Partitioned Header Heat Exchanger for Uniform Refrigerant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers for air conditioners face challenges in uniformly distributing refrigerant to multiple flat tubes and optimizing heat exchange performance, leading to inefficient heat transfer and potential excessive heating of tubes.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring a lower and upper header with partitioned flow paths, fins between flat tubes, and strategically positioned inlet and outlet pipes to ensure uniform refrigerant distribution, eliminating the need for external dividers and enhancing heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If refrigerant is introduced into multiple flat tubes without proper distribution control, then heat exchange area is utilized, but refrigerant distribution becomes non-uniform causing excessive heating of tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The upper flow path is divided into a first upper flow path and a second upper flow path, which are then distributed to different sets of flat tubes through the upper header. This segmentation ensures uniform refrigerant distribution across multiple flat tubes, preventing excessive heating and improving reliability.
2Reliability
If external dividers are used to control refrigerant distribution, then uniform refrigerant distribution is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path division function is merged into the upper header itself by forming the first and second upper flow paths directly within the header structure. This eliminates the need for separate external dividers, reducing device complexity while maintaining uniform refrigerant distribution across flat tubes.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper header serves multiple functions: it distributes refrigerant to the first upper flow path, divides the flow into separate paths, and directs refrigerant to different flat tubes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional external dividers, simplifying the overall device structure.
3Reliability
If header internal sectional area is increased to improve refrigerant distribution, then uniform distribution is achieved, but device volume and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing header volume to improve distribution, the solution creates multiple flow paths (first and second upper flow paths) within the existing header dimensional constraints. This dimensional optimization achieves uniform refrigerant distribution without significantly increasing header volume.
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 achieves uniform refrigerant distribution, minimizes excessive heating of tubes, and improves heat exchange performance while reducing costs by eliminating the need for external dividers, resulting in enhanced cooling efficiency and operational effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
A refrigerant introduced into the upper flow path through the some of the plurality of flat tubes may collide with an upper inner wall of the upper header and be discharged to the remaining tubes of the plurality of flat tubes
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchange unit or device including fins disposed between the plurality of flat tubes... an area where heat of the plurality of flat tubes and the fins may be exchanged with air
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat exchanger for an air conditioner and an air conditioner having the same are provided. The heat exchanger may include at least one heat exchange device, the heat exchange device comprising a lower header provided therein with a lower flow path; an upper header provided therein with an upper flow path; and a plurality of flat tubes provided therein with a plurality of flow paths that communicates with the lower flow path and the upper flow path. The upper flow path may be partitioned into a first lower flow path with which a portion of the plurality of flat tubes may communicate, and a second lower flow path with which a remaining portion of the plurality of flat tubes may communicate. Each of an internal sectional area of the upper header and an internal sectional area of the lower header may be 0.7 times or more as large as a sum of sectional areas of flow paths in the plurality of flat tubes forming one path.