This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-198162 filed on Aug. 28, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a refrigerating cycle unit having an ejector.
2. Description of Related Art
JP-A-2008-45775 discloses an ejector type refrigerating cycle unit. The unit includes an ejector and a layered type heat exchanger. The ejector has a nozzle to inject refrigerant at high speed, and is a fluid pump to draw refrigerant from a suction port due to the high speed refrigerant flow. The injected refrigerant and the drawn refrigerant are mixed with each other, and the mixed refrigerant is discharged from an outlet of the ejector.
The heat exchanger has a first refrigerant passage and a second refrigerant passage so as to evaporate refrigerant. Refrigerant to be drawn through the suction port flows through the first refrigerant passage, and refrigerant discharged from the outlet flows through the second refrigerant passage. The heat exchanger is an evaporator constructed by plural flat plates layered with each other. The heat exchanger is integrated with the ejector by arranging the ejector inside of a gather tank of the heat exchanger. Refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant passage is gathered by the gather tank.
However, when the ejector is arranged in the gather tank, a passage area of refrigerant is decreased in the gather tank, such that a pressure loss is increased. In this case, cooling performance of the heat exchanger is lowered.
The ejector may be arranged outside of the gather tank so as to secure the passage area in the gather tank. That is, the heat exchanger and the ejector may be located to be separated from each other.
However, in this case, a pipe is needed to connect the ejector and the gather tank, other than the plates and the ejector. Further, a pipe connecting process is needed to connect the pipe to the ejector, other than a layering process to layer the plates. That is, the unit may have a complicated structure in this case.
In view of the foregoing and other problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerating cycle unit.
According to an example of the present invention, an ejector type refrigerating cycle unit includes an ejector having a nozzle to inject refrigerant, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange plates layered with each other, and a header tank. Each of the heat exchange plates has a refrigerant passage through which refrigerant flows to exchange heat with air to be conditioned. The header tank connects the refrigerant passages of the heat exchange plates in a layering direction of the heat exchange plates such that the refrigerant passages communicate with each other. At least two of the heat exchange plates is fix plates having a fix portion to fix an end part of the ejector, and a communication portion through which an inside of the fixed ejector and an inside of the header tank communicate with each other. The ejector is arranged between the fix portions of the fix plates in the layering direction, so as to be integrated with the heat exchanger.
Accordingly, the ejector and the heat exchanger can be integrated with each other without a lowering of cooling performance.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
An ejector type refrigerating cycle unit 100 will be described with reference to
The unit 100 may be an ejector type refrigerating cycle evaporator unit, or an ejector-fixed evaporator unit. The unit 100 is applied to an ejector type refrigerating cycle. The cycle has refrigerant such as chlorofluorocarbon or hydrocarbon (HC). A high pressure of the refrigerant does not exceed a critical pressure, and a vapor compression subcritical cycle is constructed.
The unit 100 is constructed by integrating an ejector 10 and a layered heat exchanger 20.
The ejector 10 is a decompressor to decompress refrigerant, and is a refrigerant circulator corresponding to a momentum transport type pump. Refrigerant is circulated by drawing and inclusion operation of refrigerant flow ejected at a high speed from the ejector 10.
As shown in
The ejector 10 further has a mixer 17 located downstream of the nozzle 12a and the suction port 15 in the refrigerant flowing direction. The high speed refrigerant flowing from the nozzle 12a and the refrigerant drawn from the suction port 15 are mixed in the mixer 17.
A diffuser 18 corresponding to a pressor member is arranged downstream of the mixer 17 in the refrigerant flowing direction. The passage area of refrigerant is gradually increased in the diffuser 18. Due to the diffuser 18, a refrigerant speed is lowered, and a refrigerant pressure is raised, such that speed energy of refrigerant is converted into pressure energy. That is, the speed energy of refrigerant is recovered by the ejector 10 as the pressure energy.
The ejector 10 is constructed by a nozzle portion 11 and a mixture portion 16, and the nozzle portion 11 and the mixture portion 16 are separated from each other by the suction port 15. The nozzle portion 11 has the nozzle 12a, and the mixture portion 16 has the mixer 17 and the diffuser 18. The suction port 15 is open, and has a side face shape of a cylinder.
