Ejector unit, heat exchange unit and refrigerant short-circuit detecting method

Abstract

In an ejector unit, an ejector is bonded to a container to define in the container an inlet space in which an inlet of a nozzle portion of the ejector is open, a suction space in which a refrigerant suction port of the ejector is open and an outlet space in which an outlet of a diffuser portion of the ejector is open. The inlet space, the suction space and the outlet space are respectively partitioned from each other by bonding portions between the ejector and the container. The container is provided with a short-circuit detection hole exposed to an exterior of the container at least at one position of a first position between the inlet space and the suction space, and a second position between the suction space and the outlet space. Furthermore, the short-circuit detection hole is enclosed by the bonding portion.

1 . An ejector unit comprising:
 an ejector that includes a nozzle portion configured to decompress refrigerant, a refrigerant suction port from which refrigerant is drawn by a high-speed refrigerant flow jetted from the nozzle portion, and a diffuser portion in which the refrigerant jetted from the nozzle portion and the refrigerant drawn from the refrigerant suction port are mixed and the mixed refrigerant is pressurized; and   a container accommodating the ejector, wherein   the ejector is bonded to the container to define in the container an inlet space in which an inlet of the nozzle portion is open, a suction space in which the refrigerant suction port of the ejector is open and an outlet space in which an outlet of the diffuser portion is open,   the inlet space, the suction space and the outlet space are partitioned from each other by bonding portions between the ejector and the container,   the container is provided with a short-circuit detection hole exposed to an exterior of the container at least at one position of a first position between the inlet space and the suction space, and a second position between the suction space and the outlet space, and   the bonding portion around the short-circuit detection hole encloses the short circuit detection hole.   
     
     
         2 . The ejector unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 an outer surface of the ejector is provided with a groove portion extending in a circumferential direction of the ejector, and   the groove portion of the ejector is overlapped with the short-circuit detection hole, and extends in the circumferential direction in a range larger than the short-circuit detection hole.   
     
     
         3 . The ejector unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the container continuously extends in a longitudinal direction of the ejector. 
     
     
         4 . The ejector unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is divided into plural members in a longitudinal direction of the ejector. 
     
     
         5 . A heat exchange unit comprising
 the ejector unit according to  claim 1 ; and   a heat exchanger connected to the ejector,   wherein the heat exchanger is brazed integrally with the ejector unit without closing the short-circuit detection hole.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes in which the refrigerant flows, and a tank portion located at one longitudinal end side of the tubes to distribute the refrigerant into the tubes or to joint the refrigerant from the tubes,   the tank portion is adapted as the container, and   the short-circuit detection hole is provided in the tank portion at a position where the tank portion is adapted as the container.   
     
     
         7 . A heat exchange unit comprising
 the elector unit according to  claim 1 , and   a heat exchanger connected to the ejector unit via a refrigerant pipe, wherein   the heat exchanger is spaced from the ejector unit without closing the short-circuit detection hole.   
     
     
         8 . A method for detecting a refrigerant short circuit in an ejector unit in which an ejector is contained in a container and brazed to the container to form an inlet space in which an inlet of a nozzle portion is open, a suction space in which a refrigerant suction port of the ejector is open and an outlet space in which an outlet of a diffuser portion of the ejector is open, wherein the inlet space, the suction space and the outlet space are partitioned from each other by bonding portions between the ejector and the container, the method comprising
 filling a detection fluid in the ejector unit with an inner pressure; and   detecting a leakage of the detection fluid from a short-circuit detection hole enclosed by the bonding portion and exposed to outside, the short-circuit detection hole being provided at least at one position of a first position between the inlet space and the suction space, and a second position between the suction space and the outlet space.