CN113237250A

CN113237250A - Miniature heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: CN113237250A
Application number: CN202110552070.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杨宇飞
Original assignee: Microchill Technologies Co ltd
Current assignee: Microchill Technologies Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-05-20
Filing date: 2021-05-20
Publication date: 2021-08-10

Abstract

The invention provides a micro heat exchanger assembly which comprises a micro-channel heat exchanger, a valve core and a screw cap. The microchannel heat exchanger has a microchannel core, a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port, and a fifth port, the microchannel core, the first to fifth ports being a single homogeneous entity formed by a 3D printing method. The microchannel core body is internally provided with a plurality of first fluid microchannels and second fluid microchannels which are parallel and arranged at intervals, the first fluid microchannels are communicated with the first port, the second port and the fifth port, and the second fluid microchannels are communicated with the third port and the fourth port. The fifth port is provided with external threads and internal threads, the valve core is provided with external threads, the valve core is screwed into the fifth port, and the microchannel heat exchanger can be filled with refrigerant through the fifth port. The micro heat exchanger assembly can be used as an evaporator or a condenser in a micro refrigeration system, and can also be used as a liquid-liquid heat exchanger.

Description

Miniature heat exchanger

Technical Field

The invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular to a micro-channel heat exchanger which is suitable for heat exchange between liquid and two-phase flow and between liquid and liquid.

Background

In recent years, there have been increasing numbers of micro-refrigeration apparatuses using a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. These micro-refrigeration devices include: portable refrigeration devices, wearable refrigeration devices, embedded refrigeration devices, and the like. Like a conventional vapor compression refrigeration apparatus, a micro vapor compression refrigeration apparatus also includes four refrigeration elements, such as a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a throttling element. However, unlike conventional refrigeration devices, micro-refrigeration devices require that the volume of the four large refrigeration components be as small as possible in order to meet the operational requirements of portability. Therefore, the compressor of the micro refrigeration device usually adopts a micro refrigeration compressor with high rotating speed, and the gas transmission quantity is increased by increasing the rotating speed, so that the volume of the compressor is reduced on the premise of ensuring the refrigerating quantity. Correspondingly, the condenser and the evaporator in the micro refrigerating device need to adopt a micro-channel structure, and the sizes of the condenser and the evaporator can be reduced under the condition of ensuring the heat exchange quantity by utilizing the characteristic that a micro-channel heat exchanger has higher heat exchange coefficient.

Through the two modes, although the volumes of the three main refrigeration parts of the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator are effectively reduced, the total volume of the whole micro refrigeration system cannot be reduced by a certain degree. This is because, in the conventional refrigerating apparatus, the volumes of auxiliary components such as valves, piping, etc. are negligible compared with the volumes of the refrigerating components such as a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, etc.; however, in the micro-refrigeration device, because of the limitation of the processing precision and the manufacturing process, the volume of the auxiliary components such as the valve and the like cannot be infinitely reduced, and the bending radius of the pipeline cannot be infinitely reduced, when the volume of the main refrigeration component is reduced to a certain degree, the volume of the auxiliary components such as the valve, the pipeline and the like can reach a degree comparable to the volume of the main refrigeration component such as the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator and the like. Therefore, in order to miniaturize the refrigeration apparatus, it is not sufficient to reduce the volume of only the main refrigeration components, and it is necessary to reduce the volume of the auxiliary components such as valves and pipes. In particular, in the conventional refrigeration device, the refrigerant is usually filled into the refrigeration device by means of the attachments such as the angle valve, the tee joint, the needle valve, etc., and in the micro refrigeration device, if the conventional attachments such as the angle valve, the tee joint, the needle valve, etc. are still adopted and are matched with the corresponding connecting pipeline to realize the refrigerant filling function, the volume of the whole micro refrigeration device is greatly increased, so that the benefits brought by the volume reduction of the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator are offset. In order to further reduce the volume of the micro-refrigerator, changes must be made in other ways than to minimize the volume of the compressor, condenser, and evaporator.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a novel micro heat exchanger assembly aiming at the problem that a refrigerant filling device and related connecting pipelines occupy more extra space in the existing micro refrigerating system and further reducing the volume of the micro refrigerating system.

