Air conditioner indoor unit and micro-channel heat exchanger thereof

Abstract

The utility model provides an air conditioner indoor unit and a micro-channel heat exchanger thereof, the micro-channel heat exchanger comprises a plurality of flat pipes arranged in parallel, each flat pipe is internally provided with a refrigerant channel and a phase change material channel, the phase change material channel is configured to absorb heat or cold energy generated by the refrigerant channel so as to store the heat or the cold energy, and the phase change material channel is configured to store the heat or the cold energy; and releasing the stored heat or cold energy outwards. According to the micro-channel heat exchanger, the utilization rate of heat or cold energy released by the refrigerant is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of air conditioners, and in particular to an indoor unit of an air conditioner and its microchannel heat exchanger. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards improve, they are paying more and more attention to the comfort of their living environment. Air conditioners are a commonly used air handling device that regulates indoor temperature. The indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a fan and a heat exchanger. When the air conditioner is running, the fan forces airflow through the heat exchanger, allowing the airflow to exchange heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger before being blown into the room, thus regulating the indoor temperature. However, the heat exchange between the airflow and the refrigerant in the heat exchanger is not always sufficient, resulting in the underutilization of the released cooling or heating energy and causing energy waste during air conditioner operation. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of the above problems, this utility model is proposed to provide an air conditioner indoor unit and its microchannel heat exchanger that overcome or at least partially solve the above problems.

[0004] The present invention aims to solve the problem of low utilization rate of heat or cooling capacity released by refrigerant in indoor units of air conditioners in related technologies, so as to improve energy utilization efficiency.

[0005] Specifically, this utility model provides a microchannel heat exchanger for air conditioners.

[0006] The microchannel heat exchanger of this utility model includes: a plurality of parallel flat tubes, each of which is provided with a refrigerant channel and a phase change material channel. The phase change material channel is configured to absorb the heat or cold generated by the refrigerant channel to store the heat or cold, and to release the stored heat or cold to the outside.

[0007] In some embodiments, the refrigerant channel and the phase change material channel are arranged in a single layer, and the refrigerant channel and the phase change material channel are alternately arranged sequentially along the width direction of the flat tube.

[0008] In some embodiments, the refrigerant channels are arranged in two layers, sequentially arranged along the thickness direction of the flat tube, and each layer contains multiple refrigerant channels, sequentially arranged along the width direction of the flat tube; the phase change material channels are multiple, arranged in one layer, sequentially arranged along the width direction of the flat tube, and disposed between the two layers of refrigerant channels.

[0009] In some embodiments, each of the refrigerant channels in one layer of refrigerant channels is aligned with each of the refrigerant channels in another layer of refrigerant channels; each phase change material channel is aligned with the interval between every two adjacent refrigerant channels in one layer of refrigerant channels.

[0010] In some embodiments, the length of each phase change material channel along the width direction of the flat tube is a first length; the length of the interval between every two adjacent refrigerant channels in one layer of refrigerant channels along the width direction of the flat tube is a second length, and the first length is greater than the second length.

[0011] In some embodiments, there are multiple refrigerant channels arranged in a single layer and sequentially arranged along the width direction of the flat tube; there are multiple phase change material channels arranged in a single layer and sequentially arranged along the width direction of the flat tube.

[0012] In some embodiments, each of the refrigerant channels in one layer of refrigerant channels is aligned with each of the phase change material channels in one layer of phase change material channels.

[0013] In some embodiments, in each pair of adjacent flat tubes, the two layers of refrigerant channels are located inside the two layers of phase change material channels, or the two layers of phase change material channels are located inside the two layers of refrigerant channels.

[0014] In some embodiments, the microchannel heat exchanger further includes: two manifolds, the flat tube being disposed between the two manifolds, and both ends of each refrigerant channel being connected to the two manifolds respectively; the two manifolds respectively sealing both ends of the phase change material channel; or each phase change material channel having a sealing structure at both ends; and heat exchange fins being disposed between adjacent two flat tubes.

