JP2016180548A - Refrigerant distributor, and refrigeration cycle device including refrigerant distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably distribute a refrigerant to each of refrigerant pipes while suppressing increase of costs under a flow rate condition from a rated operating condition to an operating condition of low rotation.SOLUTION: A refrigerant distributor 21 includes a header pipe 30, an inlet pipe 31 for distributing a refrigerant to the header pipe, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes 32 connected to one end side 43 of the header pipe at a vertical lower part with respect to the inlet pipe. The refrigerant flowing into the header pipe is distributed to the plurality of refrigerant pipes. Further a refrigerant flowing direction control portion 34 for making the liquid refrigerant from the inlet pipe, flow from an upper part of the header pipe while biasing the liquid refrigerant from the inlet pipe, is disposed on one end side to which the refrigerant pipes are connected, inside of the header pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerant distributor that distributes refrigerant to a plurality of refrigerant pipes and a refrigeration cycle apparatus including the refrigerant distributor.

  In general, a refrigeration cycle apparatus such as an air conditioner or a heat pump type hot water heater has a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a throttle device such as an electric valve, a condenser and an evaporator are connected by piping. In the refrigeration cycle of the refrigeration cycle apparatus, the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit repeatedly absorbs or releases heat with respect to air, water, and the like that are heat exchange targets in the heat exchanger (condenser and evaporator).

  For example, a heat exchanger of an air conditioner indoor unit or outdoor unit joins a plurality of refrigerant tubes to fins that are air-side heat transfer surfaces of the heat exchanger, so that the refrigerant in the refrigerant tube and the air Efficient heat transfer. In this structure, it is necessary to distribute the refrigerant to each of a plurality of refrigerant tubes provided in parallel in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit. The refrigerant flowing as a gas-liquid two-phase flow in the piping of the heat exchanger has a density difference of several tens of times between the liquid refrigerant and the gas refrigerant, and the flow rates of the gas-liquid two-phase are also greatly different. . Therefore, the refrigerant flowing in the gas-liquid two-phase state is disturbed at the gas-liquid interface, and the flow of the refrigerant becomes complicated and unstable. Therefore, the refrigerant consisting of two phases of gas and liquid is distributed to each refrigerant pipe of the heat exchanger of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit so that the refrigerant works efficiently in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit. It is necessary to distribute stably at a ratio.

  In addition, since the liquid refrigerant may be biased in the pipe due to the action of gravity on the flowing liquid refrigerant, in consideration of the influence of gravity acting on the refrigerant, the gas-liquid two-phase is applied to each refrigerant pipe of the heat exchanger. It is necessary to stably distribute the refrigerant consisting of the above at a predetermined distribution ratio.

  In addition, when the refrigerant flow rate is lower than during rated operation, such as when operating at a speed lower than the rated speed, the flow rate of the refrigerant differs from that during rated operation, and the flow configuration varies. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately distribute the refrigerant composed of the gas-liquid two phases according to the fluctuation of the rotation speed.

  In the refrigerant distributor described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-002688), a header pipe (header pipe) installed in the vertical direction is provided as a distribution unit, and a plurality of pipes (flat tubes) are provided on the header pipe. ) In the horizontal direction, and by providing concentric or spiral ribs as a refrigerant guiding structure inside the header pipe, the mixing of the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant is promoted and the refrigerant is evenly distributed. I am doing so.

JP 2013-002688 A

  In the refrigerant distributor described in Patent Document 1, when the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant is small, the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant becomes low, so that the liquid refrigerant easily flows along the wall surface of the refrigerant induction structure. Mixing of liquid refrigerant and liquid refrigerant is not promoted, and the effect of evenly distributing the refrigerant to a plurality of downstream pipes (refrigerant pipes) is hardly obtained. Therefore, there is a problem that the performance at a low flow rate is remarkably lowered. Further, the structure inside the header pipe becomes extremely complicated, and the manufacturing cost increases.

  An object of the present invention is to use a refrigerant distributor capable of stably distributing a refrigerant to each refrigerant pipe while suppressing an increase in cost under flow conditions from a rated operating condition to a low rotation operating condition, and the same. The object is to obtain a refrigeration cycle apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a header pipe, an inlet pipe for sending refrigerant to the header pipe, and vertically below the inlet pipe and connected to one end side of the header pipe. A refrigerant distributor in which the refrigerant flowing into the header pipe is distributed to the plurality of refrigerant pipes, on the one end side where the refrigerant pipe is connected inside the header pipe, A refrigerant flow direction control unit for biasing the liquid refrigerant from the inlet pipe to flow from above the header pipe is provided.

