Flow path structure, heat exchanger and heat energy management system
By setting up a flow path structure in the heat exchanger and using cross-pipe connections to achieve multiple mixing and diversion of the refrigerant within the fluid tube bundle, the problem of uneven refrigerant distribution is solved, and the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520025957.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-06
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-01-06
AI Technical Summary
In existing heat exchangers, the refrigerant is unevenly distributed on the windward and leeward sides, which affects the heat exchange efficiency.
The flow path structure includes at least two fluid pipe groups arranged side by side. Through cross-pipe connections, the refrigerant is mixed and distributed multiple times in the flow path structure to ensure that the refrigerant is evenly distributed in each fluid pipe group.
It improves the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger, makes full use of all fluid tubes, and enhances the heat exchange effect between the refrigerant and the gas.
Smart Images
Figure CN223882804U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The application belongs to the technical field of heat exchange equipment, and particularly relates to a flow path structure, a heat exchanger and a thermal energy management system. BACKGROUND
[0002] The heat exchanger is widely applied to devices such as air conditioners and heat pumps that need to perform heat exchange. The heat exchanger generally comprises fins and heat exchange pipes. The fins are tightly sleeved on the surface of the heat exchange pipes by mechanical or hydraulic means to improve the heat conduction efficiency.
[0003] In use, gas enters the fins from the air inlet side of the heat exchanger, exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes, and then leaves the heat exchanger from the leeward side of the heat exchanger. In this process, the heat exchange pipes are provided with multiple rows from the windward side to the leeward side. The gas first passes through the heat exchange pipes on the windward side and then passes through the heat exchange pipes on the leeward side, resulting in different liquid contents in the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes on the windward side and the heat exchange pipes on the leeward side, uneven distribution of the refrigerant, and influence on the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger. SUMMARY
[0004] The application provides a flow path structure, a heat exchanger and a thermal energy management system to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.
[0005] In a first aspect, the application provides a flow path structure, comprising at least two fluid pipe groups arranged side by side, the fluid pipe group comprising a first pipe body and at least two second pipe bodies arranged side by side, the outlet end of the first pipe body being in communication with the inlet end of the second pipe body;
[0006] Among the two fluid pipe groups at both ends, the inlet end of the first pipe body of one is used to receive refrigerant, and the outlet end of the first pipe body of the other is used to output the refrigerant; the outlet end of the second pipe body of one of the two adjacent fluid pipe groups is in communication with the inlet end of the first pipe body of the other, so that the refrigerant flows through all the fluid pipe groups.
[0007] In a possible design, the fluid pipe group comprises two second pipe bodies, and the two second pipe bodies are arranged on opposite sides of the first pipe body.
[0008] In a possible design, the first pipe body and the second pipe body are both U-shaped pipes.
[0009] In a possible design, the first pipe body and the second pipe body are both copper pipes.
[0010] In a possible design, the first pipe body at least partially extends between the two second pipe bodies.
[0011] In a second aspect, the present application provides a heat exchanger, comprising a refrigerant inlet pipe, a refrigerant outlet pipe, and the flow path structure according to any one of the first aspect, wherein the inlet end of the flow path structure is connected to the refrigerant inlet pipe, and the outlet end of the flow path structure is connected to the refrigerant outlet pipe.
[0012] In a possible design, at least two of the second pipe bodies in the fluid pipe group of the flow path structure are arranged in sequence along the direction of gas flow in the heat exchanger.
[0013] In a possible design, further comprising fins, the fluid pipe group is arranged in sequence along the extension direction of the fins, and the second pipe body and the first pipe body are both fixed on the fins.
[0014] In a possible design, the heat exchanger is provided with at least two flow path structures, and the at least two flow path structures are arranged in sequence along the direction of gas flow.
[0015] In a third aspect, the present application provides a thermal management system, comprising a device main body and the heat exchanger according to any one of the second aspect, wherein the heat exchanger is connected to the device main body through a pipeline.
