Refrigerant cycle device

• US 20090241573A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Oshitani, Hiroshi, Takano, Yoshiaki, Ikegami, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/238.700
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00335 of the gas-air type B60H1/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00342 of the liquid-liquid type
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/02731 using one three-way valve
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/02741 using one four-way valve
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2339/044 Condensers with an integrated receiver
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2339/047 Water-cooled condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/0403 for the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/0417 for the subcooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 39/04 Condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/02 Subcoolers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/24 Arrangement of shut-off valves for disconnecting a part of the refrigerant cycle, e.g. an outdoor part
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/34 with the valve member being actuated by electric means, e.g. by piezoelectric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A subcool condenser having a condensation heat exchange portion, a receive portion and a supercool heat exchange portion is used as an outdoor heat exchanger that functions as a radiator in a cooling operation mode so that COP in the cooling operation mode is increased. In contrast, in a heating operation mode, a refrigerant bypass device that causes the refrigerant to flow so as to bypass the supercool heat exchange portion is provided so that pressure loss generated in the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger is decreased. Thereby, driving force of a compressor can be decreased and COP in the heating operation mode can be improved.

Claims

1. A refrigerant cycle device comprising:

a compressor configured to compress and discharge a refrigerant;

a utilization side heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and a fluid to be heat exchanged;

an outdoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and ambient air; and

a flow passage switch portion configured to switch a refrigerant flow passage, wherein

the flow passage switch portion switches to a refrigerant flow passage in which heat of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is radiated by the outdoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant evaporated by the utilization side heat exchanger flows into a refrigerant suction side of the compressor in a cooling operation mode for cooling the fluid, and switches to a refrigerant flow passage in which heat of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is radiated by the utilization side heat exchanger and the refrigerant evaporated by the outdoor heat exchanger flows into the refrigerant suction side of the compressor in a heating operation mode for heating the fluid, and

the outdoor heat exchanger is configured to include a condensation heat exchange portion for condensing the refrigerant, a receive portion for separating the refrigerant flowing out of the condensation heat exchange portion into gas and liquid, and a supercool heat exchange portion for supercooling a saturated liquid phase refrigerant flowing out of the receive portion, through which the refrigerant flows in the cooling operation mode, the refrigerant cycle device further comprising

a refrigerant bypass portion that is configured such that the refrigerant bypasses at least a part of the supercool heat exchange portion in the heating operation mode.

2. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 1, wherein

a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation mode is the same with a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger in the heating operation mode, and

the refrigerant bypass portion causes the refrigerant flowing into the condensation heat exchange portion to flow out of the receive portion in the heating operation mode.

3. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 2, wherein

the refrigerant bypass portion includes a bypass pipe through which the refrigerant flowing out of the receive portion flows, and a control valve for controlling a flowing state of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass pipe.

4. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 3, wherein

the control valve includes a bypass pipe opening-closing valve for opening and closing the bypass pipe.

5. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 4, wherein

the control valve further includes a main pipe opening-closing valve for opening and closing a main pipe, and the main pipe opening-closing valve is provided in the main pipe between an end portion of the bypass pipe that is opposite from another end portion thereof connected to the receive portion and the supercool heat exchange portion.

6. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 1, wherein

a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation mode is opposite from a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger in the heating operation mode, and

the refrigerant bypass portion causes the refrigerant to flow into the receive portion and causes the refrigerant flowing into the receive portion to flow out of the condensation heat exchange portion in the heating operation mode.

7. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 6, wherein

the refrigerant bypass portion includes a bypass pipe through which the refrigerant flows into the receive portion, and a control valve for controlling a flowing state of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass pipe.

8. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 7, wherein

the control valve includes a bypass pipe opening-closing valve for opening and closing the bypass pipe.

9. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 8, wherein

the control valve further includes a main pipe opening-closing valve for opening and closing a main pipe, and the main pipe opening-closing valve is provided in the main pipe between an end portion of the bypass pipe that is opposite from another end portion thereof connected to the receive portion and the supercool heat exchange portion.

10. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 7, wherein

the control valve includes a check valve that allows the refrigerant flowing through the bypass pipe to flow only toward the receive portion.

11. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 10, wherein

the control valve further includes a main pipe opening-closing valve for opening and closing a main pipe, and the main pipe opening-closing valve is provided in the main pipe between an end portion of the bypass pipe that is opposite from another end portion thereof connected to the receive portion and the supercool heat exchange portion.

12. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 1, wherein

at least a part of the refrigerant bypass portion is provided along an outer surface of the outdoor heat exchanger.

13. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 1, wherein

at least a part of the refrigerant bypass portion is configured integrally with a configuring member of the outdoor heat exchanger.

14. The refrigerant cycle device according to claim 1, wherein

at least a part of the refrigerant bypass portion is configured integrally with the outdoor heat exchanger such that a temperature change of the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant bypass portion is suppressed.