The micro heat exchanger assembly consists of a micro-channel heat exchanger, a nut and a valve core.

The microchannel heat exchanger has a microchannel core, a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port, and a fifth port. The microchannel core, first port, second port, third port, fourth port, and fifth port are a single homogeneous entity formed by a 3D printing method. And an external thread and an internal thread are arranged on the fifth port, and the specification of the external thread is any one of UNF 3/8-24, UNF 6/17-20 and UNF 1/2-20.

The nut is provided with internal threads and one end of the nut is closed.

The valve core has sealing and one-way circulation functions, is provided with external threads, and is screwed into the fifth port of the micro-channel heat exchanger to be matched with the internal threads of the fifth port.

The nut is screwed on a fifth port of the micro-channel heat exchanger, and the internal thread of the nut is matched with the external thread on the fifth port to close the valve core.

The microchannel core has a plurality of parallel first fluid microchannels and second fluid microchannels arranged at intervals. The first fluid microchannels are interconnected, the second fluid microchannels are interconnected, but any first fluid microchannel and any second fluid microchannel are not interconnected. The first fluid microchannel and the second fluid microchannel have a channel thickness in the range of 0.1 to 1mm and a channel width in the range of 0.1 to 10 mm.

The first port and the second port are hollow tubular, the main body of the fifth port is hollow tubular, and the first port, the second port, the fifth port are communicated with the plurality of first fluid microchannels inside the microchannel core body.

The third port and the fourth port are hollow and tubular, and the third port and the fourth port are communicated with the plurality of second fluid micro-channels in the micro-channel core body.

Further, the end portions of the third port and the fourth port are also configured with a pagoda shape, which is convenient for connection with an external hose, but the pagoda shape of the end portions of the third port and the fourth port is not necessary.

Furthermore, an inner circular table surface is further arranged inside the fifth port, one side with the smaller diameter of the inner circular table surface faces the inside of the micro-channel heat exchanger, one side with the larger diameter of the inner circular table surface faces the outside of the micro-channel heat exchanger, and the internal thread of the fifth port is located on one side with the larger diameter of the inner circular table surface.

Furthermore, an outer circular table surface is further arranged on the valve core, one side with the smaller diameter of the outer circular table surface faces the inside of the micro-channel heat exchanger, one side with the larger diameter of the outer circular table surface faces the outside of the micro-channel heat exchanger, and the external threads on the valve core are located on one side with the larger diameter of the outer circular table surface. A rubber ring in the shape of a lampshade is sleeved outside the outer circular table-board. The valve core has a one-way conduction function, and the conduction direction is from the end with the larger diameter of the outer circle table surface to the end with the smaller diameter.

When the valve core is screwed into the fifth port of the micro-channel heat exchanger, the external thread on the valve core is matched with the internal thread of the fifth port, the outer circular table surface on the valve core is matched with the inner circular table surface of the fifth port, and a gap between the outer circular table surface on the valve core and the inner circular table surface of the fifth port is filled by a rubber ring, so that the sealing between the valve core and the inner wall of the fifth port is realized.

When the valve core is screwed into the fifth port of the micro-channel heat exchanger and the nut does not cover the fifth port, refrigerant can be charged into the micro-channel heat exchanger through the valve core. Due to the fact that the valve core has the one-way conduction capacity, when the external pressure of the microchannel heat exchanger is higher than the internal pressure, refrigerant can enter the interior of the microchannel heat exchanger through the valve core; on the contrary, when the internal pressure of the microchannel heat exchanger is higher than the external pressure, the refrigerant in the microchannel heat exchanger cannot leak out of the heat exchanger due to the sealing action of the outer circular table surface of the valve core and the rubber ring.

