Multi-Bank Evaporator Flow Layout for Stable Temperature Difference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat exchangers with multiple banks struggle to maintain effective evaporator performance due to inadequate temperature differences between refrigerant and air, especially when refrigerant and air flow in opposite directions in the gas-liquid two-phase region, leading to inefficient heat exchange.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design with an auxiliary and main heat exchange unit, featuring specific regions that allow refrigerant to flow successively through distinct areas, ensuring parallel and counterflow configurations in different phases to maintain temperature differences between refrigerant and air, thereby enhancing evaporator performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If refrigerant and air flow in opposite directions in the gas-liquid two-phase region, then the heat exchanger structure is simple, but the temperature difference between refrigerant and air becomes insufficient, reducing evaporator performance
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple banks (first bank, second bank, third bank, fourth bank) with distinct flow configurations. The first and second banks handle gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flow with parallel air flow, while the third and fourth banks handle gas single-phase refrigerant flow with counterflow air flow. This segmentation allows optimization of each region's heat exchange characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
Different flow configurations are applied to different regions based on refrigerant phase. In the gas-liquid two-phase region (first and second banks), parallel flow is used to prevent temperature crossover. In the gas single-phase region (third and fourth banks), counterflow is used to maximize temperature difference. This local optimization ensures efficient heat exchange in each specific region.
2Reliability
If the heat exchanger temperature in the leeward bank portion is lower than the windward bank portion, then evaporator performance is improved, but this requires specific flow path configuration that increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple banks (first bank, second bank, third bank, fourth bank) with distinct flow configurations. The first and second banks handle gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flow with parallel air flow, while the third and fourth banks handle gas single-phase refrigerant flow with counterflow air flow. This segmentation allows optimization of each region's heat exchange characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
Different flow configurations are applied to different regions based on refrigerant phase. In the gas-liquid two-phase region (first and second banks), parallel flow is used to prevent temperature crossover. In the gas single-phase region (third and fourth banks), counterflow is used to maximize temperature difference. This local optimization ensures efficient heat exchange in each specific region.
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 secures temperature differences between refrigerant and air in various regions, improving the overall performance of the evaporator by optimizing refrigerant and air flow configurations within the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchange between refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes and air flowing outside the heat transfer tubes
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange between refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes and air flowing outside the heat transfer tubes
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerant in the gas single-phase state absorbs heat from the air, entering the overheated state
Implementation Method 4
refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state may flow into the heat exchanger, the refrigerant may transition from the gas-liquid two-phase state to a gas single-phase state
Data Source
AI summary
An auxiliary heat exchange unit of a heat exchanger has a first auxiliary heat exchange region and a second auxiliary heat exchange region. A main heat exchange unit has a first main heat exchange region, a second main heat exchange region, a third main heat exchange region, and a fourth main heat exchange region. The auxiliary heat exchange unit and the main heat exchange unit are configured to cause refrigerant to flow successively through the first auxiliary heat exchange region, the second auxiliary heat exchange region, the first main heat exchange region, the second main heat exchange region, the fourth main heat exchange region, and the third main heat exchange region when the heat exchanger functions as an evaporator.