A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A FLOW REGULATOR

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a flow regulator with improved fluid noise suppression and which reduces the noise originating from the fluid during the refrigeration cycle.

[0002] In the refrigeration circuits of cooling devices, capillary pipes are used in order to lower the pressure of the fluid. The fluid, the pressure of which is decreased by means of the capillary pipes, flows at a high speed at the capillary pipe outlet and is generally two-phase. The fluid converts to the gas phase at the evaporator outlet. The fluid that is two-phase or in the gas phase and that tends to have hydrodynamic instability causes the generation of noise. Moreover, noise is generated due to the vibration and turbulence originating from the sudden pressure difference during the transfer of the fluid from the capillary pipes with narrow cross-sectional area to the pipes having wider cross-sectional area. In the state of the art, utilization of porous flow regulators is known in order to decrease the said disturbing sound level which can be generally heard from the outside.

[0003] In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP0943879, it is described that the porous flow regulator that provides reduction in the noise originating from the refrigerant fluid is fixed between the capillary pipe and the pipe wherein at least some part of the capillary pipe is located.

[0004] Japanese Patent Document JP 2000 205595 discloses a refrigeration cycle according to the preamble of claim 1, in which a portion of the piping for connecting the evaporator to the compressor comprises a flexible pipe having a bellows part for suppressing the vibration of the compressor from being transmitted to the evaporator.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a flow regulator that reduces the noise originating from the fluid.

[0006] The cooling device according to the present invention comprises the features of claim 1. The cooling device comprises among others a compressor that enables the refrigeration cycle to be performed, a condenser that transfers thermal energy to the outside environment, an evaporator that draws the thermal energy in the environment being cooled, a capillary pipe that is disposed between the condenser and the evaporator and that enables the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser to be delivered to the evaporator by expanding, and a return pipe that extends from the evaporator to the compressor.

[0007] The cooling device of the present invention comprises an at least partially flexible flow regulator that carries the refrigerant, that is situated among the pipes between the evaporator and the condenser, that suppressing the noise originating from the fluid in the refrigeration cycle from the pressure differences in the fluid, that has a corrugated shape differentiating from one end to the other end and wherein the circulation of the refrigerant is realized. By means of the corrugated surface of the flow regulator, the flow rate of the refrigerant is decreased and the fluid is prevented from generating noise by hitting the walls of the flow regulator.

[0008] In the present invention, one end of the flow regulator opens to the evaporator inlet and the other end thereof to the capillary pipe or one end of the flow regulator opens to the evaporator (4) outlet and the other end thereof to the return pipe (6). By means of the flow regulator, the acoustic energy of the refrigerant received from the capillary pipe is decreased before the refrigerant enters the evaporator. Thus, vibration-induced noise formation on the evaporator is prevented. Since the bubbles in the refrigerant contact the return pipe walls and burst while the refrigerant leaving the evaporator in gas phase moves towards the compressor, noise and vibration increase especially at the evaporator outlet. The flow regulator damps the increasing vibration thanks to its flexible configuration and geometry.The shape of the flow regulator is frustoconical, accordion and cylindrical respectively in the flow direction of the refrigerant. That the flow regulator is composed of different geometrical shapes arranged successively enables the physical characteristics of the refrigerant to change in a slow and stable manner along the flow regulator. Thus, the refrigerant flows in a more stable manner and noise originating from the flow of the refrigerant is decreased.

[0009] In the present invention, the portion of the flow regulator close to the evaporator outlet is frustoconical and the portion thereof close to the compressor is cylindrical.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the accordion portion of the flow regulator is produced from elastomeric material. Thanks to its flexible structure, the flow regulator reduces the vibration-induced noise by damping the vibrations caused by the high pressure fluid.

[0011] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the refrigerant circulation line of a cooling device.

Figure 2 - is the sideways view of a flow regulator.

[0012] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1-

Cooling device

2-

Compressor

3-

Condenser

4-

Evaporator

5-

Capillary pipe

6-

Return pipe

7-

Flow regulator

[0013] The cooling device (1) comprises a compressor (2) enabling the refrigeration cycle to be performed, a condenser (3) that transfers thermal energy to the outside environment, an evaporator (4) that draws thermal energy from the environment being cooled, at least one capillary pipe (5) that is disposed between the condenser (3) and the evaporator (4) and that enables the refrigerant to be delivered to the evaporator (4) by expanding at the outlet of the condenser (3), and a return pipe (6) that is disposed between the evaporator (4) and the compressor (2) and that carries the refrigerant in gas phase to the compressor (2).

