Header Collecting Pipe Design for Low-Refrigerant Heat Exchangers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers with flat pipes and header collecting pipes lack a solution for reducing volume and refrigerant usage, as they do not effectively address the need for refrigerant saving.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring flat pipes with a header collecting pipe that includes a flat pipe-side header forming member and an opposite-side header forming member with a smaller inner diameter opposite-side curved portion, along with an intermediate-side header forming member to partition the internal space and ensure pressure resistance, allowing for reduced volume and refrigerant usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the inner diameter of the opposite-side curved portion is made smaller than the inner diameter of the flat pipe-side curved portion, then the volume of the internal space of the header collecting pipe is reduced, but the pressure resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the inner diameter of the opposite-side curved portion smaller than that of the flat pipe-side curved portion. This asymmetric design reduces the volume of the internal space while maintaining structural integrity through the intermediate-side header forming member that provides pressure resistance support.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate-side header forming member acts as an intermediary element that partitions the internal space and provides structural support. This mediator maintains the pressure resistance of the header collecting pipe even when the opposite-side curved portion has a smaller inner diameter, thus resolving the contradiction between volume reduction and pressure resistance.
2Quantity of substance
If the volume of the heat exchanger is reduced to achieve refrigerant saving, then the refrigerant amount is decreased, but the heat exchange performance may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes geometric parameters of the header collecting pipe, specifically the inner diameters of the curved portions and the configuration of the intermediate-side header forming member. These parameter changes optimize the flow characteristics and heat exchange efficiency, enabling refrigerant saving while maintaining adequate heat exchange performance.
3Strength
If the intermediate-side header forming member is added to partition the internal space, then the pressure resistance is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the internal space of the header collecting pipe using the intermediate-side header forming member. This segmentation into a flat pipe-side space and an opposite-side space not only enhances pressure resistance but also organizes the internal structure in a systematic way that manages complexity through functional division.
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat exchanger (11) includes a plurality of flat pipes (63) and a header collecting pipe (70, 80). The header collecting pipe (70, 80) includes a flat pipe-side header forming member (91) to which the flat pipes (63) are inserted, and an opposite-side header forming member (92) that faces the flat pipe-side header forming member (91) and forms an internal space (70S, 80S) between the opposite-side header forming member and the flat pipe-side header forming member (91). The flat pipe-side header forming member (91) has a flat pipe-side curved portion (91a) protruding toward the flat pipes (63). The opposite-side header forming member (92) has an opposite-side curved portion (92a) protruding toward a side away from the flat pipes (63). The inner diameter of the opposite-side curved portion (92a) is smaller than the inner diameter of the flat pipe-side curved portion (91a).