Outdoor Heat Exchanger Bypass Pipe for Gas-Phase Refrigerant Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing outdoor heat exchangers face difficulties in connecting pipes due to U-shaped curved portions and struggle with gas-phase refrigerant flow direction, leading to inefficient separation and heating performance, especially in severe cold environments.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a coaxial arrangement of straight pipes with a tapering inner insert and diameter reduction portions, facilitating easy connection and separation of gas-phase refrigerant, and a bypass passage to direct separated gas-phase refrigerant to the compressor inlet during heating operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a connecting pipe is connected to a U-shaped curved portion of the refrigerant path for gas-phase refrigerant separation, then gas-phase refrigerant can be separated from the refrigerant flow, but the connection becomes difficult due to the curved geometry and misaligned flow directions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas-phase refrigerant separationVSAvoidpipe connection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of connecting the straight connecting pipe to the curved portion as in prior art, this invention uses a curved insert portion that follows the curvature of the refrigerant path and connects to the straight connecting pipe. This inverts the approach by placing the curve inside the pipe rather than trying to attach a straight pipe to a curve, thereby resolving the connection difficulty while maintaining separation functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved insert portion is nested within the connecting pipe, with the curved portion containing the straight connecting pipe portion. This nested structure allows the pipe to follow the curved refrigerant path while maintaining a straight connection interface, solving both the connection ease and separation effectiveness problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the connecting pipe is connected to the curved portion with misaligned flow directions, then gas-phase refrigerant separation can occur, but the gas-phase refrigerant flow into the connecting pipe becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas-phase refrigerant separationVSAvoidrefrigerant flow rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the traditional connection approach by placing a curved insert portion inside the straight connecting pipe. This allows the pipe to adapt to the curved refrigerant path while maintaining straight flow alignment, thereby improving gas-phase refrigerant flow into the connecting pipe without compromising separation reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved insert portion changes the geometric parameters of the pipe interior to match the curved refrigerant path, while the straight connecting pipe portion maintains optimal flow alignment. This parameter transformation resolves the flow direction misalignment issue and improves refrigerant flow rate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 efficient separation of gas-phase refrigerant and improves heating performance even in severe cold conditions by ensuring gas-phase refrigerant flows correctly into the bypass passage and enhances the overall flow rate and installation ease.

Implementation Method 1

The inner insert portion may include a taper portion extended from an end of the outlet portion wherein the farther from the end of the outlet portion is disposed, the smaller a diameter of the taper portion is getting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The second straight pipe having an inner insert portion inserted into an opposite end of the first straight pipe portion, and an outlet portion extended from the inner insert portion in an opposite direction to the second end of the first straight pipe portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoaxial flow alignment:

Data Source

PatentEP3719414B1Outdoor heat exchanger and air-conditioner having the same

Publication Date: 2022.06.01 LG ELECTRONICS INC

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AI summary

According to the present disclosure, an outdoor heat exchanger may comprise a plurality of heat exchange fins (60), a plurality of refrigerant straight pipes (70) penetrating the plurality of heat exchange fins and a plurality of connecting pipes (80,90) being connected to the plurality of refrigerant straight pipes so as to form refrigerant passages with the refrigerant straight pipes, wherein at least one of the plurality of connecting pipes (90) includes, a first straight pipe portion having a first end connected to the first one of the plurality of refrigerant straight pipes, a branch pipe portion branched from the first straight pipe portion and having at least a first end disposed parallel to the first straight pipe portion, wherein the first end is connected to a second one of the plurality of refrigerant passages and a second straight pipe having an inner insert portion inserted into a second end of the first straight pipe portion and an outlet portion extended from the inner insert portion in an opposite direction to the second end of the first straight pipe portion, wherein the second straight pipe allows gas-phase refrigerant separated from refrigerant flowing through the first straight pipe portion to flow through the second straight pipe.