Spray Evaporator Distributor for Uniform Refrigerant Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spray type refrigerant evaporators face inefficiencies due to non-uniform refrigerant distribution, leading to energy waste and increased costs, particularly because existing distributors are complex and require additional devices, complicating the structure and increasing power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A spray type heat-exchanging unit with a distributive refrigerant spray module featuring an extended distributor, apertures, and a refrigerant spray surface that uniformly sprays liquid refrigerant onto heat exchange tubes, allowing for efficient evaporation and reduced refrigerant charge and material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pressure-driven closed-type distributor is used to spray refrigerant, then refrigerant distribution control is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and additional pumping devices are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex pressure-driven control mechanism and replaces it with a simple gravity-driven flow distribution system. The distributor is designed with multiple outlets that naturally distribute refrigerant based on gravity and pressure equilibrium, eliminating the need for additional pumping devices while maintaining effective refrigerant distribution control.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributor system is designed to automatically distribute refrigerant through its own structural features (multiple outlets, positioning relative to heat exchange tubes) without requiring external control mechanisms. The system self-regulates refrigerant flow distribution based on the physical principles of gravity and fluid dynamics.
2Productivity
If refrigerant is sprayed uniformly onto heat exchange tubes, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but complex spray mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor is segmented into multiple outlets positioned at different locations to spray refrigerant onto different sections of the heat exchange tubes. This segmentation allows uniform coverage of the tube surfaces through simple gravitational flow rather than complex mechanical spray mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point spray approach to a multi-dimensional distribution system where refrigerant is delivered to multiple locations simultaneously through the distributor's spatially arranged outlets, achieving uniform coverage without complex mechanisms.
3Productivity
If liquid refrigerant flows quickly on heat exchange tube surface, then evaporation time is shortened and performance is enhanced, but uniform distribution control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor is designed with outlets positioned to deliver refrigerant to specific locations on the heat exchange tubes, ensuring that each local area receives appropriate refrigerant flow. This local quality approach maintains uniform distribution while allowing rapid evaporation at each contact point.
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 enhances refrigerating efficiency, reduces refrigerant charge and material costs by ensuring uniform refrigerant distribution, leading to improved heat exchange performance and energy savings.
Implementation Method 1
When the refrigerant sprayed onto the tube is evaporated, it carries away heat energy of the target fluid inside the heat exchange tube to achieve the purpose of heat exchange
Implementation Method 2
the heat exchanger may have an enhanced performance
Data Source
AI summary
A spray type heat-exchanging unit includes a main body; a distributive refrigerant spray module located in an upper part of the main body and having an extended distributor and a refrigerant spray surface; and a plurality of heat exchange tubes provided in the main body below the distributive refrigerant spray module. A liquid refrigerant is guided into the extended distributor to drip onto the refrigerant spray surface, and then uniformly sprayed onto the heat exchange tubes. Gaseous refrigerant produced by evaporation in heat exchange in the main body is recovered via a top opening of the main body, making the mechanical refrigerating apparatus more efficient than a refrigerating apparatus adopting a flooded evaporator, and minimizing the refrigerant charge amount and material cost required by the heat-exchanging unit.