrigerating machine oil separated by the first separation unit 101 is not entangled again in the refrigerant flow passing through the separation plate 105. As a result, the separation characteristics of the refrigerating machine oil can be improved in the configuration using the separation plate.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the oil separator 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a cross section cut along the longitudinal direction of the oil separator 100. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC shown in FIG. 6, and is a top view illustrating an example of the configuration of the separation plate 105 according to the present embodiment. 6 and 7, elements common to the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the separation plate 105 is formed with a plurality of flow holes 114 at a certain distance from the outer periphery thereof. The circulation hole 114 is connected to the flow passage 110.

  As described above, according to the oil separator 100 of the present embodiment, the circulation hole 114 is formed inside the outer periphery of the separation plate 105. Thus, when the separation plate 105 is fixed to the container 103, it is only necessary that the central axes of the separation plate 105 and the container 103 are aligned. That is, the separation plate 105 has no notch on the outer periphery, and contacts the inner wall surface of the container 103 over the entire periphery. Therefore, when the separation plate 105 and the container 103 are welded at several locations by spot welding, welding can be performed at an arbitrary location on the outer periphery of the separation plate 105, and manufacturing work is facilitated.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the oil separator 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a cross section cut along the longitudinal direction of the oil separator 100. In FIG. 8, elements common to the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  In FIG. 8, the inner diameter d and the height h of the cylindrical body 109 are configured to satisfy 0.1 ≦ d / h ≦ 0.7. The basis for this will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the inner diameter / height (d / h) of the cylinder 109 of the oil separator 100 of the present embodiment and the oil separation rate. The oil separation rate shown in FIG. 9 is the separation rate of refrigerating machine oil (oil that adheres to the inner wall surface of the cylinder 109) separated by the centrifugal force of the swirling flow of the refrigerant in the cylinder 109 in the second separation unit 102. is there. FIG. 9 shows an approximate curve of the simulation result. Here, Murakami et al. (Murakami, Wakamoto, Morimoto, “Performance prediction of cyclone oil separator”, Vol. 22 (3), pp. 315 -324, September 30, 2005), using a prediction method proposed by numerical experiments.

  As is apparent from this approximate curve, when d / h is smaller than 0.7 in the range of d / h from 0.1 to 0.7, the oil separation rate suddenly increases. Further, when d / h is smaller than 0.1, the height h of the cylindrical body 109 becomes longer than the inner diameter d. Along with this, it is necessary to change the longitudinal dimension of the oil separator 100 longer, which causes an increase in material costs and manufacturing costs, and an increase in the size and weight of the outdoor unit. Therefore, it is preferable that the inner diameter d and the height h are designed so that d / h is in the range of 0.1 to 0.7.

  As described above, according to the oil separator 100 of the present embodiment, the inner diameter d and the height h of the cylindrical body 109 satisfy 0.1 ≦ d / h ≦ 0.7. Thereby, the efficiency of oil separation in the second separation unit 102 can be improved.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the oil separator 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a cross section cut along the longitudinal direction of the oil separator 100. In FIG. 10, elements common to the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the lower end of the cylindrical body 109 is immersed in an oil sump 115 formed at the bottom of the container 103. As described above, the oil sump 115 is separated from the refrigerating machine oil (the refrigerating machine oil separated by the first separation unit 101) from the flow passage 110 and the refrigerating machine oil (the second separation unit 102) from the inner wall surface of the cylindrical body 109. Formed by the inflow of refrigeration oil. The oil in the oil sump 115 is discharged out of the oil separator 100 through the oil discharge pipe 113. Note that the opening of the oil discharge pipe 113 preferably projects into the cylindrical body 109.

  As described above, according to the oil separator 100 of the present embodiment, the lower end of the cylinder 109 is provided so as to be immersed in the oil reservoir 115 formed at the bottom of the container 103. Thereby, since the refrigerating machine oil from the flow path 110 flows into the oil reservoir 115 without being involved in the swirling flow of the refrigerant in the second separation unit 102, the efficiency of oil separation can be improved.

  In the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the following modifications are possible.

  For example, in the oil separator 100 according to each embodiment, the opening 104a of the refrigerant introduction pipe 104 is arranged toward the inner wall surface of the container 103, but the direction of the opening 104a is not limited to this. For example, the opening 104 a of the refrigerant introduction pipe 104 may be disposed toward the separation plate 105. In the configuration in which the opening 104a is directed to the inner wall surface of the container 103, oil separation due to the swirling flow can be promoted. On the other hand, in the configuration in which the opening 104a is directed to the separation plate 105, separation by collision with the separation plate 105 is performed. Can promote.

  Further, for example, the first separation unit 101 of the oil separator 100 according to each embodiment may include a mesh member for separating the refrigerating machine oil from the refrigerant. For example, the mesh member may be provided so as to cover the entire surface of the separation plate 105 on the first separation portion 101 side.

  Further, for example, in the oil separator 100 according to each embodiment, a cover (for example, a diagram) extending below the separation plate 105 and outside the refrigerant outlet pipe 112 beyond the opening 112a of the refrigerant outlet pipe 112. One cover 20) may be provided. As a result, the refrigerant that has passed through the refrigerant passage hole 106 cannot go directly to the opening 112a of the refrigerant outlet pipe 112, but descends in the second separation unit 102 while generating a swirling flow, and the oil separation Efficiency can be improved.

  The oil separator according to the present invention is suitable for use in an oil separator that separates refrigerating machine oil from refrigerant containing refrigerating machine oil for lubricating a compressor used in an air conditioner or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Oil separator 101 1st separation part 102 2nd separation part 103 Container 104 Refrigerant introduction pipe 104a Opening part of refrigerant introduction pipe 105 Separation plate 106 Refrigerant passage hole 107, 114 Flow hole 108 Guide part 109 Cylindrical body 110 Flow path 112 Refrigerant Lead pipe 112a Opening portion of refrigerant lead pipe 113 Oil discharge pipe 115 Oil sump

Claims (7)

An oil separator for separating refrigeration oil from a refrigerant containing refrigeration oil,
A cylindrical container having an internal space in which the refrigerant can swivel;
The internal space is divided into a first separator and a second separator, a refrigerant passage hole through which the refrigerant passes from the first separator to the second separator, and the refrigerating machine oil separated from the refrigerant is the first separator. A separation plate formed with a flow hole passing from the first separation part to the second separation part;
A refrigerant introduction pipe that causes the refrigerant to flow out to the first separation unit and causes a swirling flow of the refrigerant in the first separation unit;
A refrigerant outlet pipe for extracting refrigerant from which the refrigerating machine oil has been separated from the second separation unit;
An oil discharge pipe for discharging the refrigerating machine oil separated from the refrigerant from the second separation unit;
A cylindrical body extending from the position outside the refrigerant passage hole of the separation plate and inside the flow hole toward the bottom of the container,
Oil separator. The flow hole is
Formed by cutting out the outer periphery of the separation plate,
The oil separator according to claim 1. The flow hole is
Formed at a certain distance from the outer periphery of the separation plate,
The oil separator according to claim 1. The inner diameter d and the height h of the cylinder are:
Satisfies 0.1 ≦ d / h ≦ 0.7,
The oil separator according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The cylinder is
Cylindrical,
The oil separator according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The refrigerant introduction pipe is
Opening toward the inner wall of the container,
The oil separator according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The refrigerant introduction pipe is
Opening toward the separation plate,
The oil separator according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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