# US 12,111,120 B2 · Microchannel heat exchanger

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- Number: US 12,111,120 B2
- Document ID: US12111120B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/674,193
- Filed: 2022-02-17
- Published: 2022-09-22
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-17
- Assignees: Carrier Corporation
- Applicants: Carrier Corporation
- Inventors: Arindom Joardar; Tobias H. Sienel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111120B2

## CPC

- F28F 1/022: {with multiple channels}
- F28D 1/05366: {Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators}
- F28D 2021/0068: {for refrigerant cycles}
- F28F 2210/08: Assemblies of conduits having different features
- F28F 2260/02: having microchannels
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)

## Abstract

A heat exchange tube for use in a heat exchanger including a first nose and a second nose aligned on an axis along a width of the heat exchange tube; an end port immediately adjacent to the first nose; wherein the end port has a non-circular, polygonal shape.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heat exchange tube for use in a heat exchanger, the heat exchange tube comprising:
a first nose and a second nose aligned on a Y axis along a width of the heat exchange tube;
an end port immediately adjacent to the first nose;
a first interior port positioned between the first nose and the second nose;
a second interior port positioned between the first nose and the second nose;
the first interior port having a planar wall extending from one side of the first interior port to a second side of the first interior port, a distance from the planar wall of the first interior port to an outer surface of the heat exchange tube defining a wall having a first thickness, B2, along a Z axis perpendicular to the Y axis;
the second interior port having a planar wall extending from one side of the second interior port to a second side of the second interior port, a distance from the planar wall of the second interior port to the outer surface of the heat exchange tube defining a wall having a second thickness, B1, along the Z axis;
wherein the first thickness, B2, is greater than the second thickness, B1;
a further first interior port having a planar wall extending from one side of the further first interior port to a second side of the further first interior port, a distance from the planar wall of the further first interior port to the outer surface of the heat exchange tube defining a wall having the first thickness, B2, along the Z axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The heat exchange tube of claim 1:
wherein the end port has a non-circular, polygonal shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The heat exchange tube of claim 2, wherein the end port is rectangular.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The heat exchange tube of claim 2, wherein an interior side of the end port immediately adjacent to the first nose has a curvature of zero.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The heat exchange tube of claim 2, wherein the end port has an aspect ratio of width to height ranging from 0.1 to 10.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The heat exchange tube of claim 1, wherein the first interior port is immediately adjacent to the end port.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The heat exchange tube of claim 1, wherein the first interior port and the further first interior port are positioned on opposite sides of the second interior port along the Y axis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The heat exchange tube of claim 1, further comprising a further second interior port having a planar wall extending from one side of the further second interior port to a second side of the further second interior port, a distance from the planar wall of the further second interior port to the outer surface of the heat exchange tube defining a wall having the first thickness, B1, along the Z axis.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The heat exchange tube of claim 8, wherein the first interior port, the second interior port, the further second interior port and the further first interior port are arranged in sequence along the Y axis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A heat exchanger including a heat exchange tube as recited in claim 1.

### Claim 11

A heat exchange tube for use in a heat exchanger, the heat exchange tube comprising:
a first nose and a second nose aligned on a Y axis along a width of the heat exchange tube;
an end port immediately adjacent to the first nose;
a first interior port positioned between the first nose and the second nose;
a second interior port positioned between the first nose and the second nose;
the first interior port having a wall having a first thickness, B2, along a Z axis perpendicular to the Y axis;
the second interior port having a wall having a second thickness, B1, along the Z axis;
wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness;
wherein a ratio of B2/B1 ranges from 1.01 to E/(2B1), where E is a height of the heat exchange tube along the Z axis.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The heat exchange tube of claim 11, wherein a ratio of B2/B1 ranges from 1.1 to 1.5.

### Claim 13

A heat exchange tube for use in a heat exchanger, the heat exchange tube comprising:
a first nose and a second nose aligned on a Y axis along a width of the heat exchange tube;
a port positioned between the first nose and the second nose;
the port having an interior port height along a Z axis perpendicular to the Y axis;
wherein the interior port height varies along the Y axis to define a throat in the port;
wherein the interior port height increases and decreases along the Y axis;
wherein an interior surface of the port is V-shaped;
wherein the interior port height has a minimum offset from a center of the port as measured along the Y axis.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The heat exchange tube of claim 13, wherein the port has a width, C, measured along the Y axis and the interior port height has a minimum at a distance K from a from a side wall of the port, where K ranges from 0.1xC to 0.9xC.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The heat exchange tube of claim 14, wherein K ranges from 0.4xC to 0.6xC.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The heat exchange tube of claim 13, wherein interior port height has a maximum of D1 and a minimum of D2, wherein D2 ranges from 0.1xD1 to 0.98xD1.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The heat exchange tube of claim 16, wherein D2 ranges from 0.65xD1 to 0.85xD1.