JP6797675B2 - Oil separator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to, for example, an oil separator that separates oil from a refrigerant discharged from a compressor.

This type of oil separator includes a cylindrical container, an introduction pipe that is provided through the side wall of the container and introduces an oil-containing refrigerant so as to swirl along the inner peripheral surface of the container, and a container. Some are provided so as to penetrate the upper wall and are provided with a refrigerant outlet pipe for leading out the refrigerant after the oil is separated.

In such an oil separator, Patent Document 1 states that the outer diameter d of the introduction pipe and the outer diameter D of the container satisfy 0.40 ≦ d / D ≦ 0.44 in order to improve the separation efficiency. What is configured in is disclosed.

However, the inventor of the present application has found that the above-described configuration has not sufficiently solved the problem of improving the separation efficiency.
As a result of diligent examination to find out the cause, as shown in FIG. 16, most of the refrigerant introduced from the introduction pipe swirls on the inner peripheral surface of the container, but a part flows in the direction opposite to the swivel direction. It turned out that.

Therefore, the inventor of the present application paid attention to the separation distance between the introduction port and the outer peripheral surface of the refrigerant outlet pipe, and further studied a configuration for improving the separation efficiency. As a result, a peculiarity was found between the separation distance and the separation efficiency. I found it related for the first time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-202876

The present invention has been made by the above-mentioned diligent study of the inventor of the present application, and an object of the present invention is to provide an oil separator having higher separation efficiency than the conventional one.

That is, the oil separator according to the present invention separates oil from the oil-containing refrigerant, and has a container having an inner peripheral surface having a circular cross section orthogonal to the central axis and the oil-containing refrigerant in the container. From the introduction pipe provided through the side wall of the container and the introduction port so as to have an introduction port for introducing the oil-containing refrigerant and to allow the oil-containing refrigerant to flow from above to below while rotating along the inner peripheral surface. Also has a outlet for leading out the separated refrigerant after the oil has been separated from the container, and has a refrigerant outlet pipe extending upward along the central axis from the outlet.
Then, in a cross section including the tube axis of the introduction tube and orthogonal to the central axis, the tip end portion of the introduction tube sandwiching the tube axis is located on a first virtual plane parallel to the central axis. The separation distance between the first virtual plane and the virtual second plane parallel to the first virtual plane and in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the refrigerant outlet pipe is 0.32 times or more the inner diameter of the introduction pipe. It is a feature.

With the oil separator configured in this way, the separation distance between the first virtual plane and the second virtual plane is 0.32 times or more the inner diameter of the introduction pipe, so that a part of the refrigerant is used as in the conventional case. Can be prevented from flowing in the direction opposite to the turning direction, and the separation efficiency can be improved as compared with the conventional case. Specific experimental data will be described later.

In order to more reliably swirl the refrigerant introduced from the introduction port along the inner peripheral surface, the first virtual plane is tilted with respect to the plane orthogonal to the pipe axis, and the introduction port is the said. It is preferable that the refrigerant outlet pipe is formed so as to face the outer peripheral surface.

Here, in the conventional oil separator, in order to prevent the oil-containing refrigerant from being led out from the refrigerant outlet pipe before the oil is separated, the refrigerant outlet pipe is sufficiently long and extends below the container. I am doing it.
However, when the oil separator is miniaturized, there arises a problem that the refrigerant and the oil cannot be sufficiently separated in the conventional configuration described above.
As a result of diligent studies by the inventor of the present application on this problem, it was found that the cause is as follows.
That is, if a small container is used to reduce the size of the oil separator, the distance from the outlet of the refrigerant outlet pipe to the inner peripheral surface of the container becomes shorter. Therefore, the refrigerant outlet pipe is used as a container as in the conventional case. In the configuration extending downward, as the refrigerant swirls around the inner peripheral surface of the container, the swivel direction gradually changes downward, and when the oil-containing refrigerant reaches the vicinity of the outlet of the refrigerant outlet pipe, it is centrifuged. This is because the force is reduced and the separated oil separates from the inner peripheral surface and flows into the outlet.

Therefore, the oil separator according to the present invention separates oil from the oil-containing refrigerant, and has a container having an inner peripheral surface having a circular cross section orthogonal to the central axis and the oil-containing refrigerant in the container. From the introduction pipe provided through the side wall of the container and the introduction port so as to have an introduction port for introducing the oil-containing refrigerant and to allow the oil-containing refrigerant to flow from above to below while rotating along the inner peripheral surface. Also has a outlet for leading out the separated refrigerant after the oil has been separated from the container, and has a refrigerant outlet pipe extending upward along the central axis from the outlet. The height from the outlet to the center of the introduction port is 3.0 times or more and 4.5 times or less the inner diameter of the introduction pipe.

