Patent Publication Number: US-2022235981-A1

Title: Water-cooling type condenser

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a water-cooling type condenser configured to cool a refrigerant by exchanging heat between cooling water and the refrigerant flowing along an inner portion thereof and including a gas-liquid separator separating a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant from each other and integrally formed. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A heat exchanger is a device that absorbs heat from one side and dissipates the absorbed heat to the other side between two environments having a temperature difference, and acts as a cooling system in a case where it absorbs heat of the interior and dissipates the absorbed heat to the exterior and acts as a heating system when it absorbs heat of the exterior and dissipates the absorbed heat to the interior. The cooling system basically includes an evaporator absorbing heat from the surrounding, a compressor compressing a heat exchange medium, a condenser dissipating heat to the surrounding, and an expansion valve expanding the heat exchange medium. 
     In a cooling device, an actual cooling action is generated by an evaporator in which a liquid-phase heat exchange medium is vaporized by absorbing an amount of heat corresponding to heat of vaporization from the surrounding. In addition, a gas-phase heat exchange medium introduced from the evaporator into a compressor is compressed at a high temperature and a high pressure in the compressor, heat of liquefaction is dissipated to the surrounding in a process in which the compressed gas-phase heat exchange medium is liquefied while passing through the condenser, the liquefied heat exchange medium passes through an expansion valve to become a low-temperature and low-pressure wet saturated steam state, and is then introduced again into the evaporator to be vaporized, thereby forming a cycle. 
     Here, the condenser may be divided into an air-cooling type condenser cooling a refrigerant by exchanging heat with air and a water-cooling type condenser cooling a refrigerant by exchanging heat with cooling water, and a conventional water-cooling condenser of the air-cooling type condenser and the water-cooling type condenser is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in the conventional water-cooling type condenser, a core part  10  in which a fluid channel through which a refrigerant flows and a fluid channel through which cooling water flows are formed, and a gas-liquid separator  20  which is coupled to the core part  10 , into which the refrigerant is introduced, and which is configured to separate the introduced refrigerant into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant and discharge only the liquid refrigerant are formed integrally with each other. 
     However, the gas-liquid separator  20  is configured so that the refrigerant communicates with the core part  10  through a connection pipe  15 . Accordingly, pressure loss of the refrigerant increases, and there is a difficulty in manufacturing the water-cooling type condenser in a case where a shape of the connection pipe is complicated. In addition, since the gas-liquid separator  20  is formed in a structure in which it is coupled to the core part  10  using separate fixing brackets  30  or the like in order to be firmly fixed to the core part  10 , the structure becomes complicated and the number of components is increased, which is disadvantageous in manufacturing the water-cooling type condenser. 
     RELATED ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         KR 10-2017-0079223 A (2017.07.10) 
       
