Orientation insensitive refrigerant distributor tube

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly having an inlet header, an outlet header spaced from the inlet header, a plurality of refrigerant tubes hydraulically connecting the inlet header with the outlet header. A distributor tube having a plurality of orifices disposed in the inlet header, wherein the orifices are arranged along the distributor tube such that at least one orifice is oriented in the liquid phase of the refrigerant pressed against the internal surface of the distributor tube regardless of orientation of the evaporator. The orifices may be arranged in a random order about the distributor tube, positioned in groups of at least two at predetermined locations, or spiraled along the distributor tube.

1 . A heat exchanger assembly for use with a two-phase refrigerant, comprising;
 an inlet header;   an outlet header spaced from said inlet header;   a plurality of refrigerant tubes hydraulically connecting said inlet header to said outlet header;   a distributor tube having a plurality of orifices disposed in said inlet header, wherein said orifices are arranged along said distributor tube such that at least one orifice is oriented in the liquid phase of the refrigerant pressed against said internal surface of said distributor tube regardless of orientation of said heat exchanger assembly.   
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of orifices is randomly positioned along said distributor tube. 
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of orifices is spirally positioned along said distributor tube about a substantially center axis. 
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each of said plurality of orifices is off-set 45 to 180 degrees from adjacent said orifices. 
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each of said plurality of orifices is off-set 90 degrees from adjacent orifices. 
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each of said plurality of orifices is off-set 180 degrees from adjacent orifices. 
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said distributor tube extends along a substantially center axis and includes pairs of said orifices spaced along said distributor tube;   wherein each of said pairs of orifices is located about a respective point on said center axis.   
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said pair of orifices includes one orifice that is 90 to 180 degrees apart from the other orifice. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said pair of orifices includes one orifice that is 90 degrees from the other orifice. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of said pairs of orifices is 90 degrees rotated from adjacent said pairs of orifices. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of said pairs of orifices is 180 degrees rotated from adjacent said pairs of orifices. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said pair of orifices includes one orifice that is 180 degrees from the other orifice. 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each of said pairs of orifices is 90 degrees rotated from adjacent said pairs of orifices. 
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said distributor tube extends along a substantially center axis and includes groups of 4 orifices spaced along said distributor tube.   
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 14 ,
 wherein each orifice within said group of (4) orifices is 90 degrees from said adjacent orifices.   
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger assembly of  claim 15 ,
 wherein each group of 4 orifices is 45 degrees rotated from adjacent group of 4 orifices.