Fluid Distributor and Heat Exchanger

This application claims benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 202410772586.7, filed Jun. 14, 2024, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the contents of which in their entirety are herein incorporated by reference.

This application relates to a field of heat exchange equipment, and specifically relates to a fluid distributor and a heat exchanger.

This application provides a fluid distributor and a heat exchanger to resolve or alleviate some of the problems in the related art.

This application provides a fluid distributor including:

In one or more embodiments, the flow equalizing plate is a V-shaped plate or an arc-shaped plate.

In one or more embodiments, lengths of the flow equalizing plate extension portions on the two sides of the flow equalizing plate bottom portion are equal.

In one or more embodiments, the flow equalizing plate is the V-shaped plate, and inclination angles with respect to the height direction of the flow equalizing plate extension portions on the two sides of the flow equalizing plate bottom portion are the same.

In one or more embodiments, the flow guide frame further includes:

In one or more embodiments, the flow guide frame further includes:

In one or more embodiments, in the height direction, the inlet flow passage is disposed between the first outlet flow passage and the second outlet flow passage, and the first outlet flow passage is located above the second outlet flow passage,

In one or more embodiments, the flow guide frame further includes:

Another aspect of this application provides a heat exchanger including:

In one or more embodiments, the heat exchanger further includes:

In one or more embodiments, the fins are arranged along a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the heat exchange tube group.

In one or more embodiments, the refrigerant flow passage is an S-shaped flow passage or a linear flow passage.

Since the flow equalizing plate extension portions obliquely extend upward, a fluid flowing into the flow equalizing plate first enters the flow equalizing plate bottom portion, and then overflows upward along the flow equalizing plate extension portions when a liquid level is sufficiently accumulated, which can resolve nonuniform flow distribution caused by a direct influence of the gravity on the fluid, and improve uniformity of the refrigerant distribution. In addition, the fluid flowing out of the inlet flow passage first enters and accumulates at the flow equalizing plate bottom portion which is at a low position. Even if the fluid distributor is tilted at a small angle, the fluid accumulated at the flow equalizing plate bottom portion can still be uniformly distributed to the two sides, which not only ensures the uniformity of the refrigerant distribution, but also improves a fault tolerance of the fluid distributor

Reference numerals: first plate-shaped member, inlet flow passage, second plate-shaped member, first outlet flow passage, second outlet flow passage, flow guide frame, first flow guide space, second flow guide space, flow equalizing plate, flow equalizing plate bottom portion, flow equalizing plate extension portion, first side edge, second side edge, top edge, bottom edge, flow guide plate, first slat, second slat, second slat, third slat, fourth slat, fifth slat, sixth slat, seventh slat, heat exchange tube group, refrigerant flow passageA, refrigerant outlet, refrigerant inlet, fin, first refrigerant distributor, fluid distributor, distributor body, body inlet, body outlet, pipeline.

The technical solutions in embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in some embodiments of this application, and obviously, the described embodiments are merely a part of some embodiments of this application, and are not all embodiments. Based on some embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work fall within the protection scope of this application.

As shown in, this application provides a fluid distributor which is implemented by a combination of a first plate-shaped member, a second plate-shaped member, and a flow guide frame. An inlet flow passageis formed in or connected to the first plate-shaped member. A first outlet flow passageand a second outlet flow passagespaced apart in a height direction (taking the height direction when the fluid distributor is installed on a heat exchanger, that is, a gravity direction as a reference, and the height direction is indicated by a Z mark in) are formed in or connected to the second plate-shaped member. The flow guide frameis sealed and fixed between the first plate-shaped memberand the second plate-shaped member, a first flow guide spaceand a second flow guide spaceare partitioned in the flow guide frame, a part of a fluid flowing in from the inlet flow passageis guided to flow out from the first outlet flow passagethrough the first flow guide space, and the other part of the fluid flowing in from the inlet flow passageis guided to flow out from the second outlet flow passagethrough the second flow guide space.

For the convenience of illustration, only an outer frame structure of the flow guide frameis shown in, and structures of the flow guide framein one or more embodiments are shown with reference to.

