Heat exchanger
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsJames J. del Toro, Rudy C. Bussjager
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat exchanger for use in a reversible refrigeration system. The exchanger is divided into a plurality of heat transfer zