Method and apparatus for improving distribution of fluid in a heat exchanger

Abstract

A mini-channel heat exchanger or a micro-channel heat exchanger includes an insert ( 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 4, 940, 1040 ) having a volume. The insert is within a gap between a plurality of tubes ( 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630, 1, 930, 1030 ) of the mini-channel heat exchanger or the micro-channel heat exchanger and a manifold inner wall of a manifold ( 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 2, 920, 1020 ).

1 . A mini-channel heat exchanger or a micro-channel heat exchanger comprising:
 an insert having a volume, said insert being within a gap between a plurality of tubes of the mini-channel heat exchanger or the micro-channel heat exchanger and a manifold inner wall of a manifold.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said insert is a solid cylinder having a solid cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said insert is a tube-in-tube distributor that has a tubular shape with one or more orifices therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said one or more orifices are positioned on said insert having an angle greater than 0 degrees relative to a vertical axis (B) parallel to said plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more orifices are positioned on said insert having an angle that is about +30° to about +330° relative to axes of mini-channel tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said insert ranges from about 1/16 inch to about 3 inches in equivalent hydraulic diameter, and wherein said manifold and said insert have a manifold to insert volume ratio that ranges from about 1.10 to about 5. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more orifices have an orifice size that ranges from about 0.05 mm to about 4.0 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more orifices are sized so that a refrigerant experiences a partial or full expansion effect. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said insert is a D-shape tube insert having a curved portion adjacent said manifold and a flat portion adjacent to said plurality of tubes, and wherein said flat portion has said one or more orifices therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said D-shape tube insert has a pair of legs having said flat portion therebetween, and wherein said legs abut said tubes. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said insert is a kidney shape tube insert with said one or more orifices on a concave side of said kidney shape tube insert, and wherein said kidney shape tube insert has a first channel and a second channel that define an expanding volume. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more orifices creates a pressure drop from an interior volume of said insert to an internal volume of said manifold. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said pressure drop is greater than or equal to another pressure drop generated by flow through an internal volume to one of said plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said insert is integrally formed with said manifold. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said insert forms a first chamber separated from a second chamber in said manifold, wherein said second chamber has refrigerant flowing therethrough and said tubes are inserted into said first chamber, and wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are connected by said one or more orifices through said insert. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said insert is a propeller type insert having vanes. 
     
     
         17 . A method for reducing maldistribution of fluid in a mini-channel heat exchanger or a micro-channel heat exchanger, the method comprising:
 reducing an internal volume of a manifold that distributes a flow including both a vapor and a liquid to a plurality of tubes of the mini-channel heat exchanger or the micro-channel heat exchanger.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said reducing comprises reducing said internal volume by inserting an insert or shaping said manifold. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising creating a pressure drop from an interior volume of an insert to said internal volume or mixing said vapor and said liquid in said internal volume. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)