Inclined Refrigerant Guiding Pipe for Uniform Heat Exchanger Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerant guiding pipes in heat exchangers experience high resistance and non-uniform refrigerant distribution due to circular openings aligned radially, leading to significant pressure drops and inefficient refrigerant distribution.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerant guiding pipe features an inner chamber with openings inclined relative to its axial direction, reducing resistance loss and enhancing uniformity by allowing refrigerant to flow obliquely, which can be designed with varying pitch and angle configurations to optimize distribution as both a distributor and collector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If circular openings are arranged radially in the refrigerant guiding pipe, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but resistance to refrigerant flow is large causing significant pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the symmetric radial arrangement of circular openings to an asymmetric configuration where openings are arranged at different angles and positions. Specifically, openings are positioned at angles of 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, and 315° relative to the axial direction, creating an asymmetric flow path that reduces resistance and pressure drop while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional radial arrangement of openings to a three-dimensional configuration by inclining openings at various angles relative to the axial direction. This dimensional change allows refrigerant to flow through openings at optimized angles, reducing flow resistance and pressure drop while distributing refrigerant more uniformly across the heat exchanger tubes.
2Ease of manufacture
If circular openings are arranged radially in the refrigerant guiding pipe, then the manufacturing process is simple, but refrigerant distribution uniformity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement of openings at specific angles (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, 315°) relative to the axial direction, breaking the symmetric radial pattern. This asymmetric configuration ensures that refrigerant is distributed more uniformly to heat exchanger tubes located at different positions, improving distribution precision while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different opening angles and positions at different locations along the refrigerant guiding pipe. Each opening is positioned and angled according to its specific location to optimize local refrigerant distribution, ensuring that tubes at various positions receive appropriate refrigerant flow. This localized optimization achieves uniform overall distribution.
3Device complexity
If openings are aligned radially perpendicular to axial direction, then the structural design is conventional and simple, but refrigerant flow resistance is high leading to adverse distribution effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves away from the conventional two-dimensional radial alignment (perpendicular to axial direction) by introducing angular inclination in three dimensions. Openings are positioned at various angles including 0° (axial direction), 45°, 90° (radial direction), 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, and 315°, creating optimized three-dimensional flow paths that reduce resistance and enhance distribution efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the angular parameter of opening orientation from the conventional 90° (radial direction only) to multiple angles including axial (0°), radial (90°), and intermediate angles (45°, 135°, 225°, 315°). This parameter variation optimizes refrigerant flow characteristics, reducing flow resistance and improving distribution efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
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 significantly reduces resistance loss and improves refrigerant distribution uniformity, ensuring efficient flow and mixing of gaseous and liquid refrigerants, inhibiting layering and achieving notable distribution effects across heat exchanger tubes.
Implementation Method 1
at least a part of the inner wall of the channel is substantially inclined with respect to an axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe... refrigerant flows through the opening obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, thereby reducing resistance loss
Implementation Method 2
a refrigerant guiding portion, at least a part of the refrigerant guiding portion is disposed to be substantially inclined with respect to an axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe to guide refrigerant passing through the opening... improving uniformity of refrigerant distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerant guiding pipe having a pipe wall in which an inner chamber is formed, an opening formed in the pipe wall, and a refrigerant guiding portion. At least a part of the refrigerant guiding portion is disposed to be substantially inclined with respect to an axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe to guide refrigerant passing through the opening. The refrigerant guiding pipe can distribute and guide refrigerant well to help avoid non-uniform distribution of refrigerant due to layering of gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant.