GB2550979A - Capillary tube heat exchanger - Google Patents

Capillary tube heat exchanger Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2550979A
GB2550979A GB1612511.4A GB201612511A GB2550979A GB 2550979 A GB2550979 A GB 2550979A GB 201612511 A GB201612511 A GB 201612511A GB 2550979 A GB2550979 A GB 2550979A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
tube
capillary tube
heat exchanger
capillary
groove
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1612511.4A
Other versions
GB201612511D0 (en
Inventor
Baliram Chechare Rakesh
D Pachpund Santosh
Arun Saigaonkar Girish
Ramaswamy Swaminathan
Kolar Mario
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Eaton Industrial IP GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Eaton Industrial IP GmbH and Co KG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Eaton Industrial IP GmbH and Co KG filed Critical Eaton Industrial IP GmbH and Co KG
Publication of GB201612511D0 publication Critical patent/GB201612511D0/en
Publication of GB2550979A publication Critical patent/GB2550979A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D7/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being helically coiled
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D7/0008—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one medium being in heat conductive contact with the conduits for the other medium
    • F28D7/0016—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one medium being in heat conductive contact with the conduits for the other medium the conduits for one medium or the conduits for both media being bent
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B41/00—Fluid-circulation arrangements
    • F25B41/30—Expansion means; Dispositions thereof
    • F25B41/37—Capillary tubes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D7/0008—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one medium being in heat conductive contact with the conduits for the other medium
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
    • F28F1/02—Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular
    • F28F1/06—Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular crimped or corrugated in cross-section
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2341/00—Details of ejectors not being used as compression device; Details of flow restrictors or expansion valves
    • F25B2341/06—Details of flow restrictors or expansion valves
    • F25B2341/062—Capillary expansion valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/05—Compression system with heat exchange between particular parts of the system
    • F25B2400/052—Compression system with heat exchange between particular parts of the system between the capillary tube and another part of the refrigeration cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/05—Compression system with heat exchange between particular parts of the system
    • F25B2400/054—Compression system with heat exchange between particular parts of the system between the suction tube of the compressor and another part of the cycle

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)

Abstract

A capillary tube heat exchanger comprises a main tube 2 which has a three dimensional helical shaped groove 3 arranged in a tube wall of the main tube 2. A capillary tube 4 lies in the helical groove 3, so that at least part of the outer surface of the capillary tube 4 is in direct and heat exchanging contact with at least part of the wall of the main tube 2. The central axis of the helical groove 3 and the longitudinal axis of the main tube 2 may be coaxial. The helical groove 3 may be semi-circular with a radius R1 which may be equal to the radius R2 of the capillary tube 4. There may be two capillary tubes (12, 13, Fig. 4) arranged in two helical grooves (15, 16, Fig. 4). The main tube 2 may have a tube wall of uniform thickness (d, Fig. 4), with the groove 3 created by forming.

Description

Capillary tube heat exchanger
The invention relates to a capillary tube heat exchanger, in particular to a non-adiabatic capillary tube heat exchanger.
Such a capillary tube heat exchanger is typically used in domestic refrigerators. In such refrigerators, the load remains virtually constant, such that expansion and heat exchange can take place simultaneously in a cooling cycle.
For example US 4147037 discloses a refrigeration cooling system in which heat exchange is provided between the relatively cool refrigerant vapor conveyed from the evaporator outlet through the suction line to the compressor and the relatively warm liquid refrigerant conveyed from the condenser outlet through the capillary tube to the evaporator inlet. This is provided according to this publication by having the capillary tube running through the suction line.
It is also known in the art to position the capillary tube parallel to the suction line and to solder the capillary tube to the suction line to provide heat exchanging contact between the capillary tube and the suction line. US 2005 189094 for example discloses a heat exchanger in which a number of small capillary tubes are wound around a main tube. The contact surface between the capillary tubes and the main tube is however small, as the capillary tubes are wound around a cylindrical outer surface of the main tube. Although soldering of the capillary tubes to the main tube, as is known in the prior art, does increase the heat exchange, the heat exchange is still limited Furthermore, soldering provides an additional manufacturing step, which increases the costs.
Alternate solutions are known from the prior art, which do not require soldering. One method is to enclose the capillary tube, which is wound around the outer surface of the main tube with a heat shrunk sleeve. The heat shrunk sleeve helps to retain the position of capillary tube preferably at a constant radius with reference to the longitudinal axis of main tube along the required length. This also helps to minimize noise and vibrations generated by the structure, which would otherwise have been observed in the absence of continuous contact between the capillary tube and main tube.
When such capillary tube heat exchangers are used in domestic refrigeration cooling system, the length of the main tube is limited due to the available space. As a result noise issues occur as refrigerant vapor exits the capillary tubes and enters the evaporator. When the performance of the existing capillary tube heat exchangers would be increased the refrigerant could be cooled back to a liquid, such that refrigerant vapor would no longer enter the evaporator.
It is accordingly an object to provide a capillary tube heat exchanger in which the efficiency is improved
This object is achieved according to the invention with a capillary tube heat exchanger comprising: - a main tube having a tube wall and at least one three dimensional helical shaped groove arranged in the tube wall; and - at least one capillary tube arranged in the at least one three dimensional helical shaped groove, wherein in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main tube at least part of the outer surface of the at least one capillary tube is in direct and heat exchanging contact with at least part of the groove wall
By providing a three dimensional helical shaped groove in the main tube wall, the contact between the capillary tube arranged in the groove and the main tube is increased as a larger part of the capillary tube wall is in heat exchanging contact with the main tube wall As a result, the efficiency of the capillary tube heat exchanger according to the invention is increased even without having to solder the capillary tube to the main tube.
Preferably the central axis of the at least one three dimensional helical shaped groove is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the main tube.
The central axis of the three dimensional helical shaped groove is the virtual center line (spline) along which the groove cross section is swept at with a fixed radius from said center line of main tube.
In a preferred embodiment of the capillary tube heat exchanger according to the invention the main tube has in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis a circular circumference.
By providing the main tube with a circular circumference, the capillary tube arranged in the three dimensional helical shaped groove will be preferably at a constant distance to the longitudinal axis of the main tube along the length of capillary tube.
In another preferred embodiment of the capillary tube heat exchanger according to the invention in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main tube, the groove is semi-circular (profiled) shaped
Capillary tubes typically have a circular cross-section such that the shape of the capillary tube corresponds to the shape of the groove in cross-section, such that a good contact between the capillary tube surface and the groove wall can be obtained
Preferably the radius of the semi-circular groove shape is equal to the radius of the capillary tube arranged in the groove.
Besides a good contact between the capillary tube surface and the groove wall, the equal radius also ensures that the capillary tube is securely held in the groove and the heat exchanging contact is maintained without the need of additional attachments such as soldering.
In a further embodiment of the capillary heat exchanger according to the invention the at least one three dimensional shaped groove is a helical groove. The helical groove runs at a constant angle around the main tube, such that the resulting capillary heat exchanger will have a constant configuration along the length of the main tube, such that heat exchanging properties along the length of the capillary heat exchanger will also be constant.
The three dimensional helical groove on the main tube allows for the capillary tube to be wrapped at least partially in the semi-circular cross section of the groove. This helps to minimize the incidence of loss of contact of the capillary tube with the main tube. This also reduces the structural noise and vibration which otherwise would have been induced by the absence of continuous contact. No heat shrunk sleeve would be needed for noise reduction, as is known from the prior art.
In a preferred embodiment of the capillary tube heat exchanger according to the invention the main tube has at least two three dimensional helical shaped grooves and at least two capillary tubes each one arranged in one of the at least two grooves.
Having two or more capillary tubes running around the main tube increases the heat exchanging capacity of the capillary tube heat exchanger, because heat can be exchanged on more positions along the circumference, when viewed in cross-section.
In yet another embodiment of the capillary tube heat exchanger according to the invention the tube wall of the main tube has a substantial uniform thickness and the at least one three dimensional helical shaped groove is arranged in the tube wall by forming.
Preferably the adiabatic entry length and adiabatic exit length portion of the capillary tube shall be non-metallic and easily workable. These non-metallic portions are arranged on either ends of the capillary tube, which is in contact with the main tube within the heat exchanger. This arrangement gives the advantage of good workability of the capillary tube while routing it in the defined space on for example a refrigerator without any flow constriction. By virtue of being non-metallic at certain portions, the capillary heat exchanger shall overcome the risks of corrosion which otherwise would be of high probability of occurrence when the capillary tube is of full metallic construction.
These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the capillary tube heat exchanger according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the embodiment of figure 1. tube wall by forming
Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the capillary tube heat exchanger according to the invention.
Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the embodiment of figure 3.
Figure 1 shows a first embodiment 1 of a capillary tube heat exchanger according to the invention. This embodiment 1 has a main tube 2, which has a three dimensional helical shaped groove 3 arranged in the wall of the main tube 2. A capillary tube 4 is arranged in the groove 3.
Figure 2 shows a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main tube 2. The groove 3 has a semi-circular part with a radius Ri, while the capillary tube 4 has a radius R2. Preferably the radius Ri is equal to the radius R2, such that a part of the surface of the capillary tube 4 is in direct and thus heat exchanging contact with the wall of the groove 3.
The main tube 2 has in this embodiment a circular circumference with a radius R3.
Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a capillary tube heat exchanger 10 with a main tube 11 having two helix shaped grooves in which two capillary tubes 12, 13 are arranged
As figure 4 shows, the wall 14 of the main tube 11 has a uniform thickness d and the grooves 15,16 are provided by forming the wall 14 for accommodating the two capillary tubes 12,13.

