Micro-channel heat exchanger and air conditioner

Abstract

The utility model provides a micro-channel heat exchanger and an air conditioner. The micro-channel heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger body and a distributor, the heat exchanger body comprises a collecting pipe and a plurality of flat pipes, the collecting pipe is provided with a plurality of first cavities and at least one second cavity which are mutually independent, and the first cavities, the second cavities and the flat pipes are provided with inlets and outlets; inlets of the multiple first cavities are connected with the distributor through the flow dividing pipes respectively, outlets of the multiple first cavities are connected with inlets of the multiple flat pipes respectively, and outlets of the multiple flat pipes are connected with an inlet of the second cavity. According to the micro-channel heat exchanger, the refrigerant is primarily shunted to the mutually independent first cavities through the distributor and then secondarily shunted to the flat tubes through the first cavities, so that the phenomenon of bubble coalescence of the refrigerant can be well inhibited, the shunting uniformity is improved, and the heat exchange capacity of the micro-channel heat exchanger is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of heat exchanger technology, and particularly relates to a microchannel heat exchanger and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] Microchannels refer to flow channels with a hydraulic diameter of less than 1 mm. Compared with conventional pipe flow, microchannels have many advantages such as high heat exchange efficiency, compact structure, and strong pressure resistance. Therefore, microchannel heat exchangers are increasingly used in air conditioning, microelectronics, aerospace and other fields.

[0003] However, existing microchannel heat exchangers still suffer from uneven flow distribution, which leads to uneven heat exchange and reduces the heat exchange capacity of the microchannel heat exchanger. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a microchannel heat exchanger and an air conditioner to solve the problem of uneven refrigerant distribution in existing microchannel heat exchangers.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a microchannel heat exchanger, the microchannel heat exchanger including a heat exchanger body and a distributor, the heat exchanger body including a manifold and a plurality of flat tubes, the manifold having a plurality of independent first chambers and at least one second chamber, the first chambers, the second chambers and the flat tubes each having an inlet and an outlet; the inlets of the plurality of first chambers are respectively connected to the distributor through a diversion pipe, the outlets of the plurality of first chambers are respectively connected to the inlets of the plurality of flat tubes, and the outlets of the plurality of flat tubes are connected to the inlets of the second chambers.

[0006] Optionally, the manifold includes a first manifold and a second manifold, the first manifold and the second manifold being opposite to each other and spaced apart; the first manifold is divided into a plurality of first chambers by a partition, the plurality of first chambers being arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the first manifold, and the second manifold forming a second chamber.

[0007] Optionally, the multiple flat tubes are evenly divided into multiple groups, and the multiple groups of flat tubes are connected to the multiple first chambers in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0008] Optionally, the manifold is divided into multiple first chambers and multiple second chambers by a partition, and the multiple first chambers and multiple second chambers are arranged alternately along the axial direction of the manifold; multiple flat tubes are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the manifold, and adjacent first chambers and second chambers are connected by a flat tube.

[0009] Optionally, the manifold is further divided into multiple third chambers by a partition, and each of the first chambers is provided with a third chamber between it and the adjacent second chamber.

[0010] Optionally, the number of the first chambers is less than the number of the second chambers.

[0011] Optionally, the flat tube is a serpentine flat tube or a U-shaped flat tube.

[0012] Optionally, the microchannel heat exchanger further includes multiple outflow branch pipes and an outflow main pipe. One end of each of the multiple outflow branch pipes is connected to the outlet of each of the multiple second chambers, and the other end of each of the multiple outflow branch pipes is connected to the outflow main pipe.

[0013] Optionally, the flat tube is provided with multiple heat exchange fins.

[0014] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide an air conditioner, which includes the microchannel heat exchanger described above.

[0015] The microchannel heat exchanger and air conditioner provided in this application embodiment have a manifold with multiple independent first chambers and at least one second chamber. The inlets of the multiple first chambers are connected to a distributor through a diversion pipe, and the outlets of the multiple first chambers are connected to the inlets of multiple flat tubes. The outlets of the multiple flat tubes are connected to the inlets of the second chambers. Thus, the refrigerant can be initially diverted by the distributor to the multiple independent first chambers, and then diverted a second time through the multiple first chambers to the multiple flat tubes. This can effectively suppress the phenomenon of refrigerant bubble coalescence, improve the uniformity of diversion, and enhance the heat exchange capacity of the microchannel heat exchanger. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort. In the following description, the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a first structure of a microchannel heat exchanger provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a second structure of the microchannel heat exchanger provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a third structure of the microchannel heat exchanger provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0020] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0021] 101. First chamber; 102. Second chamber; 103. Partition; 104. Third chamber; 110. Manifold; 111. First manifold; 112. Second manifold; 120. Flat tube; 130. Heat exchange fins; 200. Distributor; 310. Branch pipe; 320. Outflow branch pipe; 330. Outflow main pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0023] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0024] In this application, the term "exemplary" is used to mean "used as an example, illustration, or illustration." Any embodiment described as "exemplary" in this application is not necessarily to be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments.

