Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Teruo Tosha

Taii Tsuji

A refrigerant separator is capable of exhibiting the heat exchanger capacity to the maximum extent, by dividing the refrigerant, including liquid phase and gas phase, at an optimum refrigerant separation ratio, regardless of the mounting position of the refrigerant separator in the heat ex-changer inside the indoor unit of an air conditioner. A first passage having a first opening end, a second passage branched off from the first passage, and a third passage branched off from the first passage are provided. The second passage and third passage are formed in mutually different inside diameters by using an L-shaped partition. Supposing the inside diameter of the second passage to be .phi.A and the inside diameter of the third passage to be .phi.B, .phi.A and .phi.B are set so as to satisfy the relation of 7/10&lt;.phi.B/.phi.A)&lt;1. The refrigerant, including liquid phase and gas phase, enters from the first opening end, passes through the first passage, and is divided and flows into the second passage and third passage.

Growing community of inventors

Shiga, Japan

Teruo Tosha