[0015] The indoor unit of the air conditioner of this utility model includes: an indoor heat exchanger, wherein the indoor heat exchanger is any one of the microchannel heat exchangers described above.

[0016] This invention relates to a microchannel heat exchanger for an indoor unit of an air conditioner, wherein each flat tube contains a refrigerant channel and a phase change material channel. This allows the refrigerant to exchange heat not only with the airflow drawn into the indoor unit but also with the phase change material in the phase change material channel. The phase change material stores a portion of the cooling or heating energy released by the refrigerant. Furthermore, the phase change material storing this cooling or heating energy can release heat or cooling energy in place of the refrigerant, allowing components such as the compressor to operate intermittently. This ensures that the cooling energy released by the refrigerant is fully utilized, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the microchannel heat exchanger of this invention.

[0017] The above and other objects, advantages and features of this utility model will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of specific embodiments of this utility model in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The following sections will describe some specific embodiments of the present invention in a detailed manner by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts or components. Those skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a microchannel heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of a flat tube according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of a flat tube according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of a flat tube according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of a flat tube according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic structural diagram of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0025] Figure label:

[0026] Microchannel heat exchanger 10;

[0027] Flat tube 100; refrigerant channel 110; phase change material channel 120; spacer 130;

[0028] First manifold 210; Second manifold 220; Heat exchange fins 300;

[0029] Air conditioner indoor unit 20. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The following reference Figures 1 to 6This invention describes an indoor unit of an air conditioner and its microchannel heat exchanger according to embodiments of the present invention. In this description, it should be understood that 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. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature, that is, include one or more of that feature. In the description of the present invention, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified. When a feature "includes or contains" one or more of the features it encompasses, unless otherwise specifically described, this indicates that other features are not excluded and may be further included.

[0031] Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," "link," "fix," and "couple" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art should be able to understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0032] Furthermore, in the description of this embodiment, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or it can include contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. That is, in the description of this embodiment, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," or "below" of the second feature can mean the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0033] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this utility model. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0034] The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] The indoor unit of the air conditioner in this embodiment of the utility model includes a cooling mode and a heating mode.

[0036] In cooling mode, low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant enters the compressor and is compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. This high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is then guided through a four-way valve to the outdoor heat exchanger for heat exchange, forming a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. This high-pressure liquid refrigerant is then throttled through a capillary tube or expansion valve to form a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant. This low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger to cool the air drawn into the indoor unit 20 of the air conditioner. The cooled air is then blown into the room through the air outlet of the indoor unit 20.

[0037] In heating mode, low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant enters the compressor and is compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. This high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is then guided through a four-way valve to the indoor heat exchanger for heat exchange, heating the air drawn into the indoor unit 20 of the air conditioner, causing the indoor unit 20 to blow hot air into the room. The refrigerant that releases heat forms a high-pressure liquid refrigerant and enters the outdoor heat exchanger. After absorbing heat from the outdoor environment, the refrigerant is converted into low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant.

[0038] In this embodiment of the invention, the heat exchanger of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is a microchannel heat exchanger 10.

[0039] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, describes an embodiment of the microchannel heat exchanger 10 for an air conditioner.

[0040] The microchannel heat exchanger 10 for an air conditioner according to this embodiment includes a flat tube 100. Multiple flat tubes 100 are arranged in parallel. Each flat tube 100 contains a refrigerant channel 110 and a phase change material channel 120. The refrigerant channel 110 supplies refrigerant flow, and the phase change material channel 120 stores phase change material. The phase change material channel 120 is configured to absorb heat or cold generated by the refrigerant channel 110 to store heat or cold, and to release the stored heat or cold. In other words, the phase change material in the phase change material channel 120 can exchange heat with the refrigerant in the refrigerant channel 110 through the flat tube 100, causing the phase change material to melt or solidify, thereby absorbing the cold or heat released by the refrigerant.

[0041] When the indoor unit 20 of the air conditioner is in heating mode, the refrigerant in the refrigerant passage 110 releases heat. Part of this heat is absorbed by the air entering the indoor unit 20, causing the air to heat up and forming a hot airflow blown into the room. The remaining heat is absorbed by the phase change material in the phase change material passage 120, causing the phase change material to melt and store the absorbed heat. When the refrigerant is not releasing heat, the phase change material can solidify and release the stored heat.

