U.S. patent application number 16/620017 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-14 for air conditioning system and air conditioner.
The applicant listed for this patent is GD MIDEA HEATING & VENTILATING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD. MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Zhirong HONG, Yiyang MO, Ming SONG, Fudang WEI, Yuzhao ZHANG.
Application Number | 20200149789 16/620017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59836410 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200149789 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HONG; Zhirong ; et
al. |
May 14, 2020 |
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND AIR CONDITIONER
Abstract
A novel air conditioning system includes a compressor; an
outdoor heat exchanger; an indoor heat exchanger; and a four-way
valve arranged among the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger,
and the indoor heat exchanger and configured to switch to a cooling
mode and a heating mode; a first separator connected between the
outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; an auxiliary
branch connected to the indoor heat exchanger in parallel and
arranged between the gas-liquid separator and the four-way valve.
With the first separator, the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid
refrigerant is separated, and the gaseous refrigerant is directly
bypassed to an outlet of the evaporator by means of the auxiliary
branch between the first separator 108 and the four-way valve,
thereby reducing the resistance to the refrigerant flowing in the
evaporator and raising the energy efficiency of the system.
Inventors: |
HONG; Zhirong; (Foshan,
CN) ; SONG; Ming; (Foshan, CN) ; ZHANG;
Yuzhao; (Foshan, CN) ; WEI; Fudang; (Foshan,
CN) ; MO; Yiyang; (Foshan, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GD MIDEA HEATING & VENTILATING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD. |
FOSHAN
FOSHAN |
|
CN
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
59836410 |
Appl. No.: |
16/620017 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
January 10, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2018/072043 |
371 Date: |
December 6, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/0007 20130101;
F25B 30/02 20130101; F25B 41/046 20130101; F25B 43/00 20130101;
F25B 41/06 20130101; F25B 2400/0409 20130101; F25B 41/067 20130101;
F25B 2313/02741 20130101; F25B 2400/23 20130101; F25B 41/043
20130101; F25B 13/00 20130101; F24F 1/32 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25B 30/02 20060101
F25B030/02; F24F 1/0007 20060101 F24F001/0007; F24F 1/32 20060101
F24F001/32; F25B 41/04 20060101 F25B041/04; F25B 43/00 20060101
F25B043/00; F25B 41/06 20060101 F25B041/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 12, 2017 |
CN |
201710436846.3 |
Claims
1. An air conditioning system, comprising: a compressor (102); an
outdoor heat exchanger (112); an indoor heat exchanger (120); a
four-way valve (114) arranged among the compressor (102), the
outdoor heat exchanger (112), and the indoor heat exchanger (120)
and configured to switch to a cooling mode and a heating mode; a
first separator (108) connected between the outdoor heat exchanger
(112) and the indoor heat exchanger (120) and having a first port
connected to a line of the outdoor heat exchanger (112) and a
second port (106) connected to a line of the indoor heat exchanger
(120); and an auxiliary branch connected to the indoor heat
exchanger in parallel and arranged between a gas-liquid separator
and the four-way valve (114) and having an end connected to a third
port (122) of a gas-liquid separator, the third port (122) of the
gas-liquid separator being configured as an outlet for a gaseous
phase.
2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the
auxiliary branch comprises a capillary (116) and a the one-way
valve (118) connected to each other in series, when the refrigerant
flows from the gas-liquid separator to the four-way valve (114),
the one-way valve (118) is in communication.
3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, further
comprises a second separator (104) arranged between the four-way
valve (114) and the compressor (102), the second separator (104)
implement gas-liquid separation to the refrigerant flowing into the
compressor (102).
4. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein the
four-way valve (114) comprises: a first valve port connected to a
discharge port line of the compressor (102); a second valve port
connected to the outdoor heat exchanger (112); a third valve port
connected to an inlet of the second separator (104), wherein the
refrigerant is discharged into a return port of the compressor
(102) after passing through an outlet of the second separator (104)
and a line; and the fourth valve port connected to the indoor heat
exchanger (120).
5. The air conditioning system according to claim 4, further
comprising a microcontroller electrically coupled with the four-way
valve (114), wherein when the air conditioning system is in the
cooling mode, the microcontroller controls the first valve port and
the second valve port of the four-way valve (114) to be in
communication with each other, and controls the third valve port
and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve (114) to be in
communication with each other; and when the air conditioning system
is in the heating mode, the microcontroller controls the first
valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve (114) to
be in communication with each other, and controls the second valve
port and the third valve port of the four-way valve (114) to be in
communication with each other,
6. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the
auxiliary branch comprises a one-way throttle valve arranged on the
auxiliary branch, the one-way throttle valve makes the refrigerant
flow in one direction from the first separator (108) to the
four-way valve (114).
7. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further
comprises a throttle member (110) arranged on a line connecting the
outdoor heat exchanger (112) to the first port of the first
separator (108), the throttle member (110) cools and depressurizes
the refrigerant flowing in the line connecting the outdoor heat
exchange (112) to the first separator (108).
8. An air conditioner, comprising the air conditioning system
according to claim 1.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, further comprising a
signal receiver electrically coupled with a microcontroller in the
air conditioning system, the signal receiver receives an external
signal and sends a control signal to the microcontroller, and the
microcontroller switches an operation mode of the air conditioner
in response to the control signal.
10. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the signal
receiver comprises an infrared sensor, a Bluetooth receiver, and a
WIFI receiver.
11. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, further
comprises a throttle member (110) arranged on a line connecting the
outdoor heat exchanger (112) to the first port of the first
separator (108), the throttle member (110) cools and depressurizes
the refrigerant flowing in the line connecting the outdoor heat
exchanger (112) to the first separator (108).
12. An air conditioner, comprising the air conditioning system
according to claim 2.
13. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, further
comprises a throttle member (110) arranged on a line connecting the
outdoor heat exchanger (112) to the first port of the first
separator (108), the throttle member (110) cools and depressurizes
the refrigerant flowing in the line connecting the outdoor heat
exchanger (112) to the first separator (108).
14. An air conditioner, comprising the air conditioning system
according to claim 3.
15. The air conditioning system according to claim 4, further
comprises a throttle member (110) arranged on a line connecting the
outdoor heat exchanger (112) to the first port of the first
separator (108), the throttle member (110) cools and depressurizes
the refrigerant flowing in the line connecting the outdoor heat
exchanger (112) to the first separator (108).
16. An air conditioner, comprising the air conditioning system
according to claim 4,
17. The air conditioning system according to claim 5, further
comprises a throttle member (110) arranged on a line connecting the
outdoor heat exchanger (112) to the first port of the first
separator (108), the throttle member (110) cools and depressurizes
the refrigerant flowing in the line connecting the outdoor heat
exchanger (112) to the first separator (108).
18. An air conditioner, comprising the air conditioning system
according to claim 5.
19. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, further
comprises a throttle member (110) arranged on a line connecting the
outdoor heat exchanger (112) to the first port of the first
separator (108), the throttle member (lit)) cools and depressurizes
the refrigerant flowing in the line connecting the outdoor heat
exchanger (112) to the first separator (108).
20. An air conditioner, comprising the air conditioning system
according to claim 7.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technical field of
temperature control apparatuses, and particularly, to an air
conditioning system and an air conditioner.
BACKGROUND
[0002] At present, a common air conditioning system is consist of a
compressor 101, a four-way valve 104, an outdoor heat exchanger
106, a throttle component 108, an indoor heat exchanger 110, and a
low-pressure tin 112, as shown in FIG. 1. Most of refrigerant is
located in a condenser, and a few of the refrigerant is located in
an evaporator during operation of the system due to differences
between status parameters of the refrigerant, such as pressures,
temperatures, etc.
[0003] Regarding the air conditioning system, the condenser is the
outdoor heat exchanger 106 and the evaporator is the indoor heat
exchanger 110 during cooling, while the condenser is the indoor
heat exchanger 110 and the evaporator is the outdoor heat exchanger
106 during heating.
[0004] According to characteristics of heating and heating
switching of a heat-pump air conditioner, a certain relation
between sizes of inside volumes of an indoor heat exchanger and an
outdoor heat exchanger is required. If the inside volume of the
indoor heat exchanger 110 is undersized, too much refrigerant is
charged during heating, resulting in undesirable operation of the
system.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present disclosure seeks to solve at least one of the
problems existing in the prior art or the related art.
[0006] To this end, an objective of the present disclosure is to
provide an air conditioning system.
[0007] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide an
air conditioner.
[0008] To achieve the above objectives, technical schemes of a
first aspect of the present disclosure provide an air conditioning
system including: a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger; an
indoor heat exchanger; a four-way valve arranged among the
compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat
exchanger and configured to switch to a cooling mode and a heating
mode; a first separator connected between the outdoor heat
exchanger and the indoor heat exchange and having a first port
connected to a line of the outdoor heat exchanger and a second port
connected to a line of the indoor heat exchanger; and an auxiliary
branch connected to the indoor heat exchanger in parallel and
arranged between a gas-liquid separator and the four-way valve and
having an end connected to a third port of a gas-liquid separator,
the third port of the gas-liquid separator being configured as an
outlet for a gaseous phase.
[0009] In the technical scheme, by arranging the first separator
between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger,
during cooling operation the compressor discharges high-temperature
high-pressure vapor, and the high-temperature high-pressure vapor
flows into the outdoor heat exchanger through the four-way valve, a
refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger has a part condensed into
liquid and another part in a gaseous state, and the refrigerant in
two phases, i.e. a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, is separated
into a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant in the first
separator. After separation, the gaseous refrigerant reaches an
outlet of the indoor heat exchanger through the second port of the
first separator, and the liquid refrigerant enters an evaporator
through the first port of the first separator for heat exchanging
by means of evaporation, and is mixed with the gaseous refrigerant
coming from bypass at an outlet of the evaporator. After mixing,
the refrigerant vapor enters a low-pressure tin through the
four-way valve and return to the compressor. Since the gaseous
refrigerant is large in specific volume, a large flow resistance is
caused, the energy efficiency of the system is greatly raised by
means of the auxiliary branch. In addition, during heating
operation, the refrigerant entering the first separator through the
indoor heat exchanger is in the liquid state, meanwhile the first
separator can store a great amount of the refrigerant, the
possibility that too much refrigerant is charged during heating due
to the indoor heat exchanger of a small volume is reduced.
[0010] In addition, the air conditioning system in the above
technical scheme provided by the present disclosure also can have
the additional technical features as follows.
[0011] In the above technical scheme, preferably, the auxiliary
branch includes a capillary and a the one-way valve connected to
each other in series, when the refrigerant flows from the
gas-liquid separator to the four-way valve, the one-way valve is in
communication.
[0012] In this technical scheme, with the capillary and the one-way
valve connected in series, when the refrigerant flows from the
gas-liquid separator to the four-way valve, that more refrigerant
in the gas-liquid separator is evaporated into the gaseous state
and goes to the outlet of the evaporator through a bypass branch
due to excessive-low loss of pressure in the bypass branch can be
prevented by the one-way valve in communication, which otherwise
results in extra loss of refrigeration capacity. During heating,
the compressor discharges high-temperature high-pressure
refrigerant vapor, and the high-temperature high-pressure
refrigerant vapor flows to the indoor heat exchanger through the
four-way valve, the high-temperature high-pressure vapor cannot
enter the gas-liquid separator through the auxiliary branch because
of the characteristic of one-way communication of the one-way
valve, thereby reducing waste in heat energy.
[0013] In any one of the above technical schemes, preferably, a
second separator is further provided and arranged between the
four-way valve and the compressor, the second separator implement
gas-liquid separation to the refrigerant flowing into the
compressor.
[0014] In this technical scheme, by arranging the second separator
between the four-way valve and the compressor, the gaseous
refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant which flow into the
compressor are separated, the unnecessary liquid is stored, so as
to reduce a great amount of liquid flowing into the compressor, and
thereby regulating the flow.
[0015] In any one of the above technical schemes, preferably, the
four-way valve includes: a first valve port connected to a
discharge port line of the compressor; a second valve port
connected to the outdoor heat exchanger; a third valve port
connected to an inlet of the second separator, wherein the
refrigerant is discharged into a return port of the compressor
after passing through an outlet of the second separator and a line;
and the fourth valve port connected to the indoor heat
exchanger.
[0016] In this technical scheme, switching of cooling and heating
can be completed quickly by opening and closing the four valve
ports of the four-way valve, raising the efficiency and simplifying
operation. During a cooling cycle, the high-temperature
high-pressure vapor discharged from the compressor enters the
outdoor heat exchanger through the first valve port and the second
valve port, and the first separator separates gas and liquid after
condensation. The liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator from the
first separator for heat exchanging and is mixed with the gaseous
refrigerant from the auxiliary branch, and then returns to the
compressor through the third valve port and the fourth valve port
of the four-way valve to complete the cooling cycle. During a
heating cycle, the high-temperature high-pressure vapor discharged
from the compressor enters the indoor heat exchanger through the
first valve port and the fourth valve port, and the first separator
separates gas and liquid after condensation. The refrigerant enters
the evaporator and is evaporated through absorption of heat, and
after evaporation the refrigerant vapor is mixed with the gaseous
refrigerant flowing through an auxiliary branch of the four-way
valve, enters the second separator through the second valve port
and the third valve port of the four-way valve, and finally enters
the compressor to complete the heating cycle.
[0017] In any one of the above technical schemes, preferably, a
microcontroller is further provided and electrically coupled with
the four-way valve, when the air conditioning system is in the
cooling mode, the microcontroller controls the first valve port and
the second valve port of the four-way valve to be in communication
with each other, and controls the third valve port and the fourth
valve port of the four-way valve to be in communication with each
other; and when the air conditioning system is in the heating mode,
the microcontroller controls the first valve port and the fourth
valve port of the four-way valve to be in communication with each
other, and controls the second valve port and the third valve port
of the four-way valve to be in communication with each other.
[0018] In this technical scheme, with the microcontroller
electrically coupled with the four-way valve, during the cooling
mode, the first valve port and the second valve port of the
four-way valve are controlled to be in communication with each
other, the high-temperature high-pressure vapor discharged from the
compressor flows into the outdoor heat exchanger to be condensed;
and the third valve port is in communication with the fourth valve
port, such that after vapor heat exchanging the refrigerant flows
from the evaporator into the second separator. During the heating
mode, the microcontroller controls the first valve port and the
fourth valve port of the four-way valve to be connected to each
other, such that the high-temperature high-pressure vapor
discharged from the compressor flows into the indoor heat exchanger
to be condensed, and the second valve port is connected to the
third valve port, such that after evaporation through absorption of
heat the refrigerant flows from the evaporator into the second
separator.
[0019] In any one of the above technical schemes, preferably, the
auxiliary branch includes a one-way throttle valve arranged on the
auxiliary branch, the one-way throttle valve makes the refrigerant
flow in one direction from the first separator to the four-way
valve
[0020] In this technical scheme, by providing the one-way throttle
valve on the auxiliary branch, the refrigerant is made flow in one
direction from the first separator to the four-way valve, during
the cooling mode, the gaseous refrigerant is made flow from the
one-way valve to the four-way valve, thereby reducing flow
resistance to the liquid refrigerant when the liquid refrigerant
flows through the evaporator, and raising the energy efficiency of
the system. During the heating mode, the high-temperature
high-pressure refrigerant vapor discharged from the compressor
flows to the indoor heat exchanger through the four-way valve, the
one-way valve capable of communicating in one direction prevents
the high-temperature high-pressure vapor refrigerant from entering
the gas-liquid separator, thereby reducing waste in heat
energy.
[0021] In any one of the above technical schemes, preferably, a
throttle member is further provided and arranged on a line
connecting the outdoor heat exchanger to the first port of the
first separator, the throttle member cools and depressurizes the
refrigerant flowing in the line connecting the outdoor heat
exchanger to the first separator.
[0022] In this technical scheme, with the throttle member, the
high-temperature high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed in the
outdoor heat exchanger becomes a low-temperature low-pressure
refrigerant of two phases after passing through the throttle
member, which is of benefit to heat exchanging of the vapor,
thereby raising the energy efficiency of the system.
[0023] Technical schemes of a second aspect of the present
disclosure provide an air conditioner including the air
conditioning system according to any one of the above technical
schemes.
[0024] In this technical scheme, by employing he air conditioning
system according to any one of the above schemes, the possibility
of poor operation of the system caused by that too much refrigerant
is charged during heating due to an indoor heat exchanger of a
small volume of a common air conditioner is reduced, and the whole
energy efficiency of the air conditioner can also be raised.
[0025] In any one of the above technical schemes, preferably, a
signal receiver is further provided and electrically coupled with a
microcontroller in the air conditioning system, the signal receiver
receives an external signal and sends a control signal to the
microcontroller, and the microcontroller switches an operation mode
of the air conditioner in response to the control signal.
[0026] In this technical scheme, with the signal receiver
electrically coupled with the microcontroller in the air
conditioning system, the external signal can be received and the
control signal can be sent to the microcontroller, the
microcontroller switches the operation mode in response to the
control signal, thereby remotely controlling the air conditioner,
providing more convenient and customer oriented adjustment and
operation of the air conditioner.
[0027] In any one of the above technical schemes, preferably, the
signal receiver includes an infrared sensor, a Bluetooth receiver,
and a WIFI receiver.