With the above configuration, the height from the outlet to the center of the introduction port is 3.0 times or more the inner diameter of the introduction pipe, so the oil-containing refrigerant introduced from the introduction pipe is the inner peripheral surface of the container. The oil separates by the time it orbits along and reaches the height of the outlet. Moreover, since the height from the outlet to the center of the inlet is 4.5 times or less of the inner diameter of the inlet, the oil that reaches the height of the outlet maintains the flow velocity that orbits the inner peripheral surface. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the oil from separating from the inner peripheral surface and flowing into the outlet.

As a configuration for further improving the separation efficiency, the refrigerant outlet pipe is provided coaxially with the central axis, and the distance between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the refrigerant outlet pipe is the distance between the refrigerant outlet pipe and the refrigerant outlet pipe. Examples thereof include a configuration in which the inner diameter of the pipe is 1.0 times or more and 2.0 times or less.
Specific experimental data on these configurations will be described later.

Even if the amount of oil-containing refrigerant discharged is increased or decreased to some extent depending on the size of the compressor, the inner diameter of the introduction pipe is 0.16 times or more the inner diameter of the container so as not to reduce the separation efficiency. It is preferably 0.44 times or less.
If the inner diameter of the introduction pipe is smaller than 0.16 times the inner diameter of the container, the pressure loss is large and the separation efficiency is reduced, and if it is larger than 0.44 times the inner diameter of the container, the introduction pipe approaches the center of the container. The oil-containing refrigerant is less likely to swirl, and the separation efficiency is reduced.

The inner diameter of the introduction pipe is 9.5 mm or more and 22.4 mm or less, and in a cross section including the central axis of the container and orthogonal to the pipe axis of the introduction pipe, from the pipe shaft to the pipe shaft. The separation distance to the inner peripheral surface on the side opposite to the central axis is preferably 10.6 mm or more and 13.2 mm or less.
If the distance between the pipe shaft of the introduction pipe and the inner peripheral surface of the container is within the above range, the oil-containing refrigerant can be reliably swirled.

The container has a cylindrical main body portion and an upper tapered portion provided on the upper portion of the main body portion and gradually reducing the diameter upward, from the upper end of the main body portion to the pipe axis of the introduction pipe. It is preferable that the height dimension of is equal to or less than the height dimension of the upper tapered portion.
With such a configuration, oil is less likely to stay above the introduction pipe, and the separation efficiency can be further improved.

The container has a cylindrical main body portion and a lower tapered portion provided in the lower part of the main body portion and gradually reducing the diameter downward and storing the separated oil, and the refrigerant outlet pipe. It is preferable that the outlet of the above is provided above the lower tapered portion.
With such a configuration, even if the stored oil is scattered due to the oil flowing into the lower taper portion, the outlet is provided above the lower taper portion, so that the scattered oil can be scattered. It can be made difficult to flow into the outlet.

The introduction pipe is provided at a tip portion that penetrates the side wall of the container with the introduction port formed, and at the upstream side of the tip portion, and at the rear end portion that is curved from the tip portion and extends upward. It is preferable to have.
With such a configuration, the rear end is curved from the tip and extends upward, so the oil flowing along the inner peripheral surface in the introduction pipe is lowered by centrifugal force at the curved part of the rear end. It will flow biased to the side.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the oil from being introduced upward from the introduction port into the container, and it is possible to prevent the oil from staying above the introduction pipe.

In order to prevent the separated oil from scattering, an oil scattering prevention plate is provided at the lower part of the container to partition the inside of the container up and down, and an oil passage port for passing the separated oil from above to below is formed. It is preferable to further include.

It is preferable that the oil splash prevention plate has an outer peripheral portion in the shape of a disk along the inner peripheral surface of the container, and a plurality of the oil passage ports are formed on the outer peripheral portion.
In such a case, the separated oil can flow downward from the oil passage port along the inner peripheral surface of the container, and the oil can be more reliably prevented from scattering.

As described above, the oil separator according to the present invention is smaller than the conventional one, and therefore the weight is also reduced accordingly.
Therefore, the oil separator according to the present invention constitutes an outdoor unit by accommodating it in a casing together with a compressor and an accumulator, and includes a mounting portion to be mounted on a mounted portion provided on another member. Is preferable.

