Multi-channel heat exchanger with improved uniformity of refrigerant fluid distribution

Abstract

A micro-channel heat exchanger includes an inlet manifold fluidly connected with an outlet manifold by a plurality of generally parallel tubes, further defining a plurality of generally parallel micro-channels therethrough. Refrigerant is introduced to the heat exchanger through a distributor tube disposed within the inlet manifold. The distributor tube includes a plurality of non-circular openings disposed along the length thereof which act as an outlet for refrigerant flow into the inlet manifold and eventually into and through the tubes and micro-channels. The openings are preferably slots arranged along the length of the distributor tube at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the distributor tube and oriented within the inlet manifold for a general direction of refrigerant flow at an angle relative to the general direction of refrigerant flow through the tubes. Alternative shapes for the openings are also considered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A distributor tube for a heat exchanger having an inlet manifold fluidly connected to an outlet manifold by a plurality of generally parallel tubes, said distributor tube comprising:
 a first open end adapted for communication with a refrigerant source;   a second closed end opposite the first open end; and   a plurality of substantially identical non-circular openings disposed along the length of the distributor tube between the first end and the second end.   
     
     
         2 . The distributor tube of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of openings is a slot. 
     
     
         3 . The distributor tube of  claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal direction of each of the slots is angularly arranged relative to the longitudinal direction of the distributor tube. 
     
     
         4 . The distributor tube of  claim 2 , wherein each of the slots has a length l in the range of 1 mm≦l≦15 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The distributor tube of  claim 2 , wherein each of the slots has a width d in the range of 0.2 mm≦d≦5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The distributor tube of  claim 2 , wherein the geometrical center of adjacent openings are separated by a distance in the range of about 20 mm to about 250 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The distributor tube of  claim 1 , wherein each substantially identical non-circular opening of the plurality of openings includes at least one elongated length angularly arranged relative to a longitudinal direction of the distributor tube. 
     
     
         8 . The distributor tube of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of openings comprise three or more intersecting slots extending from a geometrical center point. 
     
     
         9 . The distributor tube of  claim 7 , wherein the shape of each of the plurality of openings comprises one of a Y-shaped opening, an X-shaped opening, a crisscross-shaped opening, or an asterisk-shaped opening. 
     
     
         10 . A micro-channel heat exchanger comprising:
 an inlet manifold;   an outlet manifold spaced a predetermined distance from the inlet manifold;   a plurality of tubes, the opposing ends of which are connected with the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold, respectively, to fluidly connect the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold, each tube including a plurality of generally parallel micro-channels formed therein; and   a distributor tube disposed within the inlet manifold and having a first open end adapted to be connected to a refrigerant source and a second closed end opposite the first end, said distributor tube including a plurality of substantially identical non-circular openings disposed along the length of the distributor tube.   
     
     
         11 . The micro-channel heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of openings is a slot. 
     
     
         12 . The micro-channel heat-exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal direction of each of the slots is angularly arranged relative to the longitudinal direction of the distributor tube. 
     
     
         13 . The micro-channel heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein each of the slots has a length l in the range of 1 mm≦l≦15 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The micro-channel heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein each of the slots has a width d in the range of 0.2 mm≦d≦5 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The micro-channel heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the geometrical center of adjacent openings are separated by a distance in the range of about 20 mm to about 250 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The micro-channel heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein each substantially identical non-circular opening of the plurality of openings includes at least one elongated length angularly arranged relative to a longitudinal direction of the distributor tube. 
     
     
         17 . The micro-channel heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of openings comprise three or more intersecting slots extending from a geometrical center point. 
     
     
         18 . The micro-channel heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in a substantially linear row along the length of the distributor tube, and further wherein the row of openings is oriented within the inlet manifold so that the general direction of refrigerant flow out of the openings is at an angle relative to the general direction of refrigerant flow through the tubes. 
     
     
         19 . The micro-channel heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein the angle is in the range of greater than or equal to about 90 degrees and less than or equal to about 270 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The micro-channel heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the distributor tube comprise two substantially linear rows of non-circular openings along the length of the distributor tube,
 wherein the orientation of the general direction of refrigerant flow out of a first row of openings relative to the general direction of refrigerant flow through the tubes is at an angle in the range of greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to about 180 degrees; and   wherein the orientation of the general direction of refrigerant flow out of a second row of openings relative to the general direction of refrigerant flow through the tubes is at an angle in the range of greater than or equal to about 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees.