Heat exchanger and air conditioning device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers face challenges in maintaining efficient refrigerant flow and preventing eccentric flow at varying circulation rates, with throttling mechanisms either failing to ensure adequate flow at low rates or causing excessive flow at high rates.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring a loop structure within the header collecting tube, including partition members and communicating passages, which guides refrigerant to ascend and descend, ensuring consistent flow and preventing eccentric flow by allowing refrigerant to loop back and distribute evenly across the flat tubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a throttle is formed inside the header collecting tubes to raise flow velocity and suppress eccentric flow, then eccentric flow is suppressed at low circulation rates, but at high circulation rates the flow velocity becomes too high causing too much high-specific-gravity refrigerant to collect at the tops, giving rise to eccentric flow
Solution Approach 1:
The header collecting tube is divided into multiple segments by partition members, creating separate circulation pathways. Each segment can independently manage refrigerant flow, allowing the system to handle both low and high circulation rates effectively without a single throttle causing eccentric flow at either extreme.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension to refrigerant circulation by creating ascending and descending flow paths within the header collecting tube. Refrigerant flows upward in some segments and downward in others, utilizing gravitational forces and pressure differentials to maintain balanced distribution across varying circulation rates.
2Speed
If a degree-adjusted throttle is provided to control flow velocity at high circulation rates, then flow velocity is reduced, but it becomes difficult to allow refrigerant to reach the tops at low circulation rates, giving rise to eccentric flow
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic flow paths where refrigerant can naturally accelerate or decelerate based on circulation rate conditions. The loop structure and partition members create adaptive flow patterns that respond to changing circulation rates, eliminating the need for fixed-degree throttles that cannot adapt to varying operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The header collecting tube structure itself generates the necessary flow velocity variations through its geometric design and partition configuration. Refrigerant flow is self-regulated by the system's inherent pressure gradients and path resistances, without requiring external throttle control mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If the header collecting tube uses a simple structure without partition members, then the device complexity is low, but refrigerant cannot be guided to reach the tops effectively, causing eccentric flow
Solution Approach 1:
The header collecting tube is segmented into multiple functional zones using partition members, creating distinct ascending and descending refrigerant flow paths. This segmentation enables effective refrigerant distribution to upper regions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that integrates seamlessly into the existing heat exchanger design.
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
The design effectively maintains refrigerant flow and prevents eccentric flow across the heat exchanger, even at varying circulation rates, ensuring efficient heat transfer and distribution to the flat tubes.
Implementation Method 1
The loop structure includes a first partition member and a second partition member, an inflow port, an upper communicating passage, and a lower communicating passage... when the heat exchanger functions as an evaporator of refrigerant... space for making the refrigerant ascend, and second space, which is space for making the refrigerant descend
Implementation Method 2
The upper communicating passage is located in upper part of the first space and the second space, and provide communication between the upper part of the first space and the second space, thereby guiding the refrigerant that has ascended within the first space into the second space. The lower communicating passage... provide communication between the lower part of the first space and the second space and guide the refrigerant from the second space to the first space
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes a plurality of flat tubes, a header collecting tube, and fins joined to the flat tubes. The header collecting tube includes a first partition member partitioning an internal space into upper and lower internal spaces, a second partition member partitioning the upper internal space into first and second spaces, an inflow port formed on the first partition member at a bottom part of the first space so as to penetrate in a plate thickness direction, an upper communicating passage, a lower communicating passage. The flat tubes are connected at one end to the first space of the header collecting tube. An inflow pipeline is connected to space that, within the lower internal space, is underneath the second space.