[0016] The present application provides a flow path structure, a heat exchanger, and a thermal energy management system. The flow path structure is provided with at least two fluid pipe groups arranged side by side, each fluid pipe group comprising a first pipe body and at least two second pipe bodies. The outlet end of the first pipe body is in communication with all the second pipe bodies of the fluid pipe group. In two adjacent fluid pipe groups, the outlet end of the second pipe body of one is in communication with the inlet end of the first pipe body of the other. In two fluid pipe groups at both ends, the inlet end of the first pipe body of one is used to receive refrigerant, and the outlet end of the first pipe body of the other is used to output refrigerant. In this way, the refrigerant enters the flow path structure from the inlet end of the first pipe body of the fluid pipe group at one end, flows through the second pipe bodies from the inlet end to the outlet end of the second pipe bodies, and then enters the first pipe body of the next fluid pipe group for mixing. The mixed refrigerant then enters the second pipe bodies of the fluid pipe group, and flows through all the fluid pipe groups in sequence in this way, and then exits the flow path structure from the second pipe bodies of the fluid pipe group at the other end. In this way, the refrigerant undergoes multiple mixing and separation when flowing through the flow path structure, and the refrigerant is uniformly distributed in the second pipe bodies of each fluid pipe group. Compared with existing heat exchangers, the refrigerant is more uniformly distributed in the flow path structure, and the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger using the flow path structure can be effectively improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the application.
[0018] Figure 1A structural schematic view of a first embodiment of the flow path structure provided by the present application;
[0019] Figure 2 A structural schematic view of another view of the flow path structure in Figure 1
[0020] Figure 3 A structural schematic view of a second embodiment of the flow path structure provided by the present application;
[0021] Figure 4 A structural schematic view of another view of the flow path structure in Figure 3
[0022] Reference signs
[0023] 100-fluid pipe set
[0024] 110-first pipe body
[0025] 120-second pipe body
[0026] 200-refrigerant inlet pipe
[0027] 300-refrigerant outlet pipe
[0028] The specific embodiments of the present application have been shown by the above-mentioned drawings, and will be described in more detail hereinafter. These drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept of the present application by any means, but to illustrate the concept of the present application to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more clear, the technical solutions of the present application will be described clearly and completely in the following by combining the drawings in the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are some of the embodiments of the present application, but not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without any creative labor are within the scope of protection of the present application.
[0030] The three-row finned heat exchanger with three rows of parallel arranged heat exchange pipes is a relatively common heat exchange equipment at present, and the three rows of heat exchange pipes are arranged in sequence from the windward side to the leeward side of the heat exchanger.
[0031] In use, the gas enters the fin from the windward side of the heat exchanger and exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipe, and the heat-exchanged gas leaves from the leeward side of the heat exchanger. In this process, the refrigerant will undergo phase change in the heat exchange pipe, and the liquid refrigerant in the heat exchange pipe on the windward side is less, and the liquid refrigerant in the heat exchange pipe on the leeward side is more, so that the refrigerant cannot effectively exchange heat with the gas, affecting the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.
[0032] To avoid the above problems, the application provides a flow path structure, a heat exchanger and a thermal energy management system, which can fully mix the cold medium on the leeward side and the cold medium on the windward side after heat exchange and then redistribute them again, fully utilize all fluid pipe groups, and thus improve the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.
[0033] It can be understood that the flow path structure in the application is mainly used in fin heat exchangers, and these fin heat exchangers can be adapted to common thermal energy management systems such as air conditioner indoor units, air conditioner outdoor units, air source heat pump units and the like.
[0034] The technical solutions of the application and how the technical solutions of the application solve the above technical problems will be described in detail below with specific embodiments. The following specific embodiments can exist independently or can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes can not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of the application will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0035] In some embodiments of the application, the flow path structure includes at least two fluid pipe groups 100 arranged side by side, and each fluid pipe group 100 includes a first pipe body 110 and at least two second pipe bodies 120 arranged side by side. The outlet end of the first pipe body 110 is in communication with the inlet end of the second pipe body 120, for example, through a cross pipe.
[0036] Among the two fluid pipe groups 100 at both ends, the inlet end of the first pipe body 110 of one is used to receive the cold medium, and the outlet end of the first pipe body 110 of the other is used to output the cold medium. Among the two adjacent fluid pipe groups 100, the outlet end of the second pipe body of one is in communication with the inlet end of the first pipe body 110 of the other, for example, through a cross pipe, so that the cold medium flows through all the fluid pipe groups 100.
[0037] The cross pipe mentioned here can be an elbow or other pipe that can effectively connect the pipe bodies, which is not limited in the embodiment.
