Heat exchanger

Abstract

The application provides a heat exchanger, which comprises a header, a plurality of heat exchange tubes and a distributor; the plurality of heat exchange tubes are arranged along the length direction of the header, the header has a first cavity, and the first header comprises a first inner circumferential wall forming the first cavity; the heat exchange tube has a second cavity, the first cavity is communicated with the second cavity; the distributor is accommodated in the first cavity, the distributor has a main cavity and a flow channel, and the distributor comprises the second inner circumferential wall forming the main cavity and a first outer circumferential wall facing the first inner circumferential wall; the axial center line of the first outer circle is different from the axial center line of the second outer circle, so that the flow channel of the distributor is relatively tortuous, the distribution effect of fluid is improved, the flow channel is formed in the interior of the distributor, the processing is simpler, and the manufacturing difficulty of the distributor is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of heat exchange technology, and in particular to a heat exchanger. Background Technology

[0002] A heat exchanger is provided in the related technology, which includes an inlet manifold and a distributor. The distributor is housed inside the inlet manifold, and the outer wall of the distributor and the inner wall of the inlet manifold cooperate to form a gap that allows refrigerant to pass through. In this way, the distribution effect of gaseous and liquid refrigerant can be optimized by the cooperation of the inlet manifold and the distributor.

[0003] However, in the above-mentioned technologies, the formation of this gap depends on the respective machining accuracy of the distributor and the inlet manifold, as well as the assembly accuracy during the fitting process, which increases the manufacturing difficulty of the heat exchanger. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a heat exchanger that is easier to manufacture.

[0005] This application provides a heat exchanger, including a manifold, a plurality of heat exchange tubes, and a distributor;

[0006] The heat exchange tubes are arranged along the length of the manifold, the manifold having a first cavity and including a first inner peripheral wall forming the first cavity; the heat exchange tubes also have a second cavity, and the first cavity and the second cavity are connected.

[0007] The dispenser is housed in the first cavity, the dispenser has a main cavity and a flow channel, and the dispenser includes a second inner peripheral wall forming the main cavity and a first outer peripheral wall facing the first inner peripheral wall;

[0008] The flow channel has a first opening on the second inner peripheral wall and a second opening on the first outer peripheral wall; the first opening is connected to the main cavity and the second opening is connected to the first cavity; the smallest circle that can surround the first opening is defined as the first outer circle and the smallest circle that can surround the second opening is defined as the second outer circle; the axis of the first outer circle and the axis of the second outer circle are not coaxial.

[0009] The present application provides a heat exchanger in which the distributor has a main cavity and a flow channel. The flow channel has a first opening formed at the second inner peripheral wall and a second opening formed at the outer peripheral wall. Since the axis of the first outer circle is not coaxial with the axis of the second outer circle, the flow channel of the distributor is relatively tortuous, which is beneficial to improving the fluid distribution effect. Since the flow channel is formed inside the distributor, the assembly is simpler, and the manufacturing difficulty of the heat exchanger is lower. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a heat exchanger according to one embodiment of this application;

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the image;

[0012] Figure 3 This is an exploded structural diagram of a heat exchanger according to one embodiment of this application;

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of point B in the image;

[0014] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the distributor and the manifold in one embodiment of this application;

[0015] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Enlarged view of point C in the image;

[0016] Figure 7 This is another schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the distributor and the manifold in one embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the distributor in one embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the inlet pipe, end cap, and distributor in one embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 10 This is another sectional view of the assembly structure of the distributor and the manifold in one embodiment of this application.

[0020] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the second manifold and heat exchanger tube in one embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional view of the heat exchange tube in one embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 13 This is a schematic projection of the first opening and the imaginary first outer circle in another embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 14 This is a schematic projection of the second opening and the imaginary second outer circle in another embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the distributor in another embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 16This is a schematic diagram of the distributor in another embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 17 This is a flowchart of the processing method of the distributor in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0027] A heat exchanger 100 is provided in the embodiments of this application, such as Figures 1 to 12 As shown, it includes a manifold 1, multiple fins 401, multiple heat exchange tubes 2, an inlet pipe 403, an outlet pipe 608, a distributor 3, and an end cap 440.