[0028] In this technical scheme, with the different signal
receivers, i.e. the infrared sensor, the Bluetooth receiver, and
the WIFI receiver, various kinds of remote control can be achieved,
such as remote control by means of a remote controller, remote
control by voices, and remote control by means of a mobile phone,
etc., which further simplifies control of the air conditioner, and
improves convenience and comfort of control.
[0029] Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of present
disclosure will be given in part in the following descriptions,
become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be
learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] These and/or other aspects and advantages of embodiments of
the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily
appreciated from the following descriptions made with reference to
the drawings, in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a common air
conditioning system in the related art.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of an air conditioning
system in a cooling cycle according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of an air conditioning
system in a heating cycle according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure with an microchannel heat
exchanger.
[0035] Correspondence between reference numerals in FIG. 1 and
components is: 102 compressor, 104 four-way valve, 106 outdoor heat
exchanger, 108 throttle component, 110 indoor heat exchanger, 112
low-pressure tin.
[0036] Correspondence between reference numerals in FIG. 2 to FIG.
4 and components is: 102 compressor, 114 four-way valve, 112
outdoor heat exchanger, 110 throttle member, 120 indoor heat
exchanger, 104 second separator, 108 first separator, 118 one-way
valve, 122 third port, 106 second port, 116 capillary.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] A further detailed description is hereinafter given to the
present disclosure with reference to accompanying drawings and
embodiments so as to more clearly understand the above objectives,
features and advantages thereof. It should be noted that, the
embodiments of the application and the characteristics of the
embodiments can be mutually combined under the condition of no
conflict.
[0038] In the following detailed description, numerous specific
details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the
disclosure. The present disclosure may be embodied in various other
embodiments different from the described embodiment. Therefore it
is not intended that the scope of the disclosure be limited to the
specific embodiment described hereinafter.
[0039] Air conditioning systems according to some embodiments of
the present disclosure are described hereinafter referring to FIG.
2 to FIG. 4.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, an air conditioning system according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a compressor 102,
an outdoor heat exchanger 112, an indoor heat exchanger 120, and a
four-way valve 114 arranged among the compressor 102, the outdoor
heat exchanger 112, and the indoor heat exchanger 120 for switching
of a cooling mode and a heating mode. The air conditioning system
further includes a first separator 108 connected between the
outdoor heat exchanger 112 and the indoor heat exchanger 120, the
first separator 108 has a first port connected to a line of the
outdoor heat exchanger 112 and a second port 106 connected to a
line of the indoor heat exchanger 120; and an auxiliary branch
connected in parallel with the indoor heat exchanger 120, arranged
between a gas-liquid separator and the four-way valve 114, and
having an end connected to a third port 122 of the gas-liquid
separator. The third port 122 of the gas-liquid separator is an
outlet for gaseous phase.
[0041] In this embodiment, by arranging the first separator 108
between the outdoor heat exchanger 112 and the indoor heat
exchanger 120, during cooling operation the compressor 102
discharges high-temperature high-pressure vapor, and the
high-temperature high-pressure vapor flows into the outdoor heat
exchanger 112 through the four-way valve 114, a refrigerant in the
outdoor heat exchanger 112 has a part condensed into liquid and
another part in a gaseous state, and the refrigerant in two phases,
i.e. a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, is separated into a
gaseous refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant in the first separator
108. After separation, the gaseous refrigerant reaches an outlet of
the indoor heat exchanger 120 through the second port 106 of the
first separator 108, and the liquid refrigerant enters an
evaporator through the first port of the first separator 108 for
heat exchanging by means of evaporation, and is mixed with the
gaseous refrigerant coming from bypass at an outlet of the
evaporator. After mixing, the refrigerant vapor enters a
low-pressure tin through the four-way valve 114 and return to the
compressor 102. Since the gaseous refrigerant is large in specific
volume, a large flow resistance is caused, the energy efficiency of
the system is greatly raised by means of the auxiliary branch. In
addition, during heating operation, the refrigerant entering the
first separator 108 through the indoor heat exchanger 120 is in the
liquid state, meanwhile the first separator 108 can store a great
amount of the refrigerant, the possibility that too much
refrigerant is charged during heating due to the indoor heat
exchanger 120 of a small volume is reduced.
[0042] In addition, the air conditioning system of the above
embodiment provided by the present disclosure can further have the
additional features as follows.
