Parallel flow heat exchanger with connectors

Abstract

A parallel flow heat exchanger includes a plurality of connector tubes which fluidly interconnect the individual flat heat exchange tubes to a refrigerant delivery member such that the refrigerant flows along the lengths of the connector tubes and then flows in a direction orthogonal thereto to enter the flat heat exchange tubes to thereby provide improved refrigerant distribution thereto. The refrigerant distribution member may be an inlet manifold or an entrance port or a refrigerant distributor. The connector tubes may be connected so as to conduct the flow in parallel or in series, and an orifice may be placed at the entrance end thereof to improve refrigerant distribution.

1 . A parallel flow heat exchanger of the type having a plurality of flat heat exchange tubes aligned in substantially parallel relationship, comprising:
 a plurality of connector tubes, each connector tube being fluidly connected to at least one of said plurality of said heat exchange tubes for conducting the flow of refrigerant therein; and   a refrigerant delivery member for delivering refrigerant to each of said plurality of connector tubes.   
   
   
       2 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of connector tubes includes a linear slot into which a flat heat exchange tube is inserted. 
   
   
       3 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said flat heat exchange tubes extend inside said respective connector tubes. 
   
   
       4 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the protrusion depth of said flat heat exchange tubes into respective connector tubes is not uniform. 
   
   
       5 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said flat heat exchange tubes are inserted into said respective connector tubes such that the respective ends of said flat heat exchange tubes are substantially flush with the inner walls of said respective connector tubes. 
   
   
       6 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said connector tubes are cylindrical in shape and have a diameter which is larger than the height of said flat heat exchange tubes. 
   
   
       7 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said connector tubes have a length which is greater than the width of said flat heat exchange tubes. 
   
   
       8 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said refrigerant delivery member comprises an inlet manifold. 
   
   
       9 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said inlet manifold is connected at one end of said connector tubes. 
   
   
       10 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein adjacent connector tubes are fluidly interconnected at their ends such that the refrigerant flows serially through the plurality of connector tubes. 
   
   
       11 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said refrigerant delivery member comprises a refrigerant distributor fluidly connected to the respective connector tubes. 
   
   
       12 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  and including an orifice disposed in one end of each of the plurality of connector tubes such that the refrigerant from the refrigeration delivery member flows first through the orifice and then into the respective connector tubes. 
   
   
       13 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  and including an outlet manifold fluidly connected at an end of each of said flat heat exchange tubes. 
   
   
       14 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least one dimension of said flat heat exchange tube is not the same for said plurality of said flat heat exchange tubes. 
   
   
       15 . A parallel flow heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said dimension of said heat exchange tube is at least one of the tube width and the tube height. 
   
   
       16 . A method of promoting uniform refrigerant flow into a plurality of parallel flat heat exchange tubes, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of connector tubes, each connector tube being fluidly connected to at least one of said parallel flat heat exchanger tubes for conducting the flow of refrigerant therein; and   providing a refrigerant flow delivery apparatus for delivering refrigerant to each of said of plurality of flat heat exchange tubes.   
   
   
       17 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  and including the step of providing in each of said plurality of connector tubes a linear slot into which a flat heat exchanger tube is inserted. 
   
   
       18 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said flat heat exchange tubes extend inside said respective connector tubes. 
   
   
       19 . A method as set forth in  claim 18  and the protrusion depth of said flat heat exchange tubes into respective connector tubes is not uniform. 
   
   
       20 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said flat heat exchange tubes are inserted into said respective connector tubes such that the respective ends of said flat heat exchange tubes are substantially flush with the inner walls of, said respective connector tubes 
   
   
       21 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said connector tubes are cylindrical in shape and have a diameter which is larger than the height of said flat heat exchange tubes. 
   
   
       22 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said connector tubes have a length which is greater than the width of said flat heat exchange tubes. 
   
   
       23 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said refrigerant delivery member comprises an inlet manifold. 
   
   
       24 . A method as set forth in  claim 23  and including the step of connecting said inlet manifold to at one end of said connector tubes. 
   
   
       25 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  and including the step of fluidly interconnecting adjacent connector tubes at their ends such that the refrigerant flows serially through the plurality of connector tubes. 
   
   
       26 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said refrigerant delivery member comprises a refrigerant distributor fluidly connected to the respective connector tubes. 
   
   
       27 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  and including the step of providing an orifice in one end of each of the plurality of connector tubes such that the refrigerant from the refrigeration delivery member flows first through the orifice and then into the respective connector tubes. 
   
   
       28 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  and including the step of fluidly connecting an outlet manifold to an end of each of said flat heat exchange tubes. 
   
   
       29 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein at least one dimension of said flat heat exchange tube is not the same for said plurality of said flat heat exchange tubes. 
   
   
       30 . A method as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said dimension of said heat exchange tube is at least one of the tube width and the tube height.