Microchannel hybrid evaporator

Abstract

A heat exchanger including a primary inlet manifold that has an inlet port to receive refrigerant from a source, a primary outlet manifold that has an outlet port to discharge refrigerant from the heat exchanger, and a plurality of microchannel tubes fluidly connected between the primary inlet manifold and the primary outlet manifold and spaced apart from each other. Each of the plurality of microchannel tubes has a secondary inlet manifold fluidly coupled to the primary inlet manifold, a secondary outlet manifold fluidly coupled to the primary outlet manifold, and at least one microchannel fluidly coupled between the secondary inlet manifold and the secondary outlet manifold to direct refrigerant to the secondary outlet manifold. The heat exchanger also includes a plurality of fins disposed between adjacent microchannel tubes and oriented to define an airflow path along the longitudinal direction of the microchannel tubes.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a primary inlet manifold including an inlet port to receive refrigerant from a source;   a primary outlet manifold including an outlet port to discharge refrigerant from the primary outlet manifold;   a plurality of microchannel tubes fluidly connected between the primary inlet manifold and the primary outlet manifold and spaced apart from each other, each of the plurality of microchannel tubes including a secondary inlet manifold fluidly coupled to the primary inlet manifold, a secondary outlet manifold fluidly coupled to the primary outlet manifold, and at least one microchannel fluidly coupled between the secondary inlet manifold and the secondary outlet manifold to direct refrigerant to the secondary outlet manifold; and   a plurality of fins disposed between adjacent microchannel tubes and oriented to define an airflow path along the longitudinal direction of the microchannel tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microchannel tubes are spaced apart from each other along the length of the primary inlet manifold. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the microchannel tubes extend substantially vertically and the fins are oriented such that an airflow is directed in a generally vertical direction along the airflow path. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the fins have one of a rectangular cross-sectional shape, a triangular cross-sectional shape, a curved cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the fins define a fin density that varies along the length of each of the microchannel tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the fins have one of a wavy profile, a louvered profile, and a perforated profile. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the primary inlet manifold and the primary outlet manifold are oriented substantially horizontal, and wherein the secondary inlet manifold is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the primary inlet manifold and the secondary outlet manifold is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the primary outlet manifold. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an inlet manifold including an inlet port to receive refrigerant from a source;   an outlet manifold including an outlet port to discharge refrigerant from the primary outlet manifold;   a plurality of refrigerant tubes fluidly connected between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold and spaced apart from each other, each of the plurality of microchannel tubes including a plurality of micro channels; and   a plurality of fins positioned between adjacent microchannel tubes and having an airflow inlet oriented to receive an airflow and an airflow outlet, the fins defining a fin density that varies along the length of the refrigerant tubes based on the location of the fins relative to the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the fin density of the fins located adjacent the airflow inlet is lower than the fin density of the fins located adjacent the airflow outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the fins define a first fin portion having a first fin density and a second fin portion having a second fin density that is lower than the first fin density. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the fins further define a third fin portion having a third fin density that is lower than the second fin density. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the fins are oriented to define an airflow path along the longitudinal direction of the microchannel tubes. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the refrigerant tubes extend substantially vertically and the fins are oriented such that an airflow is directed in a generally vertical direction along the airflow path. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the fins have one of a rectangular cross-sectional shape, a triangular cross-sectional shape, a curved cross-sectional shape, a wavy profile, a louvered profile, and a perforated profile. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the fins are defined by a body portion and end portions on both ends, at least one of the end portions defining one of the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet on a face side of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the fins include curved end portions on both ends such that the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet are disposed in at least one face side of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein each of the body portion and the curved end portions are defined by a substantially rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet are disposed on the same face side of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet are defined by a substantially rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         20 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a primary inlet manifold including an inlet port to receive refrigerant from a source;   a primary outlet manifold including an outlet port to discharge refrigerant from the primary outlet manifold;   a plurality of microchannel tubes fluidly connected between the primary inlet manifold and the primary outlet manifold and spaced apart from each other, each of the plurality of microchannel tubes including a secondary inlet manifold fluidly coupled to the primary inlet manifold, a secondary outlet manifold fluidly coupled to the primary outlet manifold, and a plurality of microchannels fluidly coupled between the secondary inlet manifold and the secondary outlet manifold to direct refrigerant to the secondary outlet manifold; and   a plurality of fins disposed between adjacent microchannel tubes and having an airflow inlet oriented to receive an airflow and an airflow outlet, the fins defining a first fin portion having a first fin density and a second fin portion having a second fin density such that the density of the fins varies along the length of the refrigerant tubes based on the location of the fins relative to the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet.   
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein the first fin portion is disposed adjacent the secondary outlet manifold and the first fin density is higher than the second fin density. 
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger of  claim 21 , wherein the fins further define a third fin portion disposed adjacent the secondary inlet manifold and has a third fin density that is lower than the second fin density. 
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein the fins are oriented to define an airflow path along the longitudinal direction of the microchannel tubes.