HEAT EXCHANGER DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY AND METHOD
A heat exchanger distribution assembly includes a channel guide comprising an outer surface. Also included is an outer shell comprising a hollow portion and a plurality of distribution holes, wherein the channel guide is at least partially disposed within the hollow portion. Further included is a plurality of channel grooves disposed between an inner surface of the outer shell and the outer surface of the channel guide, wherein the plurality of channel grooves are configured to convert circumferentially spaced flow passages to axially spaced flow passages to route the fluid to a plurality of layers of a heat exchanger.
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The present invention relates to heat exchanger arrangements, and more particularly to a heat exchanger distribution assembly, as well as a method of distributing fluid to a heat exchanger.
Distribution of two-phase fluid flow (liquid and gas) inside heat exchangers poses several challenging issues. In heat exchangers, such as mini-channel, micro-channel, plate-fin, and brazed-plate heat exchangers, for example, distribution is particularly difficult due to the requirement that the flow must be distributed among many layers and small ports. To overcome the challenges, these types of heat exchangers may employ a piccolo distributor having a closed-end tube with a series of holes in the side. The assumption behind this approach is that the flow entering the distributor is annular or well-mixed and remains that way through the distributor tube. However, the cavity within the distributor may not be able to avert separation of the two-phase fluid under different operating conditions. The flow may tend to stratify due to deceleration in the distributor and as a result, liquid pools at the end of the tube while vapor leaves through early ports. Therefore, the mass fraction provided to each fin passage is not properly apportioned and may yield poor system performance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one embodiment, a heat exchanger distribution assembly includes a channel guide comprising an outer surface. Also included is an outer shell comprising a hollow portion and a plurality of distribution holes, wherein the channel guide is at least partially disposed within the hollow portion. Further included is a plurality of channel grooves disposed between an inner surface of the outer shell and the outer surface of the channel guide, wherein the plurality of channel grooves are configured to convert circumferentially spaced flow passages to axially spaced flow passages to route the fluid to a plurality of layers of a heat exchanger.
According to another embodiment, method of distributing fluid to layers of a heat exchanger is provided. The method includes supplying a fluid to a plurality of distribution tubes of a diffuser to separate the fluid into a plurality of fluid routing paths. The method also includes apportioning the fluid through a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes of an orifice ring. The method further includes routing the fluid through a plurality of channel grooves disposed between an outer surface of a channel guide and an inner surface of an outer shell. The method yet further includes distributing the fluid to a plurality of layers of the heat exchanger through a plurality of distribution holes aligned with the plurality of channel grooves.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
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Disposed downstream of, and adjacent to, the nozzle 34 is a diffuser 38 that may be a portion of the channel guide 28 or a separate component. Regardless, the diffuser 38 comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced distribution tubes 40 in fluid communication with the nozzle 34. In particular, each of the plurality of distribution tubes 40 are configured to receive the fluid 14 upon passing through the orifice 36 of the nozzle 34, thereby separating the fluid equally into a plurality of fluid routing paths 42. It is contemplated that the nozzle 34 and the diffuser 38 are integrally formed in one embodiment.
The plurality of distribution tubes 40 route the fluid 14 to a location proximate a second end 44 of the outer shell 20 and transition the fluid 14 at a transition point 43 to a plurality of channel grooves 46 disposed between the inner surface 24 of the outer shell 20 and the outer surface 30 of the channel guide 28. The channel grooves 46 may be formed in either, or both, of the inner surface 24 of the outer shell 20 and the outer surface 30 of the channel guide 28. In an embodiment comprising channel grooves formed in only the inner surface 24 of the outer shell 20, the channel guide 28 comprises a substantially smooth outer surface. Conversely, in an embodiment comprising channel grooves formed in only the outer surface 30 of the channel guide 28, the inner surface 24 of the outer shell 20 comprises a substantially smooth inner surface. In either embodiment, the smooth surface substantially seals the plurality of channel grooves 46 to provide a continuation of the plurality of fluid routing paths 42. The plurality of channel grooves 46 may include varying lengths and/or hydraulic diameters to equalize pressure drop through the different paths in order to equalize flow, if necessary.
