Evaporator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing evaporators for car air conditioners face challenges in equalizing the refrigerant flow through heat exchange tubes, leading to uneven cooling performance and potential pressure issues in the tank.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a flow distribution control section with a refrigerant passage section composed of through holes between compartments, ensuring equal refrigerant flow through descending flow tube groups by adjusting the area and positioning of these holes to balance the flow between leeward and windward tube rows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the refrigerant passage section is formed by removing the partition portion over the entire length of the windward compartment, then the refrigerant flow distribution between leeward and windward tube rows is improved, but the withstand pressure of the tank decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition portion is segmented rather than completely removed. The refrigerant passage section is formed by removing the partition only in the lower part, while the upper part retains the partition structure. This segmentation allows the refrigerant to flow between compartments while maintaining structural integrity and pressure withstanding capability of the tank.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition portion is treated differently in different regions: the lower part is removed to create the refrigerant passage section for flow distribution, while the upper part is retained to maintain tank strength. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying the removal action only where needed for flow distribution while preserving strength-critical areas.
2Productivity
If the amounts of refrigerant flowing through the two farthest tube groups are made uniform, then cooling performance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional flow control structures
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the natural flow characteristics of refrigerant and the strategically positioned refrigerant passage section to achieve self-regulating flow distribution. The passage section allows refrigerant to naturally equalize between compartments without requiring active control mechanisms, complex valves, or additional driving forces, thus improving cooling performance while avoiding excessive complexity.
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 enhances cooling performance by equalizing refrigerant flow and prevents excessive pressure reduction in the tank, maintaining efficient heat exchange and air cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a first descending flow tube group which is composed of a plurality of the first heat exchange tubes and in which refrigerant flows from an upper side toward a lower side thereof
Implementation Method 2
a first ascending flow tube group which is composed of a plurality of the first heat exchange tubes, in which the refrigerant flows from a lower side toward an upper side thereof
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporator includes a first descending flow tube group between a first upper header and a first lower header, and a second descending flow tube group between a second upper header and a second lower header to be located windward of the first descending flow tube group. The first upper header includes a first compartment, and the second upper header includes a third compartment. A flow distribution control section for reinforcement having a refrigerant passage section for communication between the first and third compartments is disposed between the two compartments to extend over the entire lengths and heights of the two compartments. The refrigerant passage section is composed of a plurality of through holes formed in the flow distribution control section for reinforcement. The total area of the through holes is greater than that of the refrigerant passages of the heat exchange tubes of the first descending flow tube group.