    
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a water-cooling type condenser in which a core part in which a fluid channel through which a refrigerant flows and a fluid channel through which cooling water flows are formed and a gas-liquid separator which is coupled to the core part, into which the refrigerant is introduced, and which is configured to separate the introduced refrigerant into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant and discharge only the liquid refrigerant are formed integrally with each other and the gas-liquid separator may be connected to the core part so that the refrigerant communicates with the core part while being coupled and fixed to the core part. 
     Technical Solution 
     In one general aspect, a water-cooling type condenser includes: a core part in which refrigerant fluid channels through which a refrigerant flows and cooling water fluid channels through which cooling water flows are formed; a gas-liquid separator disposed on one side of the core part so as to be spaced apart from the core part; a penetration connector having a communication hole formed to penetrate through both sides thereof, and having one side inserted and coupled into a refrigerant outlet formed in the core part and the other side inserted into and coupled to a refrigerant inlet formed in the gas-liquid separator; and a non-penetration connector of which a space between both sides is blocked and which has one side inserted and coupled into the core part and the other side inserted into and coupled to a coupling hole formed in the gas-liquid separator. 
     In addition, the penetration connector and the non-penetration connector may have one sides joined to the core and the other sides joined to the gas-liquid separator. 
     In addition, the core part may be formed by stacking a plurality of plates, and the refrigerant fluid channels and the cooling water fluid channels may be formed by stacking the plurality of plates. 
     In addition, the water-cooling type condenser may further include an end plate coupled to the core part, wherein a first communication part corresponding to the refrigerant outlet of the core part and a second communication part spaced apart from the first communication part are formed in the end plate, and one side of the penetration connector is inserted into and coupled to the first communication part, and one side of the non-penetration connector is inserted into and coupled to the second communication part. 
     In addition, the first communication part and the second communication part of the end plate may be formed to protrude toward the gas-liquid separator. 
     In addition, the end plate may be a clad member of which a surface in contact with the core part is formed as a clad surface, and inner circumferential surfaces of the first communication part and the second communication part may be formed as a clad surface and be joined to the penetration connector and the non-penetration connector. 
     In addition, the gas-liquid separator may be a clad member having an outer circumferential surface formed as a clad surface, and the penetration connector and non-penetration connector may be joined to the outer circumferential surface of the gas-liquid separator. 
     In addition, the penetration connector and the non-penetration connector may include, respectively, step parts formed between both insertion parts thereof so as to protrude in an outer diameter direction. 
     In addition, both side surfaces of the step parts of the penetration connector and the non-penetration connector may be formed asymmetrically, one side surfaces of the step parts may be formed as flat surfaces so as to correspond to a shape of a surface of the end plate with which the one side surfaces of the step parts are in contact, and the other side surfaces of the step parts may be formed as arc-shaped curved surfaces so as to correspond to a shape of a surface of the gas-liquid separator with which the other side surfaces of the step parts are in contact. 
     In addition, one or more of the penetration connector and the non-penetration connector may include seating grooves concavely formed in side surfaces of the step parts facing the gas-liquid separator, and clad rings formed of a clad material may be inserted into the seating grooves. 
     In addition, one or more of the penetration connector and the non-penetration connector may be joined to the gas-liquid separator by melting the clad rings. 
     In addition, in the non-penetration connector, the both insertion parts, the step part, and a blocking part blocking a space between the both insertion parts may be formed integrally with each other by cutting a material having a block or rod shape. 
     In addition, outer circumferential surfaces of the both insertion parts of the penetration connector may be formed as a clad surface. 
     In addition, the penetration connector and the non-penetration connector may be formed to have the same external shape except whether or not inner portions thereof are in a penetration shape. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     The water-cooling type condenser according to the present invention may decrease pressure loss of a refrigerant and have a simple structure and a compact configuration because it is possible to firmly fix the gas-liquid separator to the core part while allowing the refrigerant fluid channels of the gas-liquid separator and the core part to communicate with each other. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled perspective view illustrating a conventional water-cooling type condenser. 
