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EP-4400795-B1 - SIMPLE DISTRIBUTOR FOR INLET MANIFOLD OF MICROCHANNEL HEAT EXCHANGER

EP4400795B1EP 4400795 B1EP4400795 B1EP 4400795B1EP-4400795-B1

Inventors

  • Lokanath Mohanta
  • ARINDOM JOARDAR

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20231219

Claims (10)

  1. A distributor (100) for an inlet manifold of a microchannel heat exchanger, the distributor comprising: a nozzle (100) adapted to the fluidically connected to a supply tube (110) of a refrigeration line of the heat exchanger, wherein the supply tube (110) is at least partially disposed within an inlet manifold (202) of the heat exchanger, the nozzle (100) comprising: a first hollow portion (102) having a round cross-section and adapted to be fluidically connected to the supply tube; and a second hollow portion (104) having an oval or elliptical cross-section, wherein the second portion (104) is fluidically connected to the first portion (102) such that the nozzle (100) gradually transitions from the first portion (102) to the second portion (104) and a flow area of the nozzle reduces in a direction from the first portion to the second portion wherein a first end (102) of the nozzle comprises a first opening (106) that is connected to the supply tube and a second end (104) of the nozzle comprises a second opening (108) opposite to the first opening (106); and characterised in that the nozzle (100) is disposed within the inlet manifold such that the second end (104) or second opening (108) of the nozzle (100) remains at least partially before one or more microchannel tubes (206) associated with the inlet manifold (202).
  2. The distributor of claim1, wherein the second opening (108) has one or more of a race-track profile, a rectangular profile, a circular profile, and an oval profile.
  3. The distributor of any preceding claim, wherein the nozzle (100) is at a predefined height above ports associated with one or more microchannel tubes (206) associated with the inlet manifold (202).
  4. The distributor of any preceding claim, wherein the first portion (102) of the nozzle (100) has a predefined inner diameter equal to an inner diameter of the supply tube (110), and wherein the second portion has a predefined height less than the inner diameter of the first portion (104) and a predefined width greater than the inner diameter of the first portion (102).
  5. The distributor of any preceding claim, wherein the second portion (104) has a predefined width to height ratio ranging from 40 to 1/40.
  6. The distributor of any preceding claim, wherein the second portion (104) is oriented at a predefined angle within respect to a horizontal plane of the inlet manifold (202).
  7. The distributor of any preceding claim, wherein the second portion (104) is oriented horizontally within the inlet manifold (202).
  8. The distributor of any preceding claim, wherein the flow area of the nozzle (100) from the first portion (102) to the second portion (104)is reduced in a range of 20-70%.
  9. A heat exchanger comprising: an inlet manifold (202) fluidically connected to an outlet manifold (204) via a plurality of microchannel tubes (206); a supply tube (110) associated with a refrigeration line at least partially disposed within the inlet manifold (202); and a distributor (100) as claimed in any preceding claim.
  10. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein the supply tube (110) is disposed of at one end of the inlet manifold (202), and wherein the supply tube (110) is configured to supply a fluid from the refrigeration line within the inlet manifold (202) via the nozzle (100) to enable uniform distribution of the fluid across ports of each of the multichannel tubes (206) within the inlet manifold (202).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to the field of heat exchangers, and more particularly, a simple and improved distributor for the inlet manifold of heat exchangers. BACKGROUND The distribution of fluid among multiple microchannel tubes of a heat exchanger plays a significant role in the overall performance of the heat exchanger and effective utilization of the heat transfer surface. There is, therefore, a need to provide a simple and efficient distributor for the inlet manifold of heat exchangers. US 9,423,190 relates to a refrigerant distributor for a heat exchanger. The distributor comprises a pipe for distributing the refrigerant, the pipe having a channel therein in which the refrigerant flows. The channel has at least one portion having reduced cross-section area. SUMMARY According to the invention, there is provided a distributor for an inlet manifold of a microchannel heat exchanger. The distributor comprises a nozzle adapted to be fluidically connected to a supply tube of a refrigeration line of the heat exchanger, wherein the supply tube is at least partially disposed within an inlet manifold of the heat exchanger. The nozzle, having a flow area, comprises a first hollow portion having a round cross-section and adapted to be fluidically connected to the supply tube, and a second hollow portion having an oval or elliptical cross-section, wherein the second portion is fluidically connected to the first portion such that the nozzle gradually transitions from the first portion to the second portion and the flow area of the nozzle reduces in a direction from the first portion to the second portion. A first end of the nozzle comprises a first opening that is connected to the supply tube and a second end of the nozzle comprises a second opening opposite to the first opening. The nozzle is disposed within the inlet manifold such that the second end or second opening of the nozzle remains at least partially before one or more microchannel tubes associated with the inlet manifold. The second opening may have one or more of a race-track profile, a rectangular profile, a circular profile, and an oval profile. The nozzle may be at a predefined height above ports associated with one or more microchannel tubes associated with the inlet manifold. The first portion of the nozzle may have a predefined inner diameter equal to an inner diameter of the supply tube, and wherein the second portion may have a predefined height less than the inner diameter of the first portion and a predefined width greater than the inner diameter of the first portion. The second portion may have a predefined width to height ratio ranging from 40 to 1/40. The second portion may be oriented at a predefined angle within respect to a horizontal plane of the inlet manifold. The second portion may be oriented horizontally within the inlet manifold. The flow area of the nozzle from the first portion to the second portion may be reduced in a range of 20-70%. According to the invention, there is provided a heat exchanger comprising an inlet manifold fluidically connected to an outlet manifold via a plurality of microchannel tubes, a supply tube associated with a refrigeration line at least partially disposed within the inlet manifold, and a distributor comprising the features discussed in the first aspect above, namely, a nozzle fluidically connected to the supply tube within the inlet manifold. The nozzle, having a flow area, comprises a first hollow portion having a round cross-section and adapted to be fluidically connected to the supply tube, and a second hollow portion having an oval or elliptical cross-section, wherein the second portion is fluidically connected to the first portion such that the nozzle gradually transitions from the first portion to the second portion and the flow area of the nozzle reduces in a direction from the first portion to the second portion. A first end of the nozzle comprises a first opening that is connected to the supply tube and a second end of the nozzle comprises a second opening opposite to the first opening. The nozzle is disposed within the inlet manifold such that the second opening of the nozzle remains at least partially before the microchannel tubes within the inlet manifold. The second opening may have one or more of a race-track profile, a rectangular profile, a circular profile, and an oval profile. The nozzle may be at a predefined height above ports associated with the microchannel tubes within the inlet manifold. The first portion of the nozzle may have a predefined inner diameter equal to an inner diameter of the supply tube, and wherein the second portion may have a predefined height less than the inner diameter of the first portion and a predefined width greater than the inner diameter of the first portion. The second portion may have a predefined width to height ratio ranging from 40 to 1/40. The second portion may be oriented at a predefined angle within respect to a horizontal plane