U.S. patent application number 12/289330 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-12 for oil separator for air conditioner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jae Man Joo, Jeong Hoon Kang, Dong Won Kim, Byoung In Lee, Valeri Lenchine, Seon Uk Na.
Application Number | 20090064708 12/289330 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37025010 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090064708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Byoung In ; et
al. |
March 12, 2009 |
Oil separator for air conditioner
Abstract
An oil separator for an air conditioner includes a cylindrical
housing; a refrigerant discharge pipe communicating with the
housing for discharging refrigerant gas; an oil discharge pipe for
circulating oil collected in the lower portion of the housing; and
a refrigerant inflow pipe having one end facing the inner surface
of a side wall of the housing in the tangential direction for
supplying a refrigerant-oil mixture to the inside of the housing.
An insertion hole, into which the refrigerant inflow pipe is
inserted, is easily formed, the efficiency of the oil separator is
increased, and noise and vibration generated from the oil separator
is reduced.
Inventors: |
Lee; Byoung In; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Na; Seon Uk; (Yongin-si, KR) ; Kim; Dong
Won; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Joo; Jae Man; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Kang; Jeong Hoon; (Seoul, KR) ;
Lenchine; Valeri; (Suwon-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700, 1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
37025010 |
Appl. No.: |
12/289330 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11436764 |
May 19, 2006 |
|
|
|
12289330 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/470 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 2500/13 20130101;
F25B 43/02 20130101; F25B 2400/02 20130101; F25B 2500/01
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/470 |
International
Class: |
F25B 43/02 20060101
F25B043/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 10, 2005 |
KR |
2005-49883 |
Jun 17, 2005 |
KR |
2005-52418 |
Claims
1. An oil separator for an air conditioner comprising: a
cylindrical housing; a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying a
refrigerant-oil mixture to the inside of the housing; a refrigerant
discharge pipe for discharging refrigerant separated from the
mixture to the outside of the oil separator; and an oil discharge
pipe for returning oil separated from the mixture to a compressor,
wherein one end of the refrigerant inflow pipe faces the inner
surface of a side wall of the housing in the tangential direction,
the refrigerant inflow pipe is bent in a gentle curve at a portion
thereof which is inserted into the housing, and the refrigerant
inflow pipe is bent again in the reverse direction to the bent
portion so that the refrigerant inflow pipe has an approximately
"S" shape.
2. An oil separator for an air conditioner comprising: a
cylindrical housing; a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying a
refrigerant-oil mixture to the inside of the housing; a refrigerant
discharge pipe for discharging refrigerant separated from the
mixture to the outside of the oil separator; and an oil discharge
pipe for returning oil separated from the mixture to a compressor,
wherein one end of the refrigerant inflow pipe faces the inner
surface of a side wall of the housing in the tangential direction,
and the refrigerant inflow pipe is inserted perpendicularly into a
through hole formed through the side wall of the housing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/436,764 filed May 19, 2006, and claims the benefit of Korean
Patent Application Nos. 2005-0049883 and 2005-0052418, respectively
filed Jun. 10, 2005 and Jun. 17, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and
more particularly, to an oil separator for an air conditioner, in
which the shape of a housing, the structure of a refrigerant inflow
pipe, and the structure of a gas discharge pipe are improved,
thereby increasing an oil separating efficiency and reducing the
generation of noise and vibration.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, air conditioners are divided into integration
type air conditioners in which indoor and outdoor units are
integrally formed and split type air conditioners in which indoor
and outdoor units are separated from each other. A split type air
conditioner includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. The
outdoor unit has a compressor for compressing a refrigerant into a
high-temperature and high-pressure state, an oil separator for
separating oil from the compressed refrigerant discharged from the
compressor, a condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerant
by exchanging heat with outdoor air, and an expansion device for
adiabatically expanding the refrigerant condensed by the condenser.
The indoor unit has an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant,
having passed through the expansion device, by exchanging heat with
indoor air.
[0006] The oil separator is an apparatus which allows oil from a
refrigerant-oil mixture to flow along the inner wall of a cylinder
and to be collected in a lower portion of the cylinder, and allows
gas from the mixture to be discharged to the outside through a
refrigerant discharge pipe formed through an upper portion of the
cylinder, thereby separating the oil and the gas from each other.