[0025] This application provides a microchannel heat exchanger, such as... Figures 1-3 As shown ( Figures 1-3The arrows in the diagram indicate the direction of refrigerant flow. The microchannel heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger body and a distributor 200. The heat exchanger body includes a manifold 110 and multiple flat tubes 120. The manifold 110 is provided with multiple (i.e., at least two) first chambers 101 and at least one second chamber 102. The multiple first chambers 101 and the second chambers 102 are independent of each other. The first chambers 101, the second chambers 102, and the flat tubes 120 all have inlets and outlets. The inlets of the multiple first chambers 101 are respectively connected to the distributor 200 through a branch pipe 310. The outlets of the multiple first chambers 101 are respectively connected to the inlets of the multiple flat tubes 120. The outlets of the multiple flat tubes 120 are connected to the inlets of the second chambers 102.

[0026] The microchannel heat exchanger provided in this embodiment has a manifold 110 with multiple independent first chambers 101 and at least one second chamber 102. The inlets of the multiple first chambers 101 are connected to the distributor 200 through the diversion pipes 310, and the outlets of the multiple first chambers 101 are connected to the inlets of multiple flat tubes 120. The outlets of the multiple flat tubes 120 are connected to the inlets of the second chambers 102. Thus, the refrigerant can be initially diverted through the distributor 200 to the multiple independent first chambers 101, and then diverted a second time through the multiple first chambers 101 to the multiple flat tubes 120. This can effectively suppress the phenomenon of refrigerant bubble coalescence, improve the uniformity of diversion, and enhance the heat exchange capacity of the microchannel heat exchanger.

[0027] Specifically, when the microchannel heat exchanger is working, the refrigerant is split in the distributor 200 and flows into multiple independent first chambers 101 through multiple branch pipes 310. Then, it is split from the multiple first chambers 101 into multiple flat tubes 120. Each flat tube 120 has several refrigerant microchannels. The refrigerant flows into the second chamber 102 in the microchannels and exchanges heat with the wall of the flat tube 120. After the refrigerant flows into the second chamber 102 from the flat tube 120, it finally flows out from the outlet of the second chamber 102.

[0028] Optionally, the distributor 200 can be a Venturi distributor 200, a jet ring distributor 200, a pressure drop (orifice plate throttling) distributor 200, or a liquid storage distributor 200, etc., which can achieve flow division. The distributor 200 has excellent flow division uniformity and bubble dispersion.

[0029] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 1As shown, the manifold 110 includes a first manifold 111 and a second manifold 112. The first manifold 111 and the second manifold 112 are opposite to each other and spaced apart. The first manifold 111 is divided into multiple first chambers 101 by a partition 103. The multiple first chambers 101 are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the first manifold 111. A second chamber 102 is formed within the second manifold 112. Compared with the prior art scheme that treats the entire internal space of the first manifold 111 as a single first chamber 101, this application divides the first manifold 111 into multiple first chambers 101, resulting in a smaller size (i.e., volume) of each first chamber 101. This suppresses the aggregation of small refrigerant bubbles. Simultaneously, the number of flat tubes 120 corresponding to each first chamber 101 is smaller, and the inlet resistance difference between each flat tube 120 is smaller, thus improving the uniformity of flow distribution in each flat tube 120 and enhancing the heat exchange capacity of the microchannel heat exchanger.

[0030] Specifically, the number of diversion pipes 310 is the same as the number of first chambers 101. The distributor 200 has multiple diversion outlets, each of which is connected to one end of a diversion pipe 310, and the other end of each diversion pipe 310 is connected to the inlet of a first chamber 101, so that the multiple diversion outlets of the distributor 200 are connected to the multiple first chambers 101 in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, as... Figure 1 As shown, there are four diversion pipes 310 and four first chambers 101. One end of each of the four diversion pipes 310 is connected to one of the four diversion outlets of the distributor 200, and the other end of each of the four diversion pipes 310 is connected to one of the inlets of the four first chambers 101. Alternatively, as... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, there are two diversion pipes 310 and two first chambers 101. One end of each diversion pipe 310 is connected to one of the two diversion outlets of the distributor 200, and the other end of each diversion pipe 310 is connected to one of the inlets of the two first chambers 101.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, when the microchannel heat exchanger is working, the refrigerant flows into the distributor 200 and mixes into a uniform discrete bubble flow within the distributor 200. At the same time, it undergoes an initial split within the distributor 200, distributing the refrigerant into multiple distribution pipes 310. Then, the refrigerant in each distribution pipe 310 flows into the corresponding first chamber 101, and undergoes a secondary split within the first chamber 101, distributing the refrigerant into each set of flat tubes 120. Finally, the refrigerant in the multiple sets of flat tubes 120 converges in the second chamber 102 and flows out of the microchannel heat exchanger from the outlet of the second chamber 102.