         FIGS. 2 to 4  are, respectively, an assembled perspective view, an exploded perspective view, and a front cross-sectional view illustrating a water-cooling type condenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a penetration connector portion of the water-cooling type condenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a non-penetration connector portion of the water-cooling type condenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, a water-cooling type condenser according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIGS. 2 to 4  are, respectively, an assembled perspective view, an exploded perspective view, and a front cross-sectional view illustrating a water-cooling type condenser according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a penetration connector portion of the water-cooling type condenser according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a non-penetration connector portion of the water-cooling type condenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the water-cooling type condenser according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to mainly include a core part  100 , a gas-liquid separator  300 , a penetration connector  400 , and a non-penetration connector  500 , and may be configured to further include an end plate  200  coupled to one side of the core part  100 . 
     The core part  100  may be formed by stacking a plurality of plates, and refrigerant fluid channels and cooling water fluid channels may be formed by stacking the plurality of plates. As an example, the core part  100  may include a plurality of first plates  110  and a plurality of second plates  120 , and may be formed in a shape in which the first plates  110  and the second plates  120  are alternately stacked. In addition, the refrigerant fluid channels and the cooling water fluid channels may be alternately formed so that a refrigerant and cooling water easily exchange heat with each other, by stacking the first plates  110  and the second plates  120 . Here, the first plates  110  and the second plates  120  may include side parts of which peripheral portions are bent to one side, and the side portions of the first and second plates may be in close contact with each other. In addition, the first and second plates may be formed of double-sided clad members, such that side surfaces of the first and second plates may be joined to each other by brazing after the first plates  110  and the second plates  120  are alternately stacked. In addition, a cup part may be formed in the first plate  110  by protruding a periphery of a through hole penetrating through both surfaces of the first plate  110  toward the second plate  120 , and the cup part of the first plate  110  may be joined to the second plate by brazing to form a fluid channel. In addition, a refrigerant inlet  130  through which the refrigerant is introduced may be formed at one side of the core part  100  and a refrigerant outlet  140  may be formed at the other side of the core part  100 . In addition, an inlet pipe through which the cooling water is introduced and an outlet pipe may be formed in the core part  100 , and in the core part  100 , the cooling water fluid channel may be divided into two portions, such that two inlet pipes and two outlet pipes may be formed. In addition, the core part  100  may be formed in various shapes. 
     The end plate  200  may be coupled to the core part  100 , and may be coupled to a surface of the core part  100  in a direction in which the first plates  110  and the second plates  120  are stacked. In this case, the end plate  200  may be formed of a clad member of which a surface in contact with the core part  100  is a clad surface, such that the end plate  200  may be joined and coupled to the core part  100  by brazing. In addition, a first communication part  210  corresponding to and communicating with the refrigerant outlet  140  of the core part  100  may be formed in the end plate  200  so as to penetrate through both surfaces of the end plate  200 , and a second communication part  220  may be formed at a position spaced apart from the first communication part  210  above the first communication part  210  so as to penetrate through both surfaces of the end plate  200 . In addition, the end plate  200  may be formed of a plate material thicker than the first plate  110  and the second plate  120  constituting the core part  100 , such that structural rigidity of the core part  100  may be improved by the end plate  200 . In addition, the first communication part  210  and the second communication part  220  of the end plate  200  may be formed to protrude from peripheral portions of openings penetrating through both surfaces of the end plate  200  toward the gas-liquid separator  300 , respectively. In this case, the first communication part  210  and the second communication part  220  of the end plate  200  may be formed to protrude from the peripheral portions of the openings toward the gas-liquid separator  300  by pressing a single clad member of which a surface in contact with the core part  100  is a clad surface, and accordingly, an inner circumferential surface of the first communicating part  210  and an inner circumferential surface of the second communicating part  220  may be the clad surface. 
     The gas-liquid separator  300  may be disposed to be spaced apart from the end plate  200  by a predetermined distance, and may serve to separate the refrigerant introduced into a refrigerant inlet  320  formed at one side thereof into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant and discharge only the liquid-phase refrigerant through a refrigerant outlet  330  formed at the other side thereof. In addition, the gas-liquid separator  300  may have the refrigerant inlet  320  formed at a lower side of one side thereof, and may have a coupling hole  310  formed at an upper side thereof and penetrating through both surfaces of the gas-liquid separator  300 . In addition, the gas-liquid separator  300  may be formed of a clad member having an outer circumferential surface formed as a clad surface. 
