Microchannel Heat Exchanger And A Fluid Distributor Thereof

Abstract

A heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a fluid distributor that comprises a housing. The heat exchanger further comprises a plurality of microchannel tubes, wherein an inlet end of the plurality of microchannel tubes is bundled in one or more groups. Further, the inlet end of the bundled groups is fluidically disposed within the housing of the distributor through one or more sides and/or one or more surfaces of the housing of the distributor.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a distributor that comprises a housing, and   a plurality of microchannel tubes, wherein an inlet end of the plurality of microchannel tubes is bundled in one or more groups, and   wherein the inlet end of the one or more bundled groups is fluidically disposed within the housing of the distributor through one or more sides and/or one or more surfaces of the housing of the distributor.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the distributor is a hollow cylindrical member comprising a first circular base, a second circular base parallel to the first circular base, and a curved lateral surface connecting perimeters of the first circular base and the second circular base, wherein the one or more bundled groups are fluidically disposed within the housing, from one or more directions, through one or more of the first base, the second base, and/or the curved lateral surface, and
 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a feeder tube fluidically connected to any of the first circular base, the second circular base, or the curved lateral surface.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the distributor is a hollow member having a polyhedral shape and comprising a first base, a second base parallel to the first base, and a plurality of planar lateral sides connecting perimeters of the first base and the second base, wherein the one or more bundled groups are fluidically disposed within the housing, from one or more directions, through one or more of the first base, the second base, and/or the planar lateral sides, and
 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a feeder tube fluidically connected to any of the first base, the second base, or any of the planar lateral sides.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the distributor has a conical profile comprising a circular base, and a curved lateral surface extending from a vortex end to the circular base, wherein the distributor comprises an inlet at the vortex end, and a plurality of outlets configured circumferentially around the circular base and in fluidic communication with the inlet via a plurality of fluidic passages extending within the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the inlet end of the microchannel tubes associated with each of the bundled groups are profiled in a curved shape, and wherein the curved microchannel tubes are disposed within the circular base of the housing through the plurality of outlets, and
 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a feeder tube fluidically connected to the inlet of the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of any one of  claims 1 to 5 , wherein the feeder tube is configured off-centered from a central longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a flow disrupter configured within the housing of the distributor. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a collector, wherein an outlet end of the plurality of microchannel tubes is bundled in one or more groups, wherein the one or more bundled groups of the outlet end of the microchannel tubes are fluidically disposed within the collector through one or more sides and/or one or more surfaces of the collector. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a length, between the inlet end and the outlet end, of the plurality of microchannel tubes is configured in a configuration having a number of turns or a number of passes. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 one or more distributors, each comprising a housing, and   a plurality of microchannel tubes, wherein an inlet end of the plurality of microchannel tubes is bundled in one or more first groups,   wherein the inlet end of at least one of the bundled first groups is fluidically disposed within the housing associated with one of the distributors through one or more sides and/or one or more surfaces of the corresponding housing.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more collectors, wherein an outlet end of the plurality of microchannel tubes is bundled in one or more second groups, wherein the outlet end of at least one of the bundled second groups is fluidically disposed within one of the collectors through one or more sides or one or more surfaces of the corresponding collector. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein a length, between the inlet end and the outlet end, of the plurality of microchannel tubes is configured in a configuration having a number of turns or a number of passes. 
     
     
         13 . A fluid distributor for a heat exchanger, the distributor comprising:
 a housing comprising one or more sides and/or one or more surfaces, and   wherein a first end of a plurality of microchannel tubes associated with the heat exchanger are bundled in one or more groups, and   wherein the distributor is configured to fluidically accommodate the first end of the one or more bundled groups through the one or more sides and/or the one or more surfaces of the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid distributor of  claim 13 , wherein the housing is a hollow cylindrical member comprising a first circular base, a second circular base parallel to the first circular base, and a curved lateral surface connecting perimeters of the first circular base, and the second circular base, wherein the one or more bundled groups are fluidically disposed within the housing, from one or more directions, through one or more of the first circular base, the second circular, and/or the curved lateral surface, and
 wherein any of the first circular base, the second circular base, or the curved lateral surface of the distributor is configured to fluidically accommodate a feeder tube associated with the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid distributor of  claim 13 , wherein the housing is a hollow member having a polyhedral shape comprising a first base, a second base parallel to the first base, and a plurality of planar lateral sides connecting perimeters of the first base, and the second base, wherein the one or more bundled groups are fluidically disposed within the housing, from one or more directions, through one or more of the first base, the second base, and/or the planar lateral sides, and
 wherein any of the first base, the second base, or any of the planar lateral sides of the distributor is configured to fluidically accommodate a feeder tube associated with the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         16 . The fluid distributor of  claim 13 , wherein the housing is a hollow member defined by a combination of one or more planar sides and one or more curved surfaces, wherein the one or more bundled groups are fluidically disposed within the housing, from one or more directions, through one or more of the planar sides, and the curved sides, and
 wherein any of the planar sides, or any of the curved sides of the distributor is configured to fluidically accommodate a feeder tube associated with the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid distributor of  claim 13 , wherein the housing has a solid conical profile comprising a circular base, and a curved lateral surface extending from a vortex end to a circular base, wherein the distributor comprises an inlet at the vortex end, and a plurality of outlets configured circumferentially around the circular base and in fluidic communication with the inlet via a plurality of fluidic passages. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid distributor of  claim 17 , wherein the first end of the microchannel tubes associated with each of the bundled groups are profiled in a curved shape, and wherein the curved microchannel tubes are disposed within the circular base of the housing through the plurality of outlets, and wherein the inlet of the housing is configured to fluidically accommodate a feeder tube associated with the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid distributor of  claim 13 , wherein the feeder tube is off-centered from a central longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid distributor of  claim 13 , wherein the distributor comprises a flow disrupter configured within the housing of the distributor.