[0032] Optionally, the multiple flat tubes 120 are evenly divided into multiple groups, and each group of flat tubes 120 is connected to a corresponding group of first chambers 101. That is, the multiple flat tubes 120 are evenly divided into multiple groups, the number of groups being the same as the number of first chambers 101. One end of each group of flat tubes 120 is connected to the outlet of the corresponding first chamber 101, and the other end of each group of flat tubes 120 is connected to the inlet of a second chamber 102. For example, as... Figure 1 As shown, there are four first chambers 101, and multiple flat tubes 120 are evenly divided into four groups. Each group of flat tubes 120 includes four flat tubes 120. One end of each of the four groups of flat tubes 120 is connected to the outlet of the four first chambers 101 in a one-to-one correspondence. The other end of each of the four groups of flat tubes 120 is connected to the inlet of the second chamber 102.

[0033] In other embodiments of this application, such as Figure 2 As shown, the manifold 110 is divided into multiple first chambers 101 and multiple second chambers 102 by a partition 103. The multiple first chambers 101 and multiple second chambers 102 are arranged alternately along the axial direction of the manifold 110. Multiple flat tubes 120 are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the manifold 110. Adjacent first chambers 101 and second chambers 102 are connected by a flat tube 120. By dividing the internal space of a manifold 110 into multiple first chambers 101 and multiple second chambers 102 arranged alternately along the axial direction of the manifold 110, the size (i.e., volume) of each first chamber 101 can be smaller, and the refrigerant flow rate can be higher, thereby better suppressing the phenomenon of refrigerant bubble re-coalescence and improving the uniformity of flow distribution. Since each first chamber 101 and the adjacent second chamber 102 only need to be connected through a flat tube 120, the inlet resistance difference of the flat tube 120 is smaller, and the uniformity of secondary flow distribution is better. Since the entire microchannel heat exchanger uses only one manifold 110, the refrigerant charge is smaller, and the processing and manufacturing cost of the microchannel heat exchanger is lower.

[0034] Optional, such as Figure 3As shown, the manifold 110 is further divided into multiple third chambers 104 by a partition 103. Each first chamber 101 is connected to an adjacent second chamber 102 by a third chamber 104. Specifically, the manifold 110 is divided into multiple first chambers 101, multiple second chambers 102, and multiple third chambers 104 by a partition 103. The multiple first chambers 101 and multiple second chambers 102 are alternately arranged along the axial direction of the manifold 110. Each first chamber 101 is connected to an adjacent second chamber 102 by a third chamber 104. The third chamber 104 is not connected to either the first chamber 101 or the second chamber 102. Multiple heat exchange flat tubes 120 are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the manifold 110. Adjacent first chambers 101 and second chambers 102 are connected by a heat exchange flat tube 120. Understandably, by providing a third chamber 104 between each first chamber 101 and the adjacent second chamber 102, the size (i.e. volume) of each first chamber 101 is further reduced, thereby further reducing the refrigerant charge and lowering costs.

[0035] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, when the microchannel heat exchanger is working, the refrigerant flows into the distributor 200 and mixes into a uniform discrete bubble flow within the distributor 200. At the same time, it undergoes an initial split within the distributor 200, distributing the refrigerant into multiple distribution pipes 310. Then, the refrigerant in each distribution pipe 310 flows into the corresponding first chamber 101, and undergoes a secondary split within the first chamber 101, distributing the refrigerant into the corresponding flat tube 120. Finally, the refrigerant in each flat tube 120 flows into the corresponding second chamber 102 and exits the microchannel heat exchanger from the outlet of the second chamber 102.

[0036] Optionally, the number of first chambers 101 is less than the number of second chambers 102. By setting the number of first chambers 101 to be less than the number of second chambers 102, the size (i.e., volume) of each first chamber 101 can be reduced, thereby further reducing the refrigerant charge and lowering costs. For example, as... Figure 2 As shown, there are two first chambers 101 and three second chambers 102, with the three second chambers 102 and the two first chambers 101 arranged alternately along the axial direction of the manifold 110; further, as... Figure 3 As shown, each first chamber 101 is provided with a third chamber 104 between it and the adjacent second chamber 102, so the entire manifold 110 has a total of four third chambers 104.