  According to the present invention, the refrigerant distributor capable of stably distributing the refrigerant to each refrigerant pipe while suppressing an increase in cost under flow conditions from the rated operation condition to the low rotation operation condition, and the same are used. There is an effect that a refrigeration cycle apparatus can be obtained.

1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigeration cycle apparatus (home air conditioner) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Sectional drawing of the refrigerant distributor which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. The diagram explaining the reduction effect of the liquid refrigerant distribution amount relative variation degree to a refrigerant pipe. It is a figure which shows the refrigerant distributor which concerns on Example 2 of this invention, and is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. Sectional drawing of the refrigerant distributor which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6. Sectional drawing of the refrigerant distributor which concerns on Example 4 of this invention. IX-IX arrow directional cross-sectional view of FIG. Sectional drawing of the refrigerant distributor which concerns on Example 5 of this invention. FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10. Sectional drawing of the refrigerant distributor which concerns on Example 6 of this invention. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the refrigerant distributor of the present invention and the refrigeration cycle apparatus including the refrigerant distributor will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, in each drawing, the portions denoted by the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding portions.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a domestic air conditioner as a refrigeration cycle apparatus to which the refrigerant distributor of this embodiment is applied will be described, and then the refrigerant distributor of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an example of a refrigerant circuit diagram of a domestic air conditioner as a refrigeration cycle apparatus in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a domestic air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as “air conditioner”) 100 according to the present embodiment has a general configuration, and includes a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an electric valve, and the like. The cooling / heating throttle device 3, the indoor heat exchanger 4, and the outdoor heat exchanger 5 are annularly connected by a refrigerant pipe 14.

  The air conditioner 100 switches the four-way valve 2 to perform a cooling operation using the indoor heat exchanger 4 as an evaporator and the outdoor heat exchanger 5 as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 4 as a condenser and an outdoor heat exchange. The heating operation using the vessel 5 as an evaporator is performed. In FIG. 1, the solid line arrow X indicates the refrigerant circulation direction during the cooling operation, and the broken line arrow Y indicates the refrigerant circulation direction during the heating operation.

  For example, in the air conditioner 100 during cooling operation, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 passes through the four-way valve 2 and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 5 and dissipates heat by heat exchange with air. Condensed. Thereafter, the refrigerant undergoes isoenthalpy expansion by the cooling / heating throttle device 3 and flows into the indoor heat exchanger 4 as a gas-liquid two-phase flow in which gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant are mixed at low temperature and low pressure. Then, the liquid refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 4 is vaporized into a gaseous refrigerant by an endothermic action from the air through the refrigerant pipe 11 and fins (not shown) attached thereto. That is, when the liquid refrigerant is vaporized, the indoor heat exchanger 4 cools the surrounding air, so that the air conditioner 100 exhibits a cooling function.

  The refrigerant that has exited the indoor heat exchanger 4 returns to the compressor 1 and is compressed to high temperature and high pressure, and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 5 through the four-way valve 2. In the outdoor heat exchanger 5, it is liquefied into a liquid refrigerant through the refrigerant pipe 12 and fins (not shown) attached thereto. Then, it circulates through the cooling / heating throttle device 3 and the indoor heat exchanger 4. Such a circulation of the refrigerant is repeated to constitute a refrigeration cycle. In addition, although the above air conditioners 100 described the general structure, in applying this invention, it is not limited to the said structure.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the refrigerant distributor in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. Based on these drawings, the configuration of the refrigerant distributor according to the present embodiment will be described. The refrigerant distributor according to the present embodiment includes the refrigerant distributors 21 to 21 of the indoor heat exchanger 4 and the outdoor heat exchanger 5 into which a gas-liquid two-phase flow in which a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant are mixed flows according to an operation mode of cooling and heating. It is applied to at least one of 24. In the following description, the refrigerant distributor 21 will be described as a representative.

  The refrigerant distributor 21 of the present embodiment includes a header pipe 30, an inlet pipe 31 that sends a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant in which a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant are mixed into the header pipe 30, and a direction perpendicular to the inlet pipe 31. A plurality of refrigerant pipes 32 that are connected to one end side of the header pipe and flow out of the refrigerant are provided, and the refrigerant that has flowed into the header pipe 30 is distributed to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 32. ing.

