[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, particularly a condenser for an
air conditioning unit for a vehicle.
[0002] Conventional air conditioning system for example for a vehicle cabin includes a condenser,
an evaporator, an expansion device, a compressor and a heater. The compressor pumps
refrigerant gas up to a high pressure and temperature. Thereafter, refrigerant gas
enters the condenser, where the refrigerant gas rejects heat energy to external ambient
(through ambient air or a specific low temperature coolant circuit), gets cooled,
and condenses into liquid phase. Thereafter, the expansion valve regulates refrigerant
liquid to flow at proper rate, reducing its pressure due its expansion, and finally,
the cooled liquid refrigerant flows to the evaporator, where the cooled liquid refrigerant
is evaporated, reducing its temperature. As the liquid refrigerant evaporates, the
refrigerant extracts or absorbs heat energy from air inside an enclosure to be conditioned,
specifically, a vehicle cabin in case of a vehicle air conditioning system and returns
to the compressor, and the above cycle repeats. In the process, the heat is extracted
from inside the vehicle cabin and rejected to outside vehicle cabin, resulting in
cooling of air inside the vehicle cabin.
[0003] The conventional air conditioning system configured with expansion valves are also
configured with a receiver drier that is disposed in the high-pressure section of
the air conditioning system, usually located between condenser and expansion valve
in the air conditioning loop. Referring to
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a condenser
1 with a receiver drier
3 is illustrated. The condenser
1 includes a first manifold
2a and a second manifold
2b formed at opposite sides of a condenser core
4. Further, the heat exchange tubes of the condenser core
4 connects the first manifold
2a to the second manifold
2b. The first manifold
2a includes an inlet "I" for ingress of refrigerant into the condenser
1 and an outlet "O" for egress of refrigerant from the condenser
1. The second manifold
2b is in fluid communication with the receiver drier
3. The receiver drier
3 is in form of an airtight container of a tubular configuration with extreme ends
thereof closed by lids
5. The receiver drier
3 is either mounted along an outlet side of the condenser core
4 or is integrally formed along the outlet side of the condenser core
4. The receiver drier
3 includes an inlet
3a and an outlet
3b. The inlet
3a receives refrigerant that is condensed by passing through heat exchange tubes
4a defining a first pass of the condenser core
4. The receiver drier
3 acts as a temporary storage for refrigerant (and oil) and receives a desiccant material
to absorb moisture (water) that may have entered inside an air conditioning system
of which the condenser is a part of. The receiver drier
3 also includes a filter to trap debris that may have entered inside fluid lines of
the air conditioning system. Accordingly, the receiver drier
3 prevents the moisture and/or debris from reaching critical elements of the air conditioner
unit, particularly the compressor, thereby preventing any detrimental impact to performance
or damage to the critical elements of the air conditioning system. The outlet
3b delivers condensed refrigerant from which debris and moisture has been removed by
passing through the receiver drier
3 to heat exchange tubes
4b defining a second pass of the condenser core
4 for sub-cooling of the condensed refrigerant from which debris and moisture has been
removed. The sub-cooled refrigerant egresses through the outlet "O".
[0004] However, with such configuration of the condenser
4 and the receiver drier
3, the distribution and flow of the refrigerant through the heat exchange tubes of the
condenser core
4 is non-uniform. Particularly, dead zones
4c are formed at the certain regions of the condenser core
4, thereby detrimentally impacting efficiency and performance of the condenser. Few
prior art propose use of external jumper lines to manipulate pressure drop across
heat exchanger tubes to achieve uniform flow distribution of refrigerant through the
condenser core 4, however, such an arrangement increases overall size of the condenser
and cause packaging issues.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a condenser with an arrangement for improving distribution
of refrigerant through a core of the condenser for preventing dead zone formation
in the core of the condenser and improving efficiency and performance of the condenser.
Also, there is a need for an arrangement for achieving uniform distribution of refrigerant
through a core of the condenser that is compact in configuration and does not impact
overall size of the condenser and as such packaging issues are avoided.
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a condenser exhibiting improved
distribution of refrigerant through a core of the condenser while still obviating
drawbacks associated with conventional arrangement for improving distribution of refrigerant
through the core.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a condenser with an arrangement
for improving distribution of refrigerant through a core of the condenser and preventing
dead zone formation in the core of the condenser.
[0008] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a condenser with improved
distribution of refrigerant through core thereof, thereby exhibiting improved efficiency
and performance.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a condenser with improved
distribution of refrigerant through core thereof without requiring any external jumper
lines, as such the condenser is compact and packaging issues are avoided.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a condenser that is simple
in construction.
[0011] In the present description, some elements or parameters may be indexed, such as a
first element and a second element. In this case, unless stated otherwise, this indexation
is only meant to differentiate and name elements which are similar but not identical.
No idea of priority should be inferred from such indexation, as these terms may be
switched without betraying the invention. Additionally, this indexation does not imply
any order in mounting or use of the elements of the invention.
[0012] A heat exchanger, particularly, a condenser is disclosed in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention. The heat exchanger includes a first manifold, a second manifold
and a receiver drier. The first manifold and the second manifold are connected by
tubes configured to provide at least a first pass and a second pass of a heat exchange
fluid. The receiver drier is connected to the second manifold and is providing fluid
connection between the first pass and the second pass, wherein the second manifold
is connected to the receiver drier through a channel. The channel receives fluid from
the first pass through a first hole and a second hole configured on the second manifold.
The first hole and the second hole are distant from each other. The channel further
supplies the receiver drier with fluid through a first opening of the receiver drier
which is closer to the first hole than the second hole.
[0013] Further, the channel supplies the fluid received in the receiver drier to the second
pass through a second opening that is in fluid connection with third hole but is in
fluid isolation from the second hole within the channel.
[0014] Specifically, the channel includes a first aperture which is aligned and in fluid
connection with first hole and the first opening, a second aperture which is aligned
and in fluid connection with a third hole and the second opening and an intermediate
aperture that is in fluid connection with the second hole.
[0015] More specifically, the first aperture and the second aperture are through apertures,
whereas the intermediate aperture is a blind aperture.
[0016] Preferably, at least one of the first hole and the second hole is either one of oval
shaped and any other oblong shaped hole.
[0017] Generally, the at least one intermediate aperture is comparatively larger than the
first aperture.
[0018] Particularly, the at least one intermediate aperture is at least 1.5 times larger
than the first aperture.
[0019] Also, the second hole is larger than the first hole.
[0020] Generally, the channel is integrally formed with the receiver drier.
[0021] Alternatively, the channel is detachably mounted on the receiver drier.
[0022] Generally, the channel is connected to the second manifold by crimping operation.
[0023] Further, the channel includes a first sealing element, a second sealing element and
a third sealing element, wherein the first sealing element and the second sealing
element close ends of the channel, whereas the third sealing element configures fluid
isolation between the second opening of the receiver drier and the second hole of
the second manifold.
[0024] A receiver drier configured on a heat exchanger is disclosed in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. The receiver drier includes a tubular casing
and a channel. The tubular casing is connected to a second manifold of the heat exchanger
and provides fluid connection between the first pass and the second pass. The channel
forms fluid connection between the second manifold and the tubular casing, wherein
the channel receives fluid from the first pass through a first hole and a second hole
configured on the manifold, the first hole and the second hole being distant from
each other. The channel further supplies the tubular casing with fluid through a first
opening of the tubular casing which is closer to the first hole than the second hole.
The channel still further supplies the fluid received in tubular casing to the second
pass through a second opening that is in fluid connection with third hole but is in
fluid isolation from the second hole.
[0025] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention can be inferred from
the description of the invention hereunder. A more complete appreciation of the invention
and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same
becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when
considered in connection with the accompanying figures, wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional heat exchanger, particularly, a condenser configured with
a receiver drier in accordance with prior art;
FIG. 2 illustrates a heat exchanger, particularly, a condenser configured with a receiver
drier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3a illustrates an isometric view of the receiver drier of the FIG. 2 depicted along with a channel;
FIG.3b illustrates another isometric view of the receiver drier of FIG. 3a.
[0026] It must be noted that the figures disclose the invention in a detailed enough way
to be implemented, said figures helping to better define the invention if needs be.
The invention should however not be limited to the embodiment disclosed in the description.