The nozzle portion 11 has an inside tube 12 and an outside tube 13. The nozzle 12a is defined by an inner circumference face of the inside tube 12. Refrigerant flows into the inside tube 12 through a first side opening, and flows out of the inside tube 12 through a second side opening. A diameter of the first side opening is larger than a diameter of the second side opening.
The outside tube 13 has a flange 13a extending outward in a radial-direction of the tube 13. Refrigerant flows into the outside tube 13 through a first side opening, and the flange 13a is located on the first side opening. The outside tube 13 has a refrigerant inlet 14 through which refrigerant flows into the nozzle 12a, and the inlet 14 is located most upstream of the outside tube 13 in the refrigerant flowing direction.
The inside tube 12 is fixed inside of the outside tube 13 by being fitted. A second side face of the inside tube 12 and a second side face of the outside tube 13 are located on approximately the same plane.
The mixture portion 16 has a tube shape having a uniform thickness. The mixture portion 16 has a flange 17a extending outward in the radial direction. Refrigerant flows into the mixture portion 16 from a first side, and the flange 17a is located on the first side. The mixer 17 of the mixture portion 16 is located on the first side, and the diffuser 18 of the mixture portion 16 is located on a second side opposite from the first side. A passage area of the mixer 17 is constant, and a passage area of the diffuser 18 is gradually increased toward the second side.
The diffuser 18 has a refrigerant outlet 19 through which refrigerant flows out of the diffuser 18, and the outlet 19 is located most downstream in the refrigerant flowing direction. A diameter of a first side opening of the mixture portion 16 is smaller than that of a second side opening of the mixture portion 16, and is approximately the same as a diameter of a second side opening of the inside tube 12 of the nozzle portion 11.
The nozzle portion 11 and the mixture portion 16 are separated from each other through a clearance X defined between the second side face of the nozzle portion 11 and the first side face of the mixture portion 16. The suction port 15 is defined by the clearance X.
As shown in
As shown in
Air to be conditioned and blown into a passenger compartment of a vehicle exchanges heat with refrigerant in the heat exchanger 20. As shown in
As shown in
The inlet 21a is located approximately center of the distribution plate 21. The inlet 21a is recessed on the first side of the layering direction A without a base, and has a round opening. Refrigerant flows into the unit 100 through the inlet 21a.
The concave portion 21c is located approximately center of the distribution plate 21 in a flowing direction B of air. The concave portion 21c is located on a first end part of the plate 21 in a plate longitudinal direction C. The longitudinal direction C is approximately perpendicular to the layering direction A and the air flowing direction B.
The concave portion 21c is recessed on the first side of the layering direction A, and has a based cylinder shape. A diameter of the concave portion 21c for ejector is larger than a diameter of the concave portion 21e for, first tank. The longitudinal direction C corresponds to a vertical direction. The first end of the longitudinal direction C is located on an upper side in the vertical direction.
The concave portion 21e for first tank is located leeward of the plate 21 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a first end part of the plate 21 in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 21e is recessed on the first side of the layering direction A, and has a based cylinder shape.
The outlet 21f is located windward of the plate 21 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a first end part of the plate 21 in the longitudinal direction C. The outlet 21f is recessed on the first side of the layering direction A without a base, and has a round opening. Refrigerant flows out of the unit 100 through the outlet 21f.
The concave portions 21c, 21e and the outlet 21f are located approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 21c is located between the concave portion 21e and the outlet 21.f in the air flowing direction B.
The inlet 21a and the concave portion 21c communicate with each other through the main groove 21b, and the main groove 21b defines a main passage 39 of
The branch groove 21d defines a branch passage 40 through which the concave portions 21c, 21e communicate with each other. The branch groove 21d extends in the air flowing direction B, and is recessed on the first side of the layering direction A. The branch passage 40 defined by the branch groove 21d has a semicircle-shaped cross-section. The branch passage 40 may correspond to a communication portion.
The inlet 21a communicates with the concave portion 21c through the main groove 21b. The concave portion 21c communicates with the concave portion 21e through the branch groove 21d.
The first side plate 26 is layered on the second side of the distribution plate 21 in the layering direction A. The first side plate 26 increases a strength of the heat exchanger 20.