[0028] The manifold 1 includes a first manifold 601 and a second manifold 602. The first manifold 601 is connected to the inlet pipe 403, and the second manifold 602 is connected to the outlet pipe 608. Multiple heat exchange tubes 2 are arranged along the length of the first manifold 601. The first manifold 601 has a first cavity 4 and includes a first inner peripheral wall 11 forming the first cavity 4. Each heat exchange tube 2 has a second cavity 977, and the first cavity 4 is connected to the second cavity 977. Each fin 401 is located between two adjacent heat exchange tubes 2, and each fin 401 is located between the second outer peripheral wall 970 of the first manifold 601 and the third outer peripheral wall 971 of the second manifold 602 along the thickness direction of the heat exchange tube 2. One end of each heat exchange tube 2 is located in the first cavity 4 of the first manifold 601, and the second manifold 602 has a third cavity 978. The other end of each heat exchange tube 2 is located in the third cavity 978 of the second manifold 602.

[0029] The second cavity 978, the first cavity 4 of the first manifold 601, and the third cavity of the second manifold 602 are interconnected. The outlet pipe 608 and the second manifold 602 are fixed together, which can be welded. The inner cavity of the outlet pipe 608 is connected to the third cavity 978 of the second manifold 602. The inlet pipe 403 passes through the end cap 440 along the thickness direction of the end cap 440, and the end cap 440 and the inlet pipe 403 are sealed together by welding. The outer peripheral wall of the end cap 440 is sealed together with the inner wall of the first cavity 4 formed by the first manifold 601 by welding. The inner cavity of the inlet pipe 403 is connected to the main cavity 6, and the distributor 3 is located in the first cavity 4. The distributor 3 has a main cavity 6 and a flow channel 9. The distributor 3 includes a second inner peripheral wall 10 forming the main cavity 6 and a first outer peripheral wall 12 facing the first inner peripheral wall 11. The main cavity 6 is for refrigerant flow.

[0030] A second opening 8 is formed at the first outer peripheral wall 12 of the flow channel 9, and a first opening 7 is formed at the second inner peripheral wall 10 of the flow channel 9. The first opening 7 communicates with the main cavity 6, and the second opening 8 communicates with the first cavity 4. The smallest circle enclosing the first opening 7 is defined as the first outer circle W1, and the smallest circle enclosing the second opening 8 is defined as the second outer circle W2. The axis of the first outer circle W1 and the axis of the second outer circle W2 are not coaxial. Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, in optional embodiments, the first aperture 7 and the second aperture 8 may not be standard circles; they may also be rectangles or triangles. For example... Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, when the first opening 7 and the second opening 8 are standard circles, the first opening 7 coincides with the first outer circle W1, and the second opening 8 coincides with the second outer circle W2. The first opening 7 allows the refrigerant to flow from the main cavity 6 into the flow channel 9. The flow channel 9 can be a long and narrow channel, which is beneficial to improving the mixing effect of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant. The second opening 8 allows the refrigerant to flow out of the flow channel 9 into the first cavity 4, and then from the first cavity 4 into the heat exchange tube 2. Setting the first opening 7 and the second opening 8 as opposite axes allows the flow channel 9 to be more meandering, allowing the refrigerant to stay in the flow channel 9 for a longer time, thereby making the refrigerant mix more uniformly.

[0031] The distributor 3 includes a first part 15 and a second part 16. The main cavity 6 is disposed in the first part 15, and the second part 16 is closer to the first inner peripheral wall 11 than the first part 15.

[0032] A portion of the flow channel 9 is located between the first part 15 and the second part 16. The first part 15 has a first wall 21 and the second part 16 has a second wall 22. Both the first wall 21 and the second wall 22 are part of the wall of the distributor 3 that forms the flow channel 9.

[0033] The first part 15 has a plurality of first recesses 23 formed on a first wall surface 21, and the openings of the plurality of first recesses 23 face the second part 16. The second part 16 has a plurality of second recesses 24 formed on a second wall surface 22. The openings of the plurality of second recesses 24 face the first part 15, and each first recess 23 and each second recess 24 are opposite to each other. A first protrusion 190 is provided between every two adjacent first recesses 23, and a second protrusion 191 is provided between every two adjacent second recesses 24. The minimum distance between the first protrusion 190 and the second protrusion 191 is 0.2 to 5 mm. The minimum distance between the lowest point of each first recess 23 and the lowest point of each second recess 24 is 1.2 to 5 times the minimum distance between the first protrusion 190 and the second protrusion 191 at this time. Under the action of the first recesses 23 and the second recesses 24, the flow channel can achieve the effect of sudden expansion and contraction, so that the refrigerant of the gas and liquid phases can be mixed more evenly, which is conducive to the more even distribution of the refrigerant of the gas and liquid phases in the heat exchange tube 2, thereby improving the heat exchange effect.

[0034] In the cross-section of the distributor 3, the concave surface of the first recess 23 is in the shape of a first arc, and the concave surface of the second recess 24 is in the shape of a second arc. The first arc and the second arc belong to different parts of the same circle. When preparing the first recess 23 and the second recess 24, a cylindrical mold can be inserted into the flow channel 9, so that the first recess 23 and the second recess 24 are processed simultaneously through the mold, thereby reducing the number of processing steps.

[0035] The first outer peripheral wall 12 of the distributor 3 has multiple ridges 50 and multiple flat sections 51, the flat sections 51 being substantially flat. The multiple ridges 50 are arranged along the width direction of the distributor, each ridge 50 located between two adjacent flat sections 51. There is a gap between the flat section 51 and the heat exchange tube 2. The ridges 50 protrude from the flat section 51 toward the heat exchange tube 2, with the top of the ridge 50 away from the flat section 51 contacting or adjacent to the heat exchange tube 2. When the heat exchanger 100 is tilted at various angles, because the ridges 50 can impede or slow down the flow of refrigerant along the first outer peripheral wall 12 of the distributor 3 under the influence of gravity when the heat exchanger is tilted, the refrigerant can flow into the heat exchange tube 2 that is in contact with or adjacent to the ridges 50 even when the heat exchanger is tilted, ensuring uniform distribution of refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 2. A second opening 8 is located on the flat section 51, and placing the second opening 8 on the flat section 51 facilitates the machining of the second hole 102.

[0036] like Figure 15 and 16 As shown, in another embodiment, the flow channel 9 includes a buffer cavity 888. In the direction surrounding the main cavity 6, the buffer cavity 888 is located between the first hole 63 and the second hole 102. The buffer cavity 888 is arc-shaped, and the middle portion of the arc extends from the flow channel 9 towards the main cavity 6. The buffer cavity 888 allows the refrigerant to remain in the flow channel 9 for a longer time, thereby enabling more uniform mixing of the refrigerant gas and liquid phases.

[0037] like Figure 6 , 7 As shown in Figure 9, a surface passing through the axis of the main cavity 6 and parallel to the flat portion 51 is defined as the first reference surface 52. The first opening 7 is located on the side of the reference surface 52 away from the flat portion 51, and the second opening 8 is located on the side of the reference surface 52 closer to the flat portion 51. By allowing the refrigerant to enter the flow channel 9 from the first opening 7 below the main cavity 6 and then flow out from the second opening 8 above through the flow channel 9, the refrigerant can stay in the flow channel 9 for a longer time, allowing for a more uniform mixing of the gas and liquid phases of the refrigerant.

[0038] refer to Figure 7As shown, the distributor 3 also has two connecting parts 101, which are located on both sides of the first part 15 in the width direction of the distributor 3. The connecting parts 101 connect the first part 15 and the second part 16 in the width direction of the distributor 3. One connecting part 101 has a first side 61 and the other connecting part 101 has a second side 62. The first side 61 and the second side 62 are both part of the wall surface forming the flow channel 9.

[0039] The flow channel 9 includes a sandwich cavity 60, a first hole 63, and a second hole 102. The sandwich cavity 60 is located between the first part 15 and the second part 16. A second reference surface 711 is defined as the surface that passes through the axis of the first hole 63 and is parallel to the length direction of the distributor 3. The angle between the first reference surface 52 and the second reference surface 711 is defined as α, where α is between 0 degrees and -180 degrees. By setting α between 0 degrees and -180 degrees, the refrigerant can flow into the flow channel 9 from below the second reference surface 711, thereby allowing the refrigerant to stay in the flow channel 9 for a longer time and making the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant mix more uniformly.

[0040] The first hole 63 includes a first opening 7 and a third opening 64. The third opening 64 is located on the first wall surface 21 and communicates with the interlayer cavity 60. The first opening 7 and the third opening 64 are located on opposite sides of the first hole 63 in the axial direction. In the direction surrounding the main cavity 6, the third opening 64 is located between the first side surface 61 and the second side surface 62. By setting the third opening 64 between the first side surface 61 and the second side surface 62, a gap can be created between the third opening 64 and the first side surface 61, and also between the third opening 64 and the second side surface 62. This allows for alignment between the third opening 64 and the flow channel 9 without requiring high alignment precision during processing, ensuring that the third opening 64 and the flow channel are aligned. This prevents the third opening 64 from being misaligned with the flow channel during processing, thus avoiding a small flow rate of refrigerant from the third opening 64 into the flow channel 9.

