Fluid distributor for microchannel heat exchanger

Abstract

A fluid distributor for a heat exchanger is disclosed. The fluid distributor comprises a header having compartments. A plurality of MCHX tubes associated with a heat exchange section of the heat exchanger are fluidically connected to at least one of the compartments. The fluid distributor further comprises a distribution tube extending longitudinally along the compartments through the walls. The distribution tube comprises a plurality of cavities extending longitudinally along the length of the distribution tube and configured radially around a central axis of the distribution tube. Each cavity comprises ports opening in a compartment. Further, the fluid distributor comprises a supply tube fluidically connected to the distribution tube or to a supply tube compartment of header and configured to supply a fluid into the distribution tube.

1 . A fluid distributor for a heat exchanger, the fluid distributor comprising of:
 a header comprising of compartments separated by walls, wherein a plurality of tubes associated with a heat exchange section of the heat exchanger are fluidically connected to at least one of the compartments;   a distribution tube extending longitudinally along the compartments of the header through the walls, the distribution tube comprising a plurality of cavities extending longitudinally along a length of the distribution tube and configured radially around a central axis of the distribution tube, wherein each of the cavities comprises one or more ports opening in the compartments;   a supply tube fluidically connected to the distribution tube or to a supply tube compartment of the header and configured to supply a working fluid into the distribution tube; and   a swirl generator configured upstream of the distribution tube or within the supply tube, wherein the swirl generator is configured to cause the working fluid, supplied by the supply tube, to move in a swirl motion,   the swirl generator comprises a housing and a spiral assembly disposed coaxially with a central longitudinal axis of the housing and fixedly connected to an inner wall surface of the housing to jointly form a spiral flow channel.   
     
     
         2 . A fluid distributor for a heat exchanger, the fluid distributor comprising:
 a supply tube having an outlet end and an inlet end;   a first distribution tube in vertical communication with the outlet end of the supply tube;   a second distribution tube arranged in parallel with the first distribution tube; and   a connecting tube having one end in communication with the first distribution tube and the other end in communication with the second distribution tube, wherein   a spiral assembly fixedly connected to an inner surface of the supply tube is disposed inside at least a part of tube section in the supply tube, and the spiral assembly and the supply tube together form a spiral flow channel.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid distributor of  claim 2 , wherein the spiral assembly comprises a support portion disposed coaxially with a central axis of the supply tube, and a flow guiding structure spirally disposed around the support portion to form the spiral flow channel together with the inner surface of the supply tube. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid distributor of  claim 3 , wherein the spiral flow channel is spaced apart from the inlet end of the supply tube or the outlet end of the supply tube by a specified distance. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid distributor of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a plurality of first distribution tube outlets disposed along a length extension direction of the first distribution tube and separately disposed on a side of the first distribution tube facing the second distribution tube; and   a plurality of second distribution tube outlets disposed along a length extension direction of the second distribution tube and separately disposed on a side of the second distribution tube facing the first distribution tube.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid distributor of  claim 5 , wherein a plurality of connecting tubes are disposed perpendicular to the first distribution tube and the second distribution tube and along the length extension direction of the first distribution tube and the second distribution tube. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid distributor of  claim 6 , wherein the first distribution tube outlets and/or the second distribution tube outlets are symmetrically arranged about the outlet end of the supply tube in the length extension direction of the first distribution tube and/or the second distribution tube. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid distributor of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of connecting tubes are symmetrically arranged about the outlet end of the supply tube in the length extension direction of the first distribution tube and the second distribution tube. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid distributor of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connecting tubes is disposed at a position corresponding to the outlet end of the supply tube. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid distributor of  claim 9 , wherein in the length extension direction of the first distribution tube or the second distribution tube, a distance between two adjacent connecting tubes in the plurality of connecting tubes varies. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger comprising the fluid distributor, wherein the fluid distributor comprising:
 a supply tube having an outlet end and an inlet end;   a first distribution tube in vertical communication with the outlet end of the supply tube;   a second distribution tube arranged in parallel with the first distribution tube; and   a connecting tube having one end in communication with the first distribution tube and the other end in communication with the second distribution tube, wherein   a spiral assembly fixedly connected to an inner surface of the supply tube is disposed inside at least a part of tube section in the supply tube, and the spiral assembly and the supply tube together form a spiral flow channel.