Systems and Methods for Vapor Compression Systems with a Multi-Circuit Heat Exchanger and a Low Cost Distributor

Abstract

Systems and methods for vapor compression systems having at least one multi-circuit heat exchanger and a distributor designed to receive multi-phase refrigerant from an expansion valve and evenly distribute the multi-phase refrigerant using the distributor have been developed for improved efficiency and reduced cost. The distributor may be positioned in close proximity to the expansion valve and may be oriented with respect to an output of the expansion valve to cause the refrigerant flow to impact the distributor and enhance turbulent flow to facilitate mixing of the liquid and vapor refrigerant. Channels extending from the distributor may be positioned with respect to the output of the expansion valve to facilitate even distribution of the multi-phase refrigerant flow. With each circuit of the multi-circuit heat exchanger supplied with evenly distributed multi-phase refrigerant, efficiency will be improved.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;   a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor and configured to exchange thermal energy with the refrigerant;   an expansion valve in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to reduce a pressure of and accelerate the refrigerant, the refrigerant forming a multi-phase fluid at an exit of the expansion valve;   a distributor in fluid communication with the expansion valve and comprising a junction oriented with respect to expansion valve such that the junction is positioned in a flow path of the multi-phase fluid upon exiting the expansion valve and directs the refrigerant into a first channel and a second channel; and   a second heat exchanger comprising a first circuit in fluid communication with the first channel and a second circuit in fluid communication with the second channel, the second heat exchanger configured to exchange thermal energy with the refrigerant and guide the refrigerant to the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant is turbulent upon collision with the junction in the flow path of the multi-phase fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant is evenly distributed between the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow divider configured to extend from the distributor toward the expansion valve to facilitate even distribution of the refrigerant into the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third channel between the distributor and the first channel and the second channel, the third channel configured to guide the refrigerant from the expansion valve to the distributor and wherein the first channel and second channel each have an orthogonal orientation with respect the third channel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first channel and the second channel each have a radius of curvature and are each configured to direct the refrigerant in a direction opposite of the flow path. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third channel between the distributor and the first channel and the second channel configured to guide the refrigerant from the expansion valve to the distributor and wherein the first channel and second channel each form an angle with the third channel of between 50 degrees and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distributor is positioned no more than three inches from the expansion valve. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is a condenser and the second heat exchanger is an evaporator. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant in the first channel and the second channel comprises both liquid refrigerant and vapor refrigerant. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;   a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor and comprising at least one circuit configured to exchange thermal energy with the refrigerant;   an expansion valve in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to accelerate the refrigerant;   a capillary tube in fluid communication with the expansion valve and configured to accelerate the refrigerant upon exiting the expansion valve;   a distributor in fluid communication with the capillary tube and comprising a junction oriented with respect to the capillary tube such that the junction is positioned in a flow path of the of the refrigerant upon exiting the capillary tube, the junction configured to direct the refrigerant into a first channel and a second channel; and   a second heat exchanger comprising a first circuit in fluid communication with the first channel and a second circuit in fluid communication with the second channel, the second heat exchanger configured to exchange thermal energy with the refrigerant and guide the refrigerant to the compressor.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant is evenly distributed between the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant is turbulent upon exiting the capillary tube and colliding with the junction to form a multi-phase fluid flow. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a flow divider configured to extend from the distributor toward the capillary tube to facilitate even distribution of the multi-phase fluid flow into the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the flow path has an orthogonal orientation with respect the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first channel and the second channel each have a radius of curvature and are each configured to direct the refrigerant in a direction opposite of the flow path. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein an exit of the capillary tube has a first orientation and the first channel and the second channel each form an angle with the exit of the capillary tube at the first orientation of between 50 degrees and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , where the first heat exchanger is a condenser and the second heat exchanger is an evaporator. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant in the first channel and the second channel comprises both liquid refrigerant and vapor refrigerant. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the expansion valve induces a first pressure reduction in the refrigerant and the capillary tube induces a second pressure reduction in the refrigerant, the second pressure reduction less than the first pressure reduction.