With such a configuration, by attaching the mounting portion to the mounted portion, the oil separator can be mounted on another member without being mounted on the bottom plate of the casing.
This eliminates the need for, for example, the legs of the oil separator, improves the degree of freedom in arranging the compressor, accumulator, etc., and by arranging them at positions that are unlikely to resist the air passing through the casing. , The air volume of the outdoor unit increases and the condensation performance improves. As a result, the high pressure reduction effect and the input reduction effect of the compressor can be obtained, and high efficiency can be achieved.

As a specific configuration of the oil separator for eliminating the need for legs, it is preferable that the mounting portion is held in a state of being mounted on the mounted portion and floating from the bottom plate of the casing.

As a more specific embodiment, there is a configuration in which the attached portion is provided on the accumulator and can be attached to and detached from the accumulator.

Further, the outdoor unit according to the present invention is an outdoor unit provided with the above-mentioned oil separator and blows air upward from a pair of air outlets formed on the top plate of the casing, and the accumulator is viewed from above. , It is characterized in that it is arranged so as to overlap the center line of the pair of air outlets.

Further, the outdoor unit according to the present invention is an outdoor unit provided with the above-mentioned oil separator and blows air upward from a pair of outlets formed on the top plate of the casing, and is a pair of the above when viewed from above. The compressors are characterized in that they are arranged close to each other while sandwiching the center lines of the pair of air outlets.

In such an outdoor unit, since the accumulator and the pair of compressors are arranged at positions where it is unlikely to become a blower resistance, it is possible to obtain an increase in air volume, a high pressure reduction effect, and an input reduction effect of the compressor.

Moreover, the outdoor unit according to the present invention is an outdoor unit provided with the above-mentioned oil separator and blowing air upward from a single outlet formed on the top plate of the casing, wherein the oil separator is the accumulator. It is characterized in that they are attached to the casing and arranged according to the position of the heat exchanger provided in the casing.

In such an outdoor unit, the accumulator and the oil separator are arranged according to the position of the heat exchanger, so that the degree of freedom of arrangement can be improved while reducing the air resistance to the heat exchanger. Can be done.

According to the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to provide an oil separator having higher separation efficiency than the conventional one.

The circuit diagram which shows typically the refrigerant circuit in this embodiment. The figure which shows typically the structure of the oil separator of the same embodiment. The cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the oil separator of the same embodiment. The cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the oil separator of the same embodiment. Experimental data showing the effect of the oil separator of the same embodiment. The result of simulating the flow of the oil-containing refrigerant of the oil separator of the same embodiment. Experimental data showing the effect of the oil separator of the same embodiment. Experimental data showing the effect of the oil separator of the same embodiment. Experimental data showing the effect of the oil separator of the same embodiment. The figure which shows typically the state which the outdoor unit provided with the oil separator of the same embodiment was seen from the front. The figure which shows typically the state which looked at the outdoor unit provided with the oil separator of the same embodiment from above. The figure which shows typically the structure of the oil separator of another embodiment. The figure which shows typically the structure of the oil separator of another embodiment. The figure which shows typically the structure of the oil separator of another embodiment. The figure which shows typically the state which looked at the outdoor unit provided with the oil separator of another embodiment from above. The result of simulating the flow of oil-containing refrigerant in a conventional oil separator.