That is, the oil separator allows the mixture to rotate and flow
down along the inner wall of the cylinder by centrifugal force so
that the oil is collected in the lower portion of the cylinder and
the gas is discharged to the outside through the refrigerant
discharge pipe formed through the upper end of the cylinder by the
rotating air current. The oil separator employs the principle of a
cyclone. In order to separate the oil and the gas from each other
using the above principle, the mixture must be initially supplied
to the inner wall of the cylinder in the tangential direction.
[0007] For this reason, the conventional oil separator has a
structure in which a hole for supplying the mixture in the
tangential direction is formed through the side wall of the
cylinder and a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying the mixture
into the cylinder therethrough is inserted into the hole formed
through the side wall at a designated angle. In the above
structure, since the hole is not formed perpendicularly through the
side wall of the cylinder but is formed through the side wall of
the cylinder at the designated angle, it is difficult to form the
hole through the oil separator and costs required to form the hole
through the oil separator are high.
[0008] Another conventional oil separator having a structure in
which a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying a refrigerant-oil
mixture into the oil separator passes through the side wall of a
cylinder at a right angle and is inserted towards the central
portion of the cylinder such that the end of the refrigerant inflow
pipe is bent towards the side wall of the cylinder has been
proposed.
[0009] Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-0105264
discloses the above conventional oil separator. Such a conventional
oil separator solves the problems, such as the difficulty in
forming a hole through the oil separator and the increase in costs
required to form the hole through the oil separator. However, since
the mixture does not flow along the inner wall of the cylinder in
the tangential direction but hits the inner wall of the cylinder,
the above conventional oil separator causes increased noise and
vibration. The reason is that a compressor discharges the mixture
in a pulse mode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Therefore, one aspect of the invention is to provide an oil
separator, in which a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying a
refrigerant-oil mixture into the oil separator is simply installed
so that and noise and vibration can be reduced.
[0011] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention
provides an oil separator for an air conditioner including: a
cylindrical housing; a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying a
refrigerant-oil mixture to the inside of the housing; a refrigerant
discharge pipe for discharging refrigerant separated from the
mixture to the outside of the oil separator; and an oil discharge
pipe for returning oil separated from the mixture to a compressor,
wherein one end of the refrigerant inflow pipe faces the inner
surface of a side wall of the housing in the tangential
direction.
[0012] The refrigerant inflow pipe may be bent in a gentle curve at
a portion thereof which is inserted into the housing.
[0013] The refrigerant inflow pipe may be bent again in the reverse
direction to the bent portion so that the refrigerant inflow pipe
has an approximately "S" shape.
[0014] The refrigerant inflow pipe may be inserted into a through
hole, formed through the side wall of the housing, at a designated
angle.
[0015] The refrigerant inflow pipe may be inserted perpendicularly
into a through hole formed through the side wall of the
housing.
[0016] The refrigerant inflow pipe may pass through the side wall
of the housing and be divided into a plurality of branched pipes,
and ends of the branched pipes may be bent in the tangential
direction towards the side wall.
[0017] The refrigerant inflow pipe may be located at a position
having a height corresponding to 70.about.85% of the height of the
housing.
[0018] The end of the refrigerant inflow pipe facing the inner
surface of the side wall of the housing in the tangential direction
may be cut at a designated angle.
[0019] A long side of the cut section of the end of the refrigerant
inflow pipe may contact the inner surface of the side wall of the
housing, and be fixed to the side wall.
[0020] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention
provides an oil separator for an air conditioner including: a
cylindrical housing; a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying a
refrigerant-oil mixture to the inside of the housing; a refrigerant
discharge pipe for discharging refrigerant separated from the
mixture to the outside of the oil separator; and an oil discharge
pipe for returning oil separated from the mixture to a compressor,
wherein the housing has a conical shape so that the housing is
broadened from the upper portion thereof to the lower portion
thereof.
[0021] The side wall of the housing may meet the vertical line at
an angle of 30.degree. or less, and the refrigerant inflow pipe may
be located at a position having a height corresponding to
70.about.85% of the height of the housing.
[0022] In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention
provides an oil separator for an air conditioner including: a
cylindrical housing; a refrigerant inflow pipe for supplying a
refrigerant-oil mixture to the inside of the housing; a refrigerant
discharge pipe for discharging refrigerant separated from the
mixture to the outside of the oil separator; and an oil discharge
pipe for returning oil separated from the mixture to a compressor,
wherein a plurality of fine pipes having a designated length are
formed at one end of the refrigerant discharge pipe located in the
housing and serve as a muffler for reducing noise in the
housing.
