Fluid distributor assembly for a heat exchanger

Abstract

Described herein is a fluid distributor assembly for a heat exchanger. The assembly comprises a first casing, a second casing configured to be removably attached to the first casing such that a header is formed having an enclosed space therewithin, and a plurality of fluid distributors configured to be removably accommodated on one or more of the first casing and the second casing, wherein at least two fluid distributors among the plurality of fluid distributors have different distribution configurations, wherein the first casing and the second casing are attached to secure the accommodated distributors within the formed header.

1 . A fluid distributor assembly for a heat exchanger, the fluid distributor assembly comprising:
 a first casing;   a second casing configured to be removably attached to the first casing such that a header is formed having an enclosed space therewithin; and   a plurality of fluid distributors configured to be removably accommodated on one or more of the first casing and the second casing, wherein at least two fluid distributors among the plurality of fluid distributors have different distribution configurations,   wherein the first casing and the second casing are attached to secure the accommodated fluid distributors within the formed header.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid distributors are accommodated on the first casing and/or the second casing such that the plurality of fluid distributors remains in line along a length of the header formed upon attachment of the first casing and the second casing. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid distributor assembly or the header is configured to be fluidically connected to a plurality of heat exchange tubes associated with the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first casing comprises a plurality of first slots configured to receive an end of the plurality of heat exchange tubes, such that the plurality of heat exchange tubes is fluidically connected to at least one of the accommodated fluid distributors upon attachment of the first casing and the second casing. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the second casing comprises one or more second slots configured to be fluidically connected to one or more feeder tubes, and wherein the plurality of fluid distributors are accommodated on the second casing such that an inlet port of the corresponding fluid distributors is fluidically connected to the corresponding feeder tube. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the second casing comprises one or more second slots configured to be fluidically connected to one or more feeder tubes, and wherein the plurality of fluid distributors are accommodated on the first casing such that an inlet port of the corresponding fluid distributors is fluidically connected to the corresponding feeder tube upon attachment of the first casing and the second casing. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid distributor assembly comprises one or more connector tubes, each configured to be at least partially disposed through the second casing or within the header via the one or more second slots, and wherein a first end of the disposed connector tube is configured to be fluidically connected to the inlet port of the accommodated fluid distributor and a second end of the corresponding connector tube is configured to be fluidically connected to the one or more feeder tubes. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one side of the second casing is open and comprises a plurality of sections configured along a length of the second casing, and wherein each of the sections is configured to accommodate at least one of the fluid distributors thereon. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one side of the first casing comprises a plurality of sections configured along a length of the first casing and another side of the first casing comprises a plurality of first slots connected to the plurality of sections, and wherein each of the sections is configured to accommodate at least one of the fluid distributors thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid distributor assembly comprises one or more isolators, each configured to be coaxially positioned between the adjacent fluid distributors from the plurality of fluid distributors and/or at extreme ends of the corresponding casings to fluidically isolate each of the sections and correspondingly form one or more compartments and the enclosed space within the header upon attachment of the first casing and the second casing. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the header, the accommodated fluid distributors, a plurality of heat exchange tubes, one or more isolators, and one or more connector tubes are brazed together to fluidically seal the fluid distributor assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the brazed fluid distributor assembly allows flow of a fluid from one or more feeder tubes into the plurality of fluid distributors via one or more slots of the second casing or the one or more connector tubes and further into the plurality of heat exchange tubes via one or more outlet ports associated with the corresponding fluid distributors. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of sections has a profile based on an outer profile of the plurality of fluid distributors to be accommodated thereon, and wherein the first casing and the second casing have shapes such that opposite ends of the formed header remain closed and the enclosed space is formed therewithin upon attachment of the first casing and the second casing. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the sections have a substantially curved profile, and wherein the first casing and the second casing have shapes such that opposite ends of the formed header remain closed and the enclosed space is formed therewithin upon attachment of the first casing and the second casing. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first casing has a substantially planar profile comprising a plurality of slots of the first casing extending therethrough, and wherein the first casing and the second casing have shapes such that opposite ends of the formed header remain closed and the enclosed space is formed therewithin upon attachment of the first casing and the second casing. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first casing comprises one or more first fixtures and the second casing comprises one or more second fixtures, and wherein the one or more first fixtures are configured to engage with the one or more second fixtures to enable the attachment of the first casing and the second casing. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more first fixtures and the one or more second fixtures are adapted to be clamped or snap-fitted or slidably engage with each other. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a first distributor among the plurality of fluid distributors comprises:
 a hollow tube comprising at least one first inlet port, and one or more first outlet ports configured radially along an outer surface of the hollow tube, wherein the one or more first outlet ports are fluidically connected to the at least one first inlet port via one or more channels extending through the hollow tube.   
     
     
         19 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 18 , wherein a second distributor among the plurality of fluid distributors comprises:
 a plate comprising at least one second inlet port, and one or more second outlet ports configured on an outer surface of the plate, wherein the one or more second outlet ports of the plate are fluidically connected to the at least one second inlet port of the plate via one or more channels extending through the plate,   wherein the plate is a laminated plate or a perforated plate.   
     
     
         20 . The fluid distributor assembly of  claim 19 , wherein a third distributor among the plurality of fluid distributors comprises:
 an enclosure comprising one or more sides and/or one or more surfaces,   wherein the third distributor is configured to fluidically accommodate an end of a plurality of heat exchange tubes through the one or more sides and/or the one or more surfaces of the enclosure.