An embodiment of the oil separator according to the present invention will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the oil separator 100 of the present embodiment constitutes, for example, a refrigerant circuit 200 of an air conditioner together with a compressor C, an accumulator A, and the like, and is arranged on the downstream side of the compressor C. The oil is separated from the oil-containing refrigerant (hereinafter, also referred to as oil-containing refrigerant) discharged from the compressor C.
In more detail, this product uses centrifugal force to centrifuge the oil from the oil-containing refrigerant, and the refrigerant after the oil is separated (hereinafter, also referred to as the separated refrigerant) is led out to, for example, a heat exchanger (not shown). , The separated oil is configured to be returned to the compressor C again.
The refrigerant circuit 200 connects the oil separator 100 and the compressor C, and has a return pipe B for returning the separated oil to the compressor C and a capillary pipe T provided in the return pipe B. It is configured so that almost all of the separated oil flows through the capillary pipe T and returns to the compressor C.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the oil separator 100 has a container 10 having a separation space S for separating oil from the oil-containing refrigerant, and the oil-containing refrigerant in the container 10. It includes an introduction pipe 20 to be introduced, a refrigerant outlet pipe 30 that draws out the separated refrigerant from the container 10, and an oil outlet pipe 40 that draws out the separated oil from the container 10.
Each part will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the container 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape with an upper end and a lower end open, and here, the main body portion 11 having an equal cross-sectional shape and the main body portion 11 provided above the main body portion 11 are provided upward. It has an upper tapered portion 12 that gradually reduces the diameter, and a lower tapered portion 13 that is provided in the lower part of the main body 11 and gradually reduces the diameter downward and stores the separated oil.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the container 10 has an inner peripheral surface 14 having a circular cross section orthogonal to the central axis O1, and the separated space S is formed by the inner peripheral surface 14. The oil-containing refrigerant is configured to flow from above to below while swirling on the inner peripheral surface 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the introduction pipe 20 introduces the oil-containing refrigerant into the container 10 so as to swirl along the inner peripheral surface 14 of the container 10, and introduces the side wall 15 of the container 10 into the container 10. It is provided through. The introduction pipe 20 of the present embodiment penetrates below the upper tapered portion 12, more specifically, the upper end portion of the main body portion 11, and is provided so that the pipe axis O2 is orthogonal to the central axis O1 of the container 10. Has been done.

Specifically, the introduction pipe 20 is a cylindrical pipe having a circular cross section having an introduction port 21 for introducing the oil-containing refrigerant into the container 10, and the introduction port 21 is formed and the tip penetrating the side wall 15 is formed. It has a portion 22 and a rear end portion 23 that is continuously provided on the upstream side of the tip portion 22 and that is curved in the height direction from the tip portion 22 and extends upward.

More specifically, in the introduction pipe 20, the pipe shaft O2 of the tip portion 22 and the central shaft O1 of the container 10 are discharged so that the oil-containing refrigerant is discharged from the introduction port 21 along the tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface 14. The pipe axis O2 is provided so as to be offset from the central axis O1 so as not to intersect. Here, the pipe axis O2 is orthogonal to the central axis O1, and the angle θ formed by the pipe shaft O2 of the tip portion 22 and the pipe shaft O3 of the straight portion at the rear end portion 23 is approximately 90 degrees. ing. The angle θ formed may be appropriately changed as long as it is larger than 0 degrees and smaller than 180 degrees.

In the present embodiment, the first portion 20a of the introduction pipe 20 sandwiching the pipe shaft O2 is parallel to the central axis O1 in a cross section including the pipe axis O2 of the introduction pipe 20 and orthogonal to the central axis O1 of the container. It is located on a virtual plane.
More specifically, the introduction port 21 is formed on a first virtual plane X1 parallel to the central axis O1 of the container 10, and the introduction pipe 20 faces the outer peripheral surface 31 of the refrigerant discharge pipe 30. The opening is inclined with respect to the plane orthogonal to the pipe axis O2.

The refrigerant outlet pipe 30 allows the refrigerant to flow from the bottom to the top after separation, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the refrigerant outlet pipe 30 is inserted into the upper end opening of the container 10 (not shown) without play and is coaxial with the central axis O1 of the container 10. It is provided above.
Specifically, this is a cylindrical tube having an equal cross-sectional shape whose outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the container 10, and has an outlet 32 which is located inside the container 10 and into which the refrigerant flows after separation.
The outlet 32 is provided at a predetermined distance from the upper end of the container 10, and here, the volume of the container 10 below the outlet 32 is set to 0.6 L or less.
Further, in the present embodiment, the outlet 32 is provided so as to be located above the above-mentioned lower tapered portion 13, that is, above the lower end of the main body portion 11, whereby the lower tapered portion 13 is provided. Even if the oil stored in the container is scattered, the oil is prevented from flowing into the outlet 32.

The oil outlet pipe 40 derives the oil accumulated in the lower tapered portion 13 of the container 10 from the inside of the container 10, and is provided in the lower tapered portion 13 as shown in FIG.
Specifically, this is a cylindrical tube having an equal cross-section that is fitted into a lower end opening (not shown) formed on the bottom wall of the container 10 without play.

As shown in FIG. 3, the oil separator 100 of the present embodiment has a first virtual plane X1 and a second virtual plane parallel to the first virtual plane X1 and in contact with the outer peripheral surface 31 of the refrigerant discharge pipe 30. The separation distance L1 from X2 is configured to be 0.32 times or more the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20.
More specifically, the separation distance L1 is 0.32 times or more the inner diameter D1 of the introduction port side end portion of the introduction pipe 20.