Referring to, the flow guide frameincludes a flow equalizing plateadjacent to the inlet flow passageand located below the inlet flow passagein the height direction, the flow equalizing plateincludes a flow equalizing plate bottom portionand flow equalizing plate extension portions. The flow equalizing plate bottom portionis located below the inlet flow passage. The flow equalizing plate extension portionsextend upward from the flow equalizing plate bottom portionto two sides of the flow equalizing plate bottom portionwhile being inclined in the height direction to distribute the fluid flowing in from the inlet flow passageto the two sides of the flow equalizing plate bottom portionand guide the distributed fluids to the first flow guide spaceand the second flow guide spacerespectively.

In some embodiments, since the flow equalizing plate extension portionsobliquely extend upward, the fluid flowing in from the inlet flow passageflows from the flow equalizing plate bottom portionto the two sides along the flow equalizing plate extension portionsto raise a liquid level, so that it can be prevented that a distribution of a fluid flowing into the fluid distributor from the inlet flow passagebecomes nonuniform because of a direct influence of the gravity, thereby improving the uniformity of the fluid (refrigerant) distribution. In addition, the fluid flowing out of the inlet flow passagefirst enters and accumulates at the flow equalizing plate bottom portionwhich is at a low position. Even if the fluid distributor is tilted at a small angle, the fluid accumulated at the flow equalizing plate bottom portioncan still be uniformly distributed to the two sides, which not only ensures the uniformity of the refrigerant distribution, but also improves a fault tolerance of the fluid distributor.

Specifically, as shown in, the flow guide frameincludes: a first side edgeand a second side edgeopposite to each other, a top edgeand a bottom edgeconnecting the first side edgeand the second side edge, and a flow guide plate. In some embodiments, the bottom edgeis the flow equalizing plate. The flow guide plateis fixed in the flow guide frameand includes: a first slat, a second slat, and a third slat. The first slatcorresponds to the inlet flow passageand is disposed above the inlet flow passagein the height direction, and two ends of the first slatare respectively spaced apart from the first side edgeand the second side edgeby a predetermined distance. The second slatis parallel to the first slatand is located above the first slatin the height direction, and a first end (left end in the drawing) of the second slatis fixed to the first side edge, and a second end (right end in the drawing) of the second slatis spaced apart from the second side edgeby a predetermined distance. Two ends of the third slatare respectively connected to the second end (right end in the drawing) of the second slatand the end (right end in the drawing) of the first slataway from the first side edge. In this way, the first slat, the second slat, a part of the first side edge, and the third slatare enclosed together to form the first flow guide space. The second slat, a part of the first side edge, a part of the second side edge, and the top edgeare enclosed together to form the second flow guide space.

As shown in, when viewed from the front, the inlet flow passage, the first slat, the first outlet flow passage, the second slat, and the second outlet flow passageare arranged in sequence from bottom to top in the height direction (Z direction shown in the drawing).

In some embodiments, the inlet flow passageis located at a bottom portion of the first plate-shaped member. After a refrigerant enters the flow equalizing plate bottom portionfrom the inlet flow passage, the refrigerant flows into the first flow guide spacethrough a gap between the first slatand the first side edgealong the flow equalizing plate extension portion, and flows into the second flow guide spacethrough a gap between the first slatand the second side edge, that is, the refrigerant flows upward into the corresponding flow guide space, so that an influence of the gravity on a fluid flow velocity is resolved, which is conducive to improving the uniformity of the refrigerant distribution. The refrigerants entering the first flow guide spaceand the second flow guide spaceeventually flow out from the first outlet flow passageand the second outlet flow passagerespectively.

