Coolant Condenser Assembly With Three-Stage Supercooling Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerant condenser assemblies in motor vehicle air-conditioning systems face a reduction in refrigeration power when using new refrigerant R1234yf due to changed substance properties, and increasing supercooling to compensate for this requires more cooling tubes or surface area, which reduces the condensation region area and increases saturation pressure, adversely affecting refrigeration power.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant condenser assembly with a supercooling region divided into three parallel portions connected by intermediate flow ducts, allowing for intense cooling without significantly increasing condensation pressure and allowing the outlet and collecting tank to be on opposite sides, enabling more intense cooling without expanding the assembly's dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the supercooling region surface area is increased to achieve more intense cooling and higher refrigeration power, then the refrigeration power is improved, but the condensation region area is reduced and saturation pressure rises, which adversely affects refrigeration power
Solution Approach 1:
The supercooling region is divided into three parallel portions (first, second, and third supercooling parallel portions) that are connected in series through intermediate flow ducts. This segmentation allows the refrigerant to flow through multiple cooling tubes in parallel within each portion, increasing the effective heat transfer surface area for supercooling without proportionally increasing the condensation region area or saturation pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the supercooling path by adding intermediate flow ducts that connect the parallel portions in series, effectively increasing the supercooling surface area in the flow direction dimension. This allows more intense cooling to occur along the refrigerant's path without requiring a larger overall condenser footprint or reducing condensation region area.
2Power
If more cooling tubes are added to increase supercooling capacity, then refrigeration power is improved, but the device complexity and structural space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling tubes are organized into three parallel portions with multiple tubes in each portion, connected by intermediate flow ducts. This modular segmentation allows for systematic arrangement of cooling tubes, making the complex structure more manageable and easier to manufacture while achieving the desired supercooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Intermediate flow ducts are introduced as intermediary components to connect the parallel portions of cooling tubes. These ducts serve as mediators that organize the refrigerant flow path and simplify the overall structure by providing clear connection points between parallel sections, reducing structural complexity compared to a fully interconnected system.
3Ease of manufacture
If the outlet opening and collecting tank are arranged on the same side, then the structure is simplified, but installation flexibility is reduced when different longitudinal side arrangement is required
Solution Approach 1:
The supercooling region is segmented into parallel portions that can be arranged to accommodate different outlet and collecting tank positions. The first and third parallel portions can be configured to allow the outlet opening and collecting tank to be positioned on opposite longitudinal sides, providing installation flexibility while maintaining the segmented structure's manufacturing advantages.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for further cooling of the refrigerant below its boiling temperature, improving refrigeration circuit power and compensating for the power reduction with R1234yf without increasing the assembly's size, maintaining efficient heat transfer and pressure drop management.
Implementation Method 1
cooling tubes for conducting a refrigerant, a superheat region for cooling the vaporous refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
condensation region for condensing the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
in said condensation region the gaseous refrigerant is cooled further to a boiling temperature and is thus liquefied
Implementation Method 4
supercooling region for cooling the liquid refrigerant, the liquid refrigerant being cooled below the boiling temperature
Implementation Method 5
supercooling region for cooling the liquid refrigerant, and in which at least two cooling tubes as a first supercooling parallel portion are charged with the refrigerant in parallel
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to a coolant condenser assembly for an air conditioning system for a motor vehicle. In a supercooling region, at least two cooling pipes, as the first supercooling parallel section, are acted upon in parallel by the coolant in a fluid-conducting manner, the coolant which flows out of the first supercooling parallel section flows into a first supercooling intermediate flow duct, and the first supercooling intermediate flow duct opens into at least two cooling pipes as the second supercooling parallel section, and the second supercooling parallel section opens into a second supercooling intermediate flow duct and the second supercooling intermediate flow duct opens into at least two cooling pipes as the third supercooling parallel section, such that the outlet opening is disposed on a second longitudinal side of the coolant condenser assembly.