[0023] The fine pipes may be formed by pressing a gas discharge
pipe.
[0024] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,
will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by
practice of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an oil separator
for an air conditioner in accordance with the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a transversal sectional view of a refrigerant
inflow pipe of an oil separator of an air conditioner in accordance
with a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a transversal sectional view of a refrigerant
inflow pipe of an oil separator of an air conditioner in accordance
with a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a transversal sectional view of a refrigerant
inflow pipe of an oil separator of an air conditioner in accordance
with a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a transversal sectional view of a refrigerant
inflow pipe of an oil separator of an air conditioner in accordance
with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a transversal sectional view of a refrigerant
inflow pipe of an oil separator of an air conditioner in accordance
with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the
structure of a housing, which can be applied to the oil separators
of the respective embodiments of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a gas discharge
pipe, which can be applied to the oil separators of the respective
embodiments of the present invention; and
[0034] FIG. 9 is a table for comparing noise generated from an oil
separator, to which a conventional refrigerant inflow pipe is
applied, and noise generated from the oil separator, to which the
refrigerant inflow pipe in accordance with the second embodiment of
the present invention is applied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the annexed
drawings.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an oil separator
for an air conditioner in accordance with the present
invention.
[0037] The oil separator includes a housing 1 for forming the
external appearance thereof. An opening formed through the upper
surface of the housing 1 is sealed by an upper cap member 11. The
upper cap member 11 has a plate shape, and has a connection portion
11a, which is extended from the edge thereof and connected to a
side wall 12 of the housing 1. The upper cap member 11 is connected
to the side wall 12 of the housing 1 by various methods, such as
interference fit and welding, as long as the connection withstands
the high pressure of the inside of the housing 1. A first insertion
hole 11b is formed through the central portion of the upper cap
member 11 such that the inner wall of the first insertion hole 11b
is not spaced from the outer circumferential surface of a
refrigerant discharge pipe 2.
[0038] The refrigerant discharge pipe 2 is inserted into the first
insertion hole 11b. The refrigerant discharge pipe 2 serves to
discharge a refrigerant gas, separated from a refrigerant-oil
mixture by the oil separator, to the outside of the oil separator.
A suction terminal 21 of the refrigerant discharge pipe 2 may be
positioned in the upper portion of the housing 1, in which the
refrigerant gas is collected by an ascending air current.
[0039] The side wall 12 serves to form the housing 1, and a second
insertion hole 32, into which a refrigerant inflow pipe 3 is
inserted, is formed through a designated portion of the side wall
12. A bushing 31 is installed at the second insertion hole 32,
thereby allowing the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 to be easily
inserted into the housing 1 and supporting the refrigerant inflow
pipe 3.
[0040] A lower cap member 13 is provided on the lower portion of
the housing 1. Similar to the upper cap member 11, the lower cap
member 13 is connected to the side wall 12 of the housing 1. The
bottom surface of the lower cap member 13 may be concave so that
oil separated from the refrigerant gas by the oil separator is
stored in the concave bottom surface. A third insertion hole 13a,
into which an oil discharge pipe 4 is inserted or connected, is
formed through the bottom surface of the lower cap member 13. The
oil discharge pipe 4 serves to supply the oil, collected in the
bottom surface of the lower cap member 13, towards an inlet of a
compressor (not shown).
[0041] A base portion 5 is provided under the lower end of the
housing 1. The base portion 5 is approximately trivet-shaped so as
to firmly fix the oil separator to a designated position separated
from the ground and to reduce the generation of noise or
vibration.
[0042] The above oil separator allows the mixture to rotate and
flow down along the inner wall of the housing 1 by centrifugal
force so that the oil is collected in the lower portion of the
housing 1 and the gas is discharged to the outside through the
refrigerant discharge pipe 2 formed through the upper end of the
housing 1 by the rotating air current. The oil separator employs
the principle of a cyclone. In order to separate the oil and the
refrigerant gas from each other as described above, the mixture
must be initially supplied to the inner wall of the housing 1 in
the tangential direction. Hereinafter, oil separators in accordance
with several embodiments of the present invention will be
proposed.