As shown in
The concave portion 26a for ejector is located approximately center of the plate 26 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a first end part of the plate 26 in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 26a has a through hole through which the nozzle portion 11 is inserted from the first side to the second side in the layering direction A, and the nozzle portion 11 is fixed by the concave portion 26a. The through hole defined by the concave portion 26a has a round shape.
As shown in
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The concave portion 26e for third tank is located leeward of the plate 26 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a second end part of the plate 26 in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 26e is recessed on the second side of the layering direction A, and has a based cylinder shape. A base of the concave portion 26e has an ellipse shape.
The concave portion 26f for fourth tank is located windward of the plate 26 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a second end part of the plate 26 in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 26f is recessed on the second side of the layering direction A, and has a based cylinder shape. A base of the concave portion 26f has an ellipse shape.
The nail 26g is arranged on a first end part of the plate 26 in the longitudinal direction C, and is located on both ends of the plate 26 in the air flowing direction B. The nail 26g is an engaging portion to be used for temporally fixing the distribution plate 21 to the first side plate 26. The nail 26g is bent toward the first side of the layering direction A. The distribution plate 21 and the first side plate 26 are integrated with each other, and may correspond to a heat exchange plate.
A center part of the plate 26 in the longitudinal direction C is flat.
As shown in
As shown in
The concave portion 31a for first tank is located leeward of the first board member 31 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a first end part of the board member 31 in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 31a is recessed on the first side of the layering direction A into a cylinder shape without a base, and has a round opening.
The concave portion 31b for second tank is located windward of the first board member 31 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a first end part of the board member 31 in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 31b is recessed on the first side of the layering direction A into a cylinder shape without a base, and has a round opening.
The concave portion 31c for third tank is located leeward of the first board member 31 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a second end part of the board member 31 in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 31c is recessed on the first side of the layering direction A into a cylinder shape without a base, and has an ellipse opening. When the first board member 31 located most first side is layered on the first side plate 26 in the layering direction A, the opening of the concave portion 31c is closed by the concave portion 26e of the first side plate 26.
The concave portion 31d for fourth tank is located windward of the first board member 31 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a second end part of the board member 31 in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 31d is recessed on the first side of the layering direction A into a cylinder shape without a base, and has an ellipse opening. When the first board member 31 located most first side is layered on the first side plate 26 in the layering direction A, the opening of the concave portion 31d is closed by the concave portion 26f of the first side plate 26.
The leeward groove 31e is located leeward of the first board member 31 in the air flowing direction B, and is located approximately center of the board member 31 in the longitudinal direction C. The leeward groove 31e extends in the longitudinal direction C, and the concave portions 31a, 31c communicate with each other through the groove 31e. The leeward groove 31e is branched into two lines, for example.
The windward groove 31f is located windward of the first board member 31 in the air flowing direction B, and is located approximately center of the board member 31 in the longitudinal direction C. The windward groove 31f extends in the longitudinal direction C, and the concave portions 31b, 31d communicate with each other through the groove 31f. The windward groove 31f is branched into two lines, for example.
A cutout 50 is defined on a first end part of the board member 31 in the longitudinal direction C, and is located approximately center of the first board member 31 in the air flowing direction B. The cutout 50 is a clearance defined between the concave portions 31a, 31b. A size of the cutout 50 is larger than a cross-section area of the outside tube 13 of the nozzle portion 11 of the ejector 10. An area of the cutout 50 is larger than a base area of the concave portion 31a, 31b.
As shown in
The first heat exchange plate 22 is defined by bonding surfaces of the board members 31, 32. As shown in
When the plates 22 are layered, a bottom of the concave portion 31a-31d of the first board member 31 is contact with a bottom of the concave portion 32a-32d of the second board member 32 located adjacent to the first board member 31. That is, the tanks 43-46 of the plates 22 located adjacent to each other communicate with each other, respectively.
One of the nine plates 22 has a first board member 31′ having a based concave portion 31a′ and a based concave portion 31b′. For example, the first board member 31′ corresponding to a first heat exchange plate 22 located fourth order from the first side of the layering direction A has the based concave portions 31a′, 31b′.
