Abstract: The present disclosure provides a louvered fin including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The surface defines a first set of holes along a first axis, a second set of holes along a second axis and offset from the first set of holes, and a third set of holes along a third axis and offset from the second set of holes. Each of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fin. A first offset distance between the second and first set of holes is greater than a second offset distance between the third and second set of holes. The second and the third set of holes define a substantially obtuse trapezoidal matrix.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger tube is disclosed. The method may include folding a single sheet of material onto itself to form a folded sheet of material and forming first and second pluralities of ridges on a first portion of the folded sheet and a second portion of the folded sheet. The method may further include folding the first portion about a first portion distal end to overlay on a third portion of the folded sheet, and the second portion about a second portion proximal end to overlay on a fourth portion of the folded sheet. Furthermore, the method may include folding the third inner portion about a third portion distal end to overlay on a fifth portion of the folded sheet and folding the fourth portion about a fourth portion proximal end to overlay on the fifth portion to form the heat exchanger tube.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are provided with heat exchanger coils with improved boiling heat transfer. An etching solution may be applied to an inner surface of a heat exchanger coil to etch the heat exchanger coil to increase the surface area and the number of nucleate sites. The heat exchanger coil may be connected to a pump and the etching solution may be introduced and pumped through the heat exchanger coil for a set duration and at a set flow rate. A mass flow meter may be connected between the pump and one end of the heat exchanger coil to measure the flow rate of the etching solution. By adjusting the concentration of acid in the etching solution, the flow rate, and the exposure time, the degree to which the inner surface of the heat exchanger coil is eroded may be adjusted.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for charge imbalance correction in heat pumps. Particularly, a tank may be provided between a vapor conduit and a liquid refrigerant conduit of a heat pump that may be used to temporarily store at least some of the refrigerant when the heat pump is in a heating mode. When the heat pump transitions back to a cooling mode, the refrigerant may be returned back into the heat pump. The flow of refrigerant to and from the tank may be regulated by a three-way valve. The valve is connected to the vapor conduit through one port, the tank through a second port, and the liquid refrigerant conduit through a third port. The valve includes a spring and a slide with a cut-out region that allows two of the three ports to be in fluid communication depending on a position of the slide within the valve.

Abstract: A condensate block for a vertically mounted v-coil heat exchanger (which may function as an evaporator), and an evaporator assembly for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system incorporating the condensate block are provided. The condensate block includes a body. The body is made of a malleable, flame-resistant material. The body defines at least one upward facing surface and opposing outward facing surfaces. The opposing outward facing surfaces are configured at an apex angle that is complimentary to (e.g., equal to, or greater than) a v-coil bend angle defined by the v-coil heat exchanger.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a louvered fin including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The surface defines a first set of holes along a first axis, a second set of holes along a second axis and offset from the first set of holes, and a third set of holes along a third axis and offset from the second set of holes. Each of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fin. A first offset distance between the second and first set of holes is greater than a second offset distance between the third and second set of holes. The second and the third set of holes define a substantially obtuse trapezoidal matrix.

Abstract: A microchannel heat exchanger having: fin segments defined between lower and upper fin tips; at each fin tip, the fin segments have inner and outer facing surfaces; each fin segment having louvers having: an upper transition region at an upper louver end, adjacent an upper fin tip; a lower transition region at a lower louver end, adjacent a lower fin tip; and a straight region extending therebetween, wherein: the transition regions along the inner facing surface at each fin tip have a first transition surface having a first transition length, disposed at a first transition angle; the transition regions along the outer facing surface at each fin tip have a second transition surface having a second transition length, disposed at a second transition angle; wherein: the first transition length is longer than the second transition length; and/or the first transition angle is smaller than the second transition angle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an air handler system including a backwards curved centrifugal fan or a mixed flow fan with a rear mounted motor are provided. The air handler system may include a housing defining an inlet and an outlet and an airflow channel therebetween. A backwards curved centrifugal fan or a mixed flow fan may be positioned within the airflow channel and a motor may be secured to the backside of the fan such that airflow may be received from the inlet and redirected at least partially perpendicularly such that the airflow moves around the motor of the fan and out the outlet of the air handler. A fan controller and/or a fan enclosure may optionally be positioned on the backside of the fan. The air handler may further include heating systems such as heat exchanger coils and/or an electric heating system with one or more resistive coils and/or a hydronic heating coil.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microchannel heat exchanger comprising a primary core including a first header and a second header and a secondary core including a first auxiliary header and a second auxiliary header, further comprising a first header interconnect extending between the first header and the first auxiliary header and having a first interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough; and a second header interconnect extending between the second auxiliary header and the second header and having a second interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough.

