TH38818A - Evaporator / condensation equipment for heat pump - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (16/03/41) Improved condensate drainage is achieved while being compactly confined in the condenser/evaporator for use in heat pump systems in a structure with overlapping tube headers of a typical curved first and second header (10), (14), with one of those headers (10) as the upper header and the other headers of those headers (14) as the lower headers. The first row of longitudinal tube channels (18) is in the upper header (10), while the second row Two of the long tube channels (20) are located in the lower header (14). Each tube channel (18) in the first row has a matching tube channel (20) in the second row, and matching tube channels (18), (20) in these rows are aligned to each other. A long, straight tube (22) spreads between the headers (10), (14) in a parallel manner, and the first apex (32) is provided for the refrigerant in one of the headers (10), and the second apex (36) is provided for the refrigerant in the other header of these headers. Improved condensate venting is achieved while compactness is confined in the condenser/evaporator for use in heat pump systems in a structure with generally overlapping tube headers, the first and second headers (10), (14), with one of those headers (10) as the upper header and the other headers. Of these headers (14) is the lower header. The first row of longitudinal tube channels (18) is in the upper header (10), while the second row of longitudinal tube channels (20) is in the lower header (14). Each tube channel (18) in the first row has a matching tube channel (20) in the second row, and matching tube channels (18),(20) in these rows are aligned to each other. Long, straight tubes (22) spread between the headers (10),(14) in a parallel manner, and the first apex (32) is arranged for the refrigerant in one of the headers (10), and the second apex (36) is arranged for the refrigerant in another of these headers.

Claims (15)

1. The heat exchanger is intended for at least part of its use as an evaporator and consists of an upper header and container assembly containing a number of tube openings facing downwards, a lower header and container assembly located below and away from the aforementioned upper header and container assembly, and containing a number of tube openings facing upwards. The tube openings in the upper header and container assembly are aligned with the fitting tube openings in the lower header and container assembly. A longitudinal tube extends vertically between the header and container assembly and has its end received in one end of the said opening and sealed to the header and container assembly where it is joined. A vent is located at one end of the lower header and container assembly and is modified to serve as an inlet during evaporation operation and as an outlet during condensation operation. A second vent in the upper header and container assembly is located laterally along the upper header and container assembly from the first vent and is modified to at least serve as an outlet during condensation operation. In the evaporation process, a cross tube with a significantly larger internal flow path than that of the aforementioned elongated tube is situated between the first and second apex and is connected to the lower header and container assembly at the first location, which is further away from both apexes and connected to the upper header and container assembly at the second location, which is further away from both apexes. This path includes a first flow restriction section in the lower header and container assembly to prevent fluid from flowing through the lower header and container assembly from the first apex to the cross tube at the first location, and a second flow restriction section in the upper header and container structure between the second apex and the second location to prevent flow in the upper header and container assembly from the second location to the second apex. During evaporation operation, the fluid to be evaporated flows into the lower header and container assembly through the elongated tube and subsequently into the upper header. The fluid in this second-source container assembly is then returned to the lower header and container assembly via the crossing pipe, flowing from the lower header and container assembly through other pipes of the longitudinal pipe to the upper header and container assembly, and finally to the second peak, where it is distributed more uniformly to improve the efficiency of the evaporation process. 2. At least one of the heat exchangers of Requirement 1 herein is a flow restrictor. 3. At least one of the heat exchangers of claim 1 herein is a one-way valve. 4. At least one of the heat exchangers of Requisition 1 herein is a flow restrictor and the other parts of such flow restriction are one-way valves. 5. The heat exchanger of claim 1 herein has a first flow restriction part which is a deflector and a second flow restriction part which is a one-way valve. 6. The heat exchanger of claim 5 also includes a one-way valve further into the crossing pipe and is positioned to allow flow from the second address to the first address but not in reverse. 7. The heat exchanger of claim 6, in particular, is modified for use in a heat pump system to perform selectable evaporation and condensation functions, and includes a third fin connected to the lower header and the aforementioned container assembly on the side of the shroud opposite to the first fin. This third fin is modified to serve as the fluid inlet during the condensation function. 8. The heat exchanger of claim 1 herein, the second flow restriction part, is a shield. 9. The heat exchanger of claim 8 herein, the second flow restriction part, is a shield. 10. The heat exchanger of claim 1 herein, with two flow-restricting parts, acts as a shield. 11. The heat exchanger of claim 1 herein, the longitudinal tubes are straight, and the headers and container assemblies are generally bent and tightly fitted together. 