Heat Exchanger Flow Divider Layout to Prevent Lower-Tube Flooding
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heat exchangers with vertically aligned flat tubes, a head difference resulting from the installation height of the flow divider often causes accumulation of liquid refrigerant in the lowermost tubes, leading to inefficiencies and potential frost accumulation during cooling cycle defrosting operations.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger design includes a first flow divider with a main body and second flow dividers, where the first pipe extends upward and second pipes extend downward, reducing the height position of the main body, thereby minimizing the head difference and preventing refrigerant accumulation in lower tubes by ensuring a pressure difference exceeding the liquid head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the flow divider is positioned at a higher installation height, then the refrigerant can flow more easily upward, but liquid refrigerant accumulates in the lowermost tubes due to head difference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional flow divider positioning by extending the first pipe downward instead of upward, and extending second pipes downward from the main body. This inversion allows the flow divider to be positioned lower, preventing liquid refrigerant accumulation in lower tubes while maintaining adequate refrigerant flow speed through the heat exchanging part.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the installation height parameter of the flow divider by configuring the first pipe to extend downward from the main body and second pipes to extend downward to connect with flat tubes. This parameter change ensures that the flow divider is positioned at an optimal height to prevent liquid refrigerant accumulation while maintaining proper refrigerant circulation.
2Ease of operation
If the flow divider main body is positioned higher, then refrigerant can enter the flow divider more easily, but the head difference causes liquid refrigerant to accumulate in lower tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional upward extension of pipes from the flow divider main body. Instead, the first pipe extends downward to connect with the refrigerant source, and second pipes extend downward to connect with flat tubes. This inversion positions the flow divider lower, preventing liquid refrigerant accumulation while maintaining easy refrigerant entry through the downward-extending first pipe.
3Speed
If second pipes extend upward from the main body, then refrigerant can flow upward easily, but the main body height increases causing head difference and refrigerant accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the extension direction of second pipes from upward to downward. The second pipes extend downward from the main body to connect with the lower ends of flat tubes. This inversion reduces the main body height, preventing liquid refrigerant accumulation in lower tubes while maintaining adequate refrigerant flow speed through the heat exchanging part.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the vertical dimension configuration by having second pipes extend downward rather than upward. This dimensional change reduces the overall height of the flow divider main body, preventing liquid refrigerant accumulation while maintaining proper refrigerant circulation through the heat exchanging part.
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 effectively reduces refrigerant accumulation in lower tubes, enhancing performance and reliability by ensuring adequate refrigerant circulation and promoting efficient defrosting during cooling cycle operations.
Implementation Method 1
The second spaces cause the refrigerant from the corresponding flat tube and the corresponding second pipe to flow into the other
Implementation Method 2
This can lower the height position of the main body of the first flow divider in the installation state. Consequently, in a case where the heat exchanger is installed such that the flat tubes are aligned vertically and is used as a condenser, it is possible to reduce a head difference resulting from the installation height of the flow divider
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes: a heat exchanging part that includes flat tubes aligned vertically when the heat exchanger is installed; a first flow divider that includes a first pipe through which a refrigerant enters or exits from the first flow divider, second pipes that provide refrigerant flow paths between the heat exchanging part and the first pipe, and a main body that internally has a first space; and second flow dividers that each internally include one of second spaces that provide refrigerant flow paths between the heat exchanging part and the first flow divider. The first space communicates with a first end of the first pipe and a first end of each of the second pipes and causes the refrigerant to flow from the first pipe into the second pipes or from the second pipes into the first pipe.