REFRIGERANT FLOW DIVIDER, EXPANSION DEVICE INTEGRATED WITH REFRIGERANT FLOW DIVIDER, AND REFRIGERATION DEVICE

摘要

A refrigerant flow divider (1) is provided with a body section (2) forming a tube-shaped container having a circular cross-sectional shape. Inlet piping (3) for introducing a refrigerant, which flows from an expansion valve, into the body section (2) is connected to one end of the body section (2). Divided flow pipes (4) are connected to the other end of the body section (2). The body section (2) is divided into a first chamber (10), a second chamber (20), and a third chamber (30), in that order from the one end of the body section (2) along the axial direction of the body section (2). A neck section (40) is formed between the second chamber (20) and the third chamber (30). The neck section (40) causes the refrigerant from the second chamber (20) to swirl and flow into the third chamber (30). A swirl flow (S) is formed in the first chamber (10). The speed of the swirl flow (S) is increased in the second chamber (20). The refrigerant is divided while being swirled so that the refrigerant becomes liquid rich as the refrigerant flows from the center of the third chamber (30) toward the outer peripheral wall (31).