Evaporator Inlet Pipe Constriction for Lower Refrigerant Flow Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerant injection into evaporators in refrigeration appliances generates significant flow noises due to the large diameter difference between the throttle element and the inlet pipe, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
The evaporator design incorporates a concave curvature and constriction areas within the inlet pipe to alter the refrigerant flow, reducing noise through a stepped cross-sectional geometry and chamber formation, while maintaining rigidity and material efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the inlet pipe has a large inside diameter to accommodate refrigerant flow, then the flow capacity is improved, but flow noise increases due to the diameter difference with the throttle element
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet pipe is divided into multiple sections with different cross-sectional areas: a first section with larger area for high flow capacity, and a second section with smaller area (constriction) to reduce noise. This segmentation allows the pipe to simultaneously achieve both high productivity and low noise by creating distinct functional zones within the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet pipe applies local quality changes by introducing a constriction area at a specific location downstream of the throttle element. This local modification creates a chamber that buffers the refrigerant flow and reduces noise generation at the injection point, while the rest of the pipe maintains its larger diameter for adequate flow capacity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the inlet pipe cross-section is reduced to reduce noise, then flow noise is reduced, but the flow capacity and heat exchange efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet pipe is divided into multiple sections with different cross-sectional areas: a first section with larger area for high flow capacity, and a second section with smaller area (constriction) to reduce noise. This segmentation allows the pipe to simultaneously achieve both high productivity and low noise by creating distinct functional zones within the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
The noise reduction is achieved not by uniformly reducing the pipe diameter, but by creating a three-dimensional chamber structure through local constriction. This dimensional approach allows the pipe to maintain large cross-sectional area for flow capacity while introducing volume variations that buffer and dampen noise generation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the inlet pipe geometry is modified to reduce noise, then noise behavior improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The noise reduction chamber is merged with the inlet pipe structure itself, rather than being a separate component. The constriction area is formed as an integral part of the pipe geometry, combining the flow conduit and noise buffering functions into a single unified structure that simplifies manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet pipe serves multiple functions: it conducts refrigerant flow, provides structural support, and acts as a noise buffering chamber. By making the pipe multi-functional, the design avoids adding separate noise reduction components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving noise reduction.
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 design effectively reduces flow noise at the injection point, improves noise behavior, and allows for cost-effective production with precise manufacturing tolerances, enhancing the overall performance of the refrigeration device.
Implementation Method 1
a chamber is formed in the inlet pipe by the constriction area. This achieves the technical advantage, for example, that the chamber forms a buffer space for the inflowing refrigerant and noise development is further reduced.
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator for evaporating a refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
evaporating a refrigerant
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigeration device having an evaporator (103) for evaporating a refrigerant, which evaporator comprises an inlet pipe (105) for the admission of the refrigerant, in which inlet pipe there is formed a pipe region (107), which has a first flow cross section, and a constriction region (109), which has a second flow cross section smaller than the first flow cross section, and to a method for producing an evaporator of said type.