Heat exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers face challenges in uniformizing refrigerant flow divergence to flat tubes, leading to non-uniform refrigerant states between windward and leeward sides, and retention of liquid refrigerant in headers, which affects heat exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring a header with an inflow plate, vertical and upper dividing plates, and accessways that manage refrigerant flow to balance distribution between windward and leeward sides, utilizing ejection holes and passing ports to optimize refrigerant circulation and prevent retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single dividing plate is used to separate internal and external sides, then circulation portion is divided, but non-uniformity between windward and leeward sides of flat tubes cannot be improved
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple dividing plates are introduced to segment the circulation portion into distinct regions (first and second circulation paths). This segmentation enables independent control of refrigerant flow to windward and leeward sides of flat tubes, achieving uniform distribution that a single dividing plate cannot provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The dividing plates are positioned asymmetrically to create different flow characteristics in different regions. The first dividing plate separates internal/external sides while the second dividing plate creates windward/leeward side differentiation, allowing asymmetric flow control that achieves uniform refrigerant distribution across all flat tubes.
2Productivity
If refrigerant flow speed is increased to improve heat exchange, then heat exchange capability improves, but liquid refrigerant drift to flat tubes occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation portion is segmented into multiple paths with different flow characteristics. This allows high velocity flow in regions where it enhances heat exchange while maintaining controlled flow in regions where it prevents liquid refrigerant drift to flat tubes, resolving the contradiction between heat exchange performance and drift prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Different flow velocities and patterns are established in different regions of the header. High velocity flow is directed through paths that maximize heat exchange, while flow control mechanisms ensure that liquid refrigerant is prevented from drifting into flat tubes in regions where this would be harmful.
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 achieves uniform refrigerant distribution across flat tubes, reduces non-uniformity, and prevents liquid refrigerant drift to the tubes, enhancing heat exchange efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an ejection hole that ejects refrigerant, on a leeward side and an internal side
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of flat tubes (11) stacked in a direction vertical to a flow direction of refrigerant flowing inside the flat tubes (11)... heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
flow divergence of refrigerant to the flat tube is performed in the header... flow of refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
in a case where a refrigerant flow speed inside the header is low, retention of liquid refrigerant occurs in a lower part the header due to the influence of gravitational force
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A heat exchanger (5) includes a plurality of flat tubes (11), a header to which the plurality of flat tubes is connected, an inflow plate (15) that separated a refrigerant inflow portion (14) and a lower circulation portion (16), a vertical dividing plate (18) that separated the lower circulation portion (16) and an upper circulation portion (17), a lower dividing plate (161) that divides the lower circulation portion excluding a lower accessway (163) into an ascent path on an internal side and a descent path of an external side, and an upper dividing plate (174) that divides the upper circulation portion excluding an upper accessway (172) into an ascent path provided on at least part of a leeward side, and a descent path provided at least on a windward side, wherein the inflow plate includes an ejection hole (151) that ejects refrigerant, on a leeward side and an internal side, and the vertical dividing plate includes a first passing port (18di) that lets refrigerant through, on a leeward side and an internal side, and a second passing port (18uo) that lets refrigerant through, at least on a windward external side.