Refrigerant distributor and evaporator comprising the refrigerant distributor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-pressure refrigerants used in air conditioning systems are prone to phase change due to small system pressure differences, leading to excessive pressure drop in refrigerant distributors, which affects uniform refrigerant distribution and heat exchange efficiency in falling film evaporators.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant distributor with a box body design where the width increases gradually within a predetermined height range, facilitating the separation of gaseous and liquid refrigerants, reducing pressure drop, and promoting uniform distribution of the liquid refrigerant through the use of a pre-distributor that creates swirl flows to enhance separation and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If low-pressure refrigerant is used in the heat exchange system, then environmental protection and energy efficiency are improved, but pressure drop in the distributor increases excessively due to phase change
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) with separate functions. The first chamber handles gas-liquid separation, the second chamber distributes liquid refrigerant, and the third chamber collects excess liquid. This segmentation allows each chamber to optimize its function, reducing overall pressure drop while maintaining effective refrigerant distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
A pre-distributor is introduced as an intermediary component between the refrigerant inlet and the main distribution channels. It performs preliminary liquid refrigerant distribution and creates swirl flows that enhance gas-liquid separation before the refrigerant enters the main chambers, reducing pressure drop in subsequent stages.
2Device complexity
If gaseous refrigerant is present in the inlet refrigerant, then phase change characteristics of low-pressure refrigerant are utilized, but pressure drop in the distributor increases and uniform distribution is affected
Solution Approach 1:
Gas-liquid separation is performed in advance in the first chamber before the refrigerant enters the distribution channels. The pre-distributor and first chamber create swirl flows that separate gaseous refrigerant from liquid refrigerant beforehand, ensuring that only liquid refrigerant enters the distribution channels, thus maintaining uniform distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
Different chambers are designed with different local qualities and functions. The first chamber is optimized for gas-liquid separation with specific flow patterns, the second chamber is optimized for liquid distribution with evenly spaced outlets, and the third chamber is optimized for liquid collection. This local optimization ensures uniform distribution while handling gaseous refrigerant effectively.
3Manufacturing precision
If pressure drop is increased to improve refrigerant scattering, then refrigerant distribution uniformity is improved, but excessive pressure drop occurs with low-pressure refrigerant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third spatial dimension by creating vertical swirl flows and multi-level chambers. The pre-distributor creates rotational flow patterns that enhance separation without increasing linear pressure drop. The multi-chamber vertical arrangement allows gravity to assist in liquid refrigerant distribution, reducing the pressure drop required for uniform distribution.
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 solution effectively reduces pressure drop and ensures uniform refrigerant distribution, improving heat exchange efficiency and preventing liquid entrainment, making it suitable for systems with low-pressure refrigerants.
Implementation Method 1
the pre-distributor creates swirl flows to enhance separation and distribution
Implementation Method 2
facilitate separation of the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
the width of the box body increases gradually within a predetermined height range starting from a bottom of the box body. Hence, the gradually increasing width may effectively reduce a velocity of flow of the refrigerant in a gas-liquid mixture phase
Implementation Method 4
facilitate separation of the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerant distributor (4) includes: a box body (42); a refrigerant inlet (41) arranged on an upper surface (421) of the box body (42); liquid exit openings (46) evenly arranged on a lower surface (422) of the box body (42); and end plates arranged at both ends of the box body (42) in a length direction and enclosing the box body (42) from the two ends; wherein, in a height direction from the lower surface (422) of the box body (42) to the upper surface (421) and within a predetermined height range starting from the lower surface (422), a width of the box body (42) increases gradually; and a pre-distributor (3) is arranged inside the box body (42).