Fluid distributor for a microchannel heat exchanger

Abstract

Disclosed is a microchannel heat exchanger comprising an inlet header enclosing an inlet header volume and comprising an inlet port, and wherein the inlet header extends along a first direction; an outlet header; a plurality of microchannel tubes extending between, and fluidly connecting the inlet header and the outlet header; and a flow distribution conduit extending into the inlet header volume, interposed between, and in fluid communication with, the inlet port and the plurality of microchannel tubes and wherein the flow distribution conduit is configured to direct a fluid flowing therethrough along the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microchannel heat exchanger comprising:
 an inlet header enclosing an inlet header volume and comprising an inlet port, and wherein the inlet header extends along a first direction;   an outlet header;   a plurality of microchannel tubes extending between, and fluidly connecting the inlet header and the outlet header; and   a flow distribution conduit extending into the inlet header volume, interposed between, and in fluid communication with, the inlet port and the plurality of microchannel tubes and wherein the flow distribution conduit is configured to direct a fluid flowing therethrough along the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution conduit comprises the terminal end of a heat exchanger inlet pipe fluidly connecting the microchannel heat exchanger to a refrigerant containing system. 
     
     
         3 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger inlet pipe comprises a bend adjacent the flow distribution conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein an angle of the bend is greater than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 150 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet header further comprises an inlet header length extending in the first direction and the flow distribution conduit extends into the inlet header volume an extension distance and wherein the extension distance is between 1% and 99%, endpoint inclusive, of the inlet header length. 
     
     
         6 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the extension distance is between 5% and 75%, endpoint inclusive, of the inlet header length. 
     
     
         7 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the extension distance is between 5% and 50%, endpoint inclusive, of the inlet header length. 
     
     
         8 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution conduit comprises a flow distribution conduit inlet, a flow distribution conduit body, and a flow distribution conduit outlet, and wherein the flow distribution conduit body is impervious and configured without holes therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic diameter ratio of the hydraulic diameter of the flow distribution conduit divided by the hydraulic diameter of the inlet header, and wherein the hydraulic diameter ratio is greater than or equal to 0.05 and less than or equal to about 0.95. 
     
     
         10 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microchannel tubes comprises a bend or a fold such that the heat exchanger comprises a V shape, U shape, or A shape. 
     
     
         11 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a turbulator disposed in the inlet header volume. 
     
     
         12 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution conduit comprises a converging section and a throat. 
     
     
         13 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the microchannel heat exchanger is configured as an evaporator of a vapor compression cycle. 
     
     
         14 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution conduit is positioned offset from a centerline of the inlet header volume. 
     
     
         15 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the offset is less than or equal to half the distance between the centerline of the inlet header volume and a wall of the inlet header. 
     
     
         16 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet header and the flow distribution conduit are substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         17 . A vapor compression system comprising a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve, wherein the evaporator comprises the microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A method of distributing fluid in a heat exchanger comprising:
 providing a heat exchanger having an inlet header, an outlet header, and a plurality of microchannel tubes interposed between, and disposed in fluid communication with, the inlet header and the outlet header, wherein the inlet header comprises a fluid distribution conduit disposed between, and in fluid communication with, an inlet port and the plurality of microchannel tubes;   jetting a refrigerant flow through the fluid distribution conduit into an inlet header volume of the inlet header;   reflecting at least a portion of the refrigerant flow off an end cap of the inlet header;   creating a shearing flow between the jetting flow and the reflecting flow thereby causing turbulent flow within the inlet header volume.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: jetting the refrigerant flow through the fluid distribution conduit at a first temperature; and returning the refrigerant flow to the refrigerant system at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is greater than the first temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising changing the direction of the fluid flow before passing it through the fluid distribution conduit by forcing it through a bent section of pipe adjacent the fluid distribution conduit.