[0043] In the above embodiment, preferably, the auxiliary branch
includes a capillary 116 and a one-way valve 118 connected in
series, and the one-way valve 118 is in communication when the
refrigerant flows from the gas-liquid separator to the four-way
valve 114.
[0044] In this embodiment, with the capillary 116 and the one-way
valve 118 connected in series, when the refrigerant flows from the
gas-liquid separator to the four-way valve 114, that more
refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator is evaporated into the
gaseous state and goes to the outlet of the evaporator through a
bypass branch due to excessive-low loss of pressure in the bypass
branch can be prevented by the one-way valve 118 in communication,
which otherwise results in extra loss of refrigeration capacity.
During heating, the compressor 102 discharges high-temperature
high-pressure refrigerant vapor, and the high-temperature
high-pressure refrigerant vapor flows to the indoor heat exchanger
120 through the four-way valve 114, the high-temperature
high-pressure vapor cannot enter the gas-liquid separator through
the auxiliary branch because of the characteristic of one-way
communication of the one-way valve 118, thereby reducing waste in
heat energy.
[0045] In any one of the above embodiments, preferably, a second
separator 104 is further provided between the four-way valve 114
and the compressor 102, the second separator 104 separates the
gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant which flow into the
compressor 102.
[0046] In this embodiment, by arranging the second separator 104
between the four-way valve 114 and the compressor 102, the gaseous
refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant which flow into the
compressor 102 are separated, the unnecessary liquid is stored, so
as to reduce a great amount of liquid flowing into the compressor
102, and thereby regulating the flow.
[0047] In any one of the above embodiments, preferably, the
four-way valve 114 includes a first valve port connected to a
discharge port line of the compressor 102, a second valve port
connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 112, a third valve port
connected to an inlet of the second separator 104, in which the
refrigerant is discharged into a return port of the compressor 102
through an outlet of the second separator 104 and a line, and a
fourth valve port connected to the indoor heat exchanger 120.
[0048] In this embodiment, switching of cooling and heating can be
completed quickly by opening and closing the four valve ports of
the four-way valve 114, raising the efficiency and simplifying
operation. During a cooling cycle, the high-temperature
high-pressure vapor discharged from the compressor 102 enters the
outdoor heat exchanger 112 through the first valve port and the
second valve port, and the first separator 108 separates gas and
liquid after condensation. The liquid refrigerant enters the
evaporator from the first separator 108 for heat exchanging and is
mixed with the gaseous refrigerant from the auxiliary branch, and
then returns to the compressor 102 through the third valve port and
the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 114 to complete the
cooling cycle. During a heating cycle, the high-temperature
high-pressure vapor discharged from the compressor 102 enters the
indoor heat exchanger 120 through the first valve port and the
fourth valve port, and the first separator 108 separates gas and
liquid after condensation. The refrigerant enters the evaporator
and is evaporated through absorption of heat, and after evaporation
the refrigerant vapor is mixed with the gaseous refrigerant flowing
through an auxiliary branch of the four-way valve 114, enters the
second separator 104 through the second valve port and the third
valve port of the four-way valve 114, and finally enters the
compressor 102 to complete the heating cycle.
[0049] In any one of the above embodiments, preferably, a
microcontroller is further included and electrically coupled with
the four-way valve 114. When the air conditioning system is in a
cooling mode, the microcontroller controls the first valve port and
the second valve port of the four-way valve 114 to be in
communication with each other, and controls the third valve port
and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 114 to be in
communication with each other. When the air conditioning system is
in a heating mode, the microcontroller controls the first valve
port and the third valve port of the four-way valve 114 to be in
communication with each other, and controls the second valve port
and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 114 to be in
communication with each other.
[0050] In this embodiment, with the microcontroller electrically
coupled with the four-way valve 114, during the cooling mode, the
first valve port and the second valve port of the four-way valve
114 are controlled to be in communication with each other, the
high-temperature high-pressure vapor discharged from the compressor
102 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 112 to be condensed; and
the third valve port is in communication with the fourth valve
port, such that after vapor heat exchanging the refrigerant flows
from the evaporator into the second separator 104. During the
heating mode, the microcontroller controls the first valve port and
the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 114 to be connected to
each other, such that the high-temperature high-pressure vapor
discharged from the compressor 102 flows into the indoor heat
exchanger 120 to be condensed, and the second valve port is
connected to the third valve port, such that after evaporation
through absorption of heat the refrigerant flows from the
evaporator into the second separator 104.
