Micro-Channel Evaporator Manifold Baffles for Uniform Refrigerant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of micro-channel heat exchangers for refrigeration systems is complicated and costly due to the need for precise distribution pipes to ensure uniform refrigerant distribution, which increases time and economic costs, and requires optimization under various working conditions to maximize heat exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of baffles within the manifolds of the micro-channel condenser and evaporator to divide the flow into multiple sections, eliminating the need for distribution pipes and allowing for uniform refrigerant distribution by adjusting baffle positions based on air-side wind velocity conditions, thereby simplifying the system and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If distribution pipes with holes or grooves are added to ensure uniform refrigerant distribution in micro-channel evaporators, then refrigerant distribution uniformity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the distribution pipe component from the system. Instead of using a distribution pipe with holes or grooves, the patent uses the manifold chamber itself as the distribution structure, eliminating the need for separate distribution pipes and their associated manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the distribution function into the manifold structure. The manifold chamber serves dual purposes: as a flow passage and as a distribution structure, combining multiple functions into a single component to reduce overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If distribution pipes are optimized for different working conditions to maximize heat exchange efficiency, then heat exchange performance is improved, but time and economic costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the manifold chamber (such as chamber volume, passage cross-sectional area, and length ratios) to optimize refrigerant distribution under different working conditions. This allows performance optimization without requiring complex distribution pipes or extensive optimization processes.
3Manufacturing precision
If the manifold chamber volume is increased to improve refrigerant distribution, then distribution uniformity is improved, but heat exchange area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different geometric characteristics to different parts of the manifold chamber. The chamber has a larger cross-sectional area perpendicular to the flow direction to improve distribution, while maintaining a compact length in the flow direction to preserve heat exchange area. This localized geometric optimization resolves the contradiction between distribution uniformity and heat exchange area.
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 arrangement enhances the heat exchange performance of the refrigeration system by ensuring uniform refrigerant distribution across the evaporator, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs, while allowing for easy adjustment to meet different operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the inlet manifold of the micro-channel evaporator is provided with at least one baffle, the number of the baffle is n and n is greater than or equal to one, and the inlet manifold of the micro-channel evaporator is divided by the n baffle into at least two manifold sections arranged in order
Implementation Method 2
The tube-fin type heat exchanger generally includes circular tubes and various types of fins, the tubes and fins are connected by a tube expander, thus the thermal contact resistance is large
Implementation Method 3
Corrugated or louver-shaped fins 44′ are provided between adjacent micro-channel flat tubes, to improve the heat exchanging efficiency between the heat exchanger and the air
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration system and a heat exchanger are provided. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a micro-channel condenser, a micro-channel evaporator and at least one throttling device which are connected by pipelines. Each of the micro-channel condenser and the micro-channel evaporator includes an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, and a plurality of flat tubes being connected between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. The inlet manifold of the micro-channel evaporator is provided with a baffle, and the inlet manifold of the micro-channel evaporator is divided by the baffle into multiple manifold sections, and the manifold sections of the inlet manifold are isolated from each other by the baffle, and are each in communication with a certain number of the flat tubes, and are each not provided with a distribution pipe configured to distribute flow rate into the flat tubes in communication with the manifold sections.