Multi-Region Heat Exchanger Layout for Uniform Air Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers face challenges in achieving uniform temperature distribution of air discharge due to variations in refrigerant flow rates and pressure losses, particularly when used as condensers in refrigeration cycles, leading to non-uniform temperature distribution and increased pressure loss in the refrigerant inlet chamber.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger design includes a primary header tank, primary and secondary turn tanks, and secondary header tank with varying pressure losses in different regions to control refrigerant flow rates, ensuring uniform temperature distribution by forming subcooled liquid regions in the secondary core, using communication holes to equalize pressure and adjust flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the refrigerant flow rate is increased to improve heat exchange efficiency, then the heat exchange performance is improved, but the pressure loss in the refrigerant inlet chamber increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different pressure loss characteristics in different regions of the heat exchanger. The primary region and secondary region are designed with different pressure losses to optimize refrigerant flow distribution locally, allowing high flow rates for heat exchange while managing pressure loss in specific areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters by varying the pressure loss characteristics between different regions. By adjusting the pressure loss in the primary and secondary regions independently, the system optimizes the balance between refrigerant flow rate and pressure loss to improve overall heat exchange efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If the refrigerant flow rate varies across different regions, then the pressure loss decreases, but the temperature distribution of air discharge becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing different pressure loss characteristics for the primary and secondary regions. This allows each region to have optimized refrigerant flow rates that contribute to uniform temperature distribution while maintaining acceptable pressure loss levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates equipotentiality by balancing the pressure loss characteristics between regions to achieve uniform refrigerant flow distribution. This results in more uniform temperature distribution in the air discharge while preventing excessive pressure loss in any single region.
3Loss of energy
If the pressure loss in the refrigerant inlet chamber is reduced, then the refrigerant flow rate increases, but the temperature distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct pressure loss zones within the refrigerant inlet chamber. The primary and secondary regions have different pressure loss characteristics that are optimized to maintain uniform temperature distribution while allowing increased overall refrigerant flow rate.
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 achieves more uniform temperature distribution of air discharge by controlling refrigerant flow rates and pressure losses, reducing local temperature deviations and maintaining consistent air temperature across the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 1
a primary header tank configured to receive a refrigerant in a superheated gas state from an upstream-side flow passage
Implementation Method 2
a secondary header tank configured to receive the refrigerant in a subcooled liquid state from the plurality of secondary tubes
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes: a plurality of primary tubes that receive a refrigerant distributed from a primary header tank; a primary turn tank and a secondary turn tank that receive the refrigerant from the primary tubes; and a plurality of secondary tubes that receive the refrigerant distributed from the secondary turn tank. An internal flow passage, which extends from the primary tubes to the secondary tubes via the primary turn tank and the secondary turn tank, has a primary region and at least one secondary region that are arranged one after another in a stacking direction. A pressure loss of the primary region and a pressure loss of the at least one secondary region are different from each other when a flow rate of the refrigerant in the primary region is the same as a flow rate of the refrigerant in the at least one secondary region.