  Fins (not shown) are connected to the refrigerant pipe 32. The header pipe 30, the inlet pipe 31, and the refrigerant pipe 32 are made of a metal material having a high thermal conductivity such as copper. The refrigerant pipe 32 is connected to one end side 43 of the header pipe 30 by brazing or welding so as to form a refrigerant flow path in the header pipe 30 therein.

  In the present embodiment, a refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 is provided at a connection portion between the inlet pipe 31 and the header pipe 30. The refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 biases the liquid refrigerant from the inlet pipe 31 to flow into the one end side 43 of the header pipe 30 to which the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected from above the header pipe 30. It is for making it happen. Therefore, the inlet pipe 31 and the header pipe 30 are connected via the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 so as to form a refrigerant flow path therein. In the present embodiment, the inlet pipe 31 is connected to the box body 35 of the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 on the opposite side of the header pipe 30 to the one end side 43 to which the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected. It is connected. That is, the inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 are arranged in a straight line when viewed from above.

  The refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 includes a box 35 disposed so as to surround the inflow portion to the header pipe 30 when viewed from above in the vertical direction, and the inlet pipe 31 is brazed to the box 35. Or it is connected by welding.

  In this embodiment, the upper end side of the header pipe 30 protrudes to the upper side of the box 35, and the header pipe 30 is also connected to the box 35 by brazing or welding. ing. An upper end portion of the header pipe 30 is an upper opening 33a that opens into the box body 35, and the one end side of the header pipe 30 protruding into the box body (the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected). The side 43) is also a side opening 33b provided with a notch. The upper opening 24 a and the side opening 33 b that open in the box 35 of the header pipe 30 will be referred to as an inlet opening 33.

  In this embodiment, the header pipe 30 protrudes into the box 35. However, the box body is such that the upper end of the header pipe 30 is flush with the bottom of the box 35. You may make it open in 35.

  36 is provided close to the inlet opening 33 of the header pipe 30 in the box body 35, and is connected to the one end side 43 to which the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected in the header pipe 30 from the inlet pipe 31. This is a flow direction control member for causing the liquid refrigerant to flow while being biased.

  The flow direction control member 36 is provided so as to surround the inlet opening 33 of the header pipe 30. An upper opening 37 a is formed on the upper end side of the flow direction control member 36, and the refrigerant pipe in the horizontal direction is formed. A side opening 37b is provided on the 32 side.

  The upper end of the upper opening 37a is configured to be located above the lower end of the inlet pipe 31, and the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing from the inlet pipe 31 into the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34. Of these, gaseous refrigerant mainly flows into the header pipe 30 from the upper opening 37a. In addition, liquid refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state that has flowed from the inlet pipe 31 into the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 is mainly guided to the flow direction control member 36 and the refrigerant pipe 32 in the horizontal direction. It flows into the inlet opening 33 side of the header pipe 30 from the side opening 37b provided on the side, and flows from here to the one end side 43 inside the header pipe 30 while being biased.

  The flow direction control member 36 is configured to extend from the inlet opening 33 of the header pipe 30 toward the refrigerant pipe 32 in the horizontal direction, and is in a gas-liquid two-phase state from the inlet pipe 31. Therefore, the liquid refrigerant is caused to flow in the direction opposite to the inlet pipe 31. As a result, the liquid refrigerant is separated from the gas refrigerant having a high flow velocity and is rectified as a relatively gentle flow, from the side opening 37b to the side opening 33b of the inlet opening 33 of the header pipe 30. Be guided.

  The flow direction control member 36 is made of a metal material similar to the pipe material such as the inlet pipe 31 and is formed by bending, pressing, cutting, or the like of a plate material, and the refrigerant flowing direction by a method such as brazing or welding. It is fixed to the control unit 34.

Next, the refrigerant flow in the refrigerant distributor 21 will be described.
A gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows from the inlet pipe 31 into the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34. Of the refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state, the gaseous refrigerant is guided to the flow direction control member 36 and flows mainly into the header pipe 30 from the upper opening 37a of the flow direction control member 36. Among the refrigerants in the gas-liquid two-phase state, the liquid refrigerant is mainly guided to the opposite side of the inlet pipe 31 by the flow direction control member 36 by the flow direction control member 36 due to the gravity action. After wrapping around to the side opening 37b side, it passes through the side opening 37b, flows into the header pipe 30 from the inlet opening 33, and is transmitted to the refrigerant pipe 32 side on the inner surface of the header pipe 30. Flow down.