[0038] Specifically, the number of fluid pipe groups 100 in the flow path structure can be determined according to the length of the required cold medium flow in the actual heat exchange process, which is not limited in the embodiment.
[0039] Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 two fluid pipe groups 100 are provided, and each fluid pipe group 100 is provided with two second pipe bodies 120.
[0040] The first pipe body 110 of the first fluid pipe group 100 has an interface 1 and an interface 2, one second pipe body 120 has an interface 3 and an interface 5, and the other second pipe body 120 has an interface 4 and an interface 6.
[0041] The first pipe body 110 of the second fluid pipe group 100 has the interface 7 and the interface 8, one second pipe body 120 has the interface 9 and the interface 11, and the other second pipe body 120 has the interface 10 and the interface 12.
[0042] Among them, the interface 1, the interface 3, the interface 4, the interface 7, the interface 9 and the interface 10 are inlet ends, and the interface 2, the interface 5, the interface 6, the interface 8, the interface 11 and the interface 12 are outlet ends.
[0043] The refrigerant enters the flow path structure from the interface 1, flows through the corresponding first pipe body 110, and is divided into the interface 3 and the interface 4 from the interface 2, respectively flows through the corresponding second pipe body 120, and is merged into the interface 7 from the interface 5 and the interface 6, and then flows through the corresponding first pipe body 110, and is divided into the interface 9 and the interface 10 from the interface 8, and finally flows through the corresponding second pipe body 120 and flows out of the flow path structure from the interface 11 and the interface 12.
[0044] Such a structure allows the refrigerant to be divided into different second pipe bodies 120 in each fluid pipe group 100, and then mixed in the first pipe body 110 of the next fluid pipe group 100, and then divided again, so that the refrigerant in the flow path structure undergoes multiple mixing and division, and the refrigerant in each second pipe body 120 in the fluid pipe group 100 is evenly distributed, effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency.
[0045] At the same time, the structure is also very simple, easy to process, and will not increase too much additional cost.
[0046] Exemplarily, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, three fluid pipe groups 100 are provided, and each fluid pipe group 100 still includes two second pipe bodies 120, and the main difference with respect to the arrangement of two fluid pipe groups 100 is that a third fluid pipe group 100 is arranged on the side of the first pipe body 110 having the interface 7 and the interface 8 away from the first pipe body 110 having the interface 1 and the interface 2, and the first pipe body 110 of the third fluid pipe group 100 has the interface 13 and the interface 14, one second pipe body 120 has the interface 15 and the interface 17, and the other second pipe body 120 has the interface 16 and the interface 18.
[0047] The refrigerant flowing out of the interface 11 and the interface 12 enters the interface 13, is mixed in the corresponding first pipe body 110, and is divided into the interface 15 and the interface 16 from the interface 14, flows through the corresponding two second pipe bodies 120, and exits the flow path structure from the interface 17 and the interface 18.
[0048] When more fluid pipe groups 100 are arranged, they can be connected in the same way in sequence, which is not limited in this embodiment.
[0049] Exemplarily, when two second pipe bodies 120 are arranged in each fluid pipe group 100, the two second pipe bodies 120 can be arranged on opposite sides of the first pipe body 110 at the same distance from the first pipe body 110, so as to synchronize the flow of refrigerant in the two second pipe bodies 120.
[0050] In order to further facilitate the connection, the first pipe body 110 can also be arranged to extend at least partially between the two second pipe bodies 120.
[0051] Specifically, the outlet end of the first pipe body 110 can extend between the two second pipe bodies 120, and the inlet end of the first pipe body 110 can be close to the component to which the refrigerant needs to be supplied, such as the refrigerant inlet pipe 200 of the heat exchanger or the inlet end of the second pipe body 120 of the next fluid pipe group 100.
[0052] When multiple second pipe bodies 120 are arranged, the second pipe bodies 120 can be arranged according to actual conditions, for example, the same number of second pipe bodies 120 can be arranged on both sides of the first pipe body 110, or all the second pipe bodies 120 can be arranged on one side of the first pipe body 110.
[0053] It can be understood that the number of second pipe bodies 120 arranged corresponding to each fluid pipe group 100 and the positional relationship between the second pipe bodies 120 and the first pipe body 110 can also be selected according to actual conditions, and the above examples are only for illustration and are not intended to limit them.
