Microchannel Condenser Tubes With Variable Passages for Refrigerant Phase Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing micro channel refrigerant tube designs in refrigerators do not effectively distribute refrigerant due to uniform passage volumes, leading to suboptimal heat dissipation performance as the refrigerant undergoes phase changes, resulting in inefficient heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a micro channel refrigerant tube with varying passage volumes based on the refrigerant's state, featuring a header system with baffles that guide the refrigerant flow and a heat exchange fin configuration to enhance heat exchange efficiency, allowing the refrigerant to flow in different directions through tubes with distinct passage volumes for gaseous, two-phase, and liquid states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform passage volumes are used in micro channel refrigerant tubes, then manufacturing is simplified, but refrigerant distribution becomes ineffective and heat dissipation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the passage volume in different sections of the micro channel refrigerant tube according to the refrigerant's phase change characteristics. The passage volume is larger in the gas phase section and smaller in the liquid phase section, optimizing refrigerant distribution and heat transfer efficiency for each specific location rather than using a uniform design throughout.
2Reliability
If passage volume is increased to accommodate phase change, then refrigerant distribution improves, but the volume of passages required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the passage volume variable rather than static. The passage cross-sectional area changes dynamically along the flow direction, being larger where the refrigerant occupies more volume (gas phase) and smaller where it occupies less volume (liquid phase), thereby accommodating phase changes without requiring excessive overall passage volume.
3Temperature
If micro channel refrigerant tube is used, then heat transfer characteristics improve, but refrigerant distribution becomes ineffective due to phase change pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the passage volume parameter along the refrigerant flow path. The passage volume is adjusted to compensate for pressure drops during phase change, ensuring effective refrigerant distribution throughout the micro channel tube while maintaining superior heat transfer characteristics.
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 improves refrigerant distribution and heat dissipation performance by accommodating the changing volume of refrigerant phases, maximizing heat exchange efficiency and minimizing the volume of passages required, thereby enhancing the overall cooling performance of the refrigerator.
Implementation Method 1
the refrigerant undergoes the phase change while flowing through the micro channel refrigerant tube
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchange fin configured to enhance heat exchange efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define a low-temperature storage space and a machine room, in which a compressor is disposed; and a condenser disposed in the machine room. The condenser includes a header comprising a first header and a second header, which are spaced apart from each other, a plurality of tubes configured to connect the first header to the second header, and a heat exchange fin disposed between the tubes spaced apart from each other. The header includes a baffle configured to partition an inner space of the header so as to guide a flow direction of a refrigerant, each of the tubes includes a passage in which a hollow is defined so that the refrigerant flows, and the passage has a volume that gradually decreases along a flow path of the refrigerant.