  As for the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant in the inlet pipe 31, since the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant simultaneously flow in a narrow space, the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant is also increased due to the effect of the gas refrigerant having a high flow rate. When the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows into the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34, the flow passage area increases and gas refrigerant mainly flows from the upper opening 37a, so the vicinity of the side opening 37b. Then, the flow rate of the gas refrigerant is lowered, and the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant is also lowered.

  As a result, the liquid refrigerant flowing into the header pipe 30 from the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 is prevented from being separated at the inflow part to the header pipe 30, so that the refrigerant pipe 32 side of the inner surface of the header pipe 30 is It will be easy to flow down. As a result, the liquid refrigerant flows more on the inlet side wall surface of the refrigerant pipe 32 on the inner surface of the header pipe 30. The gaseous refrigerant flows in a range other than the range in which the liquid refrigerant flows in the header pipe 30 (the inlet side wall surface side of the refrigerant pipe 32).

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the liquid refrigerant is sufficiently distributed also to the refrigerant pipe 32 connected to the upper part of the header pipe 30, and the distribution bias of the refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 32 is improved. can do. At the same time, it is also suppressed that the liquid refrigerant flows down the inner surface of the header pipe 30 without being distributed to the refrigerant pipe 32 and easily accumulates in the lower part of the header pipe 30.

  2 and 3, the header pipe 30 is installed in the vertical direction. However, the header pipe 30 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 32, that is, the refrigerant pipe 32 has a refrigerant. It may be installed at an angle of θ with respect to the vertical direction in the direction of the inlet where the water flows.

FIG. 4 shows the inclination angle θ of the header pipe 30 and the amount of liquid refrigerant distributed to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 32 when the inlet pipe 31 is directly connected to the header pipe 30 without providing the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34. It is a diagram which shows the relationship (numerical simulation result) with the relative variation degree.
As shown in FIG. 3, by tilting the header pipe 30 toward the side to which the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected, the header pipe has an inclination angle θ of at least 10% in the range of 10 ° to 90 °. It was found that the effect of reducing the relative variation of the distribution amount can be obtained.

  A specific example applying the result shown in FIG. 4 will be described in detail in Example 6 to be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a view showing a refrigerant distributor according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. In FIG. 5, the parts denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the same or corresponding parts. The description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted, and different parts will be mainly described.

  In the first embodiment, the inlet pipe 31 is connected to the box body 35 of the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 on the opposite side to the one end side 43 to which the refrigerant pipe 32 of the header pipe 30 is connected. That is, the example in which the inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 are arranged in a straight line when viewed from above is described. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the inlet pipe 31 connected to the box body 35 of the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 has the inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 as viewed from above. Are installed so as to intersect at a predetermined angle (90 ° in this example). Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant distributor 21 of the second embodiment configured as described above will be described.
The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that has flowed into the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 from the inlet pipe 31 is guided to the flow direction control member 36 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and mainly the flow direction control member 36. Flows into the header pipe 30 from the upper opening 37a (see FIG. 2). Further, the liquid refrigerant is guided mainly by the flow direction control member 36 on the bottom side in the box 35 and flows. In the present embodiment, when viewed from the vertical direction, the inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 are not arranged linearly, and the inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 are installed at an angle of 90 °. Therefore, the liquid refrigerant is divided into a clockwise flow and a counterclockwise flow. Although the flow distance differs between the clockwise flow and the counterclockwise flow, finally, the flow travels toward the side opening 37b provided on the refrigerant pipe 32 side in the horizontal direction of the flow direction control member 36 and merges. It passes through the side opening 37b of the lever, flows into the header pipe 30 from the inlet opening 33 of the header pipe 30, and flows down along the refrigerant pipe 32 side of the inner surface of the header pipe 30.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state flows into the refrigerant flow direction control section 34 from the inlet pipe 31, the flow path area increases and the gas refrigerant mainly forms the upper opening. Since it flows in from 37a, the flow rate of a gaseous refrigerant | coolant falls in the side opening part 37b vicinity, and the flow rate of a liquid refrigerant | coolant also falls. Thereby, the liquid refrigerant flowing into the header pipe 30 from the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 is suppressed from being separated at the inflow part to the header pipe 30 and flows down along the refrigerant pipe 32 side on the inner surface of the header pipe 30. Accordingly, the liquid refrigerant flows more to the inlet side wall surface of the refrigerant pipe 32 on the inner surface of the header pipe 30, and the liquid refrigerant is sufficiently distributed also to the refrigerant pipe 32 connected to the upper part of the header pipe 30. The distribution distribution of the refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant tubes 32 can be improved.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained, and it is effective when the inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 cannot be arranged linearly.

