Stacked-Plate Condenser With External Receiver for Reduced Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional condensers in stacked disk designs for refrigerant circuits are complex and costly, making them inefficient and unattractive for use due to increased production costs and complex integration of collectors and supercoolers.
Innovation Solution
A condenser with a stacked-plate design featuring adjacent channels for refrigerant and coolant flow, where the first flow channel is used for desuperheating and condensation, and the second for supercooling, with thermal contact between channels and a collector arranged on the outer surface for efficient refrigerant transfer, reducing production costs and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the collector and supercooler are integrated into the stacked disk condenser, then the functionality is enhanced, but the structural complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the collector and supercooler functions directly into the stacked disk condenser structure by routing refrigerant through specific channels in the disk elements. The condenser includes a first section with channels for condensation and a second section with channels for supercooling, eliminating the need for separate integrated components while maintaining all necessary functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The condenser is divided into distinct functional sections within the stacked disk structure: a first section for condensation with dedicated channels, and a second section for supercooling with separate channels. This segmentation allows each function to be performed efficiently while keeping the overall structure modular and manageable, reducing complexity compared to fully integrated designs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the collector is arranged on the outer surface of the condenser, then the thermal adverse properties are minimized, but the fluid line complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid lines are integrated directly into the stacked disk structure itself. The disk elements contain embedded channels that serve as fluid lines, connecting the collector on the outer surface to the internal heat exchange channels. This merging eliminates the need for separate external fluid line assemblies, reducing overall complexity while maintaining the beneficial outer surface collector arrangement.
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 results in a compact, cost-effective condenser with enhanced heat transfer efficiency, minimizing pressure losses and thermal adverse effects, while maintaining low refrigerant outlet temperatures and system performance.
Implementation Method 1
at least one section of the first flow channel is in thermal contact with at least one section of the second flow channel
Implementation Method 2
first area for desuperheating and condensation of the vaporous refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
at least one section of the first flow channel is in thermal contact with at least one section of the second flow channel
Implementation Method 4
second area for supercooling the condensed refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
Condensers regularly have a collector in which a volume of refrigerant is stored in order to compensate for volume fluctuations in the refrigerant circuit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a condenser (1, 20, 40, 60) in stacked-plate design, wherein a heat exchanger block (7, 22, 42, 62) is formed by a plurality of plate elements, which form channels adjacent to each other between the plate elements when the plate elements are stacked on top of each other, wherein a first number of the channels is associated with a first flow channel and a second number of the channels is associated with a second flow channel, and a refrigerant can flow through the first flow channel and a coolant can flow through the second flow channel, wherein the first flow channel has a first region for desuperheating and condensing (34, 54, 81) the vaporous refrigerant and a second region for subcooling (35, 55, 82) the condensed refrigerant, wherein at least one section of the first flow channel is in thermal contact with at least one section of the second flow channel, and the first region has a first fluid supply line (23, 43, 63) and a first fluid discharge line (24, 44, 64) and the second region has a second fluid supply line (25, 45, 65) and a second fluid discharge line (26, 46, 66), wherein the condenser (1, 20, 40, 60) has a receiver (2, 21, 41, 61) for storing the refrigerant, and a refrigerant transfer from the first region to the second region leads through the receiver (2, 21, 41, 61), wherein the receiver (2, 21, 41, 61) is in fluid communication with the first region by means of the first fluid discharge line (24, 44, 64), which also forms the fluid inlet of the receiver (2, 21, 41, 61), and is in fluid communication with the second region by means of the second fluid supply line (25, 45, 65), which also forms the fluid outlet of the receiver (2, 21, 41, 61), wherein the receiver (2, 21, 41, 61) is arranged on an outer surface of the condenser (1, 20, 40, 60).