Patent Publication Number: US-9416993-B2

Title: Air conditioner

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0110253, filed in Korea on Oct. 27, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     An air conditioner is disclosed herein. 
     2. Background 
     Air conditioners are known. However, they suffer from various disadvantages. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant cycle of an air conditioner according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view diagram of refrigerant flow in a heating operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of refrigerant flow in a cooling operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regarding the reference numerals assigned to the elements in the drawings, it should be noted that the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals, wherever possible, even though they are shown in different drawings. Also, in the description of embodiments, detailed description of well-known related structures or functions has been omitted. 
     Also, in the description of embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), or (b), for example, may be used herein when describing components of the present invention. Each of these terminologies is not used to define an essence, order, or sequence of a corresponding component, but used merely to distinguish the corresponding component from other component(s). It should be noted that if it is described in the specification that one component is “connected,” “coupled,” or “joined” to another component, the former may be directly “connected,” “coupled,” and “joined” to the latter or “connected,” “coupled,” and “joined” to the latter via another component. 
     Air conditioners may include a refrigerant cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator that heats/cools an indoor space or purifies air. Air conditioners may be classified as a single type air conditioner, in which a single indoor unit or device is connected to a single outdoor unit or device, or a multi-type air conditioner, in which a plurality of indoor units or devices is connected to a single outdoor or device to provide the effect of a plurality of air conditioners. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant cycle of an air conditioner according to an embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 1 , an air conditioner  1  according to this embodiment may include an outdoor device  10  and an indoor device  20  connected to the outdoor device  10  through refrigerant tubes. 
     The indoor device  20  may include a plurality of indoor devices  21  and  22 . Although one outdoor device is shown connected to two indoor devices herein for convenience in description, embodiments are not limited to this number of outdoor and indoor devices. For example, two or more indoor devices may be connected to two or more outdoor devices. 
     The outdoor device  10  may include a compression device  110  that compresses refrigerant, and an outdoor heat exchanger  130 , in which outdoor air exchanges heat with the refrigerant. The compression device  110  may include one or more compressors. For example, the compression device  110  may include a plurality of compressors  111  and  112 . The compressors  111  and  112  may include an inverter compressor having a variable capacity, and a constant-speed compressor. Alternatively, the compressors  111  and  112  may all be inverter compressors or constant-speed compressors. The compressors  111  and  112  may be arranged in parallel. At least one portion of the compressors  111  and  112  may operate according to a capacity of the indoor device  20 . 
     Discharge tubes of the compressors  111  and  112  may include individual tubes  115  and a joint tube  116 . That is, the individual tubes  115  of the compressors  111  and  112  may join or be jointed to the joint tube  116 . The individual tubes  115  may be provided with oil separators  113  and  114  that separate oil from the refrigerant. Oil separated from the refrigerant by the oil separators  113  and  114  may be recovered to the compressors  111  and  112 . 
     The joint tube  116  may be connected to a valve  120 , which may be a four-way valve, that switches refrigerant flow. The valve  120  may be connected to the outdoor heat exchanger  130  through a connecting tube. The connecting tube may include a common connection tube  122 , a first connection tube  123 , and a second connection tube  124 . The valve  120  may be connected to an accumulator  117 , which may be connected to the compression device  110 . 
     The outdoor heat exchanger  130  may include a first heat exchange part  131  and a second heat exchange part  132 . The first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132  may be separate heat exchangers, or a single outdoor heat exchanger divided into the first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132  according to refrigerant flow. The first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132  may be disposed horizontally or vertically. The first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132  may have different or the same heat exchange capacity. The first heat exchange part  131  may communicate with the first connection tube  123 , and the second heat exchange part  132  may communicate with the second connection tube  124 . 
     The second connection tube  124  may be provided with a check valve  125  that allows the refrigerant to flow only in one direction. The check valve  125  may allow the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part  132  to flow from the common connection tube  122  through the second connection tube  124 . 
     A first manifold  133  may be connected to a side of the first heat exchange part  131 , and a second manifold  134  may be connected to another side of the first heat exchange part  131 . The first manifold  133  may distribute the refrigerant to the first heat exchange part  131  when the air conditioner  1  is in a cooling operation. The second manifold  134  may distribute the refrigerant to the first heat exchange part  131  when the air conditioner  1  is in a heating operation. 
