Heat exchangers and their heat exchange systems

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of refrigeration system technology, and in particular to a heat exchanger and its heat exchange system. The heat exchanger includes an inner tube and an outer tube, which are coaxially arranged with the inner tube located radially inside the outer tube. A first flow path is formed on the inner wall of the inner tube, and a second flow path is formed between the outer wall of the inner tube and the inner wall of the outer tube. The first and second flow paths are not interconnected, and the first flow path contains a first medium, while the second flow path contains a second medium. The first flow path has a first inlet and a first outlet, and the second flow path has a second inlet and a second outlet. The first inlet and the first outlet are located on the same side, while the second inlet and the second outlet are located on the opposite side. The first medium and the second medium flow in opposite directions. Its advantage lies in that the media in the first and second flow paths are different and flow in opposite directions, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of refrigeration system technology, and in particular to a heat exchanger and its heat exchange system. Background Technology

[0002] A heat exchanger consists of heat exchange tubes, which are used to supply the flow of either refrigerant or a cooling medium. Both refrigerant and cooling medium can exchange heat with the air to complete the heat exchange process. However, the heat exchange tubes in existing heat exchangers can usually only carry one of the refrigerant or the cooling medium, resulting in low heat exchange efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0003] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model provides a heat exchanger.

[0004] A heat exchanger includes a heat exchange tube comprising an inner tube and an outer tube sleeved around the outer periphery of the inner tube. A first flow path is formed on the inner wall of the inner tube, and a second flow path is formed between the outer wall of the inner tube and the inner wall of the outer tube. The first flow path and the second flow path are not interconnected. The first flow path has a first inlet and a first outlet, and the second flow path has a second inlet and a second outlet. The heat exchanger has a first side and a second side radially opposite to each other along the heat exchange tube. The first inlet and the second outlet are located on the first side, and the second inlet and the first outlet are located on the second side.

[0005] With this configuration, since the inner tube is located inside the outer tube, the first flow path is radially inside the second flow path. The contact area between the two media (defined as the first medium and the second medium) in the first and second flow paths is large, resulting in a large heat transfer area. This allows for thorough heat exchange during flow. Furthermore, because the first and second flow paths are not interconnected, different types of media can be used. Therefore, the combination of different media can improve the heat exchanger's efficiency. For example, the first medium can be a refrigerant and the second medium can be a coolant and a refrigerant, respectively. Additionally, since the first inlet and first outlet are on the same side, and the second inlet and second outlet are on the opposite side, and the side with the first inlet also has the second outlet, the inflow point of the first medium in the first flow path is actually the outflow point of the second medium in the second flow path. Therefore, the flow directions of the media in the first and second flow paths are necessarily opposite. Thus, during heat exchange, the heat exchange between the two media flowing in opposite directions is more thorough, further improving the heat exchanger's efficiency. At the same time, it reduces the space occupied by the inner and outer tubes, saving space and reducing the amount of materials used.

[0006] In one embodiment, the inner tube and the outer tube are coaxially arranged.

[0007] In one embodiment, the inner tube has a circular cross-section, and the outer tube has an elliptical cross-section.

[0008] In one embodiment, the inner tube is located in the middle of the outer tube and is in clearance fit with the inner wall of the outer tube.

[0009] In one embodiment, at least one of the radial cross-sections of the first flow path and the second flow path is configured as an irregular shape.

[0010] In one embodiment, the inner tube includes multiple straight pipes and multiple bent pipes. The multiple straight pipes extend along a first direction, and the multiple straight pipes are spaced apart along a second direction. Adjacent straight pipes are connected end to end by the bent pipes to form the first flow path. The straight pipes are evenly spaced along the second direction, and the multiple straight pipes are all arranged in parallel. The second direction and the first direction are arranged at an angle. The two straight pipes located on both sides of the second direction are respectively connected to the first inlet and the first outlet.

[0011] In one embodiment, the gas collecting pipe, the manifold pipe, and the liquid collecting pipe all extend along a second direction. The gas collecting pipe is connected to the second inlet. The gas collecting pipe is connected to the manifold pipe through at least one of the outer pipes. The manifold pipe is connected to the liquid collecting pipe through at least one of the outer pipes. The liquid collecting pipe is connected to the second outlet.

