Flow switching device and refrigeration cycle apparatus including the same

Abstract

A flow switching device is provided at a refrigeration cycle apparatus. The flow switching device includes a plurality of plates; and a first inlet, a second inlet and a flow passage connecting between the first inlet and the second inlet. The flow passage have an anisotropic flow passage configured to have a forward flow resistance for a forward flow, the forward flow being a refrigerant flow from the first inlet to the second inlet, and a backward flow resistance for an inverse flow, the inverse flow being a refrigerant flow from the second inlet to the first inlet, the forward flow resistance being different from the backward flow resistance. A part of the anisotropic flow passage is at a plate, on which neither the first inlet nor the second the inlet is formed, of the plurality of plates.

1 . A flow switching device provided at a refrigeration cycle apparatus, the flow switching device comprising:
 a plurality of plates; and   a first inlet, a second inlet and a flow passage connecting between the first inlet and the second inlet,   the flow passage having   an anisotropic flow passage configured to have
 a forward flow resistance for a forward flow, the forward flow being a refrigerant flow from the first inlet to the second inlet, and 
 a backward flow resistance for an inverse flow, the inverse flow being a refrigerant flow from the second inlet to the first inlet, 
 the forward flow resistance being different from the backward flow resistance, 
   wherein
 a part of the anisotropic flow passage is at a plate, on which neither the first inlet nor the second the inlet is formed, of the plurality of plates. 
   
     
     
         2 . The flow switching device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the anisotropic flow passage includes
 a main flow passage configured to receive some of refrigerant flowing from the first inlet; and 
 a subsidiary flow passage configured to receive a remaining portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first inlet excluding the some of the refrigerant, the subsidiary flow passage causing the remaining portion of the refrigerant to merge with the some of the refrigerant flowing in the main flow passage, 
   wherein a refrigerant portion flowing from the second inlet and received by the main flow passage is hindered at a merging point between the subsidiary flow passage and the main flow passage by a refrigerant portion flowing from the second inlet and received by the subsidiary flow passage.   
     
     
         3 . The flow switching device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the anisotropic flow passage has a Tesla-valve structure.   
     
     
         4 . The flow switching device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein at least one of the plurality of plates has
 a first anisotropic-flow-passage row that is a continuous flow passage; and 
 a second anisotropic-flow-passage row that is another continuous flow passage different from the first anisotropic-flow-passage row, 
 the continuous flow passages each including one or a plurality of anisotropic flow passages that are connected in series and are each the anisotropic flow passage, and 
   wherein the first anisotropic-flow-passage row and the second anisotropic-flow-passage row are arranged in parallel and such that a forward direction for the first anisotropic-flow-passage row is opposite to a forward direction for the second anisotropic-flow-passage row.   
     
     
         5 . The flow switching device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein at least one of the plurality of plates has
 a first anisotropic-flow-passage row that is a continuous flow passage; and 
 three continuous flow passages that are a second anisotropic-flow-passage row, a third anisotropic-flow-passage row, and a fourth anisotropic-flow-passage row and are each different from the first anisotropic-flow-passage row, 
 the continuous flow passages each including one or a plurality of anisotropic flow passages that are connected in series and are each the anisotropic flow passage, and 
   wherein the first anisotropic-flow-passage row, the second anisotropic-flow-passage row, the third anisotropic-flow-passage row, and the fourth anisotropic-flow-passage row form a bridge circuit.   
     
     
         6 . The flow switching device of  claim 5 ,
 wherein one of the plurality of plates that is or is different from the plate having one or both of the first inlet and the second inlet has a third inlet and a fourth inlet,   wherein one end of the first anisotropic-flow-passage row and one end of the third anisotropic-flow-passage row are connected to the first inlet,   wherein one end of the second anisotropic-flow-passage row and one end of the fourth anisotropic-flow-passage row are connected to the second inlet,   wherein an other end of the first anisotropic-flow-passage row and an other end of the second anisotropic-flow-passage row are connected to the third inlet,   wherein an other end of the third anisotropic-flow-passage row and an other end of the fourth anisotropic-flow-passage row are connected to the fourth inlet,   wherein the first anisotropic-flow-passage row and the second anisotropic-flow-passage row are connected to each other such that the forward flow is a flow from the first inlet to the second inlet, and   wherein the third anisotropic-flow-passage row and the fourth anisotropic-flow-passage row are connected to each other such that the forward flow is a flow from the first inlet to the second inlet.   
     
