Stacking-type header, heat exchanger, and air-conditioning apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing stacking-type headers face issues with excess brazing material entering refrigerant passages, leading to blockages due to the large volume of brazing material used in the brazing process, which affects the efficiency and reliability of heat exchangers and air-conditioning systems.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates second plates with openings that communicate with the atmosphere, allowing excess brazing material to flow into a low-pressure atmospheric space, preventing it from entering the distribution junction passage and reducing the amount of brazing material applied, thus minimizing the risk of blockages and enhancing the brazing process efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large amount of brazing material is used in the brazing process, then the joining strength and reliability of the plates are improved, but excess brazing material is generated that may enter and block the refrigerant passages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful excess brazing material from the refrigerant passage system by providing dedicated discharge openings in the plates. These openings allow the excess brazing material to be directed outward to the atmosphere rather than entering the refrigerant passages, thereby resolving the contradiction between using sufficient brazing material for reliable joining and preventing passage blockage.
2Manufacturing precision
If the amount of brazing material is increased to ensure proper joining of plates, then the brazing quality is improved, but the brazing time and thermal capacity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful excess brazing material into a beneficial discharge path by designing openings that guide the excess material outward. This allows the use of sufficient brazing material for high-quality joining without the penalty of increased brazing time, as the excess material is efficiently removed through the discharge openings rather than requiring precise control of brazing material application.
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 effectively prevents blockages in the refrigerant passages, reduces the thermal capacity of the stacking-type header, and shortens the brazing time, while maintaining the structural integrity and efficiency of the heat exchanger and air-conditioning systems.
Implementation Method 1
The brazing process involves heating a brazing material, serving as dad layers, on the surfaces of the plates to melt the brazing material and forming fillets on side surfaces of the plates and inner surfaces of openings of the plates using surface tension to join the plates
Data Source
AI summary
A stacking-type header according to the present invention includes a plurality of first plates and a plurality of second plates stacked on one another and brazed together such that each of the plurality of second plates is disposed between adjoining two of the plurality of first plates. The plurality of first plates include a first end plate that is an outermost one of the plurality of first plates in a stacking direction of the plurality of first plates and that has a first through hole, and a second end plate that is another outermost one of the plurality of first plates in the stacking direction of the plurality of first plates and that has a plurality of second through holes. The plurality of first plates and the plurality of second plates have a communication hole that connects the first through hole of the first end plate and the plurality of second through holes of the second end plate. The plurality of second plates each have at least one opening formed at other than the communication hole. The opening communicates with atmosphere.