When the micro heat exchanger assembly is used for heat exchange between a refrigerant and water, the micro heat exchanger assembly can be used as an evaporator or a condenser. Regardless of whether the micro heat exchanger assembly is used as an evaporator or a condenser, after the micro heat exchanger assembly is connected to a micro refrigeration system and the system is closed, the refrigerant can be supplemented to the refrigeration system through the fifth port of the micro channel heat exchanger, rather than charging the system with refrigerant through a valve or other accessory provided on a pipeline as in a conventional refrigeration system.

The micro heat exchanger assembly may also be used for liquid to liquid heat exchange, in which case the fifth port on the microchannel heat exchanger may be used as a fill port or a drain port for cold or hot liquid.

The invention has no limitation on the relative position of each port on the microchannel heat exchanger, and the first port, the second port, the third port, the fourth port and the fifth port can be arranged on any side of the microchannel core as required without changing the implementation effect of the invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first port and the second port are located on one side of the microchannel core, and the third port, the fourth port and the fifth port are located on the other side of the microchannel core. According to another embodiment of the invention, the first, second, third and fourth ports are located on one side of the microchannel core and the fifth port is located on the other side of the microchannel core.

The micro heat exchanger assembly realizes two functions of heat exchange and refrigerant filling in the same assembly at the same time, does not need to additionally arrange a valve, an accessory and a corresponding connecting pipeline for filling the refrigerant, has the characteristics of small volume, compact structure and high heat exchange efficiency, can greatly save the space occupied by the system when being used in a micro refrigerating system, can reduce the number of welding spots and potential leakage points in the system, and is beneficial to improving the reliability of the refrigerating system. The vapor compression type refrigerating system can be used for various miniature vapor compression type refrigerating systems, such as a portable refrigerating system, an embedded refrigerating system, a wearable refrigerating system and the like.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a micro heat exchanger assembly 100 according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the micro heat exchanger assembly 100 according to the present invention, which includes three parts, i.e., a micro channel heat exchanger 1, a nut 2 and a valve core 3.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the microchannel heat exchanger 1.

Fig. 4 is a cut-away view of the microchannel heat exchanger 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a fifth joint 1f of the microchannel heat exchanger 1.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the spool 3.

Fig. 7 is an external perspective view of another embodiment of the micro heat exchanger assembly 100.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent, embodiments of the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a micro heat exchanger assembly 100, which is composed of three parts, i.e., a micro channel heat exchanger 1, a nut 2, and a valve core 3.

As can be seen from fig. 3, the microchannel heat exchanger 1 has a microchannel core 1a, a first port 1b, a second port 1c, a third port 1d, a fourth port 1e, and a fifth port 1 f. The microchannel core 1a, the first port 1b, the second port 1c, the third port 1D, the fourth port 1e, and the fifth port 1f are a single homogeneous entity formed by a 3D printing method. The solid material is usually titanium alloy, 304 stainless steel or 316 stainless steel.

The nut 2 is a nut with threads inside and one closed end. The valve core 3 has sealing and one-way circulation functions, and the valve core 3 is installed inside the fifth port 1f of the micro-channel heat exchanger 1. The nut 2 is screwed on the fifth port 1f to cover the valve core 3 installed in the fifth port 1f, so that the valve core 3 is not exposed.

As can be seen from fig. 4, the microchannel core 1a has a plurality of parallel first fluid microchannels 1m and second fluid microchannels 1n arranged at intervals inside. The plurality of first fluid microchannels 1m are interconnected, the plurality of second fluid microchannels 1n are also interconnected, but any one first fluid microchannel 1m and any one second fluid microchannel 1n are not interconnected. The first fluid microchannel 1m and the second fluid microchannel 1n have a channel thickness in the range of 0.1 to 1mm and a channel width in the range of 0.1 to 10 mm.

The first port 1b and the second port 1c are hollow tubular, the body of the fifth port 1f is hollow tubular, and the first port 1b, the second port 1c, the fifth port 1f are communicated with the plurality of first fluid microchannels 1m in the microchannel core 1 a.