[0014] The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises a flexible flow regulator (7) for preventing the noise originating from the fluid, the flow regulator (7) having at least some portion in accordion (A) form, and being disposed on the refrigerant circulation line that is between the evaporator (4) and the condenser (3). By means of the accordion (A) form of the flow regulator (7), the fluid slows down while passing through the flow regulator (7). Thus, the physical characteristics of the fluid change in a stable manner and the pressure of the fluid is prevented from changing abruptly. Moreover, vibrations generated on the refrigerant circulation line are prevented from generating noise by stimulating the evaporator (4).

[0015] In the present invention, the flow regulator (7) is situated between the capillary pipe (5) and the evaporator (4) inlet or the flow regulator (7) is situated between the evaporator (4) outlet and the return pipe (6). The fluid, the pressure of which is decreased by means of the capillary pipe (5), flows at a high speed at the capillary pipe (5) outlet and is generally two-phase. The acoustic energy of the fluid coming from the capillary pipe (5) and having a reduced speed after passing through the flow regulator (7) is decreased at the evaporator (4) inlet. Thus, noise generation is prevented. Vibrations generated on the capillary pipe (5) are damped before reaching the evaporator (4), thus the formation of vibration-induced noise on the evaporator (4) is prevented. Noise and vibrations increase between the evaporator (4) and the return pipe (6) wherein the fluid is in gas phase. Thanks to its geometry, the flow regulator (7) prevents fluid from creating vortices in the return pipe (6).

[0016] In the present invention, wherein the flow regulator (7) is disposed between capillary pipe (5) and evaporator (4) inlet, the end of the flow regulator (7) connected to the capillary pipe (5) is frustoconical (F) and the end thereof connected to the evaporator (4) inlet is cylindrical (S) or wherein the flow regulator (7) is disposed between the evaporator (4) outlet and the return pipe (6), its end connected to the evaporator (4) outlet being frustoconical (F) and the end thereof connected to the return pipe (6) being cylindrical (S). The end of the flow regulator (7) connected to the evaporator (4) outlet is frustoconical (F) and the end thereof connected to the return pipe (6) is cylindrical (S). By means of the frustoconical (F) form of the flow regulator (7), the fluid that leaves the capillary pipe (5) with increased speed, slows down while moving forward inside the flow regulator (7). By means of the accordion (A) form of the flow regulator (7), the refrigerant flows over the walls of the flow regulator (7) by zigzagging after its flow rate is reduced. The fluid passes through the cylindrical (S) portion and enters the evaporator (4). Thus, noise is prevented from originating due to the pressure change occurring during the fluid transfer between the pipes with different diameters. Thanks to the frustoconical (F), accordion (A) and cylindrical (S) forms of the flow regulator (7) arranged respectively, vibrations with different wavelengths are damped. The acoustic energy of the refrigerant is reduced by making the flow thereof stable.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the accordion (A) portion of the flow regulator (7) is produced from elastomeric material. Thanks to its flexible structure, the flow regulator (7) damps the vibrations caused by the acoustic energy of the fluid and prevents formation of noise.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the frustoconical (F) and/or cylindrical (S) portions of the flow regulator (7) are produced from metal. Thus, the flow regulator (7) can be connected to the evaporator (4) inlet by welding. Connecting the simple structured pipes with welding provides savings in material costs.

[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the frustoconical (F) and/or cylindrical (S) portions of the flow regulator (7) are produced from plastic.

[0020] By means of the present invention, the pressure of the fluid is reduced thanks to the at least partially flexible flow regulator (7) with a geometry changing from one end to the other end. The cavitation and vibration noise originating from the pressure change occurring during the fluid transfer between the pipes with different diameters is effectively dampened. Consequently, generation of noise originating from flow and/or physical characteristics of the fluid is prevented and the cooling device (1) is enabled to operate more silently.

Claims

1. A cooling device (1) comprising

- a compressor (2) enabling the refrigeration cycle to be performed,

- a condenser (3) that transfers thermal energy to the outside environment,

- an evaporator (4) that draws thermal energy from the environment being cooled,

- a capillary pipe (5) that is disposed between the condenser (3) and the evaporator (4) and that enables the refrigerant to be delivered to the evaporator (4) by expanding at the outlet of the condenser (3), and

- a return pipe (6) that is disposed between the evaporator (4) and the compressor (2) and that carries the refrigerant in gas phase from evaporator (4) to the compressor (2),

characterised by

a flexible flow regulator (7) for preventing the noise originating from the fluid, the flow regulator (7) having at least some portion in accordion (A) form, and being disposed on the refrigerant circulation line that is between the evaporator (4) and the condenser (3),

wherein the flow regulator (7) is disposed between the capillary pipe (5) and the evaporator (4) inlet with its end connected to the capillary pipe (5) being frustoconical (F) and the end thereof connected to the evaporator (4) inlet being cylindrical (S);

or wherein the flow regulator (7) is disposed between the evaporator (4) outlet and the return pipe (6) with its end connected to the evaporator (4) outlet being frustoconical (F) and the end thereof connected to the return pipe (6) being cylindrical (S).

2. A cooling device (1) as in claim 1 wherein the flow regulator (7), the accordion (A) portion of which is produced from elastomeric material.

3. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, wherein the flow regulator (7), the frustoconical (F) and/or cylindrical (S) portions of which are produced from metal.

Ansprüche

1. Ein Kühlgerät (1) umfasst

- einen Kompressor (2), der die Durchführung des Kältekreislaufs ermöglicht,

- einen Kondensator (3), der Wärmeenergie an die Außenumgebung abgibt,

- einen Verdampfer (4), der Wärmeenergie aus der zu kühlenden Umgebung entzieht,

- ein Kapillarrohr (5), das zwischen dem Kondensator (3) und dem Verdampfer (4) angeordnet ist und dass die Zuführung des Kältemittels zum Verdampfer (4) ermöglicht, indem es sich am Ausgang des Kondensators (3) ausdehnt, und

- ein Rücklaufrohr (6), das zwischen dem Verdampfer (4) und dem Kompressor (2) angeordnet ist und das Kältemittel in Gasphase vom Verdampfer (4) zum Kompressor (2) befördert,

gekennzeichnet ist es durch

einen flexiblen Strömungsregler (7) zum Verhindern des Geräusches, das von dem Fluid herrührt, wobei der Strömungsregler (7) zumindest einen Teil in Ziehharmonikaform (A) aufweist und an der Kühlmittelzirkulationsleitung angeordnet ist, die sich zwischen dem Verdampfer (4) und dem Kondensator (3) ist,

wobei der Strömungsregler (7) zwischen dem Kapillarrohr (5) und dem Einlass des Verdampfers (4) angeordnet ist, wobei sein mit dem Kapillarrohr (5) verbundenes Ende kegelstumpfförmig (F) ist und dessen mit dem Einlass des Verdampfers (4) verbundenes Ende zylindrisch (S) ist;

oder wobei der Strömungsregler (7) zwischen dem Auslass des Verdampfers (4) und dem Rücklaufrohr (6) angeordnet ist, wobei sein Ende, das mit dem Auslass des Verdampfers (4) verbunden ist, kegelstumpfförmig (F) ist und sein Ende mit dem Rücklaufrohr (6) zylindrisch (S) verbunden ist.

2. Ein Kühlgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 aufgeführt, wobei der Strömungsregler (7), dessen Ziehharmonika-Abschnitt (A) aus elastomeren Material hergestellt ist.

3. Ein Kühlgerät (1), wie in einem der vorherigen Ansprüchen aufgeführt, wobei der Durchflussregler (7), dessen kegelstumpfförmige (F) und/oder zylindrische (S) Abschnitte aus Metall hergestellt sind.

Revendications

1. Un appareil de refroidissement (1) comprenant

- un compresseur (2) permettant d'effectuer le cycle de réfrigération,

- un condenseur (3) qui transfère l'énergie thermique à l'environnement extérieur,

- un évaporateur (4) qui tire l'énergie thermique de l'environnement à rafraîchir,

- un tube capillaire (5) qui est disposé entre le condenseur (3) et
l'évaporateur (4) et qui permet au réfrigérant d'être délivré à l'évaporateur (4) en se détendant à la sortie du condenseur (3), et

- un tube de retour (6) qui est disposé entre l'évaporateur (4) et le compresseur (2) et qui transporte le réfrigérant en phase gazeuse de l'évaporateur (4) au compresseur (2),

caractérisé par

un régulateur de débit flexible (7) pour empêcher le bruit provenant du fluide, le régulateur de débit (7) ayant au moins une partie en forme d'accordéon (A), et étant disposé sur la ligne de circulation de réfrigérant qui est entre l'évaporateur (4) et le condenseur (3),

dans lequel le régulateur de débit (7) est disposé entre le tube capillaire (5) et l'entrée de l'évaporateur (4), son extrémité reliée au tube capillaire (5) étant tronconique (F) et son extrémité reliée à l'entrée de l'évaporateur (4) étant cylindrique (S) ;

ou dans lequel le régulateur de débit (7) est disposé entre la sortie de l'évaporateur (4) et le tuyau de retour (6), son extrémité reliée à la sortie de l'évaporateur (4) étant tronconique (F) et son extrémité reliée au tuyau de retour (6) étant cylindrique (S).

2. Appareil de refroidissement (1) selon la déclaration 1, dans lequel le régulateur de débit (7), dont la partie en accordéon (A) est fabriquée en matériau élastomère.

3. Appareil de refroidissement (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations précédentes, dans lequel le régulateur de débit (7), dont les parties tronconiques (F) et/ou cylindriques (S) sont réalisées en métal.

Drawing