The outer shell 20 includes a plurality of distribution holes 48 extending radially therethrough from the outer surface 22 to the inner surface 24 of the outer shell 20. The plurality of distribution holes 48 are aligned with desired inlet locations of the heat exchanger 18. Specifically, each of the plurality of distribution holes 48 are aligned with a corresponding layer 50 (
Referring to
In the second embodiment, the nozzle 34 and the diffuser 38 are located externally relative to the channel guide 28 and the hollow portion 26 of the outer shell 20. Specifically, the nozzle 34 is disposed adjacent to, or at least partially within, the diffuser 38 to route the fluid 14 to the plurality of distribution tubes 40. Sandwiched between the diffuser 38 and the channel guide 28 is an orifice ring 102 that includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes 104 to ensure precision control of flow apportionment from each of the plurality of distribution tubes 40 to account for small differences in frictional losses due to the different lengths of each of the plurality of channel grooves 46. In one embodiment, the orifice ring 102 is integrally formed with the channel guide 28.
The second embodiment may include channel grooves 46 that route the fluid 14 to more than one distribution hole 48, as described in detail above in conjunction with the first embodiment. In any of the embodiments described above, the nozzle 34 and/or the diffuser 38 may be oriented substantially vertically and the channel guide 28 may include a bend of numerous angles.
In operation, each of the embodiments described above advantageously increase the velocity of the fluid 14 with the nozzle 34 and route the fluid 14 along individual fluid routing paths 42 to the plurality of distribution holes 48 for provision to the layers 48 of the heat exchanger 18.
A method of distributing fluid to layers of a heat exchanger 200 is also provided, as illustrated in
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A heat exchanger distribution assembly comprising:
- a channel guide comprising an outer surface;
- an outer shell comprising a hollow portion and a plurality of distribution holes, wherein the channel guide is at least partially disposed within the hollow portion; and
- a plurality of channel grooves disposed between an inner surface of the outer shell and the outer surface of the channel guide, wherein the plurality of channel grooves are configured to convert circumferentially spaced flow passages to axially spaced flow passages to route the fluid to a plurality of layers of a heat exchanger.
2. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle configured to provide a homogenized fluid to a diffuser having a plurality of distribution tubes, wherein the plurality of distribution tubes are configured to separate the fluid into a plurality of fluid routing paths.
3. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 2, further comprising an orifice ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes aligned with the plurality of distribution tubes.
4. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 3, wherein the orifice ring is integrally formed with the channel guide.
5. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 2, wherein the nozzle is integrally formed with the diffuser.
6. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channel grooves are formed within the outer surface of the channel guide.
7. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channel grooves are formed within the inner surface of the outer shell.
8. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fluid routing paths of the diffuser route the fluid to the plurality of channel grooves at a transition point proximate an end of the channel guide.
9. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of channel grooves route the fluid to a single corresponding distribution hole.
10. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of channel grooves route the fluid to more than one distribution hole.
11. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of distribution holes is circumferentially spaced from another distribution hole.
12. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel guide comprises a substantially cylindrical geometry.
13. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 2, wherein the nozzle comprises a venturi path portion.
14. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 2, wherein the nozzle and the diffuser are oriented substantially vertically.
15. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel guide comprises an elbow bend portion.
16. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 2, wherein the diffuser is located external to the outer shell.
17. The heat exchanger distribution assembly of claim 2, wherein the diffuser is located at an internal location of the outer shell.
18. A method of distributing fluid to layers of a heat exchanger comprising:
- supplying a fluid to a plurality of distribution tubes of a diffuser to separate the fluid into a plurality of fluid routing paths;
- apportioning the fluid through a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes of an orifice ring;
- routing the fluid through a plurality of channel grooves disposed between an outer surface of a channel guide and an inner surface of an outer shell; and
- distributing the fluid to a plurality of layers of the heat exchanger through a plurality of distribution holes aligned with the plurality of channel grooves.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of channel grooves route the fluid to a single, corresponding distribution hole.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the diffuser is located at an internal location of the outer shell, the method further comprising transitioning the fluid from the plurality of fluid routing paths to the plurality of channel grooves at a location proximate an end of the channel guide.
Type: Application
Filed: May 23, 2013
Publication Date: Nov 27, 2014
Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Windsor Locks, CT)
Inventors: Abbas A. Alahyari (Manchester, CT), Thomas D. Radcliff (Vernon, CT), Richard D. Rusich (Ellington, CT), Christoph E. Haugstetter (West Hartford, CT)
Application Number: 13/901,031
International Classification: F28F 1/40 (20060101);