[0012] In one embodiment, the heat exchanger has a third side and a fourth side along a first direction, the first inlet and the first outlet are located on the third side, the second inlet and the second outlet are located on the fourth side, the gas collecting pipe and the liquid collecting pipe are both located on the fourth side, and the manifold is located on the first side.

[0013] In one embodiment, the gas collecting pipe, the liquid collecting pipe, and the manifold are all configured as rectangular frame structures.

[0014] This utility model also provides a refrigeration system, including the heat exchanger described above.

[0015] Compared to existing technologies, this invention uses an outer tube and an inner tube located inside the outer tube to form a first and a second flow path that are not interconnected. This allows the first and second media flowing in the first and second flow paths to be of different types. The combination of different media can improve the heat exchanger's efficiency; for example, the first and second media can be a refrigerant and a coolant, respectively. Since the first inlet and first outlet are located on the same side, and the second inlet and second outlet are on the opposite side, the flow directions of the media in the first and second flow paths are necessarily opposite. Therefore, during the heat exchange process, the heat exchange between the two media flowing in opposite directions is more thorough, further improving the heat exchanger's efficiency. Simultaneously, it reduces the space occupied by the inner and outer tubes, saving space and reducing material usage. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of one embodiment of the heat exchanger provided by this utility model;

[0017] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the heat exchanger provided by this utility model;

[0018] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the heat exchange tube of one embodiment of the heat exchanger provided by this utility model;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a side sectional view of one embodiment of the heat exchanger provided by this utility model.

[0020] The symbols in the diagram represent the following meanings:

[0021] 100. Heat exchanger; 10. Fin assembly; 20. Heat exchange tube; 21. Inner tube; 211. First flow path; 212. First inlet; 213. First outlet; 214. Straight tube; 215. Bend; 22. Outer tube; 221. Second flow path; 222. Second inlet; 223. Second outlet; 23. Gas collecting pipe; 24. Liquid collecting pipe; 25. Manifold. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0023] It should be noted that when a mechanism is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another mechanism, it can be directly on the other mechanism or there may be an intervening mechanism. When a mechanism is considered to be "connected to" another mechanism, it can be directly connected to the other mechanism or there may be an intervening mechanism. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application's specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0024] 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 technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0025] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature can mean that the first feature is 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," and "under" the second feature can mean that 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.

[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0027] This utility model provides a heat exchanger 100, including an outer tube 22 and an inner tube 21 disposed in the outer tube 22. The first flow path 211 in the inner tube 21 and the second flow path 221 in the outer tube 22 can carry different media respectively, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100.

[0028] Please see Figures 1-4The heat exchanger 100 includes a heat exchange tube 20, which includes an inner tube 21 and an outer tube 22 sleeved around the outer periphery of the inner tube 21. The inner tube 21 is located radially inside the outer tube 22. A first flow path 211 is formed on the inner wall of the inner tube 21, and a second flow path 221 is formed between the outer wall of the inner tube 21 and the inner wall of the outer tube 22. The first flow path 211 and the second flow path 221 are not connected to each other. Therefore, the media in the first flow path 211 and the second flow path 221 can be set to be different. In this embodiment, the medium in the first flow path 211 is set to be a first medium, and the medium in the second flow path 221 is set to be a second medium. The medium is a second medium; wherein, the first flow path 211 has a first inlet 212 and a first outlet 213, the second flow path 221 has a second inlet 222 and a second outlet 223, the heat exchanger 100 has a first side and a second side arranged radially opposite to each other along the heat exchange tube 20, the first inlet 212 and the second outlet 223 are located on the first side, and the second inlet 222 and the first outlet 213 are located on the second side, that is, at least part of the first medium flowing in the first flow path 211 has the opposite flow direction to the second medium flowing in the second flow path 221, which is beneficial to improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0029] Thus, since the inner tube 21 is located inside the outer tube 22, the first flow path 211 is located radially inside the second flow path 221. The contact area between the first medium in the first flow path 211 and the second medium in the second flow path 221 is large, that is, the heat transfer area is large. The two achieve sufficient heat exchange while flowing. Since the first flow path 211 and the second flow path 221 are not connected to each other, the first medium and the second medium are of different types. Therefore, by combining different types of media, the heat exchanger 100 can achieve higher heat exchange efficiency. For example, the first medium and the second medium can be set as a refrigerant and a coolant, respectively. Furthermore, since the first inlet 212 and the first outlet 213 are located on the same side, while the second inlet 222 and the second outlet 223 are located on the other side, and the second outlet 223 is also located on the side where the first inlet 212 is located, and the first outlet 213 is also located on the side where the second inlet 222 is located, it means that the inflow point of the first medium in the first flow path 211 is actually the outflow point of the second medium in the second flow path 221. Therefore, the flow directions of the media in the first flow path 211 and the second flow path 221 are necessarily opposite. Thus, during the heat exchange process, the heat exchange of the two media flowing in opposite directions will be more complete, thereby further improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100. At the same time, it reduces the space occupied by the inner tube 21 and the outer tube 22, saving space and reducing the amount of material used.