[0042] When the indoor unit 20 of the air conditioner is cooling, the refrigerant in the refrigerant passage 110 releases cooling energy. Part of this cooling energy is absorbed by the air entering the indoor unit 20, cooling the air and creating a cool airflow blown into the room. The remaining cooling energy is absorbed by the phase change material in the phase change material passage 120, causing the phase change material to solidify and store the absorbed cooling energy. When the refrigerant is not releasing cooling energy, the phase change material can melt and release the stored cooling energy.

[0043] Compared with related technologies, the microchannel heat exchanger 10 for the indoor unit 20 of an air conditioner in this embodiment of the invention has a refrigerant channel 110 and a phase change material channel 120 in each flat tube 100. This allows the refrigerant to exchange heat not only with the airflow drawn into the indoor unit 20, but also with the phase change material in the phase change material channel 120, allowing the phase change material to store a portion of the cooling or heating energy released by the refrigerant. Furthermore, the phase change material storing heat or cooling energy can release heat or cooling energy outwards instead of the refrigerant, allowing components such as the compressor to operate intermittently. This ensures that the cooling energy released by the refrigerant is fully utilized, improving the energy efficiency of the microchannel heat exchanger 10 in this embodiment of the invention.

[0044] The phase change material filling the phase change material channel 120 can be a hydrated salt; or, the phase change material filling the phase change material channel 120 can be paraffin; or, the phase change material filling the phase change material channel 120 can be other materials.

[0045] During summer cooling, the compressor and other components in the indoor unit 20 of this embodiment of the air conditioner operate for a period of time, using the refrigerant in the refrigerant passage 110 to cool the indoor air. During this period, the phase change material absorbs and stores a portion of the refrigerant's cooling capacity. After the compressor and other components have been running for a period of time, they stop operating, and only the fan in the indoor unit 20 operates, causing the phase change material to release cooling capacity to the outside, thereby cooling the indoor air. This results in the intermittent operation of the compressor and other components in the air conditioner. Similarly, during winter heating, the phase change material can store heat when the refrigerant releases heat and release it to the outside after the compressor and other components stop operating, thereby warming the indoor air.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the refrigerant channel 110 and the phase change material channel 120 are arranged in one layer, and the refrigerant channel 110 and the phase change material channel 120 are along the width direction of the flat tube 100 (e.g., Figure 3The refrigerant channels 110 and phase change material channels 120 are arranged alternately in the front and back directions of the tube. Specifically, each flat tube 100 contains multiple refrigerant channels 110 spaced 130° apart along its width, and multiple phase change material channels 120 spaced 130° apart along the width of the tube. The refrigerant channels 110 and phase change material channels 120 are staggered, with one phase change material channel 120 between every two adjacent refrigerant channels 110 and one refrigerant channel 110 between every two adjacent phase change material channels 120. In other words, by staggering the refrigerant channels 110 and phase change material channels 120, the heat transfer distance between the refrigerant and the phase change material is reduced, allowing the cold or heat in the refrigerant to be quickly transferred to the phase change material, reducing the loss of cold or heat, and thus further improving the utilization rate of cold or heat.

[0047] In some alternative embodiments, two adjacent refrigerant channels 110 are arranged flush with each other in the thickness direction of the flat tube 100, and the phase change material channel 120 between the two adjacent refrigerant channels 110 is staggered from the refrigerant channel 110 in the thickness direction of the flat tube 100.

[0048] In some alternative embodiments, the two adjacent refrigerant channels 110 and the phase change material channel 120 between them are all arranged flush with each other in the thickness direction of the flat tube 100.

