Heat Exchanger Header Design to Reduce Tube Insertion Placement Error
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers face challenges in maintaining consistent refrigerant flow paths due to manufacturing errors in the insertion depth of heat transfer tubes, leading to unintended refrigerant passage areas, which can result in insufficient refrigerant supply to heat transfer tubes, especially during varying circulation conditions.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger design includes a divided header with distinct circulation and insertion spaces, utilizing a circulation member and insertion space forming member to create separate refrigerant flow paths, ensuring a consistent refrigerant passage area and reducing the impact of manufacturing errors by using a separate insertion regulating member and strategically positioned flow dividing openings to manage refrigerant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the heat transfer tubes are inserted into the header without a separate insertion space, then the header structure is simpler, but the refrigerant passage area becomes inconsistent due to manufacturing errors in insertion depth
Solution Approach 1:
The header is divided into two distinct spaces: an insertion space for receiving heat transfer tubes and a circulation space for refrigerant flow. This segmentation isolates the tube insertion area from the refrigerant circulation area, ensuring that manufacturing variations in insertion depth do not affect the refrigerant passage area in the circulation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion space acts as an intermediary zone between the heat transfer tubes and the circulation space. It absorbs the dimensional variations from tube insertion while maintaining a consistent interface with the circulation space, thereby protecting the refrigerant passage area from manufacturing errors.
2Reliability
If the circulation space is not divided into multiple flow directions, then the header structure is simpler, but refrigerant distribution to heat transfer tubes becomes insufficient under low circulation conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation space is segmented into a first circulation space and a second circulation space, each serving different flow directions. This allows independent optimization of refrigerant flow paths to ensure adequate supply to heat transfer tubes under various circulation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation member is configured to dynamically adjust refrigerant flow distribution between the first and second circulation spaces based on operating conditions, ensuring reliable refrigerant supply to heat transfer tubes whether circulation is high or low.
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 ensures reliable refrigerant supply to heat transfer tubes across varying circulation conditions, improving heat exchange performance by maintaining intended refrigerant passage areas and reducing pressure loss, even with manufacturing errors in tube insertion depth.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger that includes a plurality of multiport flat tubes, fins joined to the plurality of multiport flat tubes, and a header that is connected to the ends of the plurality of multiport flat tubes and that causes refrigerant flowing inside the multiport flat tubes to exchange heat with the air flowing outside the multiport flat tubes
Implementation Method 2
causes refrigerant flowing inside the multiport flat tubes to exchange heat with the air flowing outside the multiport flat tubes
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat exchanger capable of reducing a placement error of the heat transfer tube at the time of manufacture is provided. A heat exchanger (11) includes a plurality of multiport flat tubes (63) arranged with each other, a second header collecting pipe (90) to which end portions of the multiport flat tubes (63) are connected, and a plurality of fins (64) joined to the heat transfer tubes. The second header collecting pipe (90) is divided into a circulation space (98) and an insertion space (71). The circulation space (98) includes a rising space (98A) and a falling space (98B). The multiport flat tubes (63) are inserted into the insertion space (71). The second header collecting pipe (90) includes a circulation division plate (95) that divides the rising space (98A) from the falling space (98B) and an insertion division plate (75) that divides the circulation space (98) from the insertion space (71).