[0037] Optionally, the flat tube 120 is a serpentine flat tube (e.g. Figure 2 and Figure 3(As shown) or a U-shaped flat tube. The serpentine flat tube includes at least three first straight pipes and multiple first bends, with the at least three first straight pipes spaced apart and adjacent first straight pipes connected by a first bend. The U-shaped flat tube includes two second straight pipes and a second bend, with the two second straight pipes spaced apart and connected by a second bend.

[0038] Optional, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the microchannel heat exchanger also includes multiple outflow branch pipes 320 and an outflow main pipe 330. One end of each of the multiple outflow branch pipes 320 is connected to one of the outlets of each of the multiple second chambers 102, and the other end of each of the multiple outflow branch pipes 320 is connected to the outflow main pipe 330. Specifically, the number of outflow branch pipes 320 is the same as the number of second chambers 102. The outlets of each of the multiple second chambers 102 are connected to one end of each of the multiple outflow branch pipes 320, and the other end of each of the multiple outflow branch pipes 320 is connected to the outflow main pipe 330, so that the refrigerant of the multiple second chambers 102 flows out after converging into the outflow main pipe 330 through the multiple outflow branch pipes 320.

[0039] For example, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, there are three outflow branch pipes 320 and three second chambers 102. One end of each of the three outflow branch pipes 320 is connected to the outlet of each of the three second chambers 102, and the other end of each of the three outflow branch pipes 320 is connected to the main outflow pipe 330.

[0040] In some embodiments of this application, the flat tube 120 is provided with a plurality of heat exchange fins 130. By providing fins on the flat tube 120, the heat exchange area can be increased, the heat exchange effect between the flat tube 120 and the air can be enhanced, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the microchannel heat exchanger.

[0041] This application also provides an air conditioner, which includes a microchannel heat exchanger. The specific structure of the microchannel heat exchanger is as described in the above embodiments. Since this air conditioner adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0042] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0043] The microchannel heat exchanger and air conditioner provided in the embodiments of this application have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A microchannel heat exchanger, characterized in that, The device includes a heat exchanger body and a distributor (200). The heat exchanger body includes a manifold (110) and a plurality of flat tubes (120). The manifold (110) is provided with a plurality of independent first chambers (101) and at least one second chamber (102). The first chambers (101), the second chambers (102) and the flat tubes (120) all have inlets and outlets. The inlets of the plurality of first chambers (101) are respectively connected to the distributor (200) through the diverter pipe (310), the outlets of the plurality of first chambers (101) are respectively connected to the inlets of the plurality of flat tubes (120), and the outlets of the plurality of flat tubes (120) are connected to the inlets of the second chambers (102).

2. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The manifold (110) includes a first manifold (111) and a second manifold (112), wherein the first manifold (111) and the second manifold (112) are opposite to each other and spaced apart. The first manifold (111) is divided into multiple first chambers (101) by a partition (103), and the multiple first chambers (101) are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the first manifold (111). The second manifold (112) forms a second chamber (102).

3. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that, The multiple flat tubes (120) are evenly divided into multiple groups, and the multiple groups of flat tubes (120) are connected to the multiple first chambers (101) in a one-to-one correspondence.

4. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The manifold (110) is divided into a plurality of first chambers (101) and a plurality of second chambers (102) by a partition (103), and the plurality of first chambers (101) and the plurality of second chambers (102) are arranged alternately along the axial direction of the manifold (110); Multiple flat tubes (120) are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the manifold (110), and adjacent first chambers (101) and second chambers (102) are connected through one of the flat tubes (120).

5. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 4, characterized in that, The manifold (110) is further divided into multiple third chambers (104) by a partition (103), and each of the first chambers (101) and the adjacent second chambers (102) is provided with a third chamber (104).

6. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The number of the first chambers (101) is less than the number of the second chambers (102).

7. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The flat tube (120) is a serpentine flat tube or a U-shaped flat tube.

8. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The microchannel heat exchanger also includes multiple outflow branch pipes (320) and one outflow main pipe (330). One end of each of the multiple outflow branch pipes (320) is connected to the outlet of each of the multiple second chambers (102) in a corresponding manner, and the other end of each of the multiple outflow branch pipes (320) is connected to the outflow main pipe (330).

9. The microchannel heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The flat tube (120) is provided with multiple heat exchange fins (130).

10. An air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes the microchannel heat exchanger as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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