[0051] In any one of the above embodiments, preferably, the
auxiliary branch includes a one-way throttle valve arranged on the
auxiliary branch, the one-way throttle valve makes the refrigerant
flow in one direction from the first separator 108 to the four-way
valve 114.
[0052] In this embodiment, by providing the one-way throttle valve
on the auxiliary branch, the refrigerant is made flow in one
direction from the first separator 108 to the four-way valve 114,
during the cooling mode, the gaseous refrigerant is made flow from
the one-way valve 118 to the four-way valve 114, thereby reducing
flow resistance to the liquid refrigerant when the liquid
refrigerant flows through the evaporator, and raising the energy
efficiency of the system. During the heating mode, the
high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant vapor discharged from
the compressor 102 flows to the indoor heat exchanger 120 through
the four-way valve 114, the one-way valve 118 capable of
communicating in one direction prevents the high-temperature
high-pressure vapor refrigerant from entering the gas-liquid
separator, thereby reducing waste in heat energy.
[0053] In any one of the above embodiments, preferably, a throttle
member 110 is further provided on a line connecting the outdoor
heat exchanger 112 to the first port of the first separator 108,
the throttle member 110 cools and depressurizes the refrigerant
flowing in the line connecting the outdoor heat exchanger 112 to
the first separator 108.
[0054] In this embodiment, with the throttle member 110, the
high-temperature high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed in the
outdoor heat exchanger 112 becomes a low-temperature low-pressure
refrigerant of two phases after passing through the throttle member
110, which is of benefit to heat exchanging of the vapor, thereby
raising the energy efficiency of the system. Embodiments of the
present disclosure further provide an air conditioner, and the air
conditioner includes the air conditioning system according to any
one of the above schemes.
[0055] In this embodiment, by employing he air conditioning system
according to any one of the above schemes, the possibility of poor
operation of the system caused by that too much refrigerant is
charged during heating due to an indoor heat exchanger 120 of a
small volume of a common air conditioner is reduced, and the whole
energy efficiency of the air conditioner can also be raised.
[0056] In any one of the above embodiments, preferably, a signal
receiver is provided and electrically coupled with the
microcontroller of the air conditioning system, the signal receiver
receives an external signal and sends a control signal to the
microcontroller, the microcontroller switches an operation mode in
response to the control signal.
[0057] In this embodiment, with the signal receiver electrically
coupled with the microcontroller in the air conditioning system,
the external signal can be received and the control signal can be
sent to the microcontroller, the microcontroller switches the
operation mode in response to the control signal, thereby remotely
controlling the air conditioner, providing more convenient and
customer oriented adjustment and operation of the air
conditioner.
[0058] In any one of the above embodiments, preferably, the signal
receiver includes an infrared sensor, a Bluetooth receiver, and a
WIFI receiver.
[0059] In this embodiment, with the different signal receivers,
i.e. the infrared sensor, the Bluetooth receiver, and the WIFI
receiver, various kinds of remote control can be achieved, such as
remote control by means of a remote controller, remote control by
voices, and remote control by means of a mobile phone, etc., which
further simplifies control of the air conditioner, and improves
convenience and comfort of control.
Specific Embodiments
[0060] In a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, the air
conditioning system as shown in FIG. 3 includes the compressor 102,
the outdoor heat exchanger 112, the indoor heat exchanger 120, and
the four-way valve 114a, the four-way valve is arranged among the
compressor 102, the outdoor heat exchanger 112, and the indoor heat
exchanger 120, controlled by the microcontroller, and used to
switch to the cooling mode and the heating mode. The air
conditioning system further includes the first separator 108
connected between the outdoor heat exchanger 112 and the indoor
heat exchanger 120, in which the first port of the first separator
108 is connected to the line of the outdoor heat exchanger 112, the
second port 106 of the first separator 108 is connected to the line
of the indoor heat exchanger 120; the auxiliary branch connected to
the indoor heat exchanger 120 in parallel and arranged between the
gas-liquid separator and the four-way valve 114, in which the
auxiliary branch has an end connected to the third port 122 of the
gas-liquid separator, and the third port 122 of the gas-liquid
separator is the output for a gaseous phase; the throttle member
110 connected between the first separator 108 and the outdoor heat
exchanger 112; and the second separator 104 connected between the
four-way valve 114 and the compressor 102.
