Microchannel heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises an inlet header that comprises first compartments separated by first walls, a plurality of microchannel tubes extending between and in fluidic connection with the first compartments and an outlet header of the heat exchanger, and a first distributor comprising an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. A plurality of feeder pipes is configured between the first compartments of the inlet header and the outlet ports of the first distributor, such that each of the first compartments remains fluidically connected to one of the outlet ports of the first distributor by one of the feeder pipes to allow the flow of an equal volume of fluid from the first distributor into each of the first compartments. Further, a second distributor is configured within the inlet header to mix and allow the flow of fluid into each of the first compartments.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an inlet header that comprises first compartments separated by first walls;   a plurality of microchannel tubes extending between and in fluidic connection with the first compartments and an outlet header of the heat exchanger; and   a first distributor comprising an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, wherein a plurality of feeder pipes is configured between the first compartments of the inlet header and the outlet ports of the first distributor, such that each of the first compartments remains fluidically connected to one of the outlet ports of the first distributor by one of the feeder pipes to allow flow of an equal volume of fluid from the first distributor into each of the first compartments; and   a second distributor configured within the first compartments of the inlet header, the second distributor configured to mix and allow uniform flow of fluid into the microchannel tubes of each of the first compartments.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first distributor comprises a housing of a shape that comprises the inlet port at a first end of the housing and the plurality of outlet ports at a second end of the housing, wherein the inlet port is in fluidic communication with the plurality of outlet ports via a plurality of fluidic passages extending within the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first distributor has a solid conical shape that comprises a substantially circular base, and a curved lateral surface extending from a vortex end of the first distributor to the circular base, wherein the first distributor comprises the inlet port at the vortex end, and the plurality of outlet ports being configured circumferentially around the circular base and in fluidic communication with the inlet port via a plurality of fluidic passages. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first compartments of the inlet header are hollow members, and the outlet header comprises hollow second compartments separated by second walls, and
 wherein a first end of the plurality of microchannel tubes is fluidically connected to at least one of the first compartments of the inlet header and a second end of the corresponding tube is fluidically connected to at least one of the second compartments of the outlet header.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a fluid collector fluidically connected to the second compartments of the outlet header, wherein the collector device is configured to receive and collect the fluid from each of the second compartments. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet header and the outlet header are configured in a vertical orientation, with the plurality of microchannel tubes extending between the inlet header and the outlet header. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the feeder pipes associated with each of the first compartments is connected to a bottom end of the corresponding first compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microchannel tubes is in a single-pass configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microchannel tubes is in a multi-pass configuration comprising a predefined number of passes and a predefined number of turns. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein a number of the microchannel tubes in a subsequent pass among the predefined number of passes is less than a number of the microchannel tubes in a corresponding preceding pass. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein a number of the microchannel tubes in a subsequent pass among the predefined number of passes is greater a number of the microchannel tubes in a corresponding preceding pass. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein adjacent passes among the predefined number of passes are fluidically connected by a flow-mixing device. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange section comprises a plurality of refrigerant circuits, wherein each of the circuits comprises a group of microchannel tubes that is a subset of a total number of the plurality of microchannel tubes. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the group of microchannel tubes associated with each of the refrigerant circuits comprises a predefined number of passes and a predefined number of turns. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the group of microchannel tubes associated with each of the circuits is fluidically connected to one of the first compartments of the inlet header, and a second end of the group of microchannel tubes associated with each of the circuits is fluidically connected to one of the second compartments of the outlet header. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet ports of the first distributor are non-uniform in size such that different volume of fluid is provided in the first compartments of the inlet header. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the feeder pipes have non-uniform predetermined diameters and predetermined lengths such that a predetermined target pressure drop is achieved in the feeder pipes 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second distributor comprises a distribution tube extending longitudinally through the first compartments, the distribution tube comprises a plurality of cavities extending longitudinally along a length of the distribution tube and configured radially around a central axis of the distribution tube, wherein each of the cavities comprises one or more ports opening in each of the first compartments. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second distributor comprises an elongated member extending within the inlet header through the first compartments, the elongated member comprises a plurality of fluid passages substantially parallel to each other and extending longitudinally along a length of the elongated member, and a plurality of outlet ports disposed on a face of the elongated member and fluidically connected to at least one of the outlet ports, wherein at least one of the outlet ports open in each of the first compartments. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second distributor comprises a plurality of distribution tubes extending longitudinally through the inlet header, such that each of the distribution tubes extends up to and remains fluidically connected to one of the first compartments of the inlet header.