Refrigerant Header Assembly for Uniform Two-Phase Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerant distribution in heat exchangers often results in uneven vapor-liquid separation due to differences in density, leading to inefficient distribution into heat exchanging tubes, which affects the performance of the heat exchanger.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant distributing component with a body having a distributing cavity and multiple holes arranged in groups, where refrigerants from one part of the holes collide with those from another part, creating a strong disturbance that mixes the two-phase refrigerants evenly, reducing vapor-liquid separation and enhancing distribution homogeneity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If refrigerants flow through distributing holes in a conventional header, then refrigerant distribution is achieved, but vapour-liquid separation occurs due to density differences causing uneven distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The distributing holes are divided into multiple groups (first group, second group, third group) arranged at different positions and orientations within the distributing cavity. This segmentation allows refrigerants to be distributed through multiple discrete pathways that intersect, creating collision zones that mix vapour and liquid phases separately before combining, thereby reducing vapour-liquid separation and improving distribution uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributing holes in different groups are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the flow direction and cavity geometry. The first group has holes arranged in a first direction, the second group in a second direction, and the third group in a third direction, creating asymmetric flow patterns that enhance mixing through collision while preventing symmetric separation paths that would worsen vapour-liquid separation.
2Area of stationary object
If refrigerants are sprayed from multiple distributing holes, then distribution coverage is improved, but vapour-liquid separation occurs due to density differences
Solution Approach 1:
The distributing holes are arranged in three-dimensional space with different spatial orientations (first direction, second direction, third direction). This multi-dimensional arrangement creates intersecting spray trajectories that form collision zones throughout the distributing cavity, enabling effective mixing of vapour and liquid phases across the entire distribution coverage area while maintaining phase composition uniformity.
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 collision of refrigerants from different holes effectively mixes the two-phase refrigerants, reducing separation phenomena and improving the uniformity of refrigerant distribution into heat exchanging tubes, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 1
refrigerants sprayed from one part of the distributing holes collide with refrigerants sprayed from another part of the distributing holes
Implementation Method 2
the two-phase refrigerants mix evenly under a strong disturbance effect caused by the collision of refrigerants
Implementation Method 3
a vapour-liquid separation occurs to the refrigerants in a distributing device, and refrigerants sprayed from one part of the distributing holes are all liquids and refrigerants sprayed from another part of the distributing holes are all vapours, resulting in an uneven distribution of the refrigerants entering each flat tube of the heat exchanger. Moreover, after the refrigerants with two phases of vapour and liquid flow through the distributing holes, a vapour-liquid separation phenomenon may also be caused by a difference in density of the refrigerants in vapour and liquid phase
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerant distributing component includes a body. The body has a distributing cavity extending along a length direction of the body therein and an inner sidewall of the distributing cavity has a plurality of distributing hole therein, wherein refrigerants sprayed from one part of the distributing holes collide with refrigerants sprayed from another part of the distributing holes.