  In the second embodiment, an example in which the inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 are installed at an angle of 90 ° has been described. However, the inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 have an angle of 90 °. This embodiment is not limited to the case where the angle is formed, and the present embodiment is implemented even when the inlet pipe 31 is connected to the refrigerant flow direction control unit 25 so that the inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 intersect at an angle other than 90 °. Examples can be applied as well.

  Embodiment 3 of the refrigerant distributor according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerant distributor according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the parts denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the same or corresponding parts, and the description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment is omitted, and different parts are mainly described. To do.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the upper end portion side of the header pipe 30 protrudes to the upper inside of the box body 35 of the refrigerant flow direction control section 34, and the header pipe 30 The upper end portion is an upper opening 33 a that opens into the box 35. Also in this embodiment, the one end side (side to which the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected) 43 of the portion of the header pipe 30 protruding into the box 35 is also provided with a notch, and a side opening 33b is opened. It has become.

  In the third embodiment, the protrusion 38 is provided at the lower side of the side opening 33b provided at the side opening 33b in the inlet opening 33 to the header pipe 30, that is, one end side 43 to which the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected. It is provided. The protrusion 38 protrudes above the bottom surface of the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant distributor 21 of the third embodiment is also substantially the same as that of the first embodiment described above. Among the refrigerants in the gas-liquid two-phase state flowing from the inlet pipe 31 to the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34, the gas The refrigerant is guided to the flow direction control member 36 and flows mainly from the upper opening 37 a to the header pipe 30. The liquid refrigerant flows while being guided by the flow direction control member 36 on the bottom side in the box 35.

  In the present embodiment, since the protrusion 38 is provided below the side opening 33b into which the liquid refrigerant flows into the header tube 30, the liquid refrigerant is once blocked by the height of the protrusion 38. Thereby, a certain amount of liquid refrigerant is pooled on the bottom side of the box body 35 of the refrigerant flow direction control unit 35, and when the pooled liquid refrigerant flowing from the inlet pipe 31 exceeds the height of the protrusion 38, Since the liquid flows over the protrusion 38 and flows into the header pipe 30, the liquid refrigerant flows more on the wall surface of the header pipe 30 on the inlet side of the refrigerant pipe 32.

  Accordingly, the liquid refrigerant is also distributed to the refrigerant pipe 32 connected to the upper part of the header pipe 30, and the distribution bias of the refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 32 can be improved. Further, it is possible to suppress the liquid refrigerant from flowing down the inner surface of the header pipe 30 without being distributed to the refrigerant pipe 32 and accumulating in the lower part of the header pipe 30.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the flow rate fluctuation of the liquid refrigerant is mitigated by the pool effect of the liquid refrigerant, and the horizontal flow velocity of the liquid refrigerant is reduced in the vicinity of the inlet opening 33 to the header pipe by the protrusion 38. . For this reason, a large amount of liquid refrigerant flowing into the header pipe 30 can stably flow through the wall surface of the header pipe 30 on the inlet side of the refrigerant pipe 32.

  Embodiment 4 of the refrigerant distributor according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 is a sectional view of a refrigerant distributor according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the parts denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the same or corresponding parts. The description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment is omitted, and different parts are mainly described. To do.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the upper end portion side of the header pipe 30 protrudes to the upper inside of the box body 35 of the refrigerant flow direction control section 34, and the header pipe 30 The upper end is an upper opening 33a. The one end side (side to which the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected) 43 of the header pipe 30 protruding into the box 35 is a side opening 33b.

  In the fourth embodiment, the refrigerant flows in the inlet opening 33 to the header pipe 30 at the connection part between the box 35 and the header pipe 30 of the flow direction control part 34 from the side opening 37b of the flow direction control member 36. A vertical guide wall 39 is provided so as to collide with the flow of liquid refrigerant. The guide wall 39 is attached to the header pipe 30 by brazing or welding. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant distributor 21 of the fourth embodiment is also substantially the same as that of the first embodiment described above. Of the refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state that has flowed from the inlet pipe 31 to the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34, the gas The refrigerant is guided to the flow direction control member 36 and flows mainly from the upper opening 37a thereof to the header pipe 30, and the liquid refrigerant is guided to the flow direction control member 36 on the bottom side in the box 35.