Here, FIG. 5 shows experimental data showing the relationship between the separation distance L1 between the first virtual plane X1 and the second virtual plane X2 and the oil separation efficiency, and FIG. 6 shows the result of simulating the flow of the oil-containing refrigerant. ..
The experimental data shown in FIG. 5 assumes a state in which the oil flow rate (the refrigerant flow rate multiplied by the oil lubrication rate) introduced into the oil separator 100 is large, and the experimental condition is that the refrigerant flow rate is 1000 kg. / H, the oil lubrication rate is 1.4%, and the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20 is 17.05 mm. Further, the simulation shown in FIG. 6 is performed under the condition that the separation distance L1 is 0.32 times the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20.
As can be seen from this experimental data, the oil separation efficiency is improved to 0.32 times the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20 when the separation distance L1 is gradually increased, and is almost 0.32 times or more. There is a tendency to level off.
This means that when the separation distance L1 becomes 0.32 times or more the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20, substantially all of the oil-containing refrigerant introduced from the introduction pipe 20 is the refrigerant outlet pipe 30 as shown in FIG. This is because it flows to one side on the left and right and turns in the same direction.

Further, in the oil separator 100 of the present embodiment, the height from the outlet 32 to the center of the introduction port 21, that is, the height L2 from the outlet 32 to the pipe shaft O2 of the introduction pipe 20, is the inner diameter of the introduction pipe 20. It is configured to be 3.0 times or more and 4.5 times or less of D1, and more specifically, it is 3.0 times or more and 4.0 times or less of the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20.

Here, FIG. 7 shows experimental data showing the relationship between the height L2 and the oil separation efficiency. The experimental conditions are the same as the above experimental conditions.
As can be seen from this experimental data, the oil separation efficiency increases as the height L2 increases, but when it becomes 3.0 times or more the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20, it becomes almost flat and becomes 4.0 times or more. Then, it tends to decrease gradually.
This is because if the height L2 is smaller than 3.0 times the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20, the oil is led out from the refrigerant outlet pipe 30 together with the refrigerant before the oil is separated from the oil-containing refrigerant. Is. Further, when the height L2 is larger than 4.0 times the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20, the turning direction gradually decreases downward while the refrigerant introduced from the introduction pipe 20 swirls around the inner peripheral surface 14. When the oil-containing refrigerant reaches the vicinity of the outlet 32 of the refrigerant outlet pipe 30, the centrifugal force is reduced, and the separated oil separates from the inner peripheral surface 14 and flows into the outlet 32. Because.

In the present embodiment, the height L2 from the outlet 32 to the pipe shaft O2 of the introduction pipe 20 is the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the introduction pipe 20, the outer peripheral surface 31 of the refrigerant outlet pipe 30, and the inner peripheral surface 14 of the container 10. The separation distance L3 and the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20 may be set as parameters.
Specifically, when the refrigerant flowing in from the introduction pipe 20 is 6 m / s or more and the separation distance L3 is 1.0 times or more and 2.0 times or less the inner diameter D2 of the refrigerant outlet pipe 30, the above. As described above, the height L2 is set to be 3.0 times or more and 4.0 times or less the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20. With such a configuration, the oil separation efficiency can be improved while reducing the size of the oil separator 100.

Here, the relationship between the separation distance L2 and the oil separation efficiency is shown in FIG. The experimental conditions are the same as the above experimental conditions.
As can be seen from this experimental data, the oil separation efficiency tends to increase significantly when the separation distance L2 is 1.0 times or more the inner diameter D2 of the refrigerant outlet pipe 30.
This is because if the separation distance L2 is shorter than 1.0 times the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20, the separated oil will flow into the outlet 32 of the refrigerant outlet pipe 30.

Further, the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20 is 0.16 times or more and 0.44 times or less the inner diameter D3 of the container 10. Here, the inner diameter D3 of the container 10 is, for example, 50.8 mm.
More specifically, the inner diameter D1 of the introduction pipe 20 is 9.5 mm or more and 22.4 mm or less, includes the central axis O1 of the container 10, and has a cross section orthogonal to the pipe axis O2 of the introduction pipe 20. The separation distance L4 from the shaft O2 to the inner peripheral surface 14 on the side opposite to the central shaft O1 with respect to the pipe shaft O2 is set to be 10.6 mm or more and 13.2 mm or less.
With such a configuration, the oil-containing refrigerant introduced from the introduction pipe 20 can be reliably swirled along the inner peripheral surface 14, and the separation efficiency can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, in order to prevent oil from staying above the introduction pipe 20, the height dimension L5 from the upper end of the main body portion 11, that is, the lower end of the upper tapered portion 12 to the pipe shaft O2 of the introduction pipe 20 However, the height dimension of the upper tapered portion 12 is L6 or less.

