Indoor Heat Exchanger Header Layout for Even Refrigerant Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing heat exchanger designs with horizontal headers restrict even refrigerant distribution to vertical heat-transfer pipes, limiting the heat transfer area and air-conditioning performance.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit incorporates a heat exchanger unit with vertically extending heat-transfer pipes and division headers that create multiple refrigerant passages in both the air flow and width directions, along with a return header to facilitate even refrigerant flow and counterflow configurations, increasing the heat transfer area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If horizontal headers are used to distribute refrigerant to vertical heat-transfer pipes, then refrigerant distribution is improved, but heat transfer area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The header is divided into multiple segments (first header, second header, third header, fourth header) arranged at different positions. Each header segment connects to specific heat-transfer pipes, creating multiple refrigerant distribution pathways that increase heat transfer area while maintaining reliable refrigerant distribution to all pipes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single horizontal header configuration to a multi-dimensional header arrangement where headers are positioned at different locations and orientations. This spatial distribution of headers across multiple dimensions allows refrigerant to reach heat-transfer pipes more effectively while maximizing the heat transfer area within the heat exchanger unit
2Device complexity
If a single refrigerant passage is formed from one header to another, then device complexity is reduced, but heat transfer area cannot be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant passage system is segmented into multiple passages, each connecting different header segments. This segmentation allows the refrigerant to flow through multiple distinct pathways, increasing the total heat transfer area without creating a single overly complex passage configuration
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple refrigerant passages are arranged in different spatial dimensions and orientations. This multi-dimensional arrangement of passages allows the system to increase heat transfer area while maintaining relatively simple individual passage configurations that are easy to manufacture
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 configuration enhances air-conditioning performance by ensuring even refrigerant distribution and reducing inefficiencies due to gravity, thereby increasing the heat transfer area and improving air-conditioning capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger unit provided to cover the air-sending fan and configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and air
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of heat-transfer pipes to allow the refrigerant to flow between the plurality of heat-transfer pipes
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes a case, an air-sending fan, and a heat exchanger unit. The heat exchanger unit includes a plurality of heat-transfer pipes extending in a vertical direction and forming a plurality of refrigerant passages in a width direction of the case and an air flow direction, and a plurality of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of heat-transfer pipes to allow the refrigerant to flow between the plurality of heat-transfer pipes. The plurality of headers include a plurality of division headers dividing and connecting the plurality of heat-transfer pipes arranged in the air flow direction and connecting in parallel the plurality of heat-transfer pipes arranged in the width direction, and a return header connecting and turning back the plurality of divided refrigerant passages arranged in the air flow direction and connecting in parallel the plurality of heat-transfer pipes arranged in the width direction.