  In the present embodiment, the guide wall 39 in the vertical direction is provided at the inlet opening 33 to the header pipe 30 so as to collide with the flow of the liquid refrigerant flowing from the side opening 37b of the flow direction control member 36. Therefore, the horizontal flow rate of the liquid refrigerant flowing into the header pipe 30 can be suppressed, and more liquid refrigerant flows on the wall surface of the header pipe 30 on the inlet side of the refrigerant pipe 32.

  Therefore, also in the present embodiment, the liquid refrigerant is distributed to the refrigerant pipe 32 connected to the upper part of the header pipe 30, and the distribution bias of the refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 32 can be improved. Further, it is possible to suppress the liquid refrigerant from flowing down the inner surface of the header pipe 30 without being distributed to the refrigerant pipe 32 and accumulating in the lower part of the header pipe 30.

Embodiment 5 of the refrigerant distributor of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerant distributor according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG.
10 and 11, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the same or corresponding parts, and the description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment is omitted, and different parts are mainly described. To do.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the upper end portion side of the header pipe 30 protrudes to the upper inside of the box body 35 of the refrigerant flow direction control section 34, and the header pipe 30 The upper end is an upper opening 33a. The one end side (side to which the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected) 43 of the header pipe 30 protruding into the box 35 is a side opening 33b. In the present embodiment, the header pipe 30 is inserted into the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34 so as not to exceed the upper end of the flow direction control member 36.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the side opening 33b provided in the portion of the header pipe 30 protruding into the box 35 is only near the bottom surface of the box 35 of the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34. It is formed as a through hole. Accordingly, the upper side in the vertical direction of the side opening 33b is configured as a wall surface.

  The refrigerant flow in the refrigerant distributor 21 of the fifth embodiment is also substantially the same as that of the first embodiment described above. Of the refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state that has flowed from the inlet pipe 31 into the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34, the gas The refrigerant is guided to the flow direction control member 36 and flows mainly from the upper opening 37 a to the header pipe 30. However, in this embodiment, since the upper side in the vertical direction of the side opening 33b having a through hole is a wall surface, the upper opening 37a is formed only by the upper opening 33a at the upper end of the header pipe 30. It functions as a flow path for the gaseous refrigerant. Therefore, the gas refrigerant flowing into the header pipe 30 from the upper opening 33a has a wall surface on the upper side in the vertical direction of the side opening 33b, so that the longitudinal direction of the header pipe 30 is near the side opening 33b. The flow of the gaseous refrigerant is rectified along.

  As for the liquid refrigerant, the flow direction control unit 35 is guided by the flow direction control member 36 on the bottom side in the box 35, and the side opening 37b and the side opening 33b of the flow direction control member 36 are flown. To the header pipe 30. The liquid refrigerant that has flowed into the header pipe 30 from the side opening 33 collides with the flow of the gaseous refrigerant that is rectified along the longitudinal direction of the header pipe 30, and the liquid refrigerant contains the liquid refrigerant in the header pipe 30. A pressing force acts on the wall surface on the inlet side of the refrigerant pipe 32. This promotes the effect that more liquid refrigerant flows through the wall surface of the header pipe 30 on the inlet side of the refrigerant pipe 32.

  Therefore, also in the present embodiment, the liquid refrigerant is distributed to the refrigerant pipe 32 connected to the upper part of the header pipe 30, and the distribution bias of the refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 32 can be improved. Further, it is possible to suppress the liquid refrigerant from flowing down the inner surface of the header pipe 30 without being distributed to the refrigerant pipe 32 and accumulating in the lower part of the header pipe 30. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the side opening 33b is formed as a through hole, the effect of facilitating the manufacture of the side opening 33b can be obtained.

  Embodiment 6 of the refrigerant distributor according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerant distributor according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. In FIGS. 12 and 13, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the same or corresponding parts, and the description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted and different parts will be mainly described. To do.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the header pipe 30 and the inlet pipe 31 are connected via the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34. However, in this embodiment, the upper end portion of the header pipe 30 is connected so as to be flush with the bottom surface of the box body 35 of the refrigerant flow direction control section 34, and the upper end side of the header pipe 30 is the box body 35. It is not the structure which protruded to the upper part inside. Accordingly, the upper end portion of the header pipe 30 is an inlet opening 33 to the header pipe 30.

  In the box 35 of the refrigerant flow direction control unit 34, a flow direction control member 36 similar to that of the first embodiment is provided so as to surround the inlet opening 33 as shown in FIG. It is fixed to the body 35. An upper opening 37a is formed on the upper end side of the flow direction control member 36, and a side opening 37b is provided on the refrigerant pipe 32 side in the horizontal direction.