The third port 1d and the fourth port 1e are hollow and tubular, and the third port 1d and the fourth port 1e are communicated with the plurality of second fluid microchannels 1n in the microchannel core 1 a.

The end portions of the third port 1d and the fourth port 1e are also provided with a pagoda shape for the convenience of connection with an external hose, but the pagoda shape of the end portions of the third port 1d and the fourth port 1e is not essential.

As shown in FIG. 5, the fifth port 1f has an outer cylindrical surface 1f-1, an inner cylindrical surface 1f-2 with a larger diameter, an inner cylindrical surface 1f-3 with a smaller diameter, and an inner cylindrical surface 1f-4 connecting the inner cylindrical surface 1f-2 and the inner cylindrical surface 1f-3, wherein the inner cylindrical surface 1f-2 with the larger diameter faces the outside of the microchannel heat exchanger 1, the inner cylindrical surface 1f-3 with the smaller diameter faces the inside of the microchannel heat exchanger 1, the outer cylindrical surface 1f-1 has an external thread 1f-5, the inner cylindrical surface 1f-2 with the larger diameter has an internal thread 1f-6, and the internal thread 1f-6 is located at the end of the inner cylindrical surface 1f-2 facing the outside of the microchannel heat exchanger 1. The external thread is any one of UNF 3/8-24, UNF 6/17-20 and UNF 1/2-20, and the preferable specification is UNF 6/17-20.

As shown in fig. 6, the valve core 3 has an external thread 3a, an outer circular table surface 3b and a rubber ring 3c, the external thread 3a is located at one end of the valve core 3 with a larger diameter, the outer circular table surface 3b is located at a transition section of the end of the valve core 3 with a larger diameter and the end of the valve core 3 with a smaller diameter, and the rubber ring 3c in the shape of a lampshade is sleeved outside the outer circular table surface 3 b. The valve core 3 has a one-way conduction function, and the conduction direction is from one end with a larger diameter to one end with a smaller diameter.

As can be seen from fig. 2, 5 and 6, when the valve core 3 is screwed into the fifth port 1f of the microchannel heat exchanger 1, the external thread 3a on the valve core 3 and the internal thread 1f-6 of the fifth port 1f are matched with each other, the external circular table surface 3b on the valve core 3 and the internal circular table surface 1f-4 of the fifth port 1f are matched with each other, and the gap between the external circular table surface 3b on the valve core 3 and the internal circular table surface 1f-4 of the fifth port 1f is filled with the rubber ring 3c on the valve core 3, so as to block the internal channel of the fifth port 1f, and achieve the sealing between the valve core 3 and the inner wall of the fifth port 1 f.

When the valve core 3 is screwed into the fifth port 1f of the microchannel heat exchanger 1 and the nut 2 does not cover the fifth port 1f, refrigerant can be charged into the microchannel heat exchanger 1 through the valve core 3. Since the valve core 3 has a one-way conduction function, when the external pressure of the microchannel heat exchanger 1 is higher than the internal pressure, the refrigerant can enter the interior of the microchannel heat exchanger 1 through the valve core 3; on the contrary, when the internal pressure of the microchannel heat exchanger 1 is higher than the external pressure, the refrigerant inside the microchannel heat exchanger 1 cannot leak out of the microchannel heat exchanger due to the sealing action of the outer circular table surface 3b and the rubber ring 3c of the valve core 3.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, when the micro heat exchanger assembly 100 is used for heat exchange between refrigerant and water and is used as an evaporator, the flow path of the refrigerant is: first port 1b → a plurality of parallel first fluidic microchannels 1m → second ports 1c inside the microchannel core 1 a; the flow path of water is: third port 1d → a plurality of parallel second fluidic microchannels 1n → fourth ports 1e inside the microchannel core 1 a. After flowing into the microchannel core 1a from the first port 1b, the liquid refrigerant is evaporated inside the plurality of parallel first fluid microchannels 1m, absorbs the heat of water in the second fluid microchannels 1n arranged at intervals with the first fluid microchannels 1m, reduces the temperature of the water, achieves the effect of refrigeration, and the evaporated refrigerant turns into a gas state and flows out of the microchannel heat exchanger 1 from the second port 1 c.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, when the micro heat exchanger assembly 100 is used for heat exchange between refrigerant and water and used as a condenser, the flow path of the refrigerant is: second port 1c → a plurality of parallel first fluid microchannels 1m → first ports 1b inside the microchannel core 1 a; the flow path of water is: fourth port 1e → a plurality of second parallel fluidic microchannels 1n → third ports 1d inside the microchannel core 1 a. After flowing into the microchannel core 1a from the second port 1c, the liquid refrigerant condenses inside the plurality of parallel first fluid microchannels 1m, releases heat, the released heat is transferred to water in the second fluid microchannels 1n arranged at intervals to the first fluid microchannels 1m, the warmed water flows out of the microchannel heat exchanger 1 from the third port 1d, and the condensed refrigerant becomes liquid and flows out of the microchannel heat exchanger 1 from the first port 1 b.

