A phase change heat exchanger

Abstract

The utility model discloses a phase change heat exchanger, include: a plurality of interval arrangement's microchannel flat tube, arbitrary adjacent two microchannel flat tube between all be provided with a space, all be provided with fin and fill in phase change material in each space, the cross section of fin is wave -shaped, and the convex of two opposite directions of adjacent on the fin is connected respectively in the opposite sides of corresponding two microchannel flat tube, first current collector, it is located microchannel flat tube one end, and with microchannel flat tube intercommunication. The phase change heat exchanger of the utility model can solve the problem of low heat exchange efficiency, uneven heat exchange and inconvenient standardization production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of heat exchanger technology, and in particular to a phase change heat exchanger. Background Technology

[0002] Phase change heat exchangers, as highly efficient heat exchange devices, are widely used in energy, chemical, and other fields. However, existing phase change heat exchangers still suffer from low heat exchange efficiency and uneven heat exchange in practical applications. The main reasons are twofold: firstly, the flow channel length in existing designs is insufficient, leading to inadequate heat exchange; secondly, the limited contact area between the fins and the phase change material restricts the improvement of heat exchange efficiency; and thirdly, the uneven distribution of contact points between the fins and the heat exchanger contributes to uneven heat exchange. Furthermore, existing equipment is difficult to standardize for production and large-scale deployment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to optimize the structure of phase change heat exchangers to improve their heat exchange efficiency and uniformity, and to facilitate standardized production and large-scale deployment. Utility Model Content

[0003] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a phase change heat exchanger that can solve the problems of low heat exchange efficiency, uneven heat exchange, and inconvenience for standardized production.

[0004] The objective of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: A phase change heat exchanger, comprising: Multiple microchannel flat tubes are spaced apart, and a space is provided between any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes. Each space is provided with fins and filled with phase change material. The cross-section of the fins is wave-shaped, and two adjacent protrusions in opposite directions on the fins are respectively connected to the opposite sides of the two corresponding microchannel flat tubes. The first current collector is located at one end of the microchannel flat tube and is connected to the microchannel flat tube.

[0005] Furthermore, the phase change heat exchanger also includes a second collector, which is connected to the first collector through multiple microchannel flat tubes. The second collector has a partition inside, which is used to divide the interior of the second collector into two independent collection cavities. Both collection cavities have through holes on their walls that communicate with the outside.

[0006] Furthermore, baffles are provided at the front and rear ends of the space formed by any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes, and sealing plates are respectively provided above and below the multiple microchannel flat tubes. The multiple microchannel flat tubes, sealing plates and baffles enclose and form multiple spaces.

[0007] Furthermore, a first end plate is provided at the front and rear ends of the space formed by any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes, and a second end plate is provided at the upper and lower ends of the space formed by any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes. The space is formed by the two adjacent microchannel flat tubes and the corresponding first and second end plates.

[0008] Furthermore, the first collector and the second collector are respectively disposed at the front and rear ends of the plurality of microchannel flat tubes; and / or, a collector tube connected thereto is disposed at each of the two through holes.

[0009] Furthermore, the number of microchannel flat tubes connected to the two collection cavities differs by no more than one.

[0010] Furthermore, the outer surface of the phase change heat exchanger is covered with an insulation layer.

[0011] Furthermore, the cross-section of the fin is square, trapezoidal, or triangular, and the length, width, and height of the fin are equal to the length, width, and height of the corresponding space.

[0012] Furthermore, multiple microchannel flat tubes are arranged in parallel, and the cross-section of the fins has a waveform with a constant wavelength.