[0049] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the refrigerant channel 110 is arranged in two layers, with the two layers of refrigerant channels 110 along the thickness direction of the flat tube 100 (e.g., Figure 5 The refrigerant channels 110 are arranged sequentially (up and down) in the flat tube 100. Each layer contains multiple refrigerant channels 110, which are arranged sequentially along the width of the flat tube 100. There are also multiple phase change material channels 120, arranged in a single layer along the width of the flat tube 100, with one layer of phase change material channels 120 positioned between two layers of refrigerant channels 110. In other words, each flat tube 100 contains two layers of refrigerant channels 110, thereby increasing the refrigerant flow rate in each flat tube 100 and improving the amount of cooling or heating that can be released by the refrigerant in each flat tube 100, thus enhancing the cooling and heating capacity of the indoor unit 20 of this embodiment. Furthermore, the phase change material channels 120 are enclosed between two layers of refrigerant channels 110, allowing the phase change material in the phase change material channels 120 to better absorb the cooling or heating released by the refrigerant, further improving energy utilization.

[0050] In some alternative embodiments, each refrigerant channel 110 in one layer of refrigerant channels 110 is aligned with each refrigerant channel 110 in another layer of refrigerant channels 110, that is, each refrigerant channel 110 in one layer of refrigerant channels 110 and each refrigerant channel 110 in another layer of refrigerant channels 110 are arranged flush with each other in the width direction of the flat tube 100. Each phase change material channel 120 is aligned with the interval 130 between every two adjacent refrigerant channels 110 in one layer of refrigerant channels 110. On the one hand, the phase change material channel 120 is wrapped between two layers of refrigerant channels 110, so that the phase change material in the phase change material channel 120 can better absorb the cold or heat released by the refrigerant. On the other hand, the phase change material channel 120 and the refrigerant channel 110 are staggered as much as possible in the width direction of the flat tube 100, so as to reduce the thin-walled structure formed by the overlap of the phase change material channel 120 and the refrigerant channel 110 in the width direction of the flat tube 100, thereby reducing the manufacturing difficulty of the flat tube 100 and saving the manufacturing cost of the microchannel heat exchanger 10 in this embodiment.

[0051] In other alternative embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the length of each phase change material channel 120 along the width direction of the flat tube 100 is a first length. The length of the interval 130 between every two adjacent refrigerant channels 110 in one layer of refrigerant channels 110 along the width direction of the flat tube 100 is a second length, and the first length is greater than the second length. That is to say, a portion of each phase change material channel 120 overlaps with its corresponding two refrigerant channels 110 in the width direction of the flat tube 100, thereby improving the heat exchange effect between the phase change material in the phase change material channel 120 and the refrigerant in the refrigerant channel 110.

[0052] In some alternative embodiments, the length of each phase change material channel 120 along the width direction of the flat tube 100 is a third length. The length of the interval 130 between every two adjacent refrigerant channels 110 in a layer of refrigerant channels 110 along the width direction of the flat tube 100 is a fourth length, and the third length is less than the second length. That is, each phase change material channel 120 is located between its corresponding two refrigerant channels 110 in each layer.

[0053] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4As shown, there are multiple refrigerant channels 110, arranged in a single layer, and sequentially arranged along the width direction of the flat tube 100. Similarly, there are multiple phase change material channels 120, also arranged in a single layer, and sequentially arranged along the width direction of the flat tube 100. In other words, each flat tube 100 has one layer of refrigerant channels 110 and one layer of phase change material channels 120 sequentially arranged along its thickness direction. The presence of one layer of refrigerant channels 110 and one layer of phase change material channels 120 in each flat tube 100 not only increases the refrigerant flow rate in each flat tube 100 and improves the amount of cold or heat that can be released by the refrigerant, but also improves the heat exchange efficiency between the refrigerant and the phase change material, allowing for more efficient utilization of the cold and heat released by the refrigerant.

[0054] Furthermore, each refrigerant channel 110 in the first layer of refrigerant channels 110 is aligned with each phase change material channel 120 in the first layer of phase change material channels 120. This alignment ensures more uniform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the phase change material, guaranteeing that the phase change material in each phase change material channel 120 can fully absorb cold or heat. When the refrigerant no longer releases cold or heat, the phase change material in the multiple phase change material channels 120 in the flat tube 100 can uniformly release cold or heat to the outside, thereby ensuring the uniformity of the air outlet temperature of the indoor unit 20 of the air conditioner in this embodiment.