Regardless of whether the micro heat exchanger assembly 100 is used as an evaporator or a condenser, when the micro heat exchanger assembly 100 is connected to a micro refrigeration system and the system is closed, the refrigeration system can be supplemented with refrigerant through the fifth port 1 f.

The micro heat exchanger assembly 100 may also be used for liquid and liquid heat exchange. When the hot liquid flow path is the second port 1c → the plurality of parallel first fluid microchannels 1m inside the microchannel core 1a → the first port 1b, the cold liquid flow path is the fourth port 1e → the plurality of parallel second fluid microchannels 1n inside the microchannel core 1a → the third port 1d, then the fifth port 1f can be used as a hot liquid filling or discharging port. Conversely, when the flow path of the hot liquid is the third port 1d → the plurality of second parallel fluid microchannels 1n → the fourth port 1e inside the microchannel core 1a, the flow path of the cold liquid is the first port 1b → the plurality of first parallel fluid microchannels 1m → the second port 1c inside the microchannel core 1a, and the fifth port 1f can be used as a filling or discharge port of the cold liquid.

In the above embodiment, the first port 1b and the second port 1c are located on one side of the microchannel core 1a, and the third port 1d, the fourth port 1e, and the fifth port 1f are located on the other side of the microchannel core 1a, but the present invention is not limited to the relative positions of the ports. The first port 1b, the second port 1c, the third port 1d, the fourth port 1e, and the fifth port 1f may be provided on any side of the microchannel core 1a as needed without changing the effect of the present invention. For example, as shown in fig. 7, according to another embodiment of the present invention, a first port 1b, a second port 1c, a third port 1d, and a fourth port 1e are located on one side of the microchannel core 1a, and a fifth port 1f is located on the other side of the microchannel core 1 a.

As a preferred embodiment of the technical solution of the present invention, the microchannel core 1a is a rectangular parallelepiped, but the present invention is not limited to the shape of the microchannel core 1a, and the shape of the microchannel core 1a may also be a cylinder, a prism, a truncated cone, or other suitable shapes.

It can be seen from the above embodiments that, because the device for filling the refrigerator is integrated into the microchannel heat exchanger, there is no need to additionally provide a valve accessory and a corresponding pipeline for filling the refrigerant in the refrigeration system, so that the volume and weight occupied by the accessory and the pipeline are reduced, and the construction of a smaller and lighter miniature refrigeration system becomes possible. Because the microchannel heat exchanger is integrally formed in a 3D printing mode, and the refrigerant filling accessory is integrated on the microchannel heat exchanger, the number of point positions needing to be welded in the manufacturing process of the refrigerating system is reduced, the number of potential leakage points is reduced, and the reliability of the refrigerating system is improved.

Reference to "communicating" in the above context is to a location in the material having cavities that are connected together to allow fluid to flow therethrough.

