Heat Exchanger End Cover Structure for CO2 Header Pressure Buffering

The patent introduces a buffer cavity as an intermediary chamber between the high-pressure refrigerant source and the header. This buffer cavity acts as a mediator that receives the high-pressure refrigerant first, then gradually releases it to the header through a controlled opening, thereby protecting the header from direct high-pressure impact while maintaining system pressure resistance requirements.

The patent segments the header structure into multiple functional parts: a buffer cavity section, a header proper section, and a connecting passage section. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the buffer cavity handles pressure absorption, while the header proper maintains its simplified structure for easy manufacturing. The segmentation enables the complex pressure management function to be separated from the header body, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving pressure resistance.

The patent merges the buffer cavity function with the end cap structure by integrating the buffer cavity directly into the end cap. The end cap is designed to include both the sealing function and the buffer cavity with controlled opening, combining multiple functions into a single component. This merging approach reduces the need for separate pressure management devices, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while still achieving instantaneous pressure reduction.