12. The heat exchanger consists of overlapping tube headers, typically arranged at the first and second bends. One of these headers is the upper header. The other header is vertically below but aligned to the upper header and designated as the lower header. The first row of elongated tube openings in the upper header has openings facing downwards toward the lower header. The second row of elongated tube openings in the lower header has openings facing upward toward the lower header. Each tube opening in the first row has a fitting; in the second row, the fitting tubes are aligned to each other. Longitudinal flat tubes radiate parallel to each other between the headers. Each tube has its first end received in a fitting in the first row, and its second end opposite the first end. As stated and received in the appropriately sized slots in the second row, the first peak for the refrigerant in one of the headers and the second peak for the cooling in one of the headers. 13. The heat exchanger of claim 12 also includes the first and second flow restriction sections in the first and second headers, respectively. The first apex is located in the first header, and the second apex is located in the second header, and crossing pipes connect the headers from the source located on the first header on the side of the first flow restriction section, farther from the first apex, to the source located on the second header on the beam of the second flow restriction section, farther from the second apex. 14. The heat exchanger, consisting of a header and a container assembly, has a number of downward-facing openings. The lower header and container assembly are located below and offset from the upper header and container assembly. There are also a number of upward-facing pipe openings. The pipe openings in the upper header and container assembly are aligned with the fitting pipe openings in the lower header and container assembly. A longitudinal tube extends vertically between the header and container assembly, with its end received at one end of the said opening and sealed to the header and container assembly where it is joined. A first apex in the lower header and container assembly is modified to serve as the inlet during evaporation and the outlet during condensation. A second apex in the upper header and container assembly is laterally located along the upper header and container assembly from the first apex and is modified to at least serve as the outlet during evaporation. Cross tubes have a larger internal flow path than the first. The aforementioned elongated tube is positioned between the first and second apex joints and connected to the lower header and container assembly at the first location, situated away from both apex joints and connected to the upper header and container assembly at the second location, situated away from both apex joints. A first shield in the lower header and container assembly prevents fluid flow through the lower header and container assembly from the first apex joint to the crossbeam at the first location. The pathway includes a second flow restriction section in the upper header and lower container assembly between the second apex joint and the second location to prevent flow in the upper header and container assembly from the second location to the second apex joint. During evaporation operation, the fluid to be evaporated flows into the lower header and container assembly through the elongated tube and subsequently to the upper header and container assembly at the second location. The fluid is then returned to the lower header and container assembly via the crossing pipe, flowing from the lower header and container assembly through other pipes of the elongated tube to the upper header and container assembly, and finally to the second peak, where it is distributed more uniformly to improve the efficiency of the evaporation process. 15. The heat exchanger consists of an upper header and a container assembly containing a number of downward-facing tube openings. The lower header and container assembly are located below and offset from the upper header and container assembly, and contain a number of upward-facing tube openings. The tube openings in the upper header and container assembly are aligned with the fitting tube openings in the lower header and container assembly. A longitudinal tube extends vertically between the header and container assembly, with its end received at one end of the said opening and sealed to the header and container assembly thereto. A apex at one end of the lower header and container assembly is modified to serve as the inlet during evaporation and the outlet during condensation. Another apex at one end of the upper header and container assembly is offset laterally along the upper header and container assembly from the said apex and is modified to at least serve as the outlet during evaporation. Cross tubes have a larger internal flow path than the said apex. The aforementioned elongated pipe is positioned between the first and second apex and connected to the lower header and container assembly at the first apex. The first apex is located away from both apex and connected to the upper header and container assembly at the second apex. The shield in the lower header and container assembly prevents fluid flow through the lower header and container assembly from the first apex to the crosspipe at the first apex. A pathway includes a one-way valve, the first valve in the upper header and container assembly, located between the second apex and the second apex, to prevent flow in the upper header and container assembly from the second apex to the second apex. A second one-way valve in the crosspipe allows flow from the second apex to the first apex, but not in reverse. During evaporation operation, the fluid to be evaporated flows into the lower header and container assembly. The fluid passes through the aforementioned longitudinal pipe and continues to the upper header and container assembly at the second source. It is then returned to the lower header and container assembly via the aforementioned crossing pipe, flowing from the lower header and container assembly through other pipes of the longitudinal pipe to the upper header and container assembly, and finally to the second source, where it is distributed more uniformly to improve the efficiency of the evaporation process. (Clause 15, page 9, 3 figures)