[0027] Although the present invention is explained in the forthcoming description with example
of a receiver drier for a condenser, wherein the receiver drier is configured with
a channel disposed between the receiver drier and a second manifold of the condenser
for manipulating pressure difference across different sections of a condenser core
for achieving uniform distribution of the refrigerant throughout the condenser core.
Such configuration of channel disposed between the condenser and the receiver drier
imparts compact configuration to the condenser and is capable of uniformly distributing
the refrigerant throughout the condenser core, thereby preventing formation of dead
zones in the condenser core and enhancing efficiency and performance of the condenser.
However, the present invention is applicable for any heat exchanger, not limited to
condenser alone, wherein uniform flow of heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger
is required to enhance efficiency and performance the heat exchanger without requiring
any external jumper lines that increases overall size of the heat exchanger.
[0028] Referring to
FIG. 2 a heat exchanger, particularly, a condenser
100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The condenser
100 includes a first manifold
30a and a second manifold
30b connected by a plurality of tubes
10 configured to provide at least a first pass
10a and a second pass
10b. Specifically, the pair of manifolds
30a, 30b is connected to respective collector plates
20a, 20b. The first manifold
30a receives refrigerant in vapor phase from an inlet
70. The pair of manifolds
30a, 30b in conjunction with the respective collector plates
20a, 20b either distributes heat exchange fluid, particularly, the refrigerant to or collects
heat exchange fluid, particularly, the condensed refrigerant from the tubes
10 of the condenser
100. More specifically, at least a portion of the first manifold
30a of the pair of manifolds
30a, 30b distributes the refrigerant vapor received thereby to the first pass
10a. The refrigerant vapors flows through the first pass
10a in a flow direction depicted by arrows "A". Similarly, at least a portion of the
second manifold
30b collects refrigerant condensed by passing the refrigerant vapor through the first
pass
10a.
[0029] The condenser
100 includes a receiver drier
40. The receiver drier
40 includes a tubular casing
42. The tubular casing
42 is having a tubular configuration closed and sealed at both ends thereof. The tubular
casing
42 receives a filter and a desiccant material therein. The filter trap debris that may
have entered inside fluid lines of an air conditioning system of which the condenser
100 is a part of, whereas the desiccant absorbs any incompressible moisture that may
have entered inside the air conditioning system. Accordingly, the receiver drier
40 not only acts as a temporary storage for refrigerant (and oil) but also prevents
moisture and/or debris from reaching critical elements of the air conditioning system,
particularly the compressor, thereby preventing any detrimental impact to performance
or damage to the critical elements of the air conditioning system. The receiver drier
40 further includes a channel
50 extending along at least a portion of length of the tubular casing
42 such that the channel
50 is disposed between the second manifold
30b and the receiver drier
40 of the condenser
100.
[0030] The receiver drier
40 is connected to the second manifold
30b and provides fluid connection between the first pass
10a and the second pass
10b. More specifically, the second manifold
30b is in fluid connection with the receiver drier
40 through the channel
50 at two locations, configured with apertures for ingress and egress of the refrigerant
from the receiver drier
50. Generally, the channel
50 is integrally formed with the receiver drier
40. Alternatively, the channel
50 is detachably mounted on the receiver drier
40. The channel
50 is connected to the second manifold
30b by crimping operation. However, the present invention is neither limited to any particular
configuration of connection between the channel
50 and the receiver drier
40 nor limited to any particular configuration of the connection between the channel
50 and the second manifold
30b.