     The penetration connector  400  may be formed in a shape in which a step part  420  protrudes from a central portion of a pipe in an outer diameter direction, and insertion parts  410  may be formed on both sides of the step part  420 . In addition, a communication hole  401  penetrating through both insertion parts  410  may be formed in the penetration connector  400 . One insertion part  410  of the penetration connector  400  may be inserted into the first communication part  210  of the end plate  200 , and the other insertion part  410  of the penetration connector  400  may be inserted into the refrigerant inlet  320  of the gas-liquid separator  300 . In addition, after the penetration connector  400  is assembled with the end plate  200  and the gas-liquid separator  300 , surfaces of the penetration connector  400  in contact with the end plate  200  and the gas-liquid separator  300  may be joined to the end plate  200  and the gas-liquid separator  300  by brazing. Thus, the refrigerant fluid channel of the core part  100  and a refrigerant fluid channel of the gas-liquid separator  300  may communicate with each other by the penetration connector  400 , and at the same time, a lower side of the gas-liquid separator  300  may be coupled to and fixed to the end plate  200  coupled to the core part  100  by the penetration connector  400 . 
     The non-penetration connector  500  may be formed in a shape in which a step part  520  protrudes from a central portion of a pipe in an outer diameter direction, and insertion parts  510  may be formed on both sides of the step part  520 . In addition, the non-penetration connector  500  may be formed in a shape in which a space between both insertion parts  510  is blocked by a blocking part  530 . One insertion part  510  of the non-penetration connector  500  may be inserted into the second communication part  220  of the end plate  200 , and the other insertion part  510  of the non-penetration connector  500  may be inserted into the coupling hole  310  of the gas-liquid separator  300 . In addition, after the non-penetration connector  500  is assembled with the end plate  200  and the gas-liquid separator  300 , surfaces of the non-penetration connector  500  in contact with the end plate  200  and the gas-liquid separator  300  may be joined to the end plate  200  and the gas-liquid separator  300  by brazing. Thus, an upper side of the gas-liquid separator  300  may be coupled and fixed to the end plate  200  coupled to the core part  100  by the non-penetration connector  500 . 
     Accordingly, the water-cooling type condenser according to the present invention may decrease pressure loss of the refrigerant and have a simple structure and a compact configuration because it is possible to firmly fix the gas-liquid separator to the core part while allowing the refrigerant fluid channels of the gas-liquid separator and the core part to communicate with each other. 
     In addition, the water-cooling type condenser according to the present invention may be formed without a separate bracket for connecting and fixing the gas-liquid separator to the end plate because the gas-liquid separator is coupled and fixed to the end plate coupled to the core part by the penetration connector and the non-penetration connector. 
     In addition, both side surfaces of the step parts  420  and  520  of the penetration connector  400  and the non-penetration connector  500  may be formed asymmetrically, one side surfaces of the step parts  420  and  520  may be formed as flat surfaces so as to correspond to a shape of a surface of the end plate  200  with which the one side surfaces of the step parts  420  and  520  are in contact, and the other side surfaces of the step parts  420  and  520  may be formed as arc-shaped curved surfaces so as to correspond to a shape of a surface of the gas-liquid separator  300  with which the other side surfaces of the step parts  420  and  520  are in contact. That is, one side surfaces of the step parts  420  and  520  of the penetration connector  400  and the non-penetration connector  500  may be formed as the flat surfaces and be in contact with the entire side surface of the first communication part  210  or the second communication part  220  of the end plate  200  that one side surfaces of the step parts  420  and  520  face. In addition, the other side surfaces of the step parts  420  and  520  of the penetration connector  400  and the non-penetration connector  500  may be formed as the arc-shaped curved surfaces and be in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the coupling hole  310  or the refrigerant inlet  320  of the gas-liquid separator  300  that the other side surfaces of the step parts  420  and  520  face. Thus, the penetration connector  400  and the non-penetration connector  500  may be joined to the end plate  200  and the gas-liquid separator  300  in a state in which they are in close contact with the end plate  200  and the gas-liquid separator  300 , and areas in which the penetration connector  400  and the non-penetration connector  500  are joined to the end plate  200  and the gas-liquid separator  300  may be great, such that a coupling force of the penetration connector  400  and the non-penetration connector  500  to the end plate  200  and the gas-liquid separator  300  may be improved. 