[0055] In some embodiments, in each pair of adjacent flat tubes 100, the two layers of refrigerant channels 110 are located inside the two layers of phase change material channels 120, making it easier for the refrigerant channels 110 in the two adjacent flat tubes 100 to release cold or heat energy. This not only improves the cooling or heating effect of the indoor unit 20 of the air conditioner in this embodiment, but also allows the phase change material in the phase change material channel 120 to better collect the cold or heat energy released by the refrigerant, thereby further improving the energy utilization rate.

[0056] In other embodiments, the two-layer phase change material channel 120 is located inside the two-layer refrigerant channel 110, which facilitates the release of cold or heat by the phase change material in the phase change material channel 120.

[0057] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-2As shown, the indoor heat exchanger also includes two manifolds: a first manifold 210 and a second manifold 220. Flat tubes 100 are positioned between the first manifold 210 and the second manifold 220, and both ends of each refrigerant channel 110 are connected to the first manifold 210 and the second manifold 220, respectively. The first manifold 210 and the second manifold 220 respectively seal both ends of the phase change material channel 120. Alternatively, each phase change material channel 120 may have a sealing structure at both ends. Refrigerant enters from the first manifold 210 into the refrigerant channel 110 of each flat tube 100, and then enters the second manifold 220 through the refrigerant channel 110; or, refrigerant enters from the second manifold 220 into the refrigerant channel 110 of each flat tube 100, and then enters the first manifold 210 through the refrigerant channel 110.

[0058] Heat exchange fins 300 are provided between two adjacent flat tubes 100 to increase the contact area between the indoor heat exchanger and the air and improve the heat exchange effect.

[0059] Therefore, those skilled in the art should recognize that although many exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications conforming to the principles of the present invention can be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be understood and recognized as covering all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. A microchannel heat exchanger for an indoor unit of an air conditioner, characterized in that, include: Multiple parallel flat tubes are provided, each of which is provided with a refrigerant channel and a phase change material channel. The phase change material channel is configured to absorb the heat or cold generated by the refrigerant channel to store the heat or cold, and to release the stored heat or cold to the outside.

2. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerant channel and the phase change material channel are arranged in one layer, and the refrigerant channel and the phase change material channel are alternately arranged along the width direction of the flat tube.

3. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerant channels are arranged in two layers, sequentially along the thickness direction of the flat tube, with multiple refrigerant channels in each layer, sequentially along the width direction of the flat tube. The phase change material channels are multiple and arranged in one layer, sequentially along the width direction of the flat tube, and located between the two layers of refrigerant channels.

4. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the refrigerant channels in one layer is aligned with each of the refrigerant channels in another layer; Each phase change material channel is aligned with the spacing between every two adjacent refrigerant channels in one layer of refrigerant channels.

5. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 4, characterized in that, The length of each phase change material channel along the width direction of the flat tube is a first length; The length of the interval between every two adjacent refrigerant channels in the first layer along the width direction of the flat tube is the second length, and the first length is greater than the second length.

6. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerant channels are multiple and arranged in a single layer, sequentially along the width direction of the flat tube; The phase change material channels are multiple and arranged in a single layer, sequentially along the width direction of the flat tube.

7. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that, Each of the refrigerant channels in the first layer is aligned with each of the phase change material channels in the first layer.

8. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that, In each pair of adjacent flat tubes, the two layers of refrigerant channels are located inside the two layers of phase change material channels, or the two layers of phase change material channels are located inside the two layers of refrigerant channels.

9. The microchannel heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Two manifolds, with the flat tube disposed between the two manifolds, and both ends of each refrigerant channel connected to the two manifolds respectively; The two manifolds respectively seal off both ends of the phase change material channel; or each phase change material channel is provided with a sealing structure at both ends; Heat exchange fins are provided between two adjacent flat tubes.

10. An indoor unit of an air conditioner, characterized in that, include: An indoor heat exchanger, wherein the indoor heat exchanger is the microchannel heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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