Therefore, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Compared with the first board member 31, the third board member 33 does not have the cutout 50, and has the concave portion 33g for ejector and the suction groove 33h. The concave portion 33a-33d is similar to the concave portion 31a-31d of the first board member 31. The groove 33e, 33f is similar to the groove 31e, 31f of the first board member 31.
The concave portion 33g for ejector is located approximately center of the board member 33 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a first end part of the board member 33 in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 33g is located between the concave portions 33a, 33b. The concave portions 33g, 33a and 33b are located approximately the same position in the longitudinal direction C. The concave portion 33g is located between the concave portion 33a for first tank and the concave portion 33b for second tank in the air flowing direction B. The concave portion 33g is recessed on the first side of the layering direction A into a cylinder shape without a base, and has a round opening. A diameter of the opening of the concave portion 33g for ejector is larger than that of the concave portion 33a for first tank.
As shown in
Therefore; an inner circumference face of the concave portion 33g, and an outer circumference face of the nozzle portion 11 are contact in a circumference direction. That is, due to the concave portion 33g and the concave portion 26a of the first side plate 26, the nozzle portion 11 of the ejector 10 is integrally fixed to the heat exchanger 20. An end face of the extending edge of the concave portion 33g and the second side face of the nozzle portion 11 are located on approximately the same plane.
As shown in
As shown in
The concave portion 34g of the fourth board member 34 is a round through hole to fix the mixture portion 16 when the mixture portion 16 is inserted from the first side to the second side in the layering direction A. A diameter of the through hole is smaller than an outer diameter of the flange 17a of the mixture portion 16. The concave portion 34g contacts with the flange 17a on a face approximately perpendicular to the layering direction A. Positioning of the mixture portion 16 is performed by the concave portion 34g in the layering direction A.
The first fix plate 24 is defined by bonding surfaces of the third and fourth board members 33, 34. The first tank 43 is defined by layering the concave portions 33a, 34a. The second tank 44 is defined by layering the concave portions 33b, 34b. The third tank 45 is defined by layering the concave portions 33c, 34c. The fourth tank 46 is defined by layering the concave portions 33d, 34d. The first refrigerant passage 41 is defined by layering the grooves 33e, 34e. The second refrigerant passage 42 is defined by layering the grooves 33f, 34f.
A second fix portion 76 for ejector is integrally defined by layering the concave portions 33g, 34g of the board members 33, 34 of the first fix plate 24. The second fix portion 76 fixes a second side end part of the nozzle portion 11 and a first side end part of the mixture portion 16, in a state that a second side end face of the nozzle portion 11 and a first side end face of the mixture portion 16 are separated from each other through the clearance X. The clearance X is approximately equal to a distance between an opening edge of the concave portion 33g and an opening edge of the concave portion 34g in the layering direction A.
A plurality of the plates 23 is layered on the second side of the layered plates 22 in the layering direction A. For example, five of the plates 23 are layered. The plate 23 defines the tanks 43-46 and the second refrigerant passage 42 by layering a fifth board member 35 and a sixth board member 36 in the layering direction A.
As shown in
Compared with the first board member 31, the fifth board member 35 further has the communication groove 35g. The concave portion 35a-35d is similar to the concave portion 31a-31d of the first board member 31. The groove 35e, 35f and the cutout 50 are similar to the groove 31e, 31f and the cutout 50 of the first board member 31.
The communication groove 35g is located approximately center of the board 35 in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a second end part of the board 35 in the longitudinal direction C.
As shown in
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As shown in
The second heat exchange plate 23 is defined by bonding surfaces of the fifth and sixth board members 35, 36. The first tank 43 is defined by layering the concave portions 35a, 36a. The second tank 44 is defined by layering the concave portions 35b, 36b. The third tank 45 is defined by layering the concave portions 35c, 36c. The fourth tank 46 is defined by layering the concave portions 35d, 36d. The first refrigerant passage 41 is defined by layering the grooves 35e, 36e. The second refrigerant passage 42 is defined by layering the grooves 35f, 36f.
A plurality of the second heat exchange plates 23 are layered, in a manner that a bottom of the concave portion 35a-35d of the fifth board member 35 is contact with a bottom of the concave portion 36a-36d of the sixth board member 36. The tanks 43-46 of the plates 23 located adjacent to each other communicate with each other, respectively.