[0013] Further, the shape parameter of the cross-sectional shape of the fin is defined by χ, which satisfies the following relationship: χ = d2 / d1, where the range of χ is 0 ≤ χ ≤ 1, d2 is half the length of the top edge of the cross-sectional shape of the fin, and d1 is the distance from the midpoint of the side edge to the midpoint of the top edge of the cross-sectional shape of the fin along the parallel direction of the top edge of the cross-sectional shape of the fin; wherein, when χ is 1, the cross-section of the fin is square-shaped, when χ is 0.5, the cross-section of the fin is trapezoidal, and when χ is 0, the cross-section of the fin is triangular.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: (1) The structure of the phase change heat exchanger supports efficient manufacturing processes such as integrated stamping, extrusion, and welding, and has good batch forming capability and structural consistency, which facilitates standardized production and large-scale promotion. (2) The fins set in the space can effectively construct long-distance heat conduction channels, realize the rapid transfer and uniform distribution of heat in the phase change heat exchanger, thereby significantly improving the overall heat conduction efficiency and heat storage capacity, and minimizing material waste and the generation of heat exchange dead zones. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 The first exploded view; Figure 3 for Figure 1 The second exploded diagram; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the flow of heat exchange medium in a phase change heat exchanger. The arrows in the diagram indicate the flow direction. Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the first cross-sectional shape of the middle fin; Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the second cross-sectional shape of the middle fin; Figure 7 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the third cross-sectional shape of the middle fin; Figure 8 for Figure 1 Top view; Figure 9 for Figure 1 The front view; Figure 10 for Figure 1 Side view; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the shape parameter χ of the cross-sectional shape of the fin and d1 and d2. Figure 12 for Figure 4 , 5 3D diagrams of the three scenarios in section 6; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of this utility model.

[0016] In the figure: 11, microchannel flat tube; 12, fin; 13, first collector; 131, partition; 14, baffle; 15, sealing plate; 16, collector tube; 17, insulation layer; 18, second collector. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of this utility model are shown in the drawings. However, this utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of this utility model.

[0018] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly attached to the other component or there may be an intervening component. When a component is said to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intervening component. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only.

[0019] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0020] Reference Figure 1-4 8-10, a phase change heat exchanger, comprising a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart microchannel flat tubes 11, wherein the spacing between two adjacent microchannel flat tubes 11 may be 10 mm to 20 mm; the thickness of the microchannel flat tube 11 may be 0.5 mm to 2 mm, the length may be 300 mm to 500 mm, and the outer width may be 8 mm to 15 mm; the width of the microchannels on the microchannel flat tube 11 may be 4 mm to 14 mm. Preferably, the thickness of the microchannel flat tube 11 is 0.5 mm, the length is 380 mm, the outer width is 8 mm, the width of the internal microchannels is 7 mm, the spacing between two adjacent microchannel flat tubes 11 is 14 mm, and the number of microchannel flat tubes is at least two, specifically, preferably 18.

[0021] In this embodiment, a space is provided between any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes 11. This space can be sealed. Each space is provided with fins 12 and filled with phase change material. The fins 12 are corrugated, and two adjacent protrusions on the fins 12 are respectively connected to the opposite sides of the two corresponding microchannel flat tubes 11. The height of the fins 12 can be selected from 100mm to 150mm, the thickness can be selected from 0.1mm to 0.5mm, the wavelength can be selected from 1mm to 5mm, and the number of fins is 15-30. In this example, the height of the fins 12 is preferably 125mm, the thickness is preferably 0.15mm, the wavelength is preferably 2.5mm, and the number of fins 12 is preferably 17.

[0022] The phase change heat exchanger also includes two collectors, namely a first collector 13 and a second collector 18, which are connected by multiple microchannel flat tubes 11. The second collector 18 has an internal partition 131 that divides its interior into two independent collection chambers. Each collection chamber has a through-hole communicating with the outside. Specifically, the two first collectors 13 and the second collector 18 are respectively located at the front and rear ends of the multiple microchannel flat tubes 11. The preferred dimensions of the two collectors are 60mm in length, 382mm in width, 125mm in height, and 2mm in thickness. The preferred dimensions of the partition 131 are 2mm in thickness, 58mm in width, and 121mm in height.

[0023] In the above configuration, the cross-section of fin 12 is wave-shaped. Specifically, the cross-section of the fin can be a wave with a constant wavelength, which greatly increases the contact area between fin 12 and the phase change material, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency. A continuous thermally conductive skeleton structure (such as serrated fins) is used throughout the entire heat exchanger unit, effectively constructing a long-distance thermal conduction channel to achieve rapid heat transfer and uniform distribution within the heat storage unit. This significantly improves overall thermal conductivity and heat storage capacity, minimizing material waste and the generation of heat exchange dead zones.

[0024] In the above configuration, the partition 131 divides the second collector 138 into two independent collector chambers, and each collector chamber has a through hole on its wall that communicates with the outside. Thus, during heat exchange, the heat exchange medium needs to first enter the second collector chamber 18 through one of the through holes, then enter the other first collector 13 through a portion of the microchannel flat tube 11, and then flow out through another portion of the microchannel flat tube 11 into the other second collector chamber 18, and then flow out through another through hole. In this way, the heat exchange medium actually travels back and forth in the microchannel flat tube 11, that is, the actual flow channel length is twice the length of the microchannel flat tube 11, which can make the heat exchange between the heat exchange medium and the phase change material more complete, and also improve the heat exchange efficiency. The heat exchange medium can be water or the like.

