Heat exchanger devices and systems and associated methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for improved heat exchange performance are disclosed. The system can include a first slab of refrigerant tubes having an upstream side and a downstream side. The system can further include a second slab of refrigerant tubes having an upstream side and a downstream side. The system can additionally include an airflow distribution device configured to distribute air along the first and second slabs. Further, the downstream side of first slab can be set apart a first distance from the downstream side of the second slab and the upstream side of the first slab can be attached to the upstream side of the second slab. The airflow distribution device can include a perforated plate having perforations of various dimensions or various sized vanes positioned in the path of airflow.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first slab of refrigerant tubes, the first slab having (i) an upstream side, (ii) a downstream side, (iii) a linear shaped region, and (iv) a curved region, the linear shaped region being disposed closer to the upstream side than the downstream side and the curved region being disposed close to the downstream side than the upstream side;   a second slab of refrigerant tubes, the second slab having (i) an upstream side, (ii) a downstream side, (iii) a linear shaped region, and (iv) a curved region, the linear shaped region being disposed closer to the upstream side than the downstream side and the curved region being disposed close to the downstream side than the upstream side,   wherein the downstream side of the first slab is set apart a first distance from the downstream side of the second slab and the upstream side of the first slab is set apart a second distance from the upstream side of the second slab, and   wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third slab of refrigerant tubes, the third slab having (i) an upstream side, (ii) a downstream side, (iii) a linear shaped region, and (iv) a curved region, the linear shaped region being disposed closer to the upstream side than the downstream side and the curved region being disposed close to the downstream side than the upstream side, 
 wherein the downstream side of the third slab is set apart a third distance from the downstream side of one of the first or second slabs and the upstream side of the third slab is set apart a fourth distance from the upstream side of one of the first or second slabs, and 
 wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance. 
 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the first slab is subdivided into a first group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the first slab than the downstream side of the first slab and a second group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the first slab than the upstream side of the first slab. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the second slab is subdivided into a third group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the second slab than the downstream side of the second slab and a fourth group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the second slab than the upstream side of the second slab. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the third slab is subdivided into a fifth group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the third slab than the downstream side of the third slab and a sixth group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the third slab than the upstream side of the third slab. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein:
 a number of tubes in the first group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the second group of tubes,   a number of tubes in the third group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the fourth group of tubes, and   a number of tubes in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the sixth group of tubes.   
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein:
 a diameter of each tube in the first group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the second group of tubes,   a diameter of each tube in the third group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the fourth group of tubes, and   a diameter of each tube in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the sixth group of tubes.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger is a microchannel heat exchanger and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth groups of tubes comprise flat tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a width of each tube in the first group of tubes is greater than a width of each tube in the second group of tubes,   a width of each tube in the third group of tubes is greater than a width of each tube in the fourth group of tubes, and   a width of each tube in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a width of each tube in the sixth group of tubes.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a height of each tube in the first group of tubes is greater than a height of each tube in the second group of tubes,   a height of each tube in the third group of tubes is greater than a height of each tube in the fourth group of tubes, and   a height of each tube in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a height of each tube in the sixth group of tubes.   
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first slab of refrigerant tubes, the first slab having (i) an upstream side and (ii) a downstream side;   a second slab of refrigerant tubes, the second slab having (i) an upstream side and (ii) a downstream side,   a third slab of refrigerant tubes, the second slab having (i) first side and (ii) a second side,   wherein the downstream side of the first slab is set apart a first distance from the downstream side of the second slab,   wherein the upstream side of the first slab is attached to the first side of the third slab and the upstream side of the second slab is attached to the second side of the third slab.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the third slab is a curved slab having a curved region located between the first and second sides. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first slab is subdivided into a first group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the first slab than the downstream side of the first slab and a second group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the first slab than the upstream side of the first slab, and   the second slab is subdivided into a third group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the second slab than the downstream side of the second slab and a fourth group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the second slab than the upstream side of the second slab.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a number of tubes in the first group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the second group of tubes, and   a number of tubes in the third group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the fourth group of tubes.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a diameter of each tube in the first group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the second group of tubes, and   a diameter of each tube in the third group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the fourth group of tubes.   
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first slab of refrigerant tubes, the first slab having (i) an upstream side and (ii) a downstream side;   a second slab of refrigerant tubes, the second slab having (i) an upstream side and (ii) a downstream side; and   an airflow distribution device configured to distribute air along the first and second slabs;   wherein the downstream side of the first slab is set apart a first distance from the downstream side of the second slab and the upstream side of the first slab is attached to the upstream side of the second slab.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a third slab of refrigerant tubes, the third slab having (i) an upstream side and (ii) a downstream side;   wherein the downstream side of the third slab is attached to the downstream side of the second slab and the upstream side of the third slab is set apart a second distance from the upstream side of the second slab, and   wherein the airflow distribution device is further configured to distribute air along the third slab.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first slab is subdivided into a first group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the first slab than the downstream side of the first slab and a second group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the first slab than the upstream side of the first slab,   the second slab is subdivided into a third group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the second slab than the downstream side of the second slab and a fourth group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the second slab than the upstream side of the second slab, and   the third slab is subdivided into a fifth group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the third slab than a downstream side of the third slab and a sixth group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the third slab than the upstream side of the third slab.   
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a number of tubes in the first group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the second group of tubes,   a number of tubes in the third group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the fourth group of tubes, and   a number of tubes in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the sixth group of tubes.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a diameter of each tube in the first group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the second group of tubes,   a diameter of each tube in the third group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the fourth group of tubes, and   a diameter of each tube in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the sixth group of tubes.