For example, five of the plates 23 are layered in the unit 100. The plate 23 located most first side has a fifth board member 35′ having based concave portions 35a′, 35c′, 35d′. Therefore, as shown in
A single of the second fix plate 25 is arranged between the plates 23 layered in the layering direction A, and is located between the second order plate 23 from the first side and the third order plate 23 from the first side. The second fix plate 25 defines a third fix portion 77 for ejector, the tanks 43-46 and the second refrigerant passage 42 by layering a seventh board member 37 and an eighth board member 38 in the layering direction A.
As shown in
Compared with the fifth board member 35, the seventh board member 37 does not have the cutout 50, and has the concave portion 37g for ejector and the discharge groove 37h. The concave portions 37a-37d are similar to the concave portions 31a-31d of the first board member 31, respectively. The grooves 37e, 37f are similar to the grooves 31e, 31f of the first board member 31, respectively. The concave portion 37g and the discharge groove 37h are similar to the concave portion 33g and the suction groove 33h of the third board member 33, respectively. The communication groove 37i is similar to the communication groove 35g of the fifth board member 35.
The concave portion 37g is similar to the concave portion 33g of the third board member 33. As shown in
Therefore, an inner circumference face of the concave portion 37g, and an outer circumference face of the mixture portion 16 are contact with each other. Due to the concave portions 37g, 34g, the mixture portion 16 of the ejector 10 is integrally fixed to the heat exchanger 20. An end face of the extending edge of the concave portion 37g and the second side face of the mixture portion 16 are located on approximately the same plane.
The discharge groove 37h is similar to the suction groove 33h, and the concave portions 37a, 37g communicate with each other. The discharge groove 37h defines a discharge passage 49 to discharge refrigerant from the outlet 19 of the ejector 10 into the third distribution tank 55 of
As shown in
The second fix plate 25 is defined by bonding surfaces of the seventh and eighth board members 37, 38. The first tank 43 is defined by layering the concave portions 37a, 38a. The second tank 44 is defined by layering the concave portions 37b, 38b. The third tank 45 is defined by layering the concave portions 37c, 38c. The fourth tank 46 is defined by layering the concave portions 37d, 38d. The first refrigerant passage 41 is defined by layering the grooves 37e, 38e. The second refrigerant passage 42 is defined by layering the grooves 37f, 38f.
The third fix portion 77 for ejector is integrally formed by layering the concave portions 37g, 38g of the board members 37, 38 of the second fix plate 25. The third fix portion 77 fixes an end part of the mixture portion 16 adjacent to the outlet 19.
The second side plate 27 is layered on the second side of the layered plates 23 in the layering direction A. The second side plate 27 increases a strength of the heat exchanger 20 together with the first side plate 26. As shown in
The second side plate 27 has a similar construction as the first side plate 26. However, compared with the first side plate 26, the second side plate 27 does not have a concave portion for ejector and a throttle hole. Further, the concave portion 27a for first tank has a based recess shape, and the concave portion 27b for second tank has a based recess shape.
The heat exchanger 20 has the header tanks 71, 72, 73, 74 by layering the plates 21-27 in the layering direction A. The first header tank 71 is located leeward in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a first end part in the plate longitudinal direction C. The second header tank 72 is located windward in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a first end part in the plate longitudinal direction C. The third header tank 73 is located leeward in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a second end part in the plate longitudinal direction C. The fourth header tank 74 is located windward in the air flowing direction B, and is located on a second end part in the plate longitudinal direction C. Further, the heat exchanger 20 includes the fins 28 located between the plates 22-27 so as to improve heat exchange ratio between air to be conditioned and refrigerant. The fin 28 may be a corrugated fin, for example.
A method of assembling the ejector type refrigerating cycle unit 100 will be described. The assembling of the unit 100 is started by layering the plates sequentially from the second side of the layering direction A, for example.
First, the second side plate 27 is prepared. Relative to the plate 27, three of the plates 23, the second fix plate 25, two of the plates 23, two of the plates 22 and the fourth board member 34 corresponding to the first fix plate 24 are layered from the first side of the layering direction A. The diffuser 18 of the mixture portion 16 of the ejector 10 is inserted into the concave portion 34g of the fourth board member 34 from the first side into the second side.