[0030] Preferably, the inner tube 21 and the outer tube 22 are arranged coaxially to make heat transfer more uniform.

[0031] In this embodiment, at least one of the radial cross-sections of the first flow path 211 and the second flow path 221 is set to an irregular shape, such that the circumferential cross-sections of at least one of the first flow path 211 or the second flow path 221 are different, in order to increase the disturbance to the heat transfer medium, increase turbulence, and improve heat transfer efficiency. It should be explained that an irregular shape refers to a shape that does not conform to the standard geometric definition, characterized by inconsistencies in its edges, corners, symmetry, or overall structure. Unlike regular shapes (such as circles, squares, triangles, etc.), irregular shapes do not have fixed mathematical formulas or unified geometric rules to describe their contours.

[0032] The heat exchanger 100 also includes a fin assembly 10, which has a first side and a second side on both sides in a first direction. In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 100 has a first side and a second side in a horizontal direction. The inner tube 21 and the outer tube 22 are both inserted through the fin assembly 10, and the first inlet 212 and the first outlet 213 are located on the first side, while the second inlet 222 and the second outlet 223 are located on the second side. In this way, the fin assembly 10 increases the contact area between the outer tube 22 and the outside air, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0033] Specifically, in this embodiment, the fin assembly 10 includes corrugated fins, thereby extending the airflow path, increasing air turbulence, enhancing air mixing, and thus improving heat transfer efficiency.

[0034] The inner tube 21 includes multiple straight tubes 214 and multiple bends 215. The multiple straight tubes 214 extend along a first direction, and adjacent straight tubes 214 are connected end to end by bends 215 to form a first flow path 211. The multiple straight tubes 214 are spaced apart along a second direction, and the multiple straight tubes 214 and bends 215 cooperate to form a serpentine structure, which increases the flow path while reducing the flow resistance of the heat exchange medium, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0035] Preferably, in this embodiment, the first medium in the inner tube 21 is a refrigerant. The refrigerant does not undergo a state change during heat transfer, and its impact on the relatively small inner tube 21 is also minimal. Preferably, the first medium is cooling water.

[0036] Straight pipes 214 are evenly spaced along the second direction, and multiple straight pipes 214 are arranged in parallel, with the second direction and the first direction at an angle. The two straight pipes 214 located on either side of the second direction are connected to the first inlet 212 and the first outlet 213, respectively. Thus, the multiple evenly spaced straight pipes 214 provide a more uniform heat exchange effect, and the increased number of straight pipes 214 increases the heat exchange path, thereby ensuring heat exchange efficiency. When the straight pipes 214 are applied to the finned assembly 10, the above arrangement can fully utilize the heat exchange area of ​​the finned assembly 10.

[0037] Please refer to [link / reference needed] for further explanation. Figure 1 Assuming heat exchanger 100 is as follows Figure 1 If the heat exchanger 100 is placed vertically, then the first direction is horizontal and the second direction is vertical. Of course, if the placement and state of the heat exchanger 100 change, the first and second directions should also be adjusted accordingly.