     In addition, outer circumferential surfaces of both insertion parts  410  of the penetration connector  400  may be formed as a clad surface. That is, the penetration connector  400  may be formed by using a pipe having an outer circumferential surface formed as a clad surface and fitting and coupling the step part into a central portion of an outer circumferential surface of the pipe. Accordingly, since the outer circumferential surfaces of the both insertion parts  410  of the penetration connector  400  becomes the clad surface, even though the inner circumferential surface of the first communication part  210  of the end plate  200  and the outer circumferential surface of the gas-liquid separator  300  are not clad surfaces, the insertion parts  410  of the penetration connector  400  may be easily joined to the inner circumferential surface of the first communication part  210  of the end plate  200  and the refrigerant inlet  320  of the gas-liquid separator  300  by brazing. 
     In addition, in the non-penetration connector  500 , both insertion parts  510 , the step part  520 , and the blocking part  530  blocking the space between the both insertion parts  510  may be formed integrally with each other by cutting a material having a block or rod shape. That is, the non-penetration connector  500  includes the blocking part  530  blocking the space between both insertion parts  510  unlike the penetration connector  400 , and may thus be formed by cutting the material having the rod shape as an example. 
     In addition, the non-penetration connector  500  may include seating grooves  540  concavely formed in the side surface of the step part  520  facing the gas-liquid separator  300 , and clad rings  550  formed of a clad material may be inserted into the seating grooves  540 . Thus, when brazing is performed in a state in which the insertion part  510  of the non-penetration connector  500  is inserted into and assembled with the coupling hole  310  of the gas-liquid separator  300 , the clad rings  550  are melted, such that the non-penetration connector  500  may be joined to the coupling hole  310  of the gas-liquid separator  300  and an outer circumferential surface of its main surface. That is, since it is difficult for outer circumferential surfaces of the insertion parts  510  to be formed as a clad surface due to a structure of the non-penetration connector  500 , as described above, the seating grooves  540  may be formed on the side surface of the step part  520 , and the clad rings  550  may be inserted into the seating grooves  540  to allow the non-penetration connector  500  to be easily joined to the gas-liquid separator  300  by brazing. In addition, similar to the non-penetration connector  500 , also in the penetration connector  400 , seating grooves may be concavely formed in the side surface of the step part  420  facing the gas-liquid separator  300  and clad rings formed of a clad material may be inserted into the seating grooves to allow the penetration connector  400  to be easily joined to the gas-liquid separator  300  by brazing even though the outer circumferential surface of the insertion part  410  is not a clad surface. 
     In addition, the penetration connector  400  and the non-penetration connector  500  may be formed to have the same external shape except whether or not inner portions thereof are in a penetration shape. That is, the penetration connector  400  and the non-penetration connector  500  may be formed to have the same appearance except for whether or not fluid channels penetrating through the inner portions of the penetration connector  400  and the non-penetration connector  500  are formed on both sides of the penetration connector  400  and the non-penetration connector  500 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be applied to various fields. In addition, the present invention may be variously modified by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 [Detailed Description of Main Elements] 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 100: core part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 110: first plate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 120: second plate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 130: refrigerant inlet 
               
               
                   
                   
                 140: refrigerant outlet 
               
               
                   
                   
                 200: end plate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 210: first communication part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 220: second communication part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 300: gas-liquid separator 
               
               
                   
                   
                 310: coupling hole 
               
               
                   
                   
                 320: refrigerant inlet 
               
               
                   
                   
                 330: refrigerant outlet 
               
               
                   
                   
                 400: penetration connector 
               
               
                   
                   
                 401: communication hole 
               
               
                   
                   
                 410: insertion part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 420: step part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 500: non-penetration connector 
               
               
                   
                   
                 510: insertion part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 520: step part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 530: blocking part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 540: seating groove 
               
               
                   
                   
                 550: clad ring