[0043] FIG. 2 is a transversal sectional view of a refrigerant
inflow pipe of an oil separator of an air conditioner in accordance
with a first embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerant
pipe 3 of the oil separator in accordance with the first embodiment
is inserted into the second insertion hole 32, formed through the
housing 1 towards the central portion of the housing 1, at a
designated angle. That is, the second insertion hole 32 has a
diameter larger than that of the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 so that
the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 is horizontally inserted into the
second insertion hole 32 at the designated angle. Then, the bushing
31 fixes the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 inserted into the second
insertion hole 32.
[0044] The bushing 31 of the oil separator of the first embodiment
is a disk-shaped member, through which a through hole 31a is
obliquely formed, so that the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 is inserted
into the through hole 31a at a designated angle. The bushing 31
fixes the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 such that an end 34 of the
refrigerant inflow pipe 3 approaches the inner surface of the side
wall 12, thereby allowing the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 to
discharge the refrigerant-oil mixture in the tangential direction.
The end 34 of the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 is bent in a gentle
curve and is located close to the side wall 12 so that the mixture
flows down in a spiral shape along the inner surface of the side
wall 12.
[0045] Accordingly, in the oil separator in accordance with the
first embodiment, since the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 is slantingly
inserted into the second insertion hole 32 at a designated angle
although the second insertion hole 32 is formed perpendicularly
through the side wall 12 of the housing 1, the end 34 of the
refrigerant inflow pipe 3 is located close to the side wall 12 and
guides the mixture in the tangential direction. Here, the shape of
the bushing 31 is important. Compared to the formation of the
second insertion hole 32 through the side wall 12 of the housing 1
in the tangential direction, the bushing 31 is easily formed. Thus,
compared to the above-described conventional oil separator, the oil
separator of the first embodiment is advantageous in terms of a
manufacturing process and costs.
[0046] Further, the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 has a structure in
which the distance with the side wall 12 is gradually decreased
from a portion of the refrigerant inflow pipe 3 away from the end
34 to the end 34, thereby guiding the mixture in the tangential
direction of the side wall 12.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a transversal sectional view of a refrigerant
inflow pipe of an oil separator of an air conditioner in accordance
with the second embodiment of the present invention. A second
insertion hole 62 passes perpendicularly through the side wall 12,
and faces the center of the housing 1. A bushing 61 for supporting
a refrigerant inflow pipe 6 is installed at the second insertion
hole 62. The bushing 61 of the oil separator of the second
embodiment has a simple ring shape, different from the bushing 31
of the oil separator of the first embodiment. That is, the
refrigerant inflow pipe 6 is inserted into the bushing 61 towards
the center of the housing 1.
[0048] In order to cause the refrigerant inflow pipe 6, inserted
perpendicularly into the side wall 12, to discharge the mixture to
the inner surface of the side wall 12 in the tangential direction,
the refrigerant inflow pipe 6 is bent in an approximately S-shaped
gentle curve. The above gently curved structure of the refrigerant
inflow pipe 6 allows an end 64 of the refrigerant inflow pipe 6 to
be located close to the inner surface of the side wall 12 although
the refrigerant inflow pipe 6 is inserted perpendicularly into the
side wall 12, and does not hinder the flow of the mixture so that
the mixture is discharged to the inner surface of the side wall 12
in the tangential direction. Identical to the refrigerant inflow
pipe 3 of the oil separator of the first embodiment, the
refrigerant inflow pipe 6 has a structure in which the distance
with the side wall 12 is gradually decreased from a portion of the
refrigerant inflow pipe 6 away from the end 64 to the end 64,
thereby guiding the mixture, discharged through the refrigerant
inflow pipe 6, in the tangential direction of the side wall 12.
[0049] FIG. 4 is a transversal sectional view of a refrigerant
inflow pipe of an oil separator of an air conditioner in accordance
with a third embodiment of the present invention. A second
insertion hole 72, which is formed through the side wall 12 of the
housing 1, faces the center of the housing 1, identical to the
second insertion hole 62 of the oil separator of the second
embodiment. A ring-shaped bushing 71 is inserted into the second
insertion hole 72, thus supporting a refrigerant inflow pipe 7.
[0050] The refrigerant inflow pipe 7 is inserted into the second
insertion hole 72 towards the center of the housing 1, and has at
least one branched pipe 74 at its end. In the third embodiment, the
refrigerant inflow pipe 7 has two branched pipes 74, which are
parallel with each other. The diameter and number of the branched
pipes 74 are determined by the capacity of the oil separator
required by the air conditioner.
[0051] Ends 74a of the branched pipes 74 are oriented so that a
refrigerant-oil mixture is discharged from the ends 74a in any one
tangential direction, and are bent at a designated angle. The
mixture flows from a compressor (not shown) of the air conditioner
to the refrigerant inflow pipe 7 through an inlet 73 of the
refrigerant inflow pipe 7, and is then divided into the branched
pipes 74. The mixture flows in the tangential direction through the
bent ends 74a of the branched pipes 74, thereby being effectively
separated into oil and refrigerant gas.
[0052] FIG. 5 is a transversal sectional view of a refrigerant
inflow pipe of an oil separator of an air conditioner in accordance
with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the oil
separator of the fourth embodiment, the refrigerant inflow pipe 8
is supported by a bushing 81 that is inserted into a second
insertion hole 82 perpendicularly to the side wall 12 of the
housing. The refrigerant inflow pipe 8 is rectilinearly extended,
and is bent at a designated angle at a bent portion 83 so that a
refrigerant-oil mixture is supplied towards the side wall 12 of the
housing.
[0053] However, the bent portion 83 may disturb the flow of the
mixture. In order to minimize the disturbance of the flow of the
mixture, the refrigerant inflow pipe 8 is rectilinearly extended
from the bent portion 83 to a designated length, thereby producing
a rectilinearly-extended end 84. The length of the
rectilinearly-extended end 84 of the refrigerant inflow pipe 8 is
at least larger than the inner diameter of the refrigerant inflow
pipe 8.
[0054] The end 84 of the refrigerant inflow pipe 8 is cut at a
designated angle so as to supply the mixture to the inside of the
housing in the tangential direction. A long side 84a of the cut
section of the end 84 is close to the side wall 12 of the housing.
The cutting angle of the end 84 is approximately larger than
25.degree. and is approximately smaller than 90.degree.. When the
cutting angle of the end 84 is 90.degree., the cutting angle of the
end 84 of the refrigerant inflow pipe 8 is equal to that of the
conventional refrigerant inflow pipe, and when the cutting angle of
the end 84 is smaller than 25.degree., the mixture cannot be guided
in the tangential direction but instead flows down vertically.
[0055] FIG. 6 is a transversal sectional view of a refrigerant
inflow pipe of an oil separator of an air conditioner in accordance
with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerant
inflow pipe 9 of the fifth embodiment is similar to the refrigerant
inflow pipe 8 of the fourth embodiment, but differs from the
refrigerant inflow pipe 8 in that an end 94 of the refrigerant
inflow pipe 9 fixedly contacts the side wall 12 of the housing.
[0056] That is, since the refrigerant inflow pipe 9 is fixed to the
side wall 12 by a bushing 91 in the same state as a beam fixed to a
clamp, the refrigerant inflow pipe 9 may be excessively vibrated.
In order to solve such a problem, a long side 94a of the cut
section of the end 94 contacts the side wall 12 of the housing, and
is fixed to the side wall 12 by soldering or welding. Thus, the
refrigerant inflow pipe 9 is fixed once to the side wall 12 by the
bushing 91 and is fixed again to the side wall 12 at the end 94,
thereby having two contact points with the side wall 12.
Accordingly, the vibration of the refrigerant inflow pipe 9 is
reduced.
[0057] The above fixation of the refrigerant inflow pipe 9 does not
require an additional process. After the refrigerant inflow pipe 9
is inserted into a second insertion hole 92, the refrigerant inflow
pipe 9 is pulled to the inner surface of the side wall 12 of the
housing until the refrigerant inflow pipe 9 contacts the inner
surface of the side wall 12, and the end of the refrigerant inflow
pipe 9 is fixed to the side wall 12, as described above.
Accordingly, compared to the conventional refrigerant inflow pipe,
it is possible to simply and firmly install the refrigerant inflow
pipe 9 without any additional part or process.
[0058] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the
structure of a housing, which can be applied to the oil separators
of the respective embodiments of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 7, the housing 1 has a conical shape so that the housing 1 is
broadened from the upper portion of the housing 1 to the lower
portion of the housing 1. As described above, the refrigerant-oil
mixture, which is supplied to the inside of the housing 1, flows
into the housing 1 in the tangential direction and forms a vortex
moving downwards. In order to continuously maintain such a vortex,
the side wall 12 of the housing 1 meets the vertical line at an
angle of 30.degree. or less.