Here, FIG. 9 shows experimental data comparing the oil separator 100 of the present embodiment with the conventional one.
As can be seen from this experimental data, according to the oil separator 100 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a part of the oil-containing refrigerant introduced from the introduction pipe 20 from flowing in the direction opposite to the turning direction as in the conventional case. By doing so, the pressure loss can be reduced as compared with the conventional case.
As a result, pressure loss can be suppressed even when the flow velocity of the introduced oil-containing refrigerant is increased, and oil can be efficiently separated by using a large centrifugal force due to the high flow velocity, which in turn enables oil separation. The vessel 100 can be miniaturized.

When the oil separator is downsized so that the volume of the container 10 below the outlet 32 of the refrigerant outlet pipe 30 is 0.6 L or less as in the present embodiment, the oil separator 100 is separated. The space for storing oil is reduced. From this, when the amount of separated oil is large, there arises a problem that the oil flows out not only from the oil outlet pipe 40 but also from the refrigerant outlet pipe 30.
Therefore, conventionally, when a small oil separator is used, a bypass pipe provided in parallel with the capillary pipe and a solenoid valve provided in the bypass pipe are provided in the refrigerant circuit, for example, when the compressor is started. When the amount of oil contained in the oil-containing refrigerant is large, the solenoid valve is opened so that the oil separated by the oil separator can be reliably returned to the compressor.
On the other hand, the refrigerant circuit 200 of the present embodiment is configured to reliably return the separated oil to the compressor C by using a capillary tube having a larger diameter than the conventional one, and does not require a solenoid valve. We are trying to reduce the cost by making it.

Subsequently, the outdoor unit 300 including the oil separator 100 described above will be described.

As shown in FIG. 10, the outdoor unit 300 according to the present embodiment includes a compressor C, an accumulator A, and a casing 310 for accommodating them in addition to the oil separator 100 described above, and the top plate 311 of the casing 310. It is a so-called vertical installation type that discharges air upward from the air outlet H formed in. Although not shown, a receiver may be provided in the casing 310.

More specifically, the outdoor unit 300 here has a pair of air outlets H formed on the top plate 311 of the casing 310, and a pair of compressors C and their compressions in the casing 310. A pair of oil separators 100 corresponding to each of the machines C are provided.

Here, the oil separator 100 according to the present embodiment can be miniaturized as described above, and is lighter in weight than the conventional one.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the oil separator 100 is provided with a member to be attached to a member different from the oil separator 100, and the oil separator 100 is provided with an attachment portion to be attached to the attached portion. It is a configuration that can be attached to. In other words, a mounting structure Z for mounting the oil separator 100 to another member is provided between the oil separator 100 and another member, and the mounting structure Z is provided from the mounted portion and the mounting portion. Consists of.

Examples of another member include an accumulator A and a compressor C housed in the casing 310 and constituting the outdoor unit 300, a side plate 312 or a top plate 311 of the casing 310, and the like, but here, the mechanical strength is relatively high. A mounting structure Z is provided between the accumulator A and the oil separator 100, which have high vibration and relatively small vibration during operation, so that the oil separator 100 can be attached to and detached from the accumulator A.

The mounting structure Z includes, for example, a structure consisting of a hooking hole provided in one of the mounted portion or the mounting portion and a hooking claw provided in the other, a recess provided in one side, and a recess provided in the other. Examples thereof include a configuration including a convex portion provided and fitted into the concave portion. In addition, a configuration using a bracket or the like or a configuration using a mounting band or the like may be used.

When the oil separator 100 is attached to the accumulator A via the attachment structure Z, the oil separator 100 is not placed on the bottom plate 313 of the casing 310 and is held in a floating state from the bottom plate 313. This eliminates the need for the oil separator 100 to have legs for mounting the oil separator 100 on the bottom plate 313 or the like.

As shown in FIG. 11, the accumulator A to which the oil separator 100 is attached is arranged so as to overlap at least a part of the center line L of the pair of outlets H when viewed from above. In other words, the accumulator A is provided at a position where at least a part of the accumulator A is hidden (covered) by the top plate 311 when viewed from above, and is arranged so as not to be a resistance to the air blown out from the outlet H. .. For convenience of explanation, the blower fan is not shown in FIG.