[0061] In the specific embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger is
configured as a microchannel heat exchanger which has an inside
volume greatly less than an inside volume of a conventional heat
exchanger. During the cooling mode, the high-pressure
high-temperature vapor discharged from the compressor 102 flows
into the outdoor heat exchanger 112 through the four-way valve 114,
and the refrigerant is condensed into liquid in the outdoor heat
exchanger 112. The high-temperature high-pressure liquid
refrigerant becomes a low-temperature low-pressure refrigerant of
two phases, i.e. a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, after
throttling by means of the throttle member 110. The low-temperature
low-pressure refrigerant of two phases, i.e. a gaseous phase and a
liquid phase, is separated into a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid
refrigerant in the first separator 108. After separation, the
gaseous refrigerant reaches an outlet of the indoor heat exchanger
120 after passing through the auxiliary branch and the one-way
valve 118, and the liquid refrigerant enters an evaporator from the
first separator 108 for heat exchanging by means of evaporation,
and is mixed with the gaseous refrigerant coming from bypass at an
outlet of the evaporator. Since the gaseous refrigerant is large in
specific volume, a large flow resistance is caused, a resistance to
the liquid refrigerant when the liquid refrigerant enters the
evaporator is reduced by flowing through the auxiliary branch, and
the energy efficiency of the system is raised.
[0062] After mixing, the refrigerant vapor enters the second
separator 104 through the four-way valve 114 and then returns to
the compressor 102. During the heating operation, the high-pressure
high-temperature refrigerant vapor discharged from the compressor
102 flows to the indoor heat exchanger 120 through the four-way
valve 114, at this time, since the one-way valve 118 is capable of
communicating only in one direction, the high-pressure
high-temperature refrigerant vapor cannot enter the gas-liquid
separator through a bypass branch, reducing waste in heat energy.
The high-pressure high-temperature refrigerant vapor becomes the
liquid refrigerant after condensation by the indoor heat exchanger
120, and the liquid refrigerant flows to the throttle member 110
through the gas-liquid separator. After throttling, the
low-temperature low-pressure refrigerant is evaporated by absorbing
heat from the surrounding in the outdoor heat exchanger 112. After
evaporation, the refrigerant vapor enters the second separator 104
through the four-way valve 114 and then returns to the compressor
102. Since the first separator 108 is located between the indoor
heat exchanger 120 and the throttle member 110, during the heating
operation the refrigerant entering the first separator 108 is in
the liquid state, such that the first separator 108 can store a
great amount of refrigerant, and the possibility of disproportion
of refrigerant charge during cooling and heating due to an
undersized indoor heat exchanger 120 in a heat pump air conditioner
can be reduced.
[0063] The technical scheme of the present disclosure is described
in detail in the above referring to the drawings. The present
disclosure provides the air conditioning system and the air
conditioner, with the first separator connected between the outdoor
heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger and the auxiliary
branch connected between the first separator and the four-way
valve, the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant
separately flow, the resistance to the liquid refrigerant during
flowing is reduced, and the energy of the air conditioning system
is raised. Meanwhile, during the heating cycle, the first separator
can store a great amount of liquid refrigerant, on the premise of
without enlarging the inside volume of the indoor heat exchanger,
the problem of disproportion of refrigerant charge during cooling
and heating due to an undersized indoor heat exchanger in a heat
pump air conditioner is solved, the cost is reduced, and the space
is saved.
[0064] In the present disclosure, terms such as "first," "second,"
and "third" are used herein for purposes of description and are not
intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance.
Term "a plurality of" means two or more than two, unless specified
otherwise. The terms "mounted," "connected," "coupled," "fixed" and
the like are used broadly, and may be, for example, fixed
connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; may
also be direct connections or indirect connections via intervening
structures; which can be understood by those skilled in the art
according to specific situations.
[0065] In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such
as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," etc. should
be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as
shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are
for convenience of description, but do not alone indicate or imply
that the device or unit referred to must have a particular
orientation and is constructed or operated in a particular
orientation, which cannot be construed to limit the present
disclosure.
[0066] Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment,"
"some embodiments," "a specific example," etc. means that a
particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic
described in connection with the embodiment or example is included
in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure.
Expressions of the phrases throughout this specification are not
necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the
present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features,
structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any
suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.
[0067] The above embodiments of the present disclosure are only
preferable and cannot be construed to limit the present disclosure.
It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various
alterations and changes can be made to the present disclosure.
Changes, alternatives, and modifications can made without departing
from spirit and principles of the present disclosure all fall in
the scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *