Heat Exchanger with Directional Flow Control to Reduce Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing heat exchangers for air conditioners face challenges in optimizing refrigerant flow paths for both condensation and evaporation conditions, leading to increased pressure losses and inefficient heat transfer due to fixed refrigerant flow directions and paths.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design with a refrigerant flow control device that includes a check valve and a refrigerant flow rate adjusting member, allowing the refrigerant flow path to vary based on direction, reducing the number of turns during evaporation and optimizing flow distribution, thereby minimizing pressure losses and enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the refrigerant flow path is fixed in the related art heat exchanger, then the structure is simple, but the pressure loss increases and heat transfer efficiency decreases under evaporation conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the refrigerant flow path variable rather than fixed. The refrigerant flow control device includes a check valve and refrigerant flow rate adjusting member that enable the flow path to dynamically adapt between condensation and evaporation conditions, allowing the system to optimize performance for each operational mode while managing the added structural complexity.
2Loss of energy
If the number of turns is reduced for evaporation condition, then the pressure loss decreases, but the condensation condition performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling the heat exchanger to have different optimal configurations for different operational modes. The refrigerant flow control device allows the system to dynamically adjust the flow path characteristics, achieving reduced pressure loss under evaporation conditions while maintaining condensation performance through controlled flow distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating different flow path characteristics in different sections of the heat exchanger. The refrigerant flow rate adjusting member selectively controls flow distribution in specific tube groups, allowing optimization for evaporation conditions in certain areas while maintaining appropriate flow patterns for condensation in other areas.
3Productivity
If the refrigerant flow path is optimized for one condition, then the performance under that condition improves, but the performance under the other condition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the refrigerant flow path dynamically adjustable. The check valve and refrigerant flow rate adjusting member work together to switch between different flow path configurations, enabling the heat exchanger to achieve optimized heat transfer efficiency under both condensation and evaporation conditions rather than compromising performance for a single mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing a single heat exchanger structure that can perform both condensation and evaporation functions at optimal performance levels. The refrigerant flow control device enables the same physical structure to adapt its flow characteristics for dual operational modes, eliminating the need for separate optimized designs for each condition.
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 achieves reduced pressure losses and improved heat transfer performance by adjusting refrigerant flow paths and distribution, allowing for efficient operation as both a condenser and an evaporator with optimized mass flow rates and flow lengths.
Implementation Method 1
a check valve disposed in the communicating pipe and opening and closing the communicating pipe depending on a flow direction of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger performing heat transfer between outdoor air and the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of flat heat transfer tubes stacked and spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction
Implementation Method 4
the heat exchanger is used as a refrigerant condenser condensing a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
the heat exchanger is used as a refrigerant evaporator evaporating a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat exchanger for an air conditioner includes a plurality of flat heat transfer tubes through which a refrigerant flows; first and second headers disposed on opposite ends of the plurality of flat heat transfer tubes; at least one baffle disposed in at least one of the first and second headers and to partition an inner space of the at least one header; and a refrigerant flow control device disposed on the at least one baffle, to allow the refrigerant to selectively pass through the at least one baffle. The refrigerant flow control device is configured to prevent refrigerant from passing through the refrigerant flow control device when the refrigerant flows in one direction in the header, and to allow the refrigerant to pass through the refrigerant flow control device when the refrigerant flows in a direction opposite to the one direction in the header.