Further, the pair of compressors C are arranged close to each other while sandwiching the center line L, and here, the accumulator A and the pair of compressors C are closely arranged at the central portion of the casing 310 when viewed from above. Have been placed.

The oil separator 100 configured in this way can be arranged in the casing 310 without being placed on the bottom plate 313 of the casing 310 by attaching the oil separator 100 to the accumulator A via the attachment structure Z.
As a result, for example, the legs of the oil separator 100 can be eliminated, and in particular, the degree of freedom in arranging the compressor C and the accumulator A, which are large containers, is improved, and as described above, the casing 310 is viewed from above. It can be placed closely in the center.
As a result, the compressor C and the accumulator A are arranged at positions where resistance to the air passing through the casing 310 is unlikely to occur, and the air volume of the outdoor unit is increased to improve the condensing performance, whereby the compressor A high pressure reduction effect and an input reduction effect can be obtained, and high efficiency can be achieved.
Further, since the compressor C, the accumulator A, and the oil separator 100 are closely arranged, the length of the pipe connecting them can be significantly shortened as compared with the conventional case, and the pressure loss can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

Further, since the accumulator A having a relatively high mechanical strength is provided with the attached portion, even if a pair of oil separators 100 are attached to the accumulator A as in the present embodiment, these oil separators 100 are surely secured. Can be supported by. Since the accumulator A has a larger height than the compressor C or the like, it is easy to attach the oil separator 100 in a state of being floated from the bottom plate 313 of the casing C.
In addition, since the accumulator has relatively small vibration during operation, the vibration transmitted to the attached oil separator is also small, causing cracks in the pipes connected to the oil separator and the disconnection of these pipes. Can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the introduction pipe is a cylindrical pipe having an equal cross-sectional shape, but as shown in FIG. 12, it may have a reduced diameter portion that gradually reduces the diameter toward the introduction port 21.
In this case, the separation distance L1 between the first virtual plane X1 and the second virtual plane X2 may be 0.32 times or more the inner diameter D1 of the tip portion of the introduction pipe 20.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the oil separator 100 may further include an oil scattering prevention plate 50 provided at the lower part of the container 10 and partitioning the separation space S vertically.
The oil splash prevention plate 50 is fixed above the lower tapered portion 13 by, for example, welding, and has a plate shape having an oil passage port 51 through which the separated oil passes from above to below. is there.
More specifically, in this product, the outer peripheral portion forms a disk shape along the inner peripheral surface 14 of the container 10, and the outer peripheral portion is cut out, for example, a plurality of the oils at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. A passage 51 is formed. Although four oil passage ports 51 are formed here, the number of the four oil passage ports 51 may be appropriately changed.

In the above embodiment, the introduction port of the introduction pipe is formed on the first virtual plane, but as shown in FIG. 14, the introduction port 21 has a shape curved to the downstream side, for example, and is on the first virtual plane X1. It does not have to be formed in.

Further, the introduction pipe of the embodiment is provided so that its pipe axis is orthogonal to the central axis of the container, but the pipe axis is tilted downward or upward with respect to the direction orthogonal to the central axis. Is also good.

Further, although the oil outlet pipe of the above embodiment penetrates the bottom wall of the container, it may be provided at the lower part of the container and may penetrate the lower part of the side wall portion.

Further, although the container of the above-described embodiment has a cylindrical shape, it is sufficient that the cross section along the central axis has a circular inner peripheral surface, and the outer shape is a quadrangular prism shape or a polygonal pillar shape. It doesn't matter if it is a thing.

Further, in the outdoor unit 300 of the above embodiment, a pair of outlets H are formed on the top plate 311 of the casing 310, but as shown in FIG. 15, the outdoor unit 300 is the top plate 311 of the casing 310. A single outlet H may be formed in the casing.
In the case of the outdoor unit 300 in which the single outlet H is formed in this way, when the accumulator A is brought close to the side plate 312 of the casing 310, a U-shape or an L-shape provided along the side plate 312 is provided. It becomes difficult for air to pass through the heat exchanger (not shown). On the other hand, when the accumulator A is brought closer to the central portion of the casing 310, it is brought closer to the compressor C provided in front of the casing 310 (lower side in FIG. 15), and the maintainability is lowered.