[0025] In the above configuration, the cross-section of the fin 12 is wave-shaped, and its waveform maintains a constant wavelength. Furthermore, two adjacent protrusions in opposite directions on the fin 12 are connected to opposite sides of the corresponding two microchannel flat tubes 11. This ensures a relatively uniform distribution of contact positions between the fin 12 and the microchannel flat tubes 11, thus avoiding uneven heat transfer. In addition, the fin 12, configured in this way, also serves as a supporting frame, increasing the structural strength of the entire phase change heat exchanger.

[0026] In some embodiments, baffles are respectively provided at the front and rear ends of the space formed by any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes 11. The thickness of the baffle 14 can be selected from 0.5mm to 2mm. The dimensions of the baffle 14 are preferably: thickness of 1mm, width of 14mm, and height of 125mm. Sealing plates 15 are respectively provided above and below the multiple microchannel flat tubes 11, and the multiple microchannel flat tubes 11, sealing plates 15, and baffles enclose multiple spaces, which can be sealed spaces. The thickness of the sealing plate 15 can be selected from 1mm to 3mm; preferably 2mm. The dimensions of the sealing plate 15 are preferably: length of 380mm, width of 382mm, and thickness of 2mm. For specific assembly, refer to Figure 13In step (a), a sealing plate 15 can be installed below the multiple microchannel flat tubes 11, and baffles 14 can be installed at both ends. In step (b), the first and second collectors are welded, and then the fins 12 are placed into the spacer. In step (c), molten phase change material (such as lauric acid, paraffin, or a composite material of lauric acid and graphene / carbon nanotubes) is loaded into the spacer. During this process, hot water can be introduced into the microchannel flat tubes 11 to maintain the high temperature in the spacer, so as to keep the phase change material in a molten state and avoid problems such as cavities, entrained air bubbles, and uneven filling, ensuring that the phase change material is completely melted and fills the gaps between the fins. After the phase change material is filled, in step (d), another sealing plate 15 is installed above the multiple microchannel flat tubes 11. Finally, the polyurethane insulation layer 17 is wrapped around the surface of the phase change heat exchanger to form a good thermal insulation protection layer.

[0027] To further facilitate installation, slots that mate with baffles 14 can be provided at both ends of the multiple microchannel flat tubes 11 to facilitate the placement of baffles 14, thereby making subsequent welding of baffles 14 to microchannel flat tubes 11 easier. The heat exchanger structure supports efficient manufacturing processes such as integrated stamping, extrusion, and welding, and has good batch forming capabilities and structural consistency, facilitating standardized production and large-scale promotion.

[0028] In some embodiments (not shown), the front and rear ends of the space formed by any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes 11 are respectively provided with first end plates, and the upper and lower ends of the space formed by any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes 11 are respectively provided with second end plates. The two adjacent microchannel flat tubes 11 and the corresponding first end plates and second end plates enclose a space, which can be a closed space.

[0029] In some embodiments, the number of microchannel flat tubes 11 connected to the two manifolds differs by no more than one. This allows the inflow and outflow flow rates of the microchannel flat tubes 11 to be approximately equal, thereby making the flow of the heat exchange medium in the microchannel flat tubes 11 more stable and ensuring the reliability of heat exchange.

[0030] In some embodiments, a manifold 16 is provided at each of the two through holes and connected thereto. The dimensions of the two manifolds 16 can be selected as a diameter of 20mm to 50mm and a length of 30mm to 60mm; preferably, the manifolds 16 have a diameter of 40mm and a length of 40mm. The manifolds 16 facilitate connection to external pipelines, improving connection convenience.

[0031] In some embodiments, the outer surface of the phase change heat exchanger is covered with an insulation layer 17. The thickness of the insulation layer 17 is preferably 5 mm. By providing the insulation layer 17, heat loss can be reduced. The insulation layer 17 of the phase change heat exchanger is made of polyurethane, the baffle 131 and the sealing plate 15 are made of stainless steel, and all other structural components (including the microchannel flat tube 11, fins 12, baffle 14, first collector 13, second collector 18, etc.) are made of aluminum. Aluminum has good thermal conductivity, weldability, and light weight, which helps to improve overall heat exchange efficiency, processability, and structural strength.