[0041] The connecting portion 101 is closer to the heat exchange tube 2 than the interlayer cavity 60. A second hole 102 is located in one of the two connecting portions 101, and multiple second holes 102 are arranged along the length of the distributor 3. Each second hole 102 includes a second opening 8 and a fourth opening 300, located on opposite sides of the second hole 102 in the axial direction. The fourth opening 300 is located on either the first side 61 or the second side 62, and communicates with the interlayer cavity 60. The arrangement of multiple second holes 102 along the length of the distributor 3 allows refrigerant to be sprayed from the multiple second holes 102 and then sprayed onto the multiple heat exchange tubes 2, which are also arranged along the length of the first manifold 601, making the amount of refrigerant entering each heat exchange tube 2 relatively more uniform.

[0042] In the direction surrounding the main cavity 6, the first recess 23 and the second recess 24 are both closer to the fourth port 300 than the third port 64. By placing the first recess 23 and the second recess 24 closer to the fourth port 300, excessive pressure drop during fluid flow can be avoided, which would affect heat exchange.

[0043] The distributor 3 is welded to the first inner peripheral wall 11 as a whole. By welding the distributor 3 to the first inner peripheral wall 11 as a whole, the positional displacement of the distributor 3 in the first manifold during use can be reduced, which affects the distribution of refrigerant.

[0044] The distributor 3 can be used not only for the cylindrical manifold in this embodiment, but also for cuboid and semi-cylindrical manifolds.

[0045] like Figure 17 As shown, a method for processing a dispenser includes the following steps:

[0046] Step S1: Process the blank parts.

[0047] The blank 600 has a main cavity 6 and a mating cavity. The blank includes a second inner peripheral wall 10 forming the main cavity 6, a first outer peripheral wall 12 located around the main cavity 6, a first part 15, and a second part 16. The mating cavity is at least partially located between the first part 15 and the second part 16. The first part 15 has a first wall surface 21, and the second part 16 has a second wall surface 22. The first wall surface 21 and the second wall surface 22 are both part of the wall surface of the blank that forms the mating cavity. The main cavity 6 and the mating cavity are not connected. The first wall surface 21 faces the second part 16, and the second wall surface 22 faces the first part 15. The second wall surface 22 faces the first part 15; the mating cavity has a second opening 8 formed at the first outer peripheral wall 12, and the mating cavity has a first opening 7 formed at the second inner peripheral wall 10; the first opening 7 is connected to the main cavity 6, and the second opening 8 is connected to the first cavity 4. The smallest circle surrounding the first opening 7 is defined as the first outer circle W1, and the smallest circle surrounding the second opening 8 is defined as the second outer circle W2. The axis of the first outer circle W1 and the axis of the second outer circle W2 are not coaxial.

[0048] Step S2: Drill holes between the first outer peripheral wall 12 and the second inner peripheral wall 10 to form the first hole 63 and the machining hole 201.

[0049] A hole is drilled at the first outer peripheral wall 12, such that the hole passes sequentially through the first outer peripheral wall 12, the mating cavity, and the second inner peripheral wall 10. Along the drilling direction, the hole forms a first hole 63 between the second inner peripheral wall 10 and the first wall surface 21, and a machining hole between the first outer peripheral wall 12 and the second wall surface 22.

[0050] Step S3: Seal the machining hole 201.

[0051] After step S3, the cavity 349 and the first hole 63 form the flow channel 9. Blocking the machining hole 201 can reduce the refrigerant from flowing out of the machining hole 201 during the use of the distributor 3 and prevent it from passing through the flow channel 9 to mix the gas and liquid refrigerants.

[0052] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate this application and are not intended to limit the technical solutions described in this application. The understanding of this specification should be based on those skilled in the art. For example, the directional descriptions such as "front", "back", "left", "right", "up", and "down" are important. Although this specification has described this application in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still make modifications or equivalent substitutions to this application. All technical solutions and improvements that do not depart from the spirit and scope of this application should be covered within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, characterized in that: It includes a manifold, multiple heat exchange tubes (2) and a distributor (3); Multiple heat exchange tubes (2) are arranged along the length of the manifold, the manifold having a first cavity (4) and including a first inner peripheral wall (11) forming the first cavity (4); the heat exchange tube (2) has a second cavity (977), and the first cavity (4) and the second cavity (977) are connected. The dispenser (3) is located in the first cavity (4). The dispenser (3) has a main cavity (6) and a flow channel (9). The dispenser (3) includes a second inner peripheral wall (10) forming the main cavity (6) and a first outer peripheral wall (12) facing the first inner peripheral wall (11). The flow channel (9) has a first opening (7) formed on the second inner peripheral wall (10), and the flow channel (9) has a second opening (8) formed on the first outer peripheral wall (12); the first opening (7) is connected to the main cavity (6), and the second opening (8) is connected to the first cavity (4). The smallest circle around the first opening (7) is defined as the first outer circle, and the smallest circle around the second opening (8) is defined as the second outer circle. The axis of the first outer circle and the axis of the second outer circle are not coaxial. The first port (7) allows refrigerant to flow from the main cavity (6) into the flow channel (9) through the first port (7), and the second port (8) allows refrigerant to flow out from the flow channel (9) into the first cavity (4), and then flow from the first cavity (4) into the heat exchange tube (2); The flow channel (9) includes a buffer cavity (888), which is located between the first port (7) and the second port (8) in the direction surrounding the main cavity (6). The buffer cavity (888) is arc-shaped, and the middle part of the arc extends from the flow channel (9) toward the main cavity (6).

