Partitioned Heat Exchanger Headers for Nonuniform Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing heat exchanger designs for upward-blowing type outdoor units in air conditioners suffer from nonuniform air velocity distribution, leading to decreased heat exchange efficiency and increased pressure loss due to the need for capillary tubes with varying lengths and diameters, which also raises manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring an inlet and outlet header with partitioned rooms and flat tubes, where the number of branch pipes connecting to each room is adjusted based on air velocity distribution, allowing for more refrigerant flow in high-velocity areas and less in low-velocity areas, thereby optimizing refrigerant flow without increasing pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the length and inner diameter of the capillary tube are set depending on the air velocity distribution in the heat exchanger, then a decrease in the amount of heat exchange due to nonuniform air velocity distribution can be suppressed, but the pressure loss increases and the air conditioning capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the number of branch portions in different sections of the branch pipe according to the air velocity distribution in the heat exchanger. Specifically, the number of branch portions is set to be smaller in the upper section (high air velocity) and larger in the lower section (low air velocity), creating localized adjustments that match the nonuniform air flow pattern without requiring capillary tubes of different lengths and diameters.
2Productivity
If the length and inner diameter of the capillary tube are set depending on the air velocity distribution in the heat exchanger, then a decrease in the amount of heat exchange due to the nonuniform air velocity distribution of the air passing through the heat exchanger in the upward-blowing type outdoor unit can be suppressed, but in order to lengthen the capillary tube or reduce the inner diameter of the capillary tube, it is necessary to prepare several types of capillary tubes with different lengths and inner diameters according to the specifications of the heat exchanger, which causes a cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the number of branch portions in different sections of the branch pipe according to the air velocity distribution in the heat exchanger. Specifically, the number of branch portions is set to be smaller in the upper section (high air velocity) and larger in the lower section (low air velocity), creating localized adjustments that match the nonuniform air flow pattern without requiring capillary tubes of different lengths and diameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the number of branch portions as a discrete parameter along the branch pipe to adjust refrigerant flow distribution. This approach changes the flow resistance characteristics without requiring multiple types of capillary tubes with different physical dimensions, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Ease of operation
If the blower fan is provided at the upper portion, then the outdoor air can be sucked in and pass through the heat exchanger, but the air velocity of the air passing through the heat exchanger becomes nonuniform with fast velocity on the upper portion side and slow velocity on the lower portion side, causing a decrease in the amount of heat exchange
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the number of branch portions in different sections of the branch pipe according to the air velocity distribution in the heat exchanger. Specifically, the number of branch portions is set to be smaller in the upper section (high air velocity) and larger in the lower section (low air velocity), creating localized adjustments that match the nonuniform air flow pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies feedback by designing the branch pipe structure to automatically compensate for the nonuniform air velocity distribution caused by the upper blower fan placement. The varying number of branch portions acts as a passive feedback mechanism that redistributes refrigerant flow to match the actual air flow pattern, improving heat exchange efficiency without requiring active control.
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 enhances heat exchange efficiency by aligning refrigerant flow with air velocity distribution, reducing pressure loss, and minimizing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for multiple capillary tube types.
Implementation Method 1
outdoor air passes through the heat exchanger and exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a heat exchanger capable of suppressing a decrease in the amount of heat exchange due to the nonuniform air velocity distribution. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of rooms partitioned by partition plates inside the inlet header, a plurality of flat tubes connected to each room and a plurality of branch pipes connected to each room and the distributor, in which depending on an air velocity distribution, the number of the branch portions of the branch pipe connected to the room, to which the flat tubes located in a part having a high air velocity are connected, is less than the number of the branch portions of the branch pipe connected to the room, to which the flat tubes passing through a part having a low air velocity, are connected.