Subcooler Baffle Structure for Quiet Refrigerant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional supercoolers in air conditioners generate noise due to the contact and shaking of inner and outer tubes during refrigerant flow, affecting durability and performance.
Innovation Solution
A supercooler design featuring inner tubes spaced apart and supported by a baffle system, including a fixing member and deceleration member, to prevent shaking and optimize refrigerant flow, reducing noise and improving durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the inner tube is allowed to move freely within the outer tube, then the refrigerant can flow smoothly, but the inner tube contacts the outer tube generating impact noises and shaking noises
Solution Approach 1:
A baffle is introduced as an intermediary component between the inner tube and outer tube. The baffle supports the inner tube to prevent direct contact with the outer tube, thereby eliminating impact noises while still allowing refrigerant to flow through the annular space between the baffle and outer tube.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the inner tube is fixed rigidly to prevent shaking, then noise is reduced, but the refrigerant flow may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle serves as a mediator that supports the inner tube to prevent shaking noises while its annular structure with refrigerant flow holes ensures that refrigerant can still flow efficiently through the space between the baffle and outer tube, maintaining heat exchange productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle is designed with localized support features - the refrigerant flow holes are strategically positioned to allow refrigerant passage in critical areas while maintaining structural support to prevent inner tube contact with the outer tube.
3Productivity
If multiple inner tubes are used to increase heat exchange area, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the complexity of the supercooler structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange function is segmented into multiple inner tubes arranged in parallel within the outer tube. Each inner tube handles a portion of the refrigerant flow, increasing the total heat exchange area and efficiency while the common baffle structure simplifies the overall assembly compared to multiple separate heat exchange components.
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 the durability of the supercooler and reduces noise generation, while improving heat exchange efficiency by stabilizing the inner tubes and controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant.
Implementation Method 1
an outer tube having an inner space in which the inner tube is disposed, the outer tube allowing a second refrigerant heat-exchanged with the first refrigerant to flow
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a supercooler and an air conditioner including the same. The supercooler disposed between a condenser and an evaporator of an air conditioner to supercool a refrigerant condensed in the condenser, thereby allowing the supercooled refrigerant to flow into the evaporator includes an inner tube in which a first refrigerant passing through the condenser flows, an outer tube having an inner space in which the inner tube is disposed, the outer tube allowing a second refrigerant heat-exchanged with the first refrigerant to flow by using the inner tube as a boundary, and a baffle supporting the inner tube to prevent the inner tube from being shaken within the outer tube.