Heat Exchanger with Fluid Expansion in Header

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of flat, multi-channel heat exchange tubes extending between spaced headers. Each heat exchange tube has a plurality of flow channels extending longitudinally in parallel relationship from its inlet end to its outlet end. A plurality of connectors are positioned between the inlet header and the heat transfer tubes such that the connector inlet ends are in fluid flow communication with the header through a relatively small cross-sectional flow area openings and the connector outlet ends are adapted to receive the inlet end of a heat exchanger tube. The connector defines a fluid flow pathway from the relatively small cross-sectional flow area opening in the inlet end of the connector to an outlet opening in the outlet end of the connector that opens to the flow channels of the heat exchange tube received in the outlet end of the connector.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a header defining a chamber for collecting a fluid; and    at least one heat exchange tube defining a plurality of discrete fluid flow paths therethrough and having an inlet opening to said plurality of fluid flow paths; and    a connector having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a fluid flow path extending from said inlet end to said outlet end, said inlet end in fluid flow communication with the chamber of said header through a first opening and said outlet end in fluid communication with the inlet opening of said at least one heat exchange tube through a second opening, said first opening having a relatively small cross-sectional flow area.    
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first opening of said connector comprises an expansion orifice.  
   
   
       3 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fluid flow path of said connector comprises a divergent fluid flow path expanding in cross-section in the direction of fluid flow therethrough from said first opening to said second opening.  
   
   
       4 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 3  wherein said first opening of said connector comprises an expansion orifice.  
   
   
       5 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one heat exchange tube has a flattened, non-round cross-section.  
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 5  wherein said at least one heat exchange tube has a flattened, rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       7 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 5  wherein said at least one heat exchange tube has a flattened, generally oval cross-section.  
   
   
       8 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of channels defines a flow path having a non-circular cross-section.  
   
   
       9 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 8  wherein each of said plurality of channels defines a flow path is selected from a group of a rectangular, triangular or trapezoidal cross-section.  
   
   
       10 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of channels defines a flow path having a circular cross-section.  
   
   
       11 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first opening comprises a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       12 . A refrigerant vapor compression system comprising: 
 a compressor, a condenser and an evaporative heat exchanger connected in fluid flow communication in a refrigerant circuit whereby high pressure refrigerant vapor passes from said compressor to said condenser, high pressure refrigerant passes from said condenser to said evaporative heat exchanger, and low pressure refrigerant vapor passes from said evaporative heat exchanger to said compressor; characterized in that said evaporative heat exchanger includes:    an inlet header and an outlet header, each in fluid flow communication with the refrigerant circuit, said inlet header defining a chamber for receiving refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit;    at least one heat exchange tube having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and having a plurality of discrete fluid flow paths extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, the outlet opening in fluid flow communication with said outlet header; and    a connector having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a fluid flow path extending from said inlet end to said outlet end, said inlet end in fluid flow communication with the chamber of said header through a first opening and said outlet end in fluid communication with the inlet opening of said at least one heat exchange tube through a second opening, said first opening having a relatively small flow area.    
   
   
       13 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said first opening of said connector comprises an expansion orifice.  
   
   
       14 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 12  wherein the fluid flow path of said connector comprises a divergent fluid flow path expanding in cross-section in the direction of fluid flow therethrough from said first opening to said second opening.  
   
   
       15 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said first opening of said connector comprises an expansion orifice.  
   
   
       16 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said at least one heat exchange tube has a flattened, non-round cross-section.  
   
   
       17 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 16  wherein said at least one heat exchange tube has a flattened, rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       18 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 16  wherein said at least one heat exchange tube has a flattened, generally oval cross-section.  
   
   
       19 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 12  wherein each of said plurality of channels defines a flow path having a non-circular cross-section.  
   
   
       20 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 12  wherein each of said plurality of channels defines a flow path is selected from a group of a rectangular, triangular or trapezoidal cross-section.  
   
   
       21 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 12  wherein each of said plurality of channels defines a flow path having a circular cross-section.  
   
   
       22 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said heat exchanger comprises a single-pass heat exchanger.  
   
   
       23 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said heat exchanger comprises a multi-pass heat exchanger.  
   
   
       24 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said heat exchanger comprises a condenser.  
   
   
       25 . A refrigerant vapor compression system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said heat exchanger comprises an evaporator.