At this time, the flange 17a and the concave portion 34g have a face contact. Further, the outer circumference face of the end part of the mixture portion 16 is contact with the inner circumference face of the concave portion 37g of the seventh board member 37 corresponding to the second fix plate 25. Further, the end face of the mixture portion 16 and the end face of the concave portion 37g are located on approximately the same plane.
Relative to the fourth board member 34, the third board member 33 corresponding to the first fix plate 24, seven of the plates 22 and the first side plate 26 are layered from the first side of the layering direction A. The nozzle portion 11 of the ejector 10 is inserted into the concave portion 26a from the first side to the second side in the layering direction A.
At this time, the flange 13a and the concave portion 26a have a face contact. Further, the outer circumference face of the end part of the nozzle portion 11 is contact with the inner circumference face of the concave portion 33g of the third board 33 member corresponding to the first fix plate 24. Further, the second side end face of the nozzle portion 11 and the end face of the concave portion 33g are located on approximately the same plane.
The distribution plate 21 is layered on the first side plate 26 from the first side of the layering direction A. The distribution plate 21 is temporally fixed by bending the nail 26g of the first side plate 26. Before brazing, the nozzle portion 11 and the mixture portion 16 are supported by the fix plates 24, 25. The temporally fixed structure is held with a proper jig, and is carried into a brazing heating furnace so as to perform an integration brazing. Thus, the ejector 10 and the heat exchanger 20 can be integrally assembled.
As shown in
As shown in an arrow direction D, refrigerant flows into the unit 100 through the inlet 21a. After refrigerant flows through the main passage 39 indicated by the direction E, refrigerant is separated into the directions F, G. That is, refrigerant is separated between the ejector 10 and the branch passage 40. Refrigerant flowing into the ejector 10 is decompressed and expanded by the nozzle 12a, and is injected as a refrigerant flow having high speed.
Refrigerant flowing into the branch passage 40 is decompressed by the throttle hole 26a, and flows into the first distribution tank 51. Refrigerant is distributed into the first passages 41 represented by the direction I, and gathered into the first gather tank 52. Refrigerant flows into the second distribution tank 53 from the first gather tank 52 in the direction J. Refrigerant is distributed into the first passages 41 represented by the direction K, and gathered into the second gather tank 54.
Refrigerant gathered in the second gather tank 54 is drawn into the suction port 15 in the direction L, due to high speed refrigerant flow injected from the nozzle 12a. Refrigerant injected from the nozzle 12a and refrigerant drawn through the suction port 15 are mixed in the mixer 17 in the direction M. The speed of refrigerant flow is lowered by the diffuser 18, and refrigerant is discharged from the outlet 19 in a state that the pressure of refrigerant is raised.
Refrigerant passing through the outlet 19 flows into the third distribution tank 55 through the discharge passage 49 represented by the direction N. Refrigerant distributed from the tank 55 is gathered in the third gather tank 56 after flowing through the passages 42 represented by the direction O. Refrigerant flows into the fourth distribution tank 57 from the gather tank 56 through the communication passage 47 represented by the direction P. As shown in the direction Q, refrigerant flows through the second refrigerant passages 42, and is gathered in the fourth gather tank 58. Refrigerant flows into the fifth distribution tank 59 in the direction R. Refrigerant is distributed from the tank 59, and flows through the second passages 42 represented by the direction S. Refrigerant is gathered in the fifth gather tank 60, and flows into the sixth distribution tank 61 in the direction T. Refrigerant is distributed from the tank 61, and flows through the second passages 42 represented by the direction U. Refrigerant is gathered in the sixth gather tank 62, and flows out of the unit 100 from the outlet 21f in the direction V.
According to the embodiment, the ejector 10 is arranged outside of the heat exchanger 20, and is fixed to the heat exchanger 20, due to the fix portion 75-77. If an ejector is arranged inside of refrigerant passage, cooling performance of a heat exchanger is lowered in a comparison example. In contrast, according to the embodiment, the cooling performance of the heat exchanger 20 can be secured.