In this document, the directional terms inner, outer, middle, end, side and the like are used for the sake of clarity and convenience only for the technical solutions when referring to the parts in the drawings and the positions of the parts relative to each other. It is to be understood that the use of the directional terms should not be taken to limit the scope of the claims.

The above description is only exemplary of the invention and should not be taken as limiting the invention, as any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the invention should be included in the protection scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A micro heat exchanger assembly that provides both heat exchange and refrigerant charge functions in a single assembly, characterized by: the micro heat exchanger component consists of a micro-channel heat exchanger, a screw cap and a valve core; the microchannel heat exchanger is provided with a microchannel core, a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port and a fifth port, wherein the microchannel core, the first port, the second port, the third port, the fourth port and the fifth port are single homogeneous entities formed by a 3D printing method, and external threads and internal threads are arranged on the fifth port; the nut is provided with internal threads and one end of the nut is closed; the valve core has sealing and one-way circulation functions, is provided with external threads, and is screwed into the fifth port of the micro-channel heat exchanger to be matched with the internal threads of the fifth port; the nut is screwed on a fifth port of the micro-channel heat exchanger, and the internal thread of the nut is matched with the external thread on the fifth port to shield the valve core.

2. The micro heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein: the microchannel core is internally provided with a plurality of parallel first fluid microchannels and second fluid microchannels which are arranged at intervals; the first fluid microchannels are interconnected, the second fluid microchannels are interconnected, but any one of the first fluid microchannels and any one of the second fluid microchannels are not interconnected.

3. The micro heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first port and the second port of the microchannel heat exchanger are hollow tubular, the main body of the fifth port is hollow tubular, and the first port, the second port, the fifth port are communicated with the plurality of first fluid microchannels inside the microchannel core; the third port and the fourth port are hollow and tubular, and the third port and the fourth port are communicated with a plurality of second fluid microchannels inside the microchannel core; an inner circular table surface is arranged in the fifth port, the side with the smaller diameter of the inner circular table surface faces the inside of the micro-channel heat exchanger, the side with the larger diameter of the inner circular table surface faces the outside of the micro-channel heat exchanger, and the internal thread of the fifth port is positioned on the side with the larger diameter of the inner circular table surface.

4. The micro heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein: the valve core is provided with an outer circular table surface, one side with the smaller diameter of the outer circular table surface faces the inside of the micro-channel heat exchanger, one side with the larger diameter of the outer circular table surface faces the outside of the micro-channel heat exchanger, and the external thread on the valve core is positioned on one side with the larger diameter of the outer circular table surface; a rubber ring in the shape of a lampshade is sleeved outside the outer circular table-board; the valve core has a one-way conduction function, and the conduction direction is from the end with the larger diameter of the outer circle table surface to the end with the smaller diameter.

5. The micro heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein: when the valve core is screwed into the fifth port of the micro-channel heat exchanger, the external thread on the valve core is matched with the internal thread of the fifth port, the outer circular table surface on the valve core is matched with the inner circular table surface of the fifth port, and a gap between the outer circular table surface on the valve core and the inner circular table surface of the fifth port is filled by a rubber ring, so that the sealing between the valve core and the inner wall of the fifth port is realized.

6. The micro heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first port and the second port are positioned on one side of the microchannel core, and the third port, the fourth port and the fifth port are positioned on the other side of the microchannel core; or alternatively, the first port, the second port, the third port, and the fourth port are located on one side of the microchannel core, and the fifth port is located on the other side of the microchannel core.

7. The micro heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein: the external thread on the fifth port of the micro-channel heat exchanger is any one of UNF 3/8-24, UNF 6/17-20 and UNF 1/2-20 in specification.

8. The micro heat exchanger assembly of claim 2, wherein: the first fluid microchannel and the second fluid microchannel in the microchannel core have a channel thickness ranging from 0.1 mm to 1mm and a channel width ranging from 0.1 mm to 10 mm.

9. The micro heat exchanger assembly of claim 3, wherein: optionally, the ends of the third and fourth ports are also configured with a pagoda shape to facilitate connection with a hose.