[0038] Furthermore, the heat exchanger 100 also includes a gas collecting pipe 23, a manifold 25, and a liquid collecting pipe 24. The gas collecting pipe 23, the manifold 25, and the liquid collecting pipe 24 all extend along the second direction. The gas collecting pipe 23 is connected to the second inlet 222. The gas collecting pipe 23 is connected to the manifold 25 through at least one outer pipe 22. The manifold 25 is connected to the liquid collecting pipe 24 through at least one outer pipe 22. The liquid collecting pipe 24 is connected to the second outlet 223.

[0039] In other embodiments, the liquid collecting pipe 24 is connected to a plurality of outer pipes 22, so that the heat exchanger 100 can shorten the flow time of the heat exchange medium in the second flow path 221 and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0040] The heat exchanger 100 has a third side and a fourth side along a first direction. The first inlet 212 and the first outlet 213 are located on the third side, the second inlet 222 and the second outlet 223 are located on the fourth side, the gas collecting pipe 23 and the liquid collecting pipe 24 are both located on the fourth side, and the manifold 25 is located on the first side. This arrangement facilitates the overall assembly of the heat exchanger.

[0041] The high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous medium first enters the gas collecting pipe 23 through the second inlet 222. The gas collecting pipe 23 is connected to at least one outer pipe 22. Therefore, the gaseous medium enters the gap between the outer pipe 22 and the inner pipe 21, that is, it enters the second flow path 221. After flowing horizontally through the outer pipe 22, it undergoes preliminary heat exchange and reaches the manifold 25. In the manifold 25, it changes direction and enters the outer pipe 22 again to complete the second heat exchange. Finally, it reaches the liquid collecting pipe 24, where it is converted into liquid refrigerant and leaves the liquid collecting pipe 24 from the second outlet 223. This arrangement facilitates processing and is beneficial to the overall stability of the heat exchanger structure.

[0042] Specifically, multiple outer tubes 22 are inserted into the fin assembly 10 along the first direction, with both ends of each outer tube 22 extending out of the fin assembly 10. The gas collecting pipe 23 and the liquid collecting pipe 24 are spaced apart along the second direction and are not interconnected. This prevents media in different states in the gas collecting pipe 23 and the liquid collecting pipe 24 from mixing.

[0043] Preferably, when the heat exchanger 100 is placed vertically, that is, has a top and a bottom along the first direction, the liquid collecting pipe 24 is located on the upper side, the gas collecting pipe 23 is located on the lower side, and both are connected to the second side, and the manifold 25 is connected to the first side and extends from the top to the bottom.

[0044] Specifically, in this embodiment, the gas collecting pipe 23, the liquid collecting pipe 24, and the manifold 25 are all configured as rectangular frame structures. This allows them to withstand higher pressures, improving the stability of the heat exchanger. Simultaneously, the connection with the fin assembly 10 is closer, with a larger contact area and higher connection strength. In other embodiments, they can also be configured as tubular structures for easier manufacturing.

[0045] Preferably, the inner tube 21 has a circular cross-section, and the outer tube 22 has an elliptical cross-section. In this way, the elliptical shape can reduce air resistance while ensuring the contact area with the air.

[0046] The inner tube 21 is located in the middle of the outer tube 22 and is fitted with the inner wall of the outer tube 22 with a gap, increasing the contact heat exchange area between the inner tube 21 and the outer tube 22, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency. In this way, the inner tube 21 can divide the outer tube 22 into two chambers. When the second medium flowing in the second flow path 221 changes between gaseous and liquid states, the liquid second medium can flow and deposit in the chamber located below the direction of gravity, while the gaseous state is located above. There is a temperature difference between the cooling water flowing inside the bend 215 and the gaseous second medium in the quasi-annular region formed by the outer tube 22. A portion of the second medium condenses and releases heat on the outer wall of the bend 215 to form a liquid film, and the heat is transferred inward to the cooling water. This process is sensible heat transfer. At the same time, there is flowing air on the outer wall of the elliptical bend 215. There is a temperature difference between the air and the gaseous second medium. Therefore, another portion of the second medium liquefies on the inner wall of the elliptical bend 215, releasing heat and transferring it outward. There is also a temperature difference between the surface saturated humid air and the flowing air, which also results in heat exchange.