     
         7 . The flow switching device of  claim 6 ,
 wherein in the at least one plate and with reference to a virtual line passing through the first inlet and the second inlet, the first anisotropic-flow-passage row and the third anisotropic-flow-passage row are arranged in line symmetry, and the second anisotropic-flow-passage row and the fourth anisotropic-flow-passage row are arranged in line symmetry.   
     
     
         8 . The flow switching device of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first anisotropic-flow-passage row and the third anisotropic-flow-passage row provided at the at least one plate extend parallel to each other, and   wherein the second anisotropic-flow-passage row and the fourth anisotropic-flow-passage row provided at the at least one plate extend parallel to each other.   
     
     
         9 . The flow switching device of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the at least one plate has
 a first supplementary flow passage that connects the third inlet to the other end of the first anisotropic-flow-passage row and to the other end of the second anisotropic-flow-passage row; and 
 a second supplementary flow passage that connects the fourth inlet to the other end of the third anisotropic-flow-passage row and to the other end of the fourth anisotropic-flow-passage row, 
   wherein the first supplementary flow passage extends parallel to the main flow passage of one of the anisotropic flow passages in the first anisotropic-flow-passage row, the one anisotropic flow passage being closest to the first supplementary flow passage, and   wherein the second supplementary flow passage extends parallel to the main flow passage of one of the anisotropic flow passages in the fourth anisotropic-flow-passage row, the one anisotropic flow passage being closest to the second supplementary flow passage.   
     
     
         10 . The flow switching device of  claim 4 ,
 wherein a part of the plurality of anisotropic flow passages is provided in a form of a groove at the at least one of the plurality of plates.   
     
     
         11 . The flow switching device of  claim 4 ,
 wherein at least two of the plurality of plates have
 a plurality of main flow passages each being the main flow passage; and 
 a plurality of subsidiary flow passages each being the subsidiary flow passage, 
   wherein the plurality of main flow passages, excluding a part of the plurality of main flow passages, are provided at a first flow-passage plate in such a manner as to pierce through the first flow-passage plate, the first flow-passage plate being one of the at least two plates, and   wherein the plurality of subsidiary flow passages and the part of the plurality of main flow passages are provided at a second flow-passage plate in such a manner as to pierce through the second flow-passage plate, the second flow-passage plate being an other of the at least two plates and different from the first flow-passage plate.   
     
     
         12 . The flow switching device of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the main flow passage includes
 a main first linear part that is linear; and 
 a main second linear part that is linear and is aligned with the main first linear part on a single straight line, 
   wherein at least two of the plurality of plates have
 a plurality of main flow passages each being the main flow passage; and 
 a plurality of subsidiary flow passages each being the subsidiary flow passage, 
   wherein the plurality of main second linear parts are provided at a first flow-passage plate in such a manner as to pierce through the first flow-passage plate, the first flow-passage plate being one of the at least two plates, and   wherein the plurality of main first linear parts and the plurality of subsidiary flow passages are provided at a second flow-passage plate in such a manner as to pierce through the second flow-passage plate, the second flow-passage plate being an other of the at least two plates and different from the first flow-passage plate.   
     
     
         13 . The flow switching device of  claim 12 ,
 wherein when the first flow-passage plate and the second flow-passage plate are stacked and viewed in a stacking direction, a part of a pattern formed of the main first linear parts provided at the second flow-passage plate overlaps a pattern formed of the main second linear parts provided at the first flow-passage plate.   
     
     
         14 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising:
 a refrigerant circuit including a compressor; and   the flow switching device of  claim 1  that is included in the refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         15 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising:
 a refrigerant circuit including a heat exchanger;   the flow switching device of  claim 6  that is included in the refrigerant circuit; and   a refrigerant pipe connecting between the first inlet and the second inlet of the flow switching device,   wherein the heat exchanger is provided at the refrigerant pipe.