[0059] The above structure of the housing 1 depends on the
Helmholtz vortex theorem. According to the Helmholtz vortex
theorem, the rotating flow of the vortex is proportional to the
multiplication of an angular velocity by twice a radius of the
vortex. When the housing 1 has a conical shape, the radius of the
vortex is gradually increased and the angular velocity is
decreased. Thereby, kinetic energy of oil particles is decreased,
and the oil flows along the inner surface of the side wall 12 of
the housing 1 and is collected in the lower cap member 13.
[0060] When the lower portion of the housing 1 is excessively
broader than the upper portion of the housing 1, the vortex cannot
be maintained, and the oil cannot flow along the side wall 12 of
the housing 1 but instead flows down vertically. Accordingly, the
tilt angle of the side wall 12 of the housing 1 meeting the
vertical line is limited thereto.
[0061] The housing 1 of the oil separator, which has a conical
shape, has a vortex effect as well as a cyclone effect, thus
increasing the efficiency of the oil separator.
[0062] In the above-described oil separator of the present
invention, a compressor (not shown) of an air conditioner
discharges a refrigerant-oil mixture containing refrigerant gas and
oil in a pulse mode into the housing 1 through the refrigerant
inflow pipe. The refrigerant inflow pipes of each the embodiments
of the present invention are located close to the inner surface of
the side wall 12 of the housing 1 such that the ends of the
refrigerant inflow pipes are bent in the tangential direction.
[0063] Accordingly, the mixture, supplied into the oil separator at
a high pressure, does not hit the inner surface of the side wall
12, but flows down along the inner surface of the side wall 12 in
the tangential direction. During this process, the oil having a
high specific gravity is attached to the inner surface of the side
wall 12 by the centrifugal force, and is collected in the lower cap
member 13 provided on the lower portion of the housing 1. The
collected oil is supplied again into the inlet of the compressor
through the oil discharge pipe 4.
[0064] The refrigerant gas, separated from the oil, moves to the
upper portion of the housing 1 by the rotating current generated
from the inside of the housing 1, and is discharged to the outside
of the oil separator through the refrigerant discharge pipe 2 (FIG.
1). In order to assure sufficient time and distance to move the oil
downwardly and collect the oil, and to efficiently discharge the
refrigerant gas by means of the rotating current, the refrigerant
inflow pipe may be installed at a height corresponding to
70.about.85% of the height of the housing 1.
[0065] When the refrigerant inflow pipe is installed at a height
below 70% of the height of the housing 1, an efficiency of the oil
separator due to the principle of the cyclone forming a spiral
vortex of the mixture supplied in the tangential is reduced.
Further, the refrigerant inflow pipe is installed at a height above
85% of the height of the housing 1, the ascending air current
disturbs the discharge of the refrigerant gas, thereby reducing the
efficiency of the oil separator. Accordingly, the proper height of
the refrigerant inflow pipe is in the range of 70.about.85% of the
height of the housing 1.
[0066] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a gas discharge
pipe, which can be applied to the oil separators of the respective
embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the gas
discharge pipe 2 having a designated diameter is extended, and a
plurality of fine pipes 21a are formed at a portion of the gas
discharge pipe 2 away from a lower end 21 thereof by a designated
length. The fine pipes 21a are formed by pressing one end of a
conventional gas discharge pipe using a press.
[0067] The fine pipes 21 exhibit the same effect as a muffler of a
vehicle, and serves to reduce noise, generated when the mixture is
supplied from a compressor to an oil separator under the condition
that the mixture has a designated pulse, and noise, generated when
an oil component is separated from the mixture supplied to the oil
separator through the refrigerant inflow pipe. That is, the
refrigerant gas, which is introduced into the fine pipes 21a, is
diffused into the inside of the gas discharge pipe 2 having a
relatively large area by an ascending air current in the housing,
thereby offsetting the noise. The number and length of the fine
pipes 21a are determined in consideration of the volume of the oil
separator and various factors in the housing.
[0068] FIG. 9 is a table for comparing noise generated from an oil
separator, to which a conventional refrigerant inflow pipe is
applied, and noise generated from the oil separator, to which the
refrigerant inflow pipe in accordance with the second embodiment of
the present invention is applied. The table illustrates values of
noise generated from the oil separator installed in a multi air
conditioner, which has a plurality of indoor units and outdoor
units connected to each other and a digital scroll compressor. The
conventional refrigerant inflow pipe has a structure, as shown in
FIG. 3 of Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-0105264.
