Laminated header for a microchannel heat exchanger

Abstract

A laminated header for a microchannel heat exchanger comprises a distribution plate comprising a first cut-out section of a first shape extending along a longitudinal axis of the distribution plate, wherein a width of the first cut-out section at least partially decreases along the longitudinal axis a hole plate comprising a plurality of bore-holes formed therein and separated by a distance therebetween, a section plate comprising a plurality of second cut-out sections of a second shape different from the first shape, and wherein the hole plate is parallelly stacked between the distribution plate and the section plate. The first cut-out section fluidically connects with each of the bore-holes and the second cut-out sections fluidically connects the bore-holes to a plurality of microchannel tubes of the heat exchanger.

1 . A laminated header for a microchannel heat exchanger, the laminated header comprising:
 a distribution plate comprising a first cut-out section of a first shape extending along a longitudinal axis of the distribution plate, wherein a width of the first cut-out section at least partially decreases along the longitudinal axis;   a hole plate comprising a plurality of bore-holes formed therein and separated by a distance therebetween;   a section plate comprising a plurality of second cut-out sections of a second shape different from the first shape; and   wherein the hole plate is parallelly stacked between the distribution plate and the section plate.   
     
     
         2 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet plate having an inlet bore-hole defined at one end of the inlet plate, and wherein the width of the first cut-out section decreases from a bottom end towards a top end of the distribution plate. 
     
     
         3 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet plate having an inlet bore-hole defined at a middle portion of the inlet plate, and wherein the width of the first cut-out section decreases from the middle portion towards a bottom end and a top end of the distribution plate. 
     
     
         4 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet plate having an inlet bore-hole defined at a top end of the inlet plate, and wherein the width of the first cut-out section decreases from a top end towards a bottom end of the distribution plate. 
     
     
         5 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , further comprising a tube plate comprising a plurality of slots, wherein the laminated header is configured to receive and secure, within the plurality of slots, an end of a plurality of microchannel tubes of the microchannel heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution plate, the hole plate, and the section plate are parallelly stacked between an inlet plate and a tube plate, and are brazed together to form the laminated header, and wherein an end of a plurality of microchannel tubes of the microchannel heat exchanger is inserted within a plurality of slots of the tube plate and brazed to create a leak-proof connection between the laminated header and the plurality of microchannel tubes. 
     
     
         7 . The laminated header of  claim 6 , wherein the laminated header forms a fluidic passage extends from an inlet bore-hole towards the plurality of slots while extending in a first direction along the longitudinal axis, and further extending from the first cut-out section into each of the second cut-out sections and the plurality of slots, via the plurality of bore-holes, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and extending towards the plurality of slots or the microchannel tubes. 
     
     
         8 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , wherein the first cut-out section has a trapezoidal shape with the width decreasing from a bottom end towards a top end of the distribution plate. 
     
     
         9 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , wherein size or radii of the plurality of bore-holes of the hole plate increases in the direction away from an inlet bore-hole defined on an inlet plate, along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , wherein a constriction is defined on the first cut-out section of the distribution plate. 
     
     
         11 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second cut-out sections associated with the section plate has a rectangular or square profile. 
     
     
         12 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , wherein size of the plurality of second cut-out sections increases in at least one direction along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet plate having an inlet bore-hole, and wherein the distribution plate has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of each of the inlet plate defining the inlet bore-hole and the hole plate. 
     
     
         14 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , wherein the laminated header is configured to allow a fluid from an inlet bore-hole defined on an inlet plate to flow within the first cut-out section of the distribution plate in along the longitudinal axis, between a top end and a bottom end, of the distribution plate. 
     
     
         15 . The laminated header of  claim 14 , wherein the laminated header is further configured to allow uniform flow of the fluid from the first cut-out section into each of the second cut-out sections of the section plate, via the plurality of bore-holes of the hole plate, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and extending towards the plurality of microchannel tubes, and wherein the laminated header further allows uniform flow of the fluid from the plurality of second cut-out sections into one or more ports associated with each of the microchannel tubes via a plurality of slots of a tube plate. 
     
     
         16 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent second cut-out sections among the plurality of second cut-out sections of the section plate are separated by a baffle extending in a direction, orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, along a width of the section plate. 
     
     
         17 . The laminated header of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution plate, the hole plate, and the section plate are parallelly stacked between an inlet plate and a tube plate, and wherein,
 an inlet bore-hole of the inlet plate is formed at a corresponding widthwise center of the inlet plate;   the plurality of bore-holes are formed at a corresponding widthwise center of the hole plate; and   a plurality of slots of the tube plate are formed at a corresponding width-wise center of a width of a tube plate.   
     
     
         18 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 one or more laminated headers according to  claim 1 ,   wherein the one or more laminated headers are coaxially and sequentially stacked in a longitudinal direction to form a vertical header having one or more compartments,   wherein the plurality of microchannel tubes associated with the microchannel heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the plurality of slots associated with the one or more laminated headers, and   wherein the heat exchanger further comprises an external distributor comprising: an inlet configured to be fluidically connected to a supply tube; and one or more outlets, each configured to be fluidically connected to one of the laminated headers via feeder tubes or tube stubs.   
     
     
         19 . A laminated header for a microchannel heat exchanger, the laminated header comprising:
 a distribution plate comprising a first cut-out section of a first shape;   a hole plate comprising a plurality of bore-holes formed therein and separated by a distance therebetween, a diameter of each of the plurality of bore-holes varies along a longitudinal axis of the hole plate;   a section plate comprising a plurality of second cut-out sections of a second shape different from the first shape; and   wherein the hole plate is parallelly stacked between the distribution plate and the section plate.