[0031] The second manifold
30b includes a first hole
32a, a second hole
32b and a third hole
32c. The tubular casing
42 includes a first opening
42a and a second opening
42b. The channel
50 includes a first aperture
50a, a second aperture
50b and an intermediate aperture
50c as illustrated in
FIG. 3a and
FIG. 3b. At least one of the first hole
32a and the second hole
32b is either one of oval shaped and any other oblong shaped hole. In one example, the
first hole
32a and the second hole
32b are oval shaped apertures or any other oblong shaped apertures, such that the oval
or oblong shape of the second hole
32b enhances fluid flow rate through the second hole
32b and fluid flow through second hole
32b is more than fluid flow through first hole
32a. In another example, the second hole
32b is oval shaped while the first hole
30a is circular shaped so that the fluid flow through second hole
32b is more than fluid flow through first hole
32a. However, the present invention is not limited to any particular shape or configuration
of the first hole
32a and the second hole
32b, as long as fluid flow through second hole
32b is more than fluid flow through first hole
32a. Generally, the first aperture
50a is configured near bottom end of the channel
50, the second aperture
50b is configured near top end of the channel
50, whereas the at least one intermediate aperture
50c is disposed between the first aperture
50a and the second aperture
50b and at proximity to the second aperture
50b. Further, the inlet
70 is configured on the first manifold
30a and is aligned to or close to alignment with the first hole
32a of the second manifold
30b. Such positioning of the inlet
70 with respect to the first hole
32a creates back pressure and also contributes to achieve uniform distribution of the
refrigerant in the first pass
10a. Further, such positioning prevents formation of dead zones within the core of the
condenser
100 and enhances heat exchange at the first pass
10a of the condenser
100 to improve efficiency and performance of the condenser
100.
[0032] The first aperture
50a is aligned and in fluid connection with the first hole
32a and the first opening
42a, the second aperture
50b is aligned and in fluid connection with the third hole
32c and the second opening
42b and the at least one intermediate aperture
50c is in fluid connection with the second hole
32b only. More specifically, the first aperture
50a and the second aperture
50b are through apertures, whereas the at least one intermediate aperture
50c is a blind aperture that is open towards and in fluid communication with the second
manifold
30b but closed at the receiver drier
40 side. The at least one intermediate aperture
50c is comparatively larger than the first aperture
50a. The at least one intermediate aperture
50c is at least 1.5 times larger than the first aperture
50a. Also, the second hole
32b is larger than the first hole
32a. The second hole
32b is at least 1.5 times larger than the first hole
32a. With such configuration, the condensed refrigerant received by the channel
50 through the at least one intermediate aperture
50c from the first pass
10a. The condensed refrigerant is not passed to the receiver drier
40 but is collected at the bottom of the channel
50 to build back pressure. The back pressure so created cause uniform distribution of
the refrigerant in the first pass
10a, thereby preventing formation of dead zones within core of the condenser
100 and enhancing heat exchange at the first pass
10a of the condenser
100 to improve efficiency and performance of the condenser
100.
[0033] The channel
50 includes a first sealing element
52a, a second sealing element
52b and a third sealing element
52c. The first sealing element
52a and the second sealing element
52b closes ends of the channel
50. The third sealing element
52c configures fluid isolation between the second opening
42b and the second hole
32b. The sealing elements
52a, 52b, 52c disposed inside the channel
50 divide interior of the channel
50 into a first compartment
50d and a second compartment
50e. The first compartment
50d supplies condensed refrigerant from the receiver drier
40 to the second pass
10b or the tubes configuring sub-cooling section of the condenser
100 via the second aperture
50b and a second portion
30d of the second manifold
30b. The second compartment
50e receives condensed refrigerant from the first pass
10a or the tubes configuring the condensing section of the condenser
100 via a first portion
30c of the second manifold
30b, the at least one intermediate aperture
50c and the first aperture
50a.
[0034] The channel
50 receives fluid, particularly, condensed refrigerant from the first pass
10a through the first hole
32a and the second hole
32b. The first hole
32a and the second hole
32b are distant from each other. The channel
50 further supplies the condensed fluid, particularly, condensed refrigerant to the
receiver drier
40 through the first opening
42a which is closer to the first hole
32a than the second hole
32b. Specifically, the first aperture
50a configures fluid communication between the first portion
30c of the second manifold
30b corresponding to the first pass
10a, particularly, the tubes configuring the condensing section of the condenser
100 and the receiver drier
40. More specifically, the refrigerant that is condensed after passing through the first
pass
10a or the tubes configuring the condensing section of the condenser
100 along with uncondensed vapor refrigerant, moisture and debris, if any, enters the
receiver drier
40 through the first aperture
50a aligned and in fluid connection with the first hole
32a and the first opening
42a. The receiver drier
40 removes moisture, debris, if any from the condensed refrigerant received thereby
and the condensed refrigerant flows through the receiver drier
40 along flow direction depicted by arrows "B".