In some embodiments, the flow equalizing plateis a V-shaped plate or an arc-shaped plate. The V-shaped or arc-shaped plate can lift and uniform the fluid from the inlet flow passage, prevent the fluid entering the flow guide framefrom being nonuniformly distributed due to the gravity, and ensure the uniformity of the refrigerant distribution. Furthermore, when the flow equalizing plateis a V-shaped plate, and the flow equalizing plate extension portionson the two sides of the flow equalizing plate bottom portionhave the same inclination angle with respect to the height direction, flow velocities of the fluids flowing to the two sides of the flow equalizing plate bottom portionafter entering the flow guide framecan be ensured as substantially the same, and nonuniform fluid distribution due to different inclination angles can be avoided. Furthermore, lengths of the flow equalizing plate extension portionson the two sides of the flow equalizing plate bottom portionare equal. Similarly, when the flow equalizing plateis an arc-shaped plate (such as a circular arc or an elliptical arc), the flow equalizing plate extension portionson the two sides of the flow equalizing plate bottom portionhave the same curvature and arc length to ensure the uniformity of the refrigerant fluid distribution.

In an optional embodiment, the flow guide frameis a pentagonal frame as shown in, and the second plate-shaped memberand the first plate-shaped membercan be formed into the same or different shapes as the flow guide frame, for example, the first plate-shaped memberand the second plate-shaped memberare pentagonal frames having the same size as the flow guide frame. Alternatively, the first plate-shaped memberand the second plate-shaped memberare rectangular plates, and a length of the rectangular plate is not less than a maximum length of the pentagonal frame, and a width of the rectangular plate is not less than a maximum width of the pentagonal frame. This application is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, lengths of the first slat, the second slat, and the third slat, the predetermined distance between the first slatand the first side edge, the predetermined distance between the first slatand the second side edge, a distance between the first slatand the inlet flow passage, a distance between the first slatand the flow equalizing plate, a distance between the first slatand the first outlet flow passage, a distance between the second slatand the first outlet flow passage, a distance between the second slatand the second outlet flow passage, and the like are not specifically limited, and those skilled in the art can adjust these according to actual needs. In addition, those skilled in the art can adjust sizes of the first flow guide spaceand the second flow guide spaceaccording to actual working conditions (such as an installation angle of the fluid distributor or a heat exchange effect of a heat exchanger to which the fluid distributor is applied in a refrigeration or heating system) such that a distribution ratio of the refrigerant approaches 1:1, and some embodiments is not limited thereto. In addition, embodiments of this present application do not limit shapes of the first slat, the second slat, and the third slat, and the shapes may be linear to or curved shapes.

Specifically, the flow guide frameincludes: the first side edgeand the second side edgeopposite to each other, the top edgeand the bottom edgeconnecting the first side edgeand the second side edge, and the bottom edgeis the flow equalizing plate.

The flow guide plateis fixed in the flow guide frameand includes the first slat, a second slat, the third slat, and a fourth slat. The first slatextends in a horizontal direction as shown in, and left and right ends of the first slatare respectively spaced apart from the first side edgeand the second side edgeby a predetermined distance. The second slatis parallel to the first slatand is located above the first slatin the height direction, and left and right ends of the second slatare respectively spaced apart from the first side edgeand the second side edgeby a predetermined distance. Upper and lower ends of the third slatare respectively connected to the end of the second slatclose to the second side edge(right end of the second slatin the drawing) and the end of the first slatclose to the second side edge(right end of the first slatin the drawing). A lower end of the fourth slatis connected to the end of the second slatclose to the first side edge(that is, a left end of the second slat), and an upper end of the fourth slatis connected to the top edge.

In this way, the first slat, the second slat, a part of the first side edge, the third slat, the fourth slat, and a part of the top edgeare enclosed together to form the first flow guide space. The second slat, the fourth slat, a part of the top edge, and the second side edgeare enclosed together to form the second flow guide space.

As shown in, when viewed from the front, the inlet flow passage, the first slat, the first outlet flow passage, the second slat, and the second outlet flow passageare arranged in sequence from bottom to top in the height direction.

The left end of the second slatin some embodiments is fixedly connected to the top edgevia the fourth slat, so that those skilled in the art can adjust a fixed position of the left end of the second slataccording to actual needs, thereby improving setting flexibility of the flow guide frame.

