Partitioned Vehicle Heat Exchanger for Dual-Mode Refrigerant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat exchangers in vehicles, particularly electric and hybrid vehicles, face challenges in optimizing thermal performance due to icing issues and internal pressure drops, which affect heat exchange efficiency and reliability when operating as both condensers and evaporators.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a partition within the heat exchanger to disrupt fluid circulation between passes, improving refrigerant distribution and controlling pressure drops, especially in evaporator mode, by adjusting the passage section and partition placement to enhance heat exchange while maintaining efficient condenser operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of tubes per pass is decreased to optimize heat exchange and limit pressure drops in condenser mode, then heat exchange efficiency is improved and pressure drops are limited, but the distribution of refrigerant fluid becomes unfavorable for evaporator operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing a partition in the first collector that creates different flow conditions for different groups of tubes. The partition divides the refrigerant flow so that tubes close to the partition receive a higher proportion of the refrigerant fluid (40-70% of total flow), while other tubes receive the remaining flow. This localized differentiation of flow distribution resolves the contradiction by ensuring adequate refrigerant supply to all tubes regardless of their position, thereby maintaining ease of operation in evaporator mode while preserving the optimized tube configuration for heat exchange efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the exchanger is configured symmetrically to avoid penalizing one mode of operation, then adaptability between condenser and evaporator modes is improved, but heat exchange performance deteriorates due to suboptimal tube distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by abandoning symmetric configuration in favor of an asymmetric design optimized for heat exchange performance. The partition in the first collector creates localized flow control that ensures adequate refrigerant distribution to all tubes despite the asymmetric tube arrangement. This allows the exchanger to achieve superior heat exchange performance in condenser mode while maintaining functional capability in evaporator mode through the compensated flow distribution, rather than compromising performance for symmetry.
3Ease of operation
If refrigerant circulation direction is reversed to improve evaporator operation, then refrigerant distribution is improved, but air conditioning loop complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the refrigerant flow path within the first collector using a partition. Instead of reversing the entire circulation direction through the exchanger, the partition segments the flow within the collector to direct refrigerant preferentially toward tubes close to the partition. This localized flow segmentation achieves improved refrigerant distribution without requiring system-level reversals, thereby maintaining simpler air conditioning loop architecture while improving evaporator operation.
4Reliability
If a reduced number of tubes is used in the first pass to prevent icing, then icing risk is reduced, but heat exchange surface area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by using the partition to create localized high-flow zones near the partition where refrigerant is directed with higher proportion (40-70% of total flow). This ensures that tubes close to the partition, which are most susceptible to icing, receive adequate refrigerant flow to prevent ice formation. Meanwhile, the overall heat exchange surface area is maintained by preserving all tubes in the bundle, with the partition simply redistributing flow rather than reducing tube count. Thus, reliability through icing prevention is achieved without sacrificing productivity.
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 partitioned design improves heat exchange efficiency and controls pressure drops, ensuring effective operation in both evaporator and condenser modes, reducing the risk of icing and enhancing overall thermal performance.
Implementation Method 1
said first collector comprises a partition configured to disturb the circulation of fluid between the first and second parts of said tubes
Implementation Method 2
allowing heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing in said tubes and an outside air flow
Implementation Method 3
when the air conditioning loop operates as a pump heater to warm the passenger compartment
Implementation Method 4
to condense the refrigerant circulating in the air conditioning loop when the latter is used to cool the passenger compartment
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchanger, said exchanger including a bundle of tubes (2), which enables an exchange of heat between a refrigerant circulating in said tubes (2) and an external airflow, and a first collector (4), said exchanger being configured so as to establish the serial circulation of the refrigerant among a first portion of said tubes (2) leading into a first portion (4a) of said first collector, said first collector (4), and a second portion of said tubes (2) leading into a second portion (4b) of said first collector (4). According to the invention, said first collector (4) includes a partition (12) configured to disrupt the circulation of the fluid between the first and second portions of said tubes (2). The invention is specifically for electric and/or hybrid motor vehicles.