Further, the nozzle portion 11 is arranged between the fix plates 26, 24, and the mixture portion 16 is arranged between the fix plates 24, 25. Therefore, a pipe to connect the ejector 10 and the first header tank 71 is unnecessary. The ejector 10 and the heat exchanger 20 can be integrated with each other in the process for layering the plates 22, 23.
The end parts of the nozzle and mixture portions 11, 16 are inserted into the fix portions 75-77, and the ejector 10 communicates with the first header tank 71 through the passage 40, 48, 49. Therefore, the nozzle and mixture portion 11, 16 are unnecessary to be arranged inside of the header tank 71, such that cross-sectional area of the header tank 71 of the heat exchanger 20 can be increased.
The fix portion 75-77 is arranged in a space between the tanks 43, 44, and the refrigerant passage 41, 42 is not arranged in the space. Therefore, a space for the fix plate 24-26 can be effectively used, so as to construct the fix portion 75-77.
The fix portion 75-77 is located on upper side of the fix plates 24-26 in the vertical direction. Therefore, condensed water generated in the heat exchanger 20 can be drain by gravity force without being intercepted by the ejector 10. Thus, pressure loss can be restricted from increasing, such that the cooling performance of the heat exchanger 20 can be improved.
The nozzle and mixture portions 11, 16 are arranged in the cutout 50 of the heat exchange plates 22, 23 located between the tanks 43, 44. Therefore, a size of the ejector 10 can be restricted from increasing, when the ejector 10 is integrated with the heat exchanger 20.
The end part of the nozzle portion 11 adjacent to the suction port 15 and the end part of the mixture portion 16 adjacent to the suction port 15 are located to be separated from each other. Therefore, the suction port 15 can be defined to be open in a circumference face shape. A member defining the suction port 15 is unnecessary for the ejector 10.
The flange 13a, 17a is arranged on the first side end of the nozzle and mixture portion 11, 16 in the layering direction A. Therefore, an opening edge face of the fix portion 75, 76 is contact with the flange 13a, 17a on a plane perpendicular to the inserting direction of the nozzle and mixture portions 11, 16. Thus, brazing can be easily and accurately performed between the nozzle and mixture portion 11, 16 and the fix portion 75, 76.
The fix portion 76, 77 has the opening into which the second side end of the nozzle and mixture portion 11, 16 is inserted. The opening of the fix portion 76, 77 corresponds to the opening of the concave portion 33g, 37g, and has the edge extending along the outer circumference face of the nozzle and mixture portion 11, 16.
Therefore, the inner circumference face of the opening edge is contact with the outer circumference face of the member 11, 16 in the circumference direction. Thus, brazing can be easily and accurately performed between the nozzle and mixture portion 11, 16 and the fix portion 76, 77. Further, the nozzle and mixture portion 11, 16 connected to the fix portion 76, 77 is supported by the fix portion 76, 77 in a movable state in the longitudinal direction. The nozzle and mixture portions 11, 16 are integrally mounted to the heat exchanger 20 while absorbing parts tolerance and assembling tolerance of the plates 22-26 in the layering direction A,
The first fix portion 75 is located upstream of the throttle hole 26c in the refrigerant flowing direction. If an amount of refrigerant flowing into the unit 100 has a variation due to a load variation of the refrigerating cycle, refrigerant can preferentially flow into the ejector 10. Therefore, energy recovery of the ejector 10 can be promoted in spite of the load change of refrigerating cycle.
The throttle hole 26c has the nozzle shape, thereby refrigerant can easily flow into the first refrigerant passage 41 located far from the throttle hole 26c. Further, refrigerant inlet side of the throttle hole 26c has a continuation loose curve surface. Therefore, refrigerant can pass through the throttle hole 26c without exfoliating, such that noise and vibration of refrigerant flow can be reduced.
The embodiment may have the following modifications, for example.
The predetermined clearance X is defined between the nozzle portion 11 and the mixture portion 16. Therefore, the suction port 15 is defined to open in a side face of a cylinder. Alternatively, plural cutouts having half-elliptical shape may be defined on a refrigerant outlet end of the nozzle portion 11 and a refrigerant inlet end of the mixture portion 16. The suction port 15 may become larger by the size of the cutouts.