As shown in, one or more embodiments of this application provides a fluid distributor, where the first outlet flow passageis set above the second outlet flow passagein the height direction, the inlet flow passageis disposed between the first outlet flow passageand the second outlet flow passage, and the flow equalizing plateis disposed between the inlet flow passageand the second outlet flow passage.

The flow guide framehas a frame body, the flow equalizing plate, and the flow guide platefixed in the frame body.

Specifically, the frame body includes the first side edgeand the second side edgeopposite to each other, and the top edgeand the bottom edgeconnecting the first side edgeand the second side edge.

The flow guide plateincludes a fifth slatdisposed between the inlet flow passageand the first outlet flow passagein the height direction, a right end of the fifth slatis fixed to the second side edge, a left end of the fifth slatis spaced apart from the first side edgeby a predetermined distance. The fifth slatis in a shape that maintains a fixed distance with the flow equalizing platein the height direction, that is, a V-shape similar to the shape of the flow equalizing platein some embodiments. In some embodiments, the fifth slatmay also be a circular arc shape or an elliptical arc shape similar to the flow equalizing plate.

One end of the flow equalizing plateclose to the second side edge(right end in the drawing) is set at a predetermined distance from the second side edge, and one end of the flow equalizing plateclose to the first side edge(left end in the drawing) is fixed to the first side edge, or vertically extends in the height direction to be fixed to the top edgeand is spaced apart from the left end of the fifth slatby a predetermined distance.only shows a schematic diagram in which the end of the first side edgeclose to the flow equalizing plateextends in the height direction to be fixed to the top edge, and a schematic diagram (not shown) in which the end of the flow equalizing plateclose to the first side edgedirectly fixed to the first side edgeis similar to the schematic diagram shown in, and a description thereof is omitted. In addition, the extension in the height direction can be a vertical extension consistent with the height direction (perpendicular to the second slat) or a bent extension at a certain angle with respect to the height direction.

In some embodiments, when an end of the flow equalizing plateclose to the first side edgeis fixed to the top edge, after the refrigerant enters the flow equalizing plate bottom portionfrom the inlet flow passage, the refrigerant flows along the flow equalizing plate extension portionsto a gap between the other end of the fifth slatand the end of the flow equalizing plateclose to the first side edge, and to a gap between an end of the flow equalizing plateclose to the second side edgeand the second side edge(that is, the fluid is uniformly distributed to the two sides after entering the flow equalizing plate bottom portion), and a part of the distributed fluid flows upward into the first flow guide spaceand flows out from the first outlet flow passage, and the other part of the fluid flows downward into the second flow guide spaceand flows out from the second outlet flow passage. After the fluid flows in through the inlet flow passage, a distribution stage overcomes an influence of the gravity on the fluid flow velocity and the nonuniform flow distribution, which is conducive to improving the uniformity of the refrigerant distribution.

Similarly, when the end of the flow equalizing plateclose to the first side edgeis directly fixed to the first side edge, after the refrigerant enters the flow equalizing plate bottom portionfrom the inlet flow passage, the refrigerant flows along the flow equalizing plate extension portionsto a gap between the other end of the fifth slatand the first side edge, and to a gap between the end of the flow equalizing plateclose to the second side edgeand the second side edge(that is, the fluid is uniformly distributed to the two sides after entering the flow equalizing plate bottom portion). A fluid flowing process after the distribution is the same as above and a description thereof is not repeated here.

In addition, when the inlet flow passageis disposed between the first outlet flow passageand the second outlet flow passage, it is sufficient to add the fifth slatto achieve the uniform distribution of the fluid, so that the structure of the flow guide frameis simplified, which is conducive to cost saving. The fifth slatis a V-shape similar to the flow equalizing plate, and the refrigerant tends to descend first and then rise on a flow path of the fifth slat, which is conducive to balancing the flow velocity of the fluid in the first flow guide space, so that the flow velocities of the fluids discharged from the first flow guide spaceand the second flow guide spaceare substantially the same, and the uniformity of the refrigerant distribution is ensured.