Abstract: Systems and methods for heating and humidifying an interior space using a heat pump are provided. The heat pump may be a window unit and may include a catch for collecting condensation forming on heat exchanger coils positioned in an exterior environment. Using a humidification system, the condensation may be directed via a toward and distributed on (e.g., via dripping and/or spraying) an exterior of heat exchanger coils positioned in an interior environment. A heating channel may be designed to circulate heated fluid (e.g., heated refrigerant) near or around the humidification system to maintain the fluid in a liquid state. The humidification system may include one or more filters and/or chemical agents for removing impurities in the condensation. The heat pump with the humidification system may simultaneously heat and humidify an interior space.

Abstract: A heat exchanger system including a cabinet, a V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger disposed within the cabinet, and an axial fan housing disposed within the cabinet and located downstream of the V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger. The heat exchanger system also includes a first insulation disposed along a first portion of an inner periphery of the cabinet, a second insulation disposed along a second portion of the inner periphery of the cabinet, and a connecting member disposed along an abutment of the first insulation and the second insulation. The first portion located upstream of the V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger and the second portion located downstream of the V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger. A temperature of the air flowing through the second portion is less than a temperature of the air flowing through the first portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a louvered fin including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The surface defines a first set of holes along a first axis, a second set of holes along a second axis and offset from the first set of holes, and a third set of holes along a third axis and offset from the second set of holes. Each of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fin. A first offset distance between the second and first set of holes is greater than a second offset distance between the third and second set of holes. The second and the third set of holes define a substantially obtuse trapezoidal matrix.

Abstract: An integrated refrigerant charge collector for a heat pump system is provided. The charge collector includes an elongated housing, and a divider plate disposed within the elongated housing to define an accumulator compartment and a receiver compartment. A horizontal plane of the divider plate is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated housing. The accumulator compartment is in fluid communication with a reversing valve and a compressor of the heat pump system, and allows a desired flow of a refrigerant charge into the compressor during a heating mode and a cooling mode. The receiver compartment is in fluid communication with an indoor coil and an outdoor coil of the heat pump system, and extracts a liquid refrigerant from a circuit of the heat pump system during the heating mode, and adds the liquid refrigerant to the circuit during the cooling mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an air handler having a cabinet and a plurality of refrigerant tubes, where each refrigerant tube has a diameter of 7 mm. The air handler includes a V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger disposed within the cabinet and including a plurality of louvered fins. Each louvered fin defines a plurality of holes configured to receive the refrigerant tubes. The plurality of holes defines a linear offset configuration of the louvered fin. The air handler further includes an axial fan housing disposed within the cabinet and located downstream of the V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger, a distributor in fluid communication with the refrigerant tubes, and a plurality of feeder tubes extending between the distributor and the refrigerant tubes. Each feeder tube is configured to allow flow of refrigerant therethrough.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an air handler including a body and an axial fan housing disposed within the body. The axial fan housing defines an aperture in fluid communication with an axial fan disposed therein and at least one enclosure located at a corner thereof, such that the at least one enclosure is isolated from a continuous airflow passageway through the aperture of the axial fan housing. The enclosure is configured to house electronic controls therein.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an air handler including a V-shaped round tube plate fin evaporator coil disposed within a cabinet, a first coil extension coupled to a first tube sheet at a first arm of the evaporator coil, a second coil extension coupled to a second tube sheet at a second arm of the evaporator coil, and a door disposed on a front portion of the cabinet to provide access to the evaporator coil. Each of the first coil extension and the second coil extension extends along a transverse direction of the evaporator coil. The first coil extension, the second coil extension, and the door are together configured to achieve an air-tight seal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a louvered fin including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The surface defines a first set of holes along a first axis, a second set of holes along a second axis and offset from the first set of holes, and a third set of holes along a third axis and offset from the second set of holes. Each of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fin. A first offset distance between the second and first set of holes is greater than a second offset distance between the third and second set of holes. The second and the third set of holes define a substantially obtuse trapezoidal matrix.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microchannel heat exchanger comprising a primary core including a first header and a second header and a secondary core including a first auxiliary header and a second auxiliary header, further comprising a first header interconnect extending between the first header and the first auxiliary header and having a first interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough; and a second header interconnect extending between the second auxiliary header and the second header and having a second interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microchannel heat exchanger comprising a primary core including a first header and a second header and a secondary core including a first auxiliary header and a second auxiliary header, further comprising a first header interconnect extending between the first header and the first auxiliary header and having a first interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough; and a second header interconnect extending between the second auxiliary header and the second header and having a second interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough.

Abstract: A distributor for use in a heat exchanger including a distributor body having a first end, a second end, and a hollow interior. A fluid inlet is formed at the first end and a fluid outlet includes a plurality of orifices formed in the distributor body. The fluid outlet is configured to achieve a ratio of a pressure drop across the distributor to a pressure drop across the heat exchanger between about 3 and about 7 at nominal refrigerant flowrate conditions.