Refrigeration-cycle equipment

Abstract

The disclosed refrigeration-cycle equipment comprises a main circuit and an evaporation-side circulation circuit. The main circuit includes i) a compressor that compresses refrigerant vapor, ii) a condensation mechanism that condenses the refrigerant vapor, and iii) an evaporative mechanism that stores refrigerant liquid and that evaporates the refrigerant liquid. The evaporation-side circulation circuit includes a heat exchanger for heat absorption and a decompression mechanism. The refrigerant returns to the evaporative mechanism after the refrigerant absorbing heat in the heat exchanger for heat absorption and the pressure of the refrigerant being reduced in the decompression mechanism. The refrigeration-cycle equipment further has an interaction mechanism that prevents droplets contained in the refrigerant having returned from the evaporation-side circulation circuit to the evaporative mechanism from being fed into the compressor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Refrigeration-cycle equipment comprising:
 a main circuit through which a refrigerant is circulated, saturated vapor pressure of the refrigerant at room temperature being a negative pressure, the main circuit including i) a compressor that compresses refrigerant vapor, ii) a condensation mechanism that condenses the refrigerant vapor, and iii) an evaporative mechanism that stores refrigerant liquid and that evaporates the refrigerant liquid, i) the compressor, ii) the condensation mechanism, and iii) the evaporative mechanism being connected to one another in that order;   an evaporation-side circulation circuit that includes a heat exchanger for heat absorption and includes a decompression mechanism, the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism being supplied to the heat exchanger for heat absorption through the evaporation-side circulation circuit, the refrigerant returning to the evaporative mechanism after the refrigerant absorbing heat in the heat exchanger for heat absorption and the pressure of the refrigerant being reduced in the decompression mechanism; and   an interaction mechanism that prevents droplets contained in the refrigerant having returned from the evaporation-side circulation circuit to the evaporative mechanism from being fed into the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the interaction mechanism comprises a connection portion that is provided to the evaporative mechanism and that connects the evaporative mechanism and the evaporation-side circulation circuit, to return the refrigerant having absorbed heat in the heat exchanger for heat absorption into the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism, and   wherein the connection portion extends through a wall of the evaporative mechanism into an internal space of the evaporative mechanism, and an end of the connection portion is positioned below a surface of the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the internal space of the evaporative mechanism has a column shape, and   wherein a virtual line extending from the connection portion into the evaporative mechanism is off a center of the internal space having the column shape.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 2 , further comprising a discharge preventing wall provided above the connection portion, the discharge preventing wall preventing a flow of the refrigerant having returned from the evaporation-side circulation circuit to the evaporative mechanism from being discharged from the surface of the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 2 , further comprising a partition wall provided in the evaporative mechanism and between an outlet and a return port, the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism being supplied to the evaporation-side circulation circuit through the outlet, the return port being provided by the connection portion, and the refrigerant returning to the evaporative mechanism through the return port. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 2 , wherein the connection portion includes a discharge preventing mechanism that prevents a flow of the refrigerant having returned from the evaporation-side circulation circuit to the evaporative mechanism from being discharged from the surface of the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 6 , wherein the discharge preventing mechanism includes a widened portion positioned above a bottom of the evaporative mechanism and forming a passage, cross sectional area of the passage increasing in a direction of the flow of the refrigerant in the connection portion. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 7 , wherein the connection portion further includes an extended portion extending upward from the widened portion and forming a passage, cross sectional area of passage being constant in the direction of the flow of the refrigerant in the connection portion. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the discharge preventing mechanism further includes a flow distributing plate, a central axis of the connection portion passing through the flow distributing plate, the flow distributing plate having a plurality of through holes, and   wherein a sum of opening areas corresponding to the respective through holes is larger than a cross sectional area of a passage that is provided by the connection portion and is positioned on an upstream side with respect to the widened portion in the direction of the flow of the refrigerant in the connection portion.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 7 , wherein the discharge preventing mechanism further includes a porous member provided such that a central axis of the connection portion passes through the porous member. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 7 , wherein the discharge preventing mechanism further includes a narrowed portion projecting in such a manner as to be narrowed in a direction opposite to the direction of the flow of the refrigerant in the connection portion, the narrowed portion having a tip positioned on a central axis of the connection portion. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 6 , wherein the connection portion extends vertically upward. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the decompression mechanism is a valve, and   wherein the refrigeration-cycle equipment further includes
 a heat-absorption-side temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the refrigerant having absorbed heat in the heat exchanger for heat absorption and returning to the evaporative mechanism; 
 a refrigerant vapor temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the refrigerant vapor in the evaporative mechanism; 
 a liquid level sensor that detects a level of the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism; and 
 a control unit that controls the level of the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism by adjusting an opening degree of the valve on the basis of a value detected by the heat-absorption-side temperature sensor, a value detected by the refrigerant vapor temperature sensor, and a value detected by the liquid level sensor. 
   
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the internal space of the evaporative mechanism narrows toward a bottom of the evaporative mechanism, and   wherein the connection portion is connected to the bottom of the evaporative mechanism.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 14 , further comprising a flow distributing plate provided in the internal space such that a central axis of the connection portion passes through the flow distributing plate, the flow distributing plate having a plurality of through holes,
 wherein a sum of opening areas of the respective through holes is larger than a cross sectional area of a passage provided by the connection portion.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 14 , further comprising a narrowed portion projecting in the internal space in such a manner as to be narrowed toward the bottom of the evaporative mechanism, the narrowed portion having a tip positioned on a central axis of the connection portion. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 14 , wherein the connection portion extends vertically upward. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the interaction mechanism is a connection portion provided to the evaporative mechanism and connecting the evaporative mechanism and the evaporation-side circulation circuit to each other, the interaction mechanism allowing the refrigerant having absorbed heat in the heat exchanger for heat absorption to return into the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism,   wherein the connection portion extends through a wall of the evaporative mechanism into an internal space of the evaporative mechanism, and an end of the connection portion is positioned above a surface of the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism, and   wherein the end of the connection portion is oriented such that a flow of the refrigerant immediately after returning to the evaporative mechanism has a velocity component in a vertical direction.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration-cycle equipment according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the interaction mechanism includes
 a connection portion for the evaporation-side circulation circuit, the connection portion being connected to the evaporative mechanism such that the refrigerant returns to the evaporative mechanism from a position above the surface of the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism; and 
 a baffle plate that baffles a flow of the refrigerant having returned to the evaporative mechanism through the connection portion. 
   
     
     
         20 . Refrigeration-cycle equipment comprising:
 a main circuit through which a refrigerant is circulated, saturated vapor pressure of the refrigerant at room temperature being a negative pressure circulates, the main circuit including i) a compressor that compresses refrigerant vapor, ii) a condensation mechanism that condenses the refrigerant vapor, and iii) an evaporative mechanism that stores refrigerant liquid and that evaporates the refrigerant liquid, i) the compressor, ii) the condensation mechanism, and iii) the evaporative mechanism being connected to one another in that order;   an evaporation-side circulation circuit that includes a heat exchanger for heat absorption and a decompression mechanism, the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism being supplied to the heat exchanger for heat absorption through the evaporation-side circulation circuit, the refrigerant returning to the evaporative mechanism after the refrigerant absorbing heat in the heat exchanger for heat absorption and the pressure of the refrigerant being reduced in the decompression mechanism; and   an interaction mechanism that includes a connection portion that is provided to the evaporative mechanism and that extends through a wall of the evaporative mechanism into an internal space of the evaporative mechanism, an end of the connection portion being positioned below a surface of the refrigerant liquid stored in the evaporative mechanism.