Internal Heat Exchanger with Integrated Receiver/Dryer and Thermal Expansion Valve

摘要

A HVAC system including a multi-function unit for conditioning and controlling the flow of refrigerant. The multi-function unit may be contained within a housing that houses a receiver/dryer, integral heat exchanger and thermal expansion valve.

主权项

1. An integrated receiver/dryer and internal heat exchanger assembly for a vehicle HVAC system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, the assembly comprising:
a housing enclosing the receiver/dryer and the internal heat exchanger; a first inlet to the receiver/dryer in the housing receives liquid refrigerant from the condenser, supplies the liquid refrigerant to a first portion of the heat exchanger that is subsequently supplied through a first outlet to the evaporator; and a second inlet to the receiver/dryer in the housing receives gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator and supplies gaseous refrigerant to a second part of the heat exchanger that is subsequently supplied to the compressor, wherein heat is transferred from the liquid refrigerant to the gaseous refrigerant in the internal heat exchanger. wherein a second portion of the refrigerant provided from the evaporator flows through the internal heat exchanger and through a sensing side of a thermal expansion valve to the compressor and, in turn, to the condenser.