Heat Exchanger Header Guide Device for Uniform Refrigerant Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers face inefficiencies due to non-uniform refrigerant distribution into flat tubes, leading to varying refrigerant flow rates and reduced heat-exchange efficiency, particularly in micro channel type heat exchangers where gravity causes concentration of refrigerant at the lower portion of headers and separate liquid and gaseous layers result in uneven distribution.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a guide device within the headers that partitions the inner space into multiple flow spaces, using guide parts and communication holes to distribute refrigerant uniformly across multiple flat tubes, ensuring even flow and improved heat exchange by branching the refrigerant into multiple passages and preventing concentration at specific areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the header is vertically disposed and refrigerant flows under gravity, then refrigerant concentration at the lower portion increases, but uniform refrigerant distribution into flat tubes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inner space of the header is segmented into multiple flow spaces by guide parts, which divide and direct the refrigerant flow into different regions. This segmentation prevents concentration at the lower portion and ensures uniform distribution into multiple flat tubes, resolving the contradiction between refrigerant concentration and distribution uniformity under gravitational flow conditions
2Stability of the object's composition
If liquid and gaseous refrigerants form separate layers in the header, then phase separation occurs, but refrigerant distribution uniformity into flat tubes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Guide parts act as intermediary structures that intercept and redirect both liquid and gaseous refrigerant layers before they can separate and concentrate. By positioning these guide parts strategically, the invention ensures that both phases are distributed uniformly into the flat tubes, preventing the harmful effect of phase separation on distribution uniformity
3Productivity
If refrigerant flow rate at outlet is greater than at inlet, then refrigerant concentration at outlet increases, but heat-exchange efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device is positioned upstream in the header to preliminarily distribute and balance the refrigerant flow before it reaches the outlet region. This preliminary action prevents excessive concentration and high velocity at the outlet, maintaining optimal flow conditions for heat exchange efficiency while still achieving the required productivity
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 solution enhances refrigerant distribution efficiency, ensuring uniform flow and improved heat exchange performance by maintaining a thin refrigerant layer adjacent to the header's inner surface, thereby increasing the contact area and time between the refrigerant and air, thus enhancing overall heat exchange efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a guide device (150) disposed in the first header (50) to guide a flow of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger may serve as a condenser or evaporator to heat-exchange a refrigerant flowing therein with an external fluid
Implementation Method 3
the fins may increase a heat exchange area between the refrigerant flowing into the tube or flat tubes and the external fluid
Implementation Method 4
when the header coupled to at least one side of the flat tubes 4 is vertically disposed, the gravity may acts on the refrigerant within the header to concentrate the refrigerant into the flat tube disposed at a lower portion of the outlet-side of the heat exchanger
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes (20) in which a refrigerant flows, a heat dissipation-fin (30) in which the plurality of refrigerant tubes (20) are inserted and through which the refrigerant and a fluid are heat-exchanged with each other, a header (50, 100) coupled to at least one side of the plurality of refrigerant tubes (20) to define a refrigerant flow space, and a guide device (150) disposed within the header to branch the refrigerant into a plurality of passages corresponding to the plurality of refrigerant tubes (20).