In some embodiments, the first plate-shaped member, the second plate-shaped member, and the flow guide frameare formed into rectangular frames having the same shapes and sizes. Each of the rectangular frames has a regular shape, can be obtained by a simple processing, and is conducive to achieving uniform distribution of the refrigerant.

In some embodiments, a length of the fifth slat, a distance in the height direction between the fifth slatand the inlet flow passage, a distance in the height direction between the fifth slatand the flow equalizing plate, a width of the above gap, and the like are not specifically limited, and those skilled in the art can perform adjustment according to actual needs.

As shown in, one or more embodiments of this application provides a fluid distributor including the first plate-shaped member, the second plate-shaped member, and the flow guide framedescribed in the above embodiments, and has the inlet flow passagewhich is close to a top portion of the first plate-shaped member.

Specifically, the flow guide frameincludes the flow equalizing plate, the first side edgeand the second side edgeopposite to each other, the top edgeand the bottom edgeconnecting the first side edgeand the second side edge, and the flow guide plate. The two ends of the flow equalizing plateare respectively spaced apart from the first side edgeand the second side edgeby a predetermined distance. The flow guide plateis fixed in the flow guide frame. The flow guide plateincludes a sixth slatand a seventh slat. The sixth slatis located below the flow equalizing platein the height direction, and a left end (left end in the drawing) of the sixth slatis fixed to the first side edge, and a right end (right end in the drawing) of the sixth slatis spaced apart from the second side edgeby a predetermined distance. A lower end of the seventh slatis connected to the right end of the sixth slat, and an upper end of the seventh slatis connected to the end (right end in the drawing) of the flow equalizing plateclose to the second side edge. As shown in, when viewed from the front, the inlet flow passage, the flow equalizing plate, the first outlet flow passage, the sixth slat, and the second outlet flow passageare arranged in sequence from top to bottom in the height direction.

According to the above, when the inlet flow passageis disposed above the first outlet flow passageand the second outlet flow passage, it is sufficient to add the sixth slatand the seventh slatto achieve the uniform distribution of the fluid, so that the structure of the flow guide frameis simplified, which is conducive to cost saving.

In some embodiments, lengths of the sixth slatand the seventh slat, a distance in the height direction between the flow equalizing plateand the inlet flow passage, a distance in the height direction between the flow equalizing plateand the first outlet flow passage, a distance in the height direction between the sixth slatand the flow equalizing plate, the distance between the seventh slatand the second side edge, and the like are not limited, and those skilled in the art can perform adjustment according to actual needs. In addition, some embodiments of this application do not limit shapes of the sixth slatand the seventh slat, and the shapes may be linear or curved shapes.

As shown in, this application further provides an inserted fin type microchannel heat exchanger including a heat exchange tube group, a plurality of fins, a first refrigerant distributor, and fluid distributors. The heat exchange tube grouphas a plurality of refrigerant flow passagesA spaced apart in the height direction (arrows adjacent to each other inA inindicate flow directions of the refrigerant in corresponding heat exchange tubes). The plurality of finsare inserted and arranged correspondingly to the heat exchange tube group. The first refrigerant distributoris a manifold and communicates with refrigerant outletsof the plurality of refrigerant flow passagesA. Each of the fluid distributorsis the fluid distributor according to any one of the one or more embodiments, and the first outlet flow passageand the second outlet flow passageof the fluid distributorrespectively communicate with refrigerant inletsof the two adjacent refrigerant flow passagesA in the height direction.

In some embodiments, by using the fluid distributor according to any of the one or more embodiments, the fluid (refrigerant) can be uniformly distributed before entering the heat exchange tube group, so that the nonuniform distribution of the fluid in the heat exchange tube groupcan be prevented from affecting performance of the heat exchanger. In addition, when the heat exchange tube groupis installed with deviation, the heat exchanger including the above fluid distributorcan still maintain excellent heat exchange performance, and improve a fault tolerance of the inserted fin type microchannel heat exchanger.

It should be noted that although the present embodiment shows a case where the refrigerant inletsof any two adjacent refrigerant flow passagesA are provided with the fluid distributor, this application is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art can adjust the number and distribution of the fluid distributorsaccording to actual needs.