Claims (8)

Claims
1. Capillary tube heat exchanger comprising: - a main tube having a tube wall and at least one three dimensional helical shaped groove arranged in the tube wall; and - at least one capillary tube arranged in the at least one three dimensional helical shaped groove, wherein in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main tube at least part of the outer surface of the at least one capillary tube is in direct and heat exchanging contact with at least part of the groove wall
2. Capillary tube heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the central axis of the at least one three dimensional helical shaped groove is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the main tube.
3. Capillary tube heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main tube has in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis a circular circumference.
4. Capillary tube heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main tube, the groove is semi-circular shaped
5. Capillary tube heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the radius of the semi-circular groove shape is equal to the radius of the capillary tube arranged in the groove.
6. Capillary tube heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one three dimensional shaped groove is a helical groove.
7. Capillary tube heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the main tube has at least two three dimensional helical shaped grooves and at least two capillary tubes each one arranged in one of the at least two grooves.
8. Capillary tube heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tube wall of the main tube has a substantial uniform thickness and wherein the at least one three dimensional helical shaped groove is arranged in the tube wall by forming.
GB1612511.4A 2016-06-01 2016-07-19 Capillary tube heat exchanger Withdrawn GB2550979A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IN201611018920 2016-06-01

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201612511D0 GB201612511D0 (en) 2016-08-31
GB2550979A true GB2550979A (en) 2017-12-06

Family

ID=56890644

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1612511.4A Withdrawn GB2550979A (en) 2016-06-01 2016-07-19 Capillary tube heat exchanger

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2550979A (en)

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001280862A (en) * 2000-03-31 2001-10-10 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Brine heat exchanger
US20040154787A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2004-08-12 Modine Manufacturing Company Heat exchanger
JP2005076915A (en) * 2003-08-28 2005-03-24 Kobe Steel Ltd Composite heat exchanger tube
JP2005164166A (en) * 2003-12-04 2005-06-23 Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube Inc Heat exchanger
JP2011145066A (en) * 2011-03-24 2011-07-28 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Heat exchanger and heat pump type water heater using the same
CN102313403A (en) * 2011-09-13 2012-01-11 海尔集团公司 Evaporator assembly, refrigerating loop system and refrigerating equipment
KR20130114522A (en) * 2012-04-09 2013-10-18 주식회사 한국번디 Suction pipe assembly having spirally wound capillary tube and method for manufacturing suction pipe assembly
GB2516440A (en) * 2013-07-22 2015-01-28 Richard Keirnan Waste water heat recovery unit

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001280862A (en) * 2000-03-31 2001-10-10 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Brine heat exchanger
US20040154787A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2004-08-12 Modine Manufacturing Company Heat exchanger
JP2005076915A (en) * 2003-08-28 2005-03-24 Kobe Steel Ltd Composite heat exchanger tube
JP2005164166A (en) * 2003-12-04 2005-06-23 Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube Inc Heat exchanger
JP2011145066A (en) * 2011-03-24 2011-07-28 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Heat exchanger and heat pump type water heater using the same
CN102313403A (en) * 2011-09-13 2012-01-11 海尔集团公司 Evaporator assembly, refrigerating loop system and refrigerating equipment
KR20130114522A (en) * 2012-04-09 2013-10-18 주식회사 한국번디 Suction pipe assembly having spirally wound capillary tube and method for manufacturing suction pipe assembly
GB2516440A (en) * 2013-07-22 2015-01-28 Richard Keirnan Waste water heat recovery unit

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Publication number Publication date
GB201612511D0 (en) 2016-08-31

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Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20190411 AND 20190417

WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)