     Each of the first and second manifolds  133  and  134  may include a common tube (no reference number) and a plurality of branch tubes (no reference number). The branch tubes may be connected to refrigerant tubes of the first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132 . As the first and second manifolds  133  and  134  may have a well-known structure, a detailed description thereof has been omitted. 
     The first connection tube  123  may be connected to the common tube of the first manifold  133 . First capillaries  135  may be connected to the second manifold  134 . The first capillaries  135  may uniformly divide the refrigerant flow when the air conditioner  1  is in the heating operation. Then, the divided refrigerant may be introduced to the second manifold  134 , and distributed to the first heat exchange part  131 . The first capillaries  135  may be connected to the common tube of the second manifold  134 , or to the branch tubes, respectively. In this case, the number of the branch tubes may be equal to the number of the first capillaries  135 . 
     A third manifold  137  may be connected to a side of the second heat exchange part  132 , and second capillaries  138  may be connected to another side of the second heat exchange part  132 . The third manifold  137  may distribute the refrigerant to the second heat exchange part  132  when the air conditioner  1  is in the cooling operation. The second capillaries  138  may uniformly divide the refrigerant flow when the air conditioner  1  is in the heating operation. 
     A pass variable tube  161  may be connected to the second connection tube  124  and the second manifold  134 . The pass variable tube  161  may be provided with a pass variable valve  162 . The pass variable valve  162  may be a solenoid valve; however, embodiments are not limited thereto. 
     The pass variable tube  161  may be connected to the common tube of the second manifold  134 , or to one of the branch tubes thereof. The pass variable tube  161  may be connected to the second connection tube  124  between the check valve  125  and the third manifold  137 . 
     The pass variable tube  161  and the pass variable valve  162  may vary refrigerant flow within the outdoor heat exchanger  130 . The pass variable tube  161  and the pass variable valve  162  may control the refrigerant to simultaneously flow to the first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132  (that is, to flow in parallel thereto), or control the refrigerant to flow to one of the first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132 , and then, to the other. Alternatively, flows of the refrigerant under different conditions (for example, in temperature, in pressure, or in a state such as vapor and liquid states) may be introduced to the first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132 . 
     In the outdoor heat exchanger  130 , the refrigerant may exchange heat with outdoor air blown by a fan motor assembly  140  that includes an outdoor fan and a fan motor. A plurality of fan motor assemblies  140  may be provided. The number of fan motor assemblies  140  provided may be equal in number to the number of the first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132 . One fan motor assembly  140  is shown in  FIG. 1 ; however, embodiments are not limited thereto. 
     The outdoor device  10  may include an outdoor expansion mechanism  150 . The outdoor expansion mechanism  150  does not expand the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger  130 , bur rather, expands the refrigerant entering the outdoor heat exchanger  130 . 
     The outdoor expansion mechanism  150  may include a first outdoor expansion valve  151  (or a first outdoor expansion part) connected to the first capillaries  135  through a third connection tube  136 , and a second outdoor expansion valve  152  (or a second outdoor expansion part) connected to the second capillaries  138  through a fourth connection tube  139 . Diameters of the third and fourth connection tubes  136  and  139  may be greater than diameters of the first and second capillaries  135  and  138 . Diameters of the common tubes and branch tubes of the second and third manifolds  134  and  137  may be greater than diameters of the first and second capillaries  135  and  138 . 
     The refrigerant expanded by the first outdoor expansion valve  151  may flow to the first heat exchange part  131 . The refrigerant expanded by the second outdoor expansion valve  152  may flow to the second heat exchange part  132 . The first and second outdoor expansion valves  151  and  152  may be electronic expansion valves (EEVs), for example. 
     The outdoor device  10  may be connected to the indoor device  20  through a gas tube  31  and a liquid tube  34 . The gas tube  31  may be connected to the valve  120 , and the liquid tube  34  may be connected to the outdoor expansion mechanism  150 . 
     The indoor device  21  may include an indoor heat exchanger  211 , an indoor fan  212 , and an indoor expansion mechanism  213 . The indoor device  22  may include indoor heat exchanger  221 , an indoor fan  222 , and an indoor expansion mechanism  223 . The indoor expansion mechanisms  213  and  223  may be electronic expansion valves (EEVs), for example. 