[0032] In some implementations, refer to Figure 5-7 The cross-section of fin 12 is square, trapezoidal, or triangular. Specifically, refer to... Figure 11 The shape parameter of the fin's cross-sectional shape can be defined by χ, which satisfies the following relationship: χ = d2 / d1, where χ ranges from 0 ≤ χ ≤ 1, d2 is half the length of the top edge of the fin's cross-sectional shape, and d1 is the perpendicular distance from the midpoint of the side edge of the fin's cross-sectional shape to the central axis of the top edge. Specifically, when χ is 1, the fin's cross-section is square-shaped; when χ is 0.5, the fin's cross-section is trapezoidal; and when χ is 0, the fin's cross-section is triangular. Additionally, refer to... Figure 11 In the figure, D1 represents the width of the microchannel on the microchannel flat tube 11, D2 represents the width of the fin, the distance between two adjacent fins is d, and d = 4 * d1, d3 represents the thickness of the fin. (Refer to...) Figure 12 H is the height of the fin.

[0033] In some embodiments, the length, width, and height of the fin 12 are equal to the length, width, and height of the corresponding enclosed space. In this way, the size of the enclosed space can be utilized to the maximum extent, allowing the fin 12 to contact the phase change material as much as possible, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0034] The structural design of the phase change heat exchanger allows it to achieve a large-area, high-strength heat exchange interface while maintaining a compact size. This makes it particularly suitable for high-frequency defrosting scenarios in heat pump systems in cold climates, and it possesses excellent manufacturability, system compatibility, and engineering application value. Furthermore, replacing the buffer water tank in traditional water-cooled air conditioners with a phase change heat exchanger further reduces the unit's size.

[0035] The above description is merely an embodiment of this utility model and does not limit the patent scope of this utility model. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the description and drawings of this utility model, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A phase change heat exchanger, characterized in that, include: Multiple microchannel flat tubes are spaced apart, and a space is provided between any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes. Each space is provided with fins and filled with phase change material. The cross-section of the fins is wave-shaped, and two adjacent protrusions in opposite directions on the fins are respectively connected to the opposite sides of the two corresponding microchannel flat tubes. The first current collector is located at one end of the microchannel flat tube and is connected to the microchannel flat tube.

2. The heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The phase change heat exchanger also includes a second collector, which is connected to the first collector through multiple microchannel flat tubes. The second collector has a partition inside, which is used to divide the interior of the second collector into two independent collection cavities. Both collection cavities have through holes on their walls that communicate with the outside.

3. The phase change heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Baffles are provided at the front and rear ends of the space formed by any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes. Sealing plates are provided above and below the multiple microchannel flat tubes. The multiple microchannel flat tubes, sealing plates and baffles enclose and form multiple spaces.

4. The phase change heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A first end plate is provided at the front and rear ends of the space formed by any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes, and a second end plate is provided at the upper and lower ends of the space formed by any two adjacent microchannel flat tubes. The space is formed by the two adjacent microchannel flat tubes and the corresponding first and second end plates.

5. The phase change heat exchanger as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The first current collector and the second current collector are respectively disposed at the front and rear ends of the plurality of microchannel flat tubes; And / or, each of the two through holes is provided with a manifold connected thereto.

6. The phase change heat exchanger as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The number of microchannel flat tubes connected to the two collection cavities differs by no more than one.

7. The phase change heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The outer surface of the phase change heat exchanger is covered with an insulation layer.

8. The phase change heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The cross-section of the fin is square, trapezoidal, or triangular, and the length, width, and height of the fin are equal to the length, width, and height of the corresponding space.

9. The phase change heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple microchannel flat tubes are arranged in parallel, and the cross-section of the fins has a waveform with a constant wavelength.

10. The phase change heat exchanger as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The shape parameter of the cross-sectional shape of the fin is defined by χ, which satisfies the following relationship: χ = d2 / d1, where the range of χ is 0 ≤ χ ≤ 1, d2 is half the length of the top edge of the cross-sectional shape of the fin, and d1 is the vertical distance from the midpoint of the side edge of the cross-sectional shape of the fin to the central axis of the top edge; wherein, when χ is 1, the cross-section of the fin is square-shaped, when χ is 0.5, the cross-section of the fin is trapezoidal, and when χ is 0, the cross-section of the fin is triangular.

Images