  Further, in this embodiment, the header pipe 30 is angled with respect to the vertical direction toward the one end side 43 to which the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected, that is, in the inlet direction where the refrigerant flows into the refrigerant pipe 32. It is installed at an angle of θ. That is, the header pipe 30 is configured such that the upper side in the vertical direction of the header pipe 30 is inclined to one end side 43 to which the refrigerant pipe 32 is connected.

  By arranging the header pipe 30 so as to be inclined in this way, the liquid refrigerant flowing inside the header pipe 30 flows more and more on the wall surface of the header pipe 30 on the inlet side of the refrigerant pipe 32. . As a result, the liquid refrigerant is also distributed to the refrigerant pipe 32 connected to the upper part of the header pipe 30, so that the liquid refrigerant flows down the inner surface of the header pipe 30 and accumulates in the lower part of the header pipe 30. It is suppressed and the deviation of the refrigerant distribution to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 32 can be improved.

  The relationship (numerical simulation result) between the inclination angle θ of the header pipe 31 and the relative variation degree of the liquid refrigerant distribution amount to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 32 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment. Here, the relative variation degree is defined as a standard deviation of the refrigerant distribution ratio to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 32. It shows that a refrigerant | coolant is equally distributed to the some refrigerant | coolant pipe | tube 32, so that a relative variation degree is small.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the effect of reducing the relative variation degree of the refrigerant distribution amount of at least 10% or more in the range where the inclination angle θ of the header pipe is 10 ° or more and 90 ° or less could be confirmed. Therefore, it is preferable that the header tube inclination angle θ is 10 ° or more and 90 ° or less.

  Here, considering the amount of reduction in the relative variation degree of the refrigerant distribution amount, the relative variation degree is more preferably 50% or less. Therefore, from such a viewpoint, it is more preferable that the header tube inclination angle θ is 30 ° or more and 50 ° or less.

  On the other hand, when the header tube inclination angle θ is 45 ° or more, the relative variation degree of the refrigerant distribution amount increases. Further, as the inclination angle θ of the header pipe increases, a larger installation area is required. Accordingly, the header tube inclination angle θ is preferably 45 ° or less (if the same effect can be obtained, the header tube inclination angle θ is preferably as small as possible, for example, at 30 ° and 50 ° where the relative variation is the same 50%. If so, 30 ° is more preferable.) Therefore, from such a viewpoint, the header tube inclination angle θ is more preferably 10 ° or more and 45 ° or less.

  Furthermore, in consideration of the effect of reducing the relative variation degree of the refrigerant distribution amount (variation degree 50% or less) and the installation area, the inclination angle θ of the header pipe is most preferably 30 ° or more and 45 ° or less.

  According to each embodiment of the present invention described above, the refrigerant flow direction for biasing the liquid refrigerant from the inlet pipe to flow from above the header pipe to the one end side to which the refrigerant pipe is connected inside the header pipe. Since the control unit is provided, a refrigerant distributor that can stably distribute the refrigerant to each refrigerant pipe while suppressing an increase in cost under flow rate conditions from the rated operation condition to the low rotation operation condition is obtained. In addition, there is an effect that a refrigeration cycle apparatus using the refrigerant distributor can be obtained. That is, even when the refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state is operated under the condition of flowing into the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger, without increasing the size of these heat exchangers, from the header pipe to each refrigerant pipe, The refrigerant can be distributed with reduced flow rate variation.

In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described Example, Various modifications are included. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a domestic air conditioner as a refrigeration cycle apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various refrigeration such as a commercial air conditioner, a heat pump water heater, and a refrigerator can be used. The same applies to the cycle apparatus.
Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described.

1: compressor, 2: four-way valve, 3: air conditioner throttle device,
4: Indoor heat exchanger, 5: Outdoor heat exchanger,
11, 12: refrigerant pipe,
14: Refrigerant piping,
21-24: Refrigerant distributor,
30: Header pipe, 31: Inlet pipe, 32: Refrigerant pipe,
33: entrance opening, 33a: upper opening, 33b: side opening,
34: Refrigerant flow direction control unit, 35: Box
36: flow direction control member, 37a: upper opening, 37b: side opening,
38: protrusion, 39: guide wall,
100: Home air conditioner (refrigeration cycle apparatus).