     Hereinafter, cooling and heating operations of an air conditioner, and refrigerant flow during the cooling and heating operations will now be described according to this embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of refrigerant flow in a heating operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 2 , when the air conditioner  1  performs a heating operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compression device  110  of the outdoor device  10  may flow to the indoor devices  21  and  22  along the gas tube  31  according to a passage control operation of the valve  120 . Then, the refrigerant may be condensed in the indoor heat exchangers  211  and  221 , and pass through the indoor expansion mechanisms  213  and  223 , without expansion. 
     Then, the refrigerant may flow to the outdoor device  10  through the liquid tube  34 . The refrigerant arriving at the outdoor device  10  may be expanded by the first and second outdoor expansion valves  151  and  152 , and then, flow to the first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132 . When the air conditioner  1  performs the heating operation, the pass variable valve  162  may be closed. 
     More particularly, the refrigerant expanded by the first outdoor expansion valve  151  may flow through the third connection tube  136 , and then, may be distributed by the first capillaries  135 . Thus, the refrigerant from the third connection tube  136  may be evenly distributed by the first capillaries  135 , and depressurized in the first capillaries  135 . Further, the pressure of the refrigerant discharged from the first outdoor expansion valve  151  may be decreased by the first capillaries  135 , to thereby improve heating performance. 
     Next, the refrigerant may be introduced to the second manifold  134 . At this point, when the first capillaries  135  are connected to the common tube  136  of the second manifold  134 , the refrigerant discharged from the first capillaries  135  may be introduced to the common tube  136  of the second manifold  134 , then, flow through the branch tubes, and then, through the first heat exchange part  131 . Because the pass variable valve  162  is closed, the refrigerant introduced to the second manifold  134  may be prevented from flowing through the pass variable tube  161 . 
     The refrigerant may be evaporated in the first heat exchange part  131 , and then, flow of the evaporated refrigerant may be joined in the first manifold  133 , and introduced to the first connection tube  123 . The refrigerant expanded by the second outdoor expansion valve  152  may flow through the fourth connection tube  139 , and then, may be distributed by the second capillaries  138 . Thus, the refrigerant from the fourth connection tube  139  may be evenly distributed by the second capillaries  138 , and then, flow to the second heat exchange part  132 . The refrigerant may be evenly distributed to the second heat exchange part  132  through the second capillaries  138 , and may be depressurized by the second capillaries  138 , to thereby improve heating performance. 
     The refrigerant may be evaporated in the second heat exchange part  132 , and then, flow of the evaporated refrigerant may be joined in the third manifold  137 , and introduced to the second connection tube  124 . At this point, because the pass variable valve  162  is closed, the refrigerant introduced to the second connection tube  124  may be prevented from flowing through the pass variable tube  161 . The refrigerant discharged from the second connection tube  124  may pass through the check valve  125 , then, may be introduced to the common connection tube  122  to join the refrigerant discharged from the first connection tube  123 , and next, may be introduced to the accumulator  117  through the valve  120 . Finally, vapor refrigerant of the refrigerant introduced to the accumulator  117  may be introduced to the compression device  110 . 
     As such, when the air conditioner  1  performs the heating operation, the pass variable valve  162  may be closed, and the distributed refrigerant introduced to the first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132 . Accordingly, a passing amount of refrigerant increases to improve evaporating performance, thus, improving heating performance. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of refrigerant flow in a cooling operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 3 , when the air conditioner  1  performs the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed to a high temperature/high pressure state in the compression device  110  of the outdoor device  10  may flow to the outdoor heat exchanger  130  according to a passage control operation of the valve  120 . 
     When the air conditioner  1  performs the cooling operation, the pass variable valve  162  may be opened, the first outdoor expansion valve  151  closed, and the second outdoor expansion valve  152  fully opened (a degree of opening is  100 ). More particularly, the refrigerant discharged from the common connection tube  122  may be introduced to the first manifold  133  through the first connection tube  123 . However, the refrigerant discharged from the common connection tube  122  may not pass through the check valve  125  of the second connection tube  124 . 
