Chiller

Abstract

According to the present invention, a chiller comprises: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; an expander configured to expand the refrigerant condensed by the condenser; and an evaporator in which the refrigerant expanded by the expander cools cold water. The evaporator comprises: a shell comprising a space therein through which the refrigerant passes; an inner tube through which cold water passes and disposed such that the cold water exchanges heat with the refrigerant; and an oil overflow member disposed in the shell and defining an oil passage between the oil overflow member and the shell such that the oil overflow into the oil passage and then flows toward a lower inner portion of the shell along the oil passage. Since the maximum height of oil in the shell can be controlled, a gaseous refrigerant can be quickly absorbed into the compressor to prevent deterioration in performance stemming from an excessive height of an oil foaming layer.

1 . A chiller comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;   a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor;   an expander configured to expand the refrigerant condensed by the condenser; and   an evaporator in which the refrigerant expanded by the expander cools cold water, wherein the evaporator includes:   a shell having a space therein through which the refrigerant passes;   an inner tube through which cold water passes and that is disposed such that the cold water exchanges heat with the refrigerant; and   an oil overflow member disposed in the shell and defining an oil passage between the oil overflow member and the shell such that the oil overflow into the oil passage and then flows toward a lower inner portion of the shell along the oil passage.   
     
     
         2 . The chiller of  claim 1 , wherein the oil overflow member has a receiving space therein which receives the refrigerant expanded by the expander and where at least a portion of the inner tube is positioned. 
     
     
         3 . The chiller of  claim 2 , wherein the top of the oil overflow member is open. 
     
     
         4 . The chiller of  claim 3 , wherein the oil overflow member has a left part spaced from an inner left side of the shell and a right part spaced from an inner right side of the shell and the left part. 
     
     
         5 . The chiller of  claim 4 , wherein an inner tube through-hole through which the inner tube passes is formed at at least one of the left part and the right part of the oil overflow member. 
     
     
         6 . The chiller of  claim 4 , wherein the oil overflow member further has a circumferential part formed between the left part and the right part and defining the receiving space between the left part and the right part. 
     
     
         7 . The chiller of  claim 6 , wherein the circumferential part is spaced from the shell. 
     
     
         8 . The chiller of  claim 6 , wherein the circumferential part has a semicircular cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The chiller of  claim 1 , wherein oil overflow member-fixing members that fix the oil overflow member to be spaced from the shell are installed between the shell and the oil overflow member. 
     
     
         10 . The chiller of  claim 2 , wherein the shell has a refrigerant outlet at the top and an oil outlet at the bottom, and a refrigerant inlet through which the refrigerant expanded by the expander flows into the receiving space is connected to the oil overflow member. 
     
     
         11 . The chiller of  claim 10 , wherein the shell has a refrigerant inlet-through portion through which the refrigerant inlet passes. 
     
     
         12 . The chiller of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant inlet-through portion is spaced from the oil outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The chiller of  claim 10 , wherein an oil return channel for returning the oil to the intake side of the compressor is connected the oil outlet. 
     
     
         14 . A chiller comprising:
 an ejector;   an ejector intake pipe guiding some of a high-pressure refrigerant discharged from a compressor to the ejector by connecting the ejector with a discharge pipe of the compressor;   an evaporator oil intake pipe guiding the oil in an evaporator to be sucked into the ejector when a high-pressure refrigerant flows to the ejector, by connecting the evaporator with the ejector; and   an ejector outlet pipe returning the refrigerant passing through the ejector to the compressor.   
     
     
         15 . The chiller of  claim 1 , wherein the oil overflow member is installed at a height where the oil can overflow, when the compressor is driven.