[0054] In some embodiments of the present application, the first pipe body 110 and the second pipe body 120 can be arranged as U-shaped pipes to adapt to the installation position of the existing finned heat exchanger.
[0055] In addition, the first pipe body 110 and the second pipe body 120 can be copper pipes, so that when in contact with the gas, the refrigerant can better exchange heat with the gas, thereby assisting in improving the heat exchange efficiency.
[0056] Of course, the first pipe body 110 and the second pipe body 120 can also be made of other materials that can effectively conduct heat, and the present embodiment does not limit them.
[0057] The present application also provides a heat exchanger, which comprises a refrigerant inlet pipe 200 and a refrigerant outlet pipe 300, and the flow path structure in the above embodiments. The inlet end of the flow path structure is connected with the refrigerant inlet pipe 200, and the outlet end of the flow path structure is connected with the refrigerant outlet pipe 300.
[0058] Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 1 , the interface 1 is connected with the refrigerant inlet pipe 200, and the interface 11 and the interface 12 are connected with the refrigerant outlet pipe 300, so that the refrigerant flows through the two fluid pipe groups 100.
[0059] Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 3 The interface 1 is connected with the refrigerant inlet pipe 200, and the interfaces 17 and 18 are connected with the refrigerant outlet pipe 300.
[0060] It can be understood that, according to the use of the heat exchanger, for example, when used as an evaporator or a condenser, the first pipe body 110 connected with the refrigerant inlet pipe 200 and the second pipe body 120 connected with the refrigerant outlet pipe 300 can be adjusted accordingly.
[0061] Specifically, when the heat exchange area of the fin heat exchanger is determined, the optimization of the flow path in the heat exchanger is an important way to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger, which is related to the system performance and reliability of the whole machine.
[0062] In principle, the overall flow direction of the refrigerant should be from bottom to top in the evaporation process and from top to bottom in the condensation process, which is conducive to reducing flow resistance and pressure drop loss; and the flow direction of the refrigerant and the air should be counter-current as much as possible to strengthen convective heat transfer and improve heat exchange effect. The number of flow paths of the heat exchanger should be based on the principle of best performance. The more the number of flow paths, the shorter the single flow path of the refrigerant, the smaller the flow resistance loss, the lower the refrigerant flow rate, and the lower the heat exchange coefficient. Considering that the air volume is low at the fan shaft, the flow path of the heat exchanger should be designed to compensate for the flow path.
[0063] Therefore, when the heat exchanger is used as a condenser, the first pipe body 110 at the upper part is connected with the refrigerant inlet pipe 200, and the second pipe body 120 at the lower part is connected with the refrigerant outlet pipe 300, which is appropriate; when the heat exchanger is used as an evaporator, the second pipe body 120 at the upper part is connected with the refrigerant outlet pipe 300, and the first pipe body 110 at the lower part is connected with the refrigerant inlet pipe 200, which is appropriate.
[0064] For the fin heat exchanger, it further includes fins, and corresponding mounting holes are arranged on the fins corresponding to the first pipe body 110 and the second pipe body 120. The first pipe body 110 and the second pipe body 120 are inserted into the corresponding mounting holes and are fixed by welding or other common methods.
[0065] Among them, the fluid pipe group 100 in the flow path structure can be arranged in sequence along the extension direction of the fin, and the second pipe body 120 in each fluid pipe group 100 is arranged in sequence along the flow direction of the gas for heat exchange in the heat exchanger.
[0066] Figure 1 and Figure 3 are views from the front of the fin when the flow path structure is arranged on the fin, Figure 2 and Figure 4 are views from the back of the fin when the flow path structure is arranged on the fin, Figure 2 and Figure 4The arrows in the figure show the direction of the gas flow during heat exchange. The second tube body 120 with the interfaces 4 and 6 and the second tube body 120 with the interfaces 10 and 12 are located on the windward side of the heat exchanger, and the second tube body 120 with the interfaces 3 and 5 and the second tube body 120 with the interfaces 9 and 11 are located on the leeward side of the heat exchanger.
[0067] Taking the heat exchanger as an evaporator, the low dryness refrigerant in the second tube body 120 on the leeward side is mixed with the high dryness refrigerant in the second tube body 120 on the windward side during the flow process, so that the refrigerant distribution in the heat exchanger gradually becomes more uniform, and the heat exchanger is fully utilized, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger while keeping the fin heat exchange area unchanged.