     The refrigerant introduced to the first manifold  133  may be distributed to the first heat exchange part  131  by the first manifold  133 . The refrigerant may be condensed in the first heat exchange part  131 , and then flow to the second manifold  134 . At this point, the first outdoor expansion valve  151  may be closed, and the pass variable tube  161  opened. Thus, the refrigerant discharged from the second manifold  134  may flow to the pass variable tube  161 , without flowing to the first capillaries  135 . Then, the refrigerant may be introduced to the third manifold  137 . The refrigerant introduced to the third manifold  137  may be distributed to the second heat exchange part  132  by the third manifold  137 . The refrigerant may be condensed in the second heat exchange part  132 , and then flow to the second capillaries  138 . Then, the refrigerant may flow through the fourth connection tube  139 , and then pass through the second outdoor expansion valve  152 , without expansion. After that, the refrigerant may be introduced to the indoor devices  21  and  22  through the liquid tube  34 . 
     The refrigerant introduced to the indoor devices  21  and  22  may be expanded by the indoor expansion mechanisms  213  and  223 , and then, may be introduced to the indoor heat exchangers  211  and  221 . The refrigerant may be evaporated in the indoor heat exchangers  211  and  221 , and then, flow to the outdoor device  10  through the gas tube  31 . Next, the refrigerant may be introduced to the accumulator  117  through the valve  120 . Vapor refrigerant of the refrigerant introduced to the accumulator  135  may be introduced to the compression device  110 . 
     As such, when the air conditioner  1  performs the cooling operation, the refrigerant may sequentially flow through the first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132 . Accordingly, a flowing length of the refrigerant increases, and thus, condensing performance of the refrigerant may be improved. That is, a heat exchange time and area of the refrigerant may be increased, to thereby may improve condensing performance, thus improving cooling performance. 
     In addition, as the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part  131  flows through the pass variable tube  161 , without passing through the first capillaries  135 , pressure loss of the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part  131  may be prevented. 
     The pass variable tube  161  may be a separate part from the second manifold  134 , or may be a part thereof. That is, the second manifold  134  may include the pass variable tube  161 . 
     The number of the first and second heat exchange parts  131  and  132  shown forming the outdoor heat exchanger  130  is two; however, embodiments are not limited thereto. 
     Embodiments disclosed provide an air conditioner. An air conditioner according to embodiments disclosed herein may include an indoor device, and an outdoor device connected to the indoor device. The outdoor device may include an outdoor heat exchanger including heat exchange parts; a plurality of outdoor expansion parts corresponding to the heat exchange parts; a pass variable tube configured to vary refrigerant flow in the outdoor heat exchanger; and a pass variable valve provided to the pass variable tube. The heat exchange parts may include a first heat exchange part. The first heat exchange part may be connected to a manifold that distributes refrigerant flow in a heating operation. The manifold may be connected to capillaries connected to a first outdoor expansion part of the plurality of outdoor expansion parts, and the pass variable tube may be connected to the manifold. 
     Embodiments disclosed herein further provide an air conditioner that may include an indoor device, and an outdoor device connected to the indoor device. The outdoor device may include an outdoor heat exchanger; an outdoor expansion mechanism that communicates with the outdoor heat exchanger; a pass variable tube that varies refrigerant flow in the outdoor heat exchanger; and a pass variable valve provided to the pass variable tube. The outdoor heat exchanger may include a first heat exchange part and a second heat exchange part. The first heat exchange part may be connected to a first manifold and a second manifold to distribute refrigerant flow. The second manifold may be connected to capillaries, and the pass variable tube may be connected to the second manifold. 
     Even though all the elements of the embodiments are coupled into one or operated in the combined state, the present disclosure is not limited to such an embodiment. That is, all the elements may be selectively combined with each other without departing the scope of the invention. Furthermore, when it is described that one comprises (or includes or has) some elements, it should be understood that it may comprise (or include or has) only those elements, or it may comprise (or include or have) other elements as well as those elements if there is no specific limitation. Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms including technical or scientific terms are to be given meanings understood by those skilled in the art. Like terms defined in dictionaries, generally used terms needs to be construed as meaning used in technical contexts and are not construed as ideal or excessively formal meanings unless otherwise clearly defined herein. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the preferred embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, and also the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments. Furthermore, is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being comprised in the present disclosure. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.