[0047] It should be explained that the above separation is not a complete blockage; there is still a gap between the two chambers that allows them to communicate with each other.

[0048] For example, the first medium is set as a refrigerant and the second medium is set as a coolant.

[0049] This utility model also provides a heat exchange system, including the heat exchanger described above.

[0050] Compared to existing technologies, this invention, by setting an outer tube 22 and an inner tube 21 located inside the outer tube 22, forms a first flow path 211 and a second flow path 221 that are not interconnected. This allows the first and second media flowing in the first and second flow paths 211 and 221 to be of different types. The combination of different media can improve the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100. For example, the first and second media can be set as a refrigerant and a coolant, respectively. Since the first inlet 212 and the first outlet 213 are located on the same side, and the second inlet 222 and the second outlet 223 are located on the other side, the flow directions of the media in the first flow path 211 and the second flow path 221 are necessarily opposite. Therefore, during the heat exchange process, the heat exchange of the two media flowing in opposite directions is more complete, thereby further improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100. At the same time, it reduces the space occupied by the inner tube 21 and the outer tube 22, saving space and reducing material usage.

[0051] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0052] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, characterized in that, The device includes a heat exchange tube (20), which includes an inner tube (21) and an outer tube (22) sleeved around the outer periphery of the inner tube (21). A first flow path (211) is formed on the inner wall of the inner tube (21), and a second flow path (221) is formed between the outer wall of the inner tube (21) and the inner wall of the outer tube (22). The first flow path (211) and the second flow path (221) are not connected to each other. The first flow path (211) has a first inlet (212) and a first outlet (213), the second flow path (221) has a second inlet (222) and a second outlet (223), the heat exchanger has a first side and a second side arranged radially opposite to each other along the heat exchange tube (20), the first inlet (212) and the second outlet (223) are located on the first side, and the second inlet (222) and the first outlet (213) are located on the second side.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner tube (21) and the outer tube (22) are coaxially arranged.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner tube (21) has a circular cross-section, and the outer tube (22) has an elliptical cross-section.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner tube (21) is located in the middle of the outer tube (22) and is in clearance fit with the inner wall of the outer tube (22).

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the radial cross-sections of the first flow path (211) and the second flow path (221) is set to an irregular shape.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner tube (21) includes multiple straight tubes (214) and multiple bent tubes (215). The straight tubes (214) extend along a first direction, and the multiple straight tubes (214) are spaced apart along a second direction. Adjacent straight tubes (214) are connected end to end through the bent tubes (215) to form the first flow path (211). The second direction and the first direction are arranged at an angle. The two straight pipes (214) located on both sides of the second direction are connected to the first inlet (212) and the first outlet (213), respectively.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchanger also includes a gas collecting pipe (23), a manifold (25), and a liquid collecting pipe (24). The gas collecting pipe (23), the manifold (25), and the liquid collecting pipe (24) all extend along a second direction. The gas collecting pipe (23) is connected to the second inlet (222). The gas collecting pipe (23) is connected to the manifold (25) through at least one outer pipe (22). The manifold (25) is connected to the liquid collecting pipe (24) through at least one outer pipe (22). The liquid collecting pipe (24) is connected to the second outlet (223).

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 7, characterized in that, The heat exchanger has a third side and a fourth side along a first direction, with the first inlet (212) and the first outlet (213) located on the third side, the second inlet (222) and the second outlet (223) located on the fourth side, the gas collecting pipe (23) and the liquid collecting pipe (24) both located on the fourth side, and the manifold (25) located on the first side.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 7, characterized in that, The gas collecting pipe (23), the liquid collecting pipe (24), and the manifold (25) are all configured as rectangular frame structures.

10. A heat exchange system, characterized in that, Including the heat exchanger as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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