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dispenser (3) includes a first part (15) and a second part (16); the main cavity (6) is disposed in the first part (15), and the second part (16) is closer to the first inner peripheral wall (11) than the first part (15); A portion of the flow channel (9) is located between the first part (15) and the second part (16), the first part (15) having a first wall (21) and the second part (16) having a second wall (22), the first wall (21) and the second wall (22) being part of the wall of the distributor (3) forming the flow channel (9); The first part (15) has a plurality of first recesses (23), the first recesses (23) are formed on the first wall surface (21), the openings of the plurality of first recesses (23) face the second part (16), the second part (16) has a plurality of second recesses (24), the second recesses (24) are formed on the second wall surface (22), and the openings of the plurality of second recesses (24) face the first part (15).

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first outer peripheral wall (12) of the distributor (3) has a plurality of ridges (50) and a plurality of flat sections (51); the plurality of ridges (50) are arranged along the width direction of the manifold, each ridge (50) is located between two adjacent flat sections (51), the flat sections (51) have a gap with the heat exchange tube (2), the ridges (50) protrude from the flat sections (51) toward the heat exchange tube (2), the top of the ridges (50) away from the flat sections (51) is in contact with or adjacent to the heat exchange tube (2), and the second port (8) is located on the flat section (51).

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, characterized in that: A first reference plane (52) is defined as the plane that passes through the axis of the main cavity (6) and is parallel to the flat part (51). The first opening (7) is located on the side of the first reference plane (52) away from the flat part (51), and the second opening (8) is located on the side of the first reference plane (52) close to the flat part (51).

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that: The dispenser (3) also has two connecting parts (101), which are located on both sides of the first part (15) in the width direction of the dispenser (3). The connecting parts (101) connect the first part (15) and the second part (16) in the width direction of the dispenser (3). One connecting part (101) has a first side (61) and the other connecting part (101) has a second side (62). The first side (61) and the second side (62) are both part of the wall surface forming the flow channel (9).

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 5, characterized in that: The flow channel (9) further includes a sandwich cavity (60), a first hole (63) and a second hole (102); The interlayer cavity (60) is located between the first part (15) and the second part (16); The first hole (63) includes a first opening (7) and a third opening (64), the third opening (64) is located on the first wall surface (21) and communicates with the interlayer cavity (60); the first opening (7) and the third opening (64) are respectively located on both sides of the first hole (63) in the axial direction; in the direction surrounding the main cavity (6), the third opening (64) is located between the first side surface (61) and the second side surface (62); The connecting part (101) is closer to the heat exchange tube (2) than the interlayer cavity (60). The second hole (102) is provided in one of the two connecting parts (101), and a plurality of second holes (102) are arranged along the length direction of the distributor (3). Each second hole (102) includes a second port (8) and a fourth port (300). The second port (8) and the fourth port (300) are respectively located on both sides of the second hole (102) in the axial direction. The fourth port (300) is located on the first side (61) or the second side (62). The fourth port (300) communicates with the interlayer cavity (60).

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that: In the direction surrounding the main cavity (6), the first recess (23) and the second recess (24) are both closer to the fourth opening (300) than the third opening (64); On the cross-section of the dispenser (3), the concave surface of the first recess (23) is in the shape of a first arc, and the concave surface of the second recess (24) is in the shape of a second arc; the first arc and the second arc belong to different parts of the same circle.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first outer peripheral wall (12) of the distributor (3) is welded to the first inner peripheral wall (11) as a whole.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that: The buffer cavity (888) is located between the first hole (63) and the second hole (102).

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first outer peripheral wall (12) of the distributor (3) has a plurality of ridges (50) and a plurality of flat parts (51). A first reference surface (52) is defined as the surface that passes through the axis of the main cavity (6) and is parallel to the flat part (51). A second reference surface (711) is defined as the surface that passes through the axis of the first hole (63) and is parallel to the length direction of the distributor (3). The angle between the first reference surface (52) and the second reference surface (711) is defined as α, where α is between 0 degrees and -180 degrees.

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