On the other hand, the oil separator 100 according to the present invention can be attached to the accumulator A, for example, so that the area where the oil separator 100 was conventionally arranged can also be used as a place for arranging the accumulator A. can do. As a result, the degree of freedom in installing the accumulator A can be improved, and the compressor is arranged while the accumulator A and the oil separator 100 are arranged so that sufficient air can pass through the heat exchanger according to the position of the heat exchanger. It is possible to ensure maintainability of C and the like.
Further, by bringing the oil separator 100 and the accumulator A into close contact with each other, the resistance to the air blown out from the outlet is reduced, and the air volume of the outdoor unit 300 can be increased.
In other words, the accumulator A and the compressor C are arranged at the corners of the casing 310 so that at least a part of the accumulator A and the compressor C is covered with the corners P of the top plate 311 when viewed from above. If at least a part of these can be hidden from the outlet H, air can easily pass through the casing 310, and the air volume of the outdoor unit 300 is further increased.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

100 ... Oil separator 10 ... Container 13 ... Inner peripheral surface 20 ... Introduction pipe 21 ... Introduction port 30 ... Refrigerant outlet pipe 31 ... Outer peripheral surface X1 ... First Virtual plane X2 ... Second virtual plane

Claims (10)

An oil separator that separates oil from oil-containing refrigerants.
A container having an inner peripheral surface with a circular cross section orthogonal to the central axis,
The container has an introduction port for introducing the oil-containing refrigerant, and is provided so as to penetrate the side wall of the container so that the oil-containing refrigerant flows from above to below while orbiting along the inner peripheral surface. Introductory pipe and
It is located below the introduction port and has a outlet for leading out the separated refrigerant after the oil has been separated from the container, and has a refrigerant discharge pipe extending upward along the central axis from the outlet. And
In a cross section including the tube axis of the introduction tube and orthogonal to the central axis, the tip end portion of the introduction tube sandwiching the tube axis is located on a first virtual plane parallel to the central axis.
It said first imaginary plane, the distance between the second virtual plane in contact with the peripheral surface of the refrigerant outlet pipe in parallel to the first imaginary plane state, and are 0.32 times or more of the inner diameter of the inlet tube,
The inner diameter of the introduction pipe is 0.16 times or more and 0.44 times or less the inner diameter of the container.
When the flow rate of the refrigerant introduced from the introduction pipe is 1000 kg / h and the flow rate of the oil introduced from the introduction pipe is 14 kg / h, all of the oil-containing refrigerant introduced from the introduction pipe is introduced into the refrigerant outlet pipe. It flows to the left and right side against the oil separator, characterized that you have been configured to pivot in the same direction. The first virtual plane is tilted with respect to a plane orthogonal to the tube axis.
The oil separator according to claim 1, wherein the introduction port is formed so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the refrigerant outlet pipe. The refrigerant outlet pipe is provided coaxially with the central axis.
The oil according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the distance between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the refrigerant outlet pipe is 1.0 times or more and 2.0 times or less the inner diameter of the refrigerant outlet pipe. Separator. The inner diameter of the introduction pipe is 9.5 mm or more and 22.4 mm or less.
In a cross section including the central axis of the container and orthogonal to the tube axis of the introduction pipe, the separation distance from the tube axis to the inner peripheral surface opposite to the central axis with respect to the tube axis is 10. The oil separator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the oil separator is 6 mm or more and 13.2 mm or less. The container has a cylindrical main body portion and an upper tapered portion provided on the upper portion of the main body portion and gradually reducing the diameter upward.
The oil according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the height dimension from the upper end of the main body portion to the pipe shaft of the introduction pipe is equal to or less than the height dimension of the upper tapered portion. Separator. The container has a cylindrical main body portion and a lower tapered portion provided in the lower part of the main body portion and gradually reducing the diameter downward and storing the separated oil.
The oil separator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the outlet of the refrigerant outlet pipe is provided above the lower tapered portion. The introduction pipe
When the introduction port is formed, the tip portion penetrating the side wall of the container and
The oil according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , which is provided on the upstream side of the tip portion and has a rear end portion that is curved from the tip portion and extends upward. Separator. The claim is characterized in that an oil scattering prevention plate provided at a lower portion of the container is provided to partition the inside of the container up and down, and an oil passage port for passing separated oil from above to below is formed. The oil separator according to any one of 1 to 7 . The oil splash prevention plate has a disk shape whose outer peripheral portion is along the inner peripheral surface of the container.
The oil separator according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the oil passage ports are formed on the outer peripheral portion. A refrigerant circuit comprising the oil separator according to any one of claims 1 to 9.