Refrigerant Distributor Angle Design for Even Gas-Liquid Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-conditioning apparatuses experience reduced heat exchange performance due to uneven gas-liquid distribution when performing trifurcation distribution, leading to biased refrigerant flow in flow dividers, which affects the distribution of two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant to multiple evaporators.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant distributor with a specific configuration of bifurcate flow dividers and connection pipes, where the angle between planes passing through center points of inflow and outflow ports is between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, ensuring centrifugal forces act differently on liquid refrigerant in each bifurcate flow divider, reducing bias and enhancing distribution performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two flow dividers of bifurcation structures are combined to perform bifurcation distributions in two stages, then trifurcation distribution is achieved, but the gas-liquid distribution in the second stage becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the form of a guide wall within the flow divider structure. This guide wall is positioned to selectively guide liquid refrigerant toward specific outlet ports, creating an asymmetric flow path that compensates for the inherent bias in two-stage bifurcation distribution. The asymmetric placement of the guide wall allows liquid refrigerant to be directed preferentially to outlets where liquid deficiency is detected, thereby achieving more uniform gas-liquid distribution across all three evaporators.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide wall structure provides localized modification of flow characteristics. Rather than attempting to uniformly distribute refrigerant throughout the entire system, the guide wall applies a localized corrective action at specific regions within the flow divider. This local quality approach allows the system to address the specific problem of liquid refrigerant bias at particular outlet ports while maintaining overall system functionality.
2Productivity
If liquid refrigerant is biased in the outflow port of the first flow divider, then the refrigerant flows preferentially in one direction, but the heat exchange performance of evaporators is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the guide wall structure that responds to the distribution state of liquid refrigerant. The guide wall is positioned and dimensioned to create back-pressure or flow resistance that is selectively applied to streams with excessive liquid content, thereby feedback-controlling the distribution to achieve balance. This passive feedback mechanism automatically adjusts the flow distribution based on the actual state of liquid bias without requiring active sensors or control systems.
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 configuration ensures even distribution of two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant to multiple outdoor heat exchangers, improving heat exchange performance and reducing refrigerant deviation, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and heat exchange capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a direction of a centrifugal force acting on the liquid refrigerant in the second bifurcate flow divider differs from a direction of a centrifugal force acting on the liquid refrigerant in the first bifurcate flow divider
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerant distributor branches refrigerant flowing in a refrigerant circuit into three, and includes a first bifurcate flow divider including a first pipe portion forming one inflow port, a second pipe portion and a third pipe portion forming two outflow ports communicating with the inflow port of the first pipe portion, and a second bifurcate flow divider including a fourth pipe portion forming one inflow port, and a fifth pipe portion and a sixth pipe portion forming two outflow ports communicating with the inflow port of the fourth pipe portion. The outflow port of the third pipe portion and the inflow port of the fourth pipe portion communicate with each other, and an angle θ formed by a first plane passing through the first bifurcate flow divider and a second plane passing through the second bifurcate flow divider is between 60 and 120 degrees.