Two-Row Outdoor Heat Exchanger for Reversible Refrigerant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers with a two-row structure face challenges in maintaining suitable refrigerant flow rates and functionality as both evaporators and condensers, particularly in air conditioning systems.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger design incorporates a two-row structure with windward and leeward flat tubes, including a distributor that distributes refrigerant flow effectively across multiple branches, allowing for efficient operation as both an evaporator and condenser by optimizing refrigerant flow paths and using a plate laminate configuration to enhance heat exchange and reduce pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional two-row heat exchanger structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the refrigerant flow rate decreases and heat exchange performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple independent tube rows (first row with first and second flat tubes, second row with third and fourth flat tubes), each capable of handling refrigerant flow separately. This segmentation allows the refrigerant to flow through multiple parallel paths, increasing the overall refrigerant flow rate while maintaining a relatively simple structure in each individual row.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the conventional two-row structure into a multi-row three-dimensional configuration by adding more tube rows in the refrigerant flow direction. This dimensional expansion creates additional flow paths without significantly increasing the footprint area, thereby improving refrigerant flow rate while controlling structural complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the heat exchanger is designed for single function (evaporator or condenser), then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different operating modes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is designed with symmetric flow path configuration that allows it to function as both evaporator and condenser. The same physical structure and tube arrangement can handle refrigerant flow in either direction, enabling the device to perform multiple functions without requiring separate dedicated structures for each mode, thus achieving universality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs reversible flow path design where the refrigerant can flow through the tubes in opposite directions depending on whether the heat exchanger is operating as an evaporator or condenser. This inversion capability allows the same structure to serve dual purposes by simply reversing the flow direction, reducing the need for mode-specific configurations.
3Productivity
If refrigerant flow rate is increased, then heat exchange performance is improved, but pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the refrigerant flow into multiple parallel tube rows, the flow rate per individual tube is reduced while the total heat exchange capacity increases. This segmentation allows higher overall productivity without excessive pressure loss in any single flow path, as the pressure drop is distributed across multiple parallel channels.
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 design maintains refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state for efficient heat exchange without lowering flow rates as an evaporator and effectively defrosts frost on the windward side as a condenser, improving overall heat exchange performance and reducing frost clogging.
Implementation Method 1
maintains refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state for efficient heat exchange
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between refrigerant and air
Implementation Method 3
using a plate laminate configuration to enhance heat exchange and reduce pressure loss
Data Source
AI summary
An outdoor heat exchanger includes: a group of windward flat tubes, a group of leeward flat tubes and a distributor. When the outdoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, the refrigerant flows through the plurality of second flat tubes, the plurality of fourth flat tubes, the plurality of third flat tubes, and the plurality of first flat tubes in this order, and when the outdoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser, the refrigerant flows through the plurality of first flat tubes, the plurality of third flat tubes, the plurality of fourth flat tubes, and the plurality of second flat tubes in this order.