[0035] The channel
50 further supplies the condensed fluid, particularly, condensed refrigerant from which
moisture and debris are removed by passing through the receiver drier
40 to the second pass
10b, through the second opening
42b that is in fluid connection with the third hole
32c but is in fluid isolation from the second hole
32b. Specifically, the second aperture
50b configures fluid communication between the receiver drier
40 and the second portion
30d of the second manifold
30b. More specifically, the condensed refrigerant with moisture, debris, if any removed
therefrom egresses through the second aperture
50b that is aligned to the third hole
32c and the second opening
42b to enter the second portion
30d of the second manifold
30b. The second manifold
30b distributes the condensed refrigerant to the second pass
10b for sub-cooling of the condensed refrigerant. The condensed refrigerant flows through
the second pass
10b along the flow direction depicted by arrow "C" and gets sub-cooled. The sub-cooled
refrigerant is received in the first manifold
30a and egresses the first manifold
30a through the outlet
60.
[0036] The at least one intermediate aperture
50c is disposed upstream of the third sealing element
52c. The third sealing element
52c defines the first compartment
50d of the channel
50 that is in fluid communication with the second portion
30d of the second manifold
30b. The second portion
30d receives and distributes condensed refrigerant that had passed through the receiver
drier
40 to the second pass
10b or the tubes configuring the sub-cooling section of the condenser
100. Specifically, the at least one intermediate aperture
50c configures fluid communication between the first portion
30c of the second manifold
30b and the channel
50. The refrigerant, that is condensed after passing through the first pass
10a or the tubes configuring the condensing section of the condenser
100 along with uncondensed refrigerant vapor, debris and moisture, if any ingresses the
channel
50 via the at least one intermediate aperture
50c, flows through the channel
50 along direction depicted by arrow "D" to be collected to build back-pressure. The
at least one intermediate aperture
50c along with back-pressure so created manipulates pressure difference across different
sections of the core of the condenser
100 for achieving uniform distribution of the refrigerant throughout the core. Further,
such configuration of the channel
50 disposed between the second manifold
30b and the receiver drier
40 imparts compact configuration to the condenser
100 and is capable of uniformly distributing the refrigerant throughout the core of the
condenser
100, thereby preventing formation of dead zones in the core of the condenser
100 and enhancing efficiency and performance of the condenser
100.
[0037] Also is disclosed a receiver drier
40 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The receiver drier
40 is part of a heat exchanger, particularly a condenser
100 and includes a tubular casing
42 and a channel
50. The tubular casing
42 is connected to a second manifold
30b of the condenser
100 and provides fluid connection between a first pass
10a and a second pass
10b. The channel
50 forms fluid connection between the second manifold
30b and the tubular casing
42. The channel
50 receives fluid, particularly, condensed refrigerant from the first pass
10a through a first hole
32a and a second hole
32b. The first hole
32a and the second hole
32b are distant from each other. The channel
50 further supplies the condensed fluid, particularly, condensed refrigerant received
thereby to the receiver drier
40 through a first opening
42a which is closer to the first hole
32a than the second hole
32b. The channel
50 still further supplies the condensed fluid, particularly, condensed refrigerant from
which moisture and debris are removed by passing through the receiver drier
40 to the second pass
10b through a second opening
42b that is in fluid connection with third hole
32c but is in fluid isolation from the second hole
32b.
[0038] Several modifications and improvement might be applied by the person skilled in the
art to the heat exchanger 100 as defined above,_and such modifications and improvements
will still be considered within the scope and ambit of the present invention, as long
as the heat exchanger, heat exchanger comprises a first manifold, a second manifold
and a receiver drier. The first manifold and the second manifold are connected by
tubes configured to provide at least a first pass and a second pass of a heat exchange
fluid. The receiver drier is connected to the second manifold and is providing fluid
connection between the first pass and the second pass, wherein the second manifold
is connected to the receiver drier through a channel. The channel receives fluid from
the first pass through a first hole and a second hole configured on the second manifold.
The first hole and the second hole are distant from each other. The channel further
supplies the receiver drier with fluid through a first opening of the receiver drier
which is closer to the first hole than the second hole.
[0039] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible
in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention
may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
[0040] In any case, the invention should not be limited to the embodiments specifically
described in this document, as other embodiments might exist. The invention shall
spread to any equivalent means and any technically operating combination of means.