Partitioned Heat Exchanger Layout to Prevent Refrigerant Pooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioners, heat exchangers face inefficiencies due to the formation of liquid pools in heat-transfer pipes, which reduces heat-exchange efficiency and requires either insufficient or excessive refrigerant, increasing costs and Global Warming Potential.
Innovation Solution
A fin-tube type heat exchanger with partitioned headers and connection pipes that manage refrigerant flow to inhibit liquid pool formation, using specific refrigerants like R410A and configuring flow rates and pipe diameters to optimize heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If refrigerant is cooled in heat-transfer pipes to condense gas refrigerant into liquid refrigerant, then heat exchange function is achieved, but liquid pool forms in the pipes narrowing the heat exchange region and decreasing heat-exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple heat exchange sections with partition plates separating inflow and outflow paths. This segmentation prevents liquid refrigerant from pooling in lower sections by creating distinct flow compartments, allowing continuous efficient heat exchange without liquid accumulation that would narrow the heat transfer region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical dimension to refrigerant flow by having heat-transfer pipes extend in vertical direction and using partition plates to create multi-level flow paths. This dimensional arrangement enables refrigerant to flow upward in outflow paths, preventing liquid pooling through gravitational assistance while maintaining effective heat exchange surface area.
2Ease of manufacture
If insufficient amount of refrigerant is sealed, then production costs are reduced, but desired heat exchange performance cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes refrigerant sealing amount by changing the parameter of flow path configuration and partition plate arrangement. This enables achieving desired heat exchange performance with appropriate refrigerant quantity by improving flow distribution efficiency, avoiding both insufficient performance and excessive refrigerant usage.
3Productivity
If excessive amount of refrigerant is sealed, then desired heat exchange performance is achieved, but production costs increase and Global Warming Potential increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of flow path structure and partition configuration to optimize refrigerant distribution. This allows achieving maximum heat exchange performance with minimum necessary refrigerant amount, reducing production costs and environmental impact while maintaining desired performance levels.
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
Inhibits liquid pool formation, allows for appropriate refrigerant sealing, and enhances heat-exchange efficiency while minimizing refrigerant usage and production costs.
Implementation Method 1
heat-transfer pipes each have opposite ends that communicate with respective headers... configured to allow a thermal medium to flow therein
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange section is a part to exchange heat between a refrigerant and air... refrigerant transfers heat to/from (exchanges heat with) an air flow passing the corrugated fins
Implementation Method 3
refrigerant in a gaseous state (gas refrigerant) gives off heat to an air flow (i.e., the refrigerant is cooled by the air flow) to condense into refrigerant in a liquid state (liquid refrigerant)
Implementation Method 4
interior of the fold back header is divided by a plurality of first partition plates into compartments each of which is assigned to respective one of inflow paths and outflow paths
Implementation Method 5
connection pipes through each of which an outlet side of a corresponding one or corresponding ones of the at least one inflow path communicates with an inlet side of a corresponding one or corresponding ones of the at least one outflow path. The connection pipes are constituted by at least one down-flow pipe and at least one up-flow pipe having a hydraulic diameter of 4 mm or greater. A circulation flow rate Gr kg/s of the thermal medium and the number of the paths N satisfy 0.003 ≤ Gr/N ≤ 0.035.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An air conditioner (1) according to the present invention includes a heat exchanger (101) including: a plurality of heat-transfer pipes (112) arranged to extend in a horizontal direction and to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals in a vertical direction and configured to allow a thermal medium to flow therein, wherein a part of the plurality of heat transfer pipes (112) are used for at least one inflow path (121) into which the thermal medium flows from an outside of the heat exchanger (101) and the other part of the plurality of heat transfer pipes (112) are used for at least one outflow path (122) from which the thermal medium flows out to the outside of the heat exchanger (101); and at least one connection pipe (151) through which an outlet side of one of the at least one inflow path (121) communicates with an inlet side of one of the at least one outflow path (122), the at least one connection pipe having a hydraulic diameter (D) of 4 mm or greater. A circulation flow rate Gr kg/s of the thermal medium and the number of the at least one connection pipe N satisfy 0.003 ≤ Gr/N ≤ 0.035.