[0069] As shown in FIG. 9, compared to when the conventional
refrigerant inflow pipe is applied to the oil separator, when the
refrigerant inflow pipe in accordance with the second embodiment is
applied to the oil separator, the noise generated from the oil
separator is drastically reduced, as follows.
[0070] First, at a 1/3 octave band of a center frequency of 2,500
Hz, where a large difference of noises is generated according to
operating conditions of the compressor (for example, loading and
unloading states), in a full load state in which all indoor units
are operated, the oil separator having the conventional refrigerant
inflow pipe generates noise of 60.5 dBA, and the oil separator
having the refrigerant inflow pipe of the second embodiment
generates noise of 53.3 dBA, which is reduced from the noise
generated from the oil separator having the conventional
refrigerant inflow pipe by 7.2 dBA.
[0071] In a part load in which some of the indoor units are
operated, the oil separator having the conventional refrigerant
inflow pipe generates noise of 57.5 dBA, and the oil separator
having the refrigerant inflow pipe of the second embodiment
generates noise of 51.2 dBA, which is reduced from the noise
generated from the oil separator having the conventional
refrigerant inflow pipe by 6.3 dBA.
[0072] Further, a difference of noises is generated according to
operating conditions of the compressor (for example, loading and
unloading states). Since the oil separator having the conventional
refrigerant inflow pipe generates noise of 57.5 dBA in the loading
state, and generates noise of 49.9 dBA in the unloading state, a
difference of noises of the oil separator having the conventional
refrigerant inflow pipe is 7.6 dBA. On the other hand, since the
oil separator having the refrigerant inflow pipe of the second
embodiment generates noise of 51.2 dBA in the loading state, and
generates noise of 49.2 dBA in the unloading state, a difference of
noises of the oil separator having the refrigerant inflow pipe of
the second embodiment 2 dBA, which is reduced from the difference
of noises generated from the oil separator having the conventional
refrigerant inflow pipe by 5.6 dBA.
[0073] Second, overall noise of the indoor units is described as
below. In the full load state in which all indoor units are
operated, the oil separator having the conventional refrigerant
inflow pipe generates noise of 65.1 dBA, and the oil separator
having the refrigerant inflow pipe of the second embodiment
generates noise of 62.9 dBA, which is reduced from the noise
generated from the oil separator having the conventional
refrigerant inflow pipe by 2.2 dBA.
[0074] In the part load in which some of the indoor units are
operated, the oil separator having the conventional refrigerant
inflow pipe generates noise of 64.5 dBA, and the oil separator
having the refrigerant inflow pipe of the second embodiment
generates noise of 63.0 dBA, which is reduced from the noise
generated from the oil separator having the conventional
refrigerant inflow pipe by 1.5 dBA.
[0075] Further, a difference of noises in the part load is
generated according to operating conditions of the compressor (for
example, loading and unloading states). Since the oil separator
having the conventional refrigerant inflow pipe generates noise of
64.5 dBA in the loading state, and generates noise of 63.3 dBA in
the unloading state, a difference of noises of the oil separator
having the conventional refrigerant inflow pipe is 1.2 dBA. On the
other hand, since the oil separator having the refrigerant inflow
pipe of the second embodiment generates noise of 63.0 dBA in the
loading state, and generates noise of 62.6 dBA in the unloading
state, a difference of noises of the oil separator having the
refrigerant inflow pipe of the second embodiment 0.4 dBA, which is
reduced from the difference of noises generated from the oil
separator having the conventional refrigerant inflow pipe by 0.8
dBA.
[0076] As apparent from the above description, the present
invention provides an oil separator for an air conditioner, in
which an insertion hole is formed through a side wall of a housing
of the oil separator so that a refrigerant inflow pipe is inserted
into the insertion hole perpendicularly to the side wall, thereby
being easily manufactured compared to the conventional oil
separator.
[0077] Further, since the refrigerant inflow pipe discharges a
refrigerant-oil mixture to the inner surface of the side wall of
the housing in the tangential direction, and the mixture does not
hit the inner surface of the side wall of the housing but instead
flows down along the side wall of the housing, noise and vibration
generated from the oil separator are drastically reduced.
[0078] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the
principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is
defined in the claims and their equivalents.
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