An interval between the nozzle portion 11 and the mixture portion 16 may be equal to or smaller than the clearance X. Further, the refrigerant outlet end of the nozzle portion 11 and the refrigerant inlet end of the mixture portion 16 may contact with each other. In this case, the suction port 15 is open in an elliptical shape defined by combining the half-elliptical cutouts. That is, the nozzle portion 11 and the mixture portion 16 may be integrated with each other.
The nozzle portion 11 has the inside tube 12 and the outside tube 13. Alternatively, the nozzle 12a may be defined by the outside tube 13 without the inside tube 12.
The flange 13a is formed on the first side end of the nozzle portion 11 in the layering direction A. Alternatively, the flange 13a may be formed on the second side end of the nozzle portion 11 in the layering direction A. In this case, the flange 17a is also formed on the second side end of the mixture portion 16 in the layering direction A. When the flanges 13a, 17a are located on the same side in the layering direction A, the assembling process can be made easier. Alternatively, the nozzle and mixture portions 11, 16 may be fitted into the fix portion 75-77, thereby the assembling process can be made easier.
The plate longitudinal direction C corresponds to a vertical direction. Alternatively, the plate longitudinal direction C may correspond to a horizontal direction.
The first end of the plate longitudinal direction C corresponds to the upper side in the vertical direction. Alternatively, the first end of the plate longitudinal direction C may correspond to a lower side in the vertical direction. That is, the ejector 10 may be located on a lower side of the heat exchanger 20.
The throttle hole 26c has a nozzle shape protruding in the second side of the layering direction A. Alternatively, the throttle may be a mere penetration hole.
Nine of the first heat exchange plates 22 are layered. Alternatively, the number of the plates 22 is not limited to nine. The number of the second heat exchange plates 23 is not limited. However, the number of the plates 22 may be approximately twice of the number of the plates 23, because the header tank 71-74 is divided into three equation parts.
One of the plates 22 has the first board member 31′ having the based concave portion 31a′. Alternatively, the one of the plates 22 may have a second board member 32′ having a based concave portion 32a′.
One of the plates 22 has the first board member 31′ having the based concave portion 31b′. Alternatively, the one of the plates 22 may have a second board member 32′ having a based concave portion 32b′.
The first fix plate 24 is not limited to be arranged between the plate 22 located the seventh order from the first side and the plate 22 located the eighth order from the first side. Alternatively, the first fix plate 24 may be located at a position at which the suction passage 48 and the second gather tank 54 communicate with each other.
The edge of the opening of the concave portion 33g extends along the outer circumference face of the nozzle component 11. Alternatively, the edge of the opening of the concave portion 33g may be a mere opening without extending. The concave portion 37g may be similar to the concave portion 33g.
The end face of the opening edge of the concave portion 33g and the second side face of the nozzle portion 11 are located on approximately the same plane. Alternatively, the second side face of the nozzle portion 11 may protrude from the opening edge of the concave portion 33g.
The end face of the opening edge of the concave portion 37g and the second side face of the mixture portion 16 are located on approximately the same plane. Alternatively, the second side face of the mixture portion 16 may protrude from the opening edge of the concave portion 37g.
In the assembling method, the plates 21-26 are layered on the second side plate 27. Alternatively, the distribution plate 21 or the first side plate 26 is prepared, and the plates 22-27 are layered on the second side of the plate 21, 26.
The first side plate 26 has the nail 26g. Alternatively, the nail 26g may be arranged on the distribution plate 21. If the board member 31-38 has a member corresponding to the nail 26g, the process of assembling the plates 22-25 can be easier.
The plate 22, 23, has the cutout 50. Alternatively, the heat exchange plate 22, 23 may not have the cutout 50. In this case, the nozzle and mixture portions 11, 16 may be located above the heat exchange plate 22, 23.
The main groove 21b of the distribution plate 21 makes the inlet 21a and the concave portion 21c to communicate with each other. Alternatively, the inlet 21a may communicate with the concave portion 21e through the main groove 21b. That is, the concave portion 21e may be located upstream of the concave portion 21c in the refrigerant flowing direction.
Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2009-198162 | Aug 2009 | JP | national |
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Entry |
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Office action dated Mar. 26, 2013 in corresponding Japanese Application No. 2009-198162. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20110048064 A1 | Mar 2011 | US |