[0068] Further, the number of flow path structures and the number of fluid pipe groups 100 contained in each flow path structure are adjusted according to the heat exchange area, air volume distribution, etc. of different heat exchangers.
[0069] Exemplarily, at least two flow path structures can also be provided for each heat exchanger, and the flow path structures are arranged in sequence along the gas flow direction.
[0070] It can be understood that such a setting mode can extend the flow process of the refrigerant or increase the passage for the simultaneous flow of the refrigerant.
[0071] When the flow process of the refrigerant is extended, the outlet end of one of the two adjacent flow path structures is connected to the inlet end of the other, so that the refrigerant flowing through the previous flow path structure enters the next flow path structure to continue heat exchange, and the inlet end of one of the flow path structures at both ends is connected to the refrigerant inlet pipe 200, and the outlet end of the other is connected to the refrigerant outlet pipe 300.
[0072] When the passage for the simultaneous flow of the refrigerant is increased, the flow path structures can be arranged side by side between the refrigerant inlet pipe 200 and the refrigerant outlet pipe 300.
[0073] The embodiment of the present application also provides a thermal energy management system, which comprises a device main body and the heat exchanger in the above embodiment, and the heat exchanger is used to be connected to the device main body through a pipeline, so that the refrigerant flows between them, so that the thermal energy management system can perform refrigeration or heating.
[0074] Specifically, the thermal energy management system includes but is not limited to an air conditioner indoor unit, an air conditioner outdoor unit, a refrigeration device, an air source heat pump unit, and other devices that need to perform refrigeration or heating.
[0075] These devices generally include a compressor, and the heat exchanger can be connected to the compressor through a pipeline. Of course, the specific structure and connection mode are well known to those skilled in the art, and the present embodiment will not be described here.
[0076] So far, the technical solutions of the present application have been described in combination with the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings, but those skilled in the art can easily understand that the protection scope of the present application is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments, and the above examples are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, but not to limit them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing examples, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing examples, or make equivalent replacement for part or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.
Claims
1. A flow path structure characterized by, It includes at least two fluid tube assemblies (100) arranged side by side, each fluid tube assembly (100) including a first tube body (110) and at least two second tube bodies (120), wherein the outlet end of the first tube body (110) is connected to the inlet end of the second tube body (120); In the two fluid pipe assemblies (100) located at both ends, the inlet end of the first pipe body (110) of one is used to receive refrigerant, and the outlet end of the first pipe body (110) of the other is used to output the refrigerant; in two adjacent fluid pipe assemblies (100), the outlet end of the second pipe body (120) of one is connected to the inlet end of the first pipe body (110) of the other, so that the refrigerant flows through all the fluid pipe assemblies (100).
2. The flow path structure according to claim 1, wherein The fluid assembly (100) includes two second tubes (120), and the two second tubes (120) are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the first tube (110).
3. The flow path structure according to claim 2, wherein Both the first tube (110) and the second tube (120) are U-shaped tubes.
4. The flow path structure according to claim 3, characterized by Both the first tube (110) and the second tube (120) are copper tubes.
5. The flow path structure according to claim 3, wherein The first tube (110) extends at least partially between the two second tubes (120).
6. A heat exchanger, characterized by It includes a refrigerant inlet pipe (200), a refrigerant outlet pipe (300), and a flow path structure as described in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the inlet end of the flow path structure is connected to the refrigerant inlet pipe (200), and the outlet end of the flow path structure is connected to the refrigerant outlet pipe (300).
7. The heat exchanger of claim 6, wherein At least two second tubes (120) in the fluid tube assembly (100) of the flow path structure are arranged sequentially along the gas flow direction in the heat exchanger.
8. The heat exchanger of claim 7, wherein It also includes fins, and the fluid tube assembly (100) is arranged sequentially along the extension direction of the fins, with the second tube body (120) and the first tube body (110) both fixed on the fins.
9. A heat exchanger according to any one of claims 6-8, characterised in that The flow path structure is provided in at least two ways, and the at least two flow path structures are arranged sequentially along the gas flow direction.
10. A thermal energy management system, characterized by, It includes a main body of equipment and a heat exchanger as described in any one of claims 6-9, wherein the heat exchanger is connected to the main body of equipment via a pipeline.