Heat exchanger including multiple tube distributor

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes tubes and an inlet manifold to direct a first fluid into the tubes at a third direction. Heat is exchanged between the first fluid and a second fluid in the tubes. The heat exchanger also includes a distributor tube located within the inlet manifold. The distributor tube includes a short tube including a plurality of first orifices that direct the first fluid into the inlet manifold at a first direction, and a long tube including a plurality of second orifices that direct the first fluid into the inlet manifold at a second direction.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of tubes, wherein heat is exchanged between a first fluid and a second fluid in the plurality of tubes;   an inlet manifold to direct the first fluid into the plurality of tubes at a third direction; and   a distributor tube located within the inlet manifold, wherein the distributor tube includes a short tube including a plurality of first orifices that direct the first fluid into the inlet manifold at a first direction and a long tube including a plurality of second orifices that direct the first fluid into the inlet manifold at a second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein the heat exchanger is a microchannel evaporator. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of tubes each include a flattened portion. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein the distributor tube includes a flow splitter that directs half of the first fluid into the short tube and the other half of the first fluid into the long tube. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  further including an outlet manifold, wherein the plurality of tubes fluidly connect the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein the short tube and the long tube are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first fluid enters the short tube and the long tube at a first end, and an opposing second end of each of the short tube and the long tube are blocked with a stop. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first fluid is refrigerant and the second fluid is air, and the refrigerant flows through the plurality of tubes and the air passes over the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of first orifices and the plurality of second orifices are arranged in a linear configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein an angle between the first direction and the third direction is substantially equal to another angle between the second direction and the third direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 10  wherein the angle and the another angle are each approximately 45° to 315° clockwise from the third direction. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of first orifices are located in one section of the distributor tube and the plurality of second orifices are located in another section of the distributor tube. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 12  wherein the first fluid flows through the one section and then through the another section, and there are none of the plurality of second orifices in the one section of the distributor tube. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 12  wherein the short tube is located in the one section of the distributor tube and the long tube is located in both the one section and the another section of the distributor tube. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigeration system comprising:
 a compressor for compressing a refrigerant;   a condenser for cooling the refrigerant;   an expansion device for expanding the refrigerant; and   a microchannel evaporator for heating the refrigerant, wherein the microchannel evaporator includes a plurality of tubes, an inlet manifold to direct a first fluid into the plurality of tubes at a third direction, and a distributor tube located within the inlet manifold, wherein the distributor tube includes a short tube including a plurality of first orifices that direct the first fluid into the inlet manifold at a first direction and a long tube including a plurality of second orifices that direct the first fluid into the inlet manifold at a second direction.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the short tube and the long tube are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the first fluid enters the short tube and the long tube at a first end, and an opposing second end of each of the short tube and the long tube are blocked with a stop. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the plurality of first orifices and the plurality of second orifices are arranged in a linear configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration system as recited in  claim 16  wherein an angle between the first direction and the third direction is substantially equal to another angle between the second direction and the third direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The refrigeration system as recited in  claim 21  wherein the short tube is located in the one section of the distributor tube and the long tube is located in both the one section and the another section of the distributor tube.