Claims (13)

A header pipe, an inlet pipe for sending refrigerant to the header pipe, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes vertically below the inlet pipe and connected to one end side of the header pipe, A refrigerant distributor that distributes the refrigerant flowing into the plurality of refrigerant pipes,
A refrigerant distributor, characterized in that liquid refrigerant from the inlet pipe is biased to flow from above the header pipe to the one end side to which the refrigerant pipe is connected inside the header pipe. A header pipe, an inlet pipe for sending refrigerant to the header pipe, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes vertically below the inlet pipe and connected to one end side of the header pipe, A refrigerant distributor that distributes the refrigerant flowing into the plurality of refrigerant pipes,
A refrigerant flow direction control unit for biasing liquid refrigerant from the inlet pipe to flow from above the header pipe is provided on the one end side to which the refrigerant pipe is connected inside the header pipe. Refrigerant distributor. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 2, wherein
The refrigerant flow direction control part is provided at a connection part between the inlet pipe and the header pipe,
The refrigerant flow direction control unit includes a box body that is disposed so as to surround the inflow portion to the header pipe as viewed from above in the vertical direction and to which the inlet pipe is connected,
The upper end side of the header pipe has an inlet opening that opens in the box,
A flow direction control member is provided near the inlet opening of the header pipe in the box, and has a flow direction control member for biasing and flowing the liquid refrigerant from the inlet pipe at the one end side inside the header pipe. Features refrigerant distributor. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 3, wherein
The flow direction control member is provided so as to surround the inlet opening of the header pipe, and an upper opening is formed on the upper end side in the vertical direction, and on the refrigerant pipe side in the horizontal direction. A side opening is provided, and among the refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state from the inlet pipe, mainly gas refrigerant flows into the header pipe from the upper opening, and mainly liquid refrigerant A refrigerant distributor, characterized in that the refrigerant distributor is caused to flow while being biased toward the one end side in the header pipe from the inlet opening of the header pipe through the opening. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 4, wherein
The upper opening of the flow direction control member is configured to be positioned above the lower end of the inlet pipe, and the inlet pipe is connected to the one end side of the header pipe to which the refrigerant pipe is connected. A refrigerant distributor, wherein the refrigerant distributor is connected to a portion of the refrigerant flow direction control section on the opposite side to the above. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 4, wherein
The flow direction control member is configured to extend from the inlet opening of the header pipe toward the refrigerant pipe in the horizontal direction so that the liquid refrigerant is separated from the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant from the inlet pipe. The refrigerant distributor is configured to be guided to the inlet opening of the header pipe. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 4, wherein
The refrigerant distributor, wherein the inlet pipe connected to the refrigerant flow direction control unit is installed so that the inlet pipe and the refrigerant pipe intersect at a predetermined angle when viewed from above. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 4, wherein
The upper end portion of the header pipe is projected to the upper part inside the box of the refrigerant flow direction control section, the upper end of the header pipe is provided with an upper opening, and the one end of the header pipe in the portion protruding into the box body. A side opening is provided on the side (the side to which the refrigerant pipe is connected), and a protrusion is provided at a lower portion of the side opening, and the protrusion protrudes above the bottom surface of the refrigerant flow direction control unit. A refrigerant distributor characterized by that. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 4, wherein
Vertically so as to collide with the flow of the liquid refrigerant flowing in from the side opening of the flow direction control member to the inlet opening to the header pipe at the connection portion between the box of the refrigerant flow direction control unit and the header pipe. A refrigerant distributor characterized in that a direction guide wall is provided. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 4, wherein
The upper end portion of the header pipe is projected to the upper part inside the box of the refrigerant flow direction control section, the upper end of the header pipe is provided with an upper opening, and the one end of the header pipe in the portion protruding into the box body. A side opening is provided on the side (the side to which the refrigerant pipe is connected), and this side opening is formed as a through hole only in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the box body, and the vertical upper side of the side opening is a wall surface It is comprised in the refrigerant distributor characterized by the above-mentioned. A header pipe, an inlet pipe for sending refrigerant to the header pipe, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes vertically below the inlet pipe and connected to one end side of the header pipe, A refrigerant distributor that distributes the refrigerant flowing into the plurality of refrigerant pipes,
A refrigerant flow direction control unit for biasing the liquid refrigerant from the inlet pipe to flow from above the header pipe on the one end side to which the refrigerant pipe is connected inside the header pipe,
Furthermore, the header pipe is arranged on the one end side to which the refrigerant pipe is connected so that the upper side in the vertical direction of the header pipe is inclined.   The refrigerant distributor according to claim 11, wherein an angle formed by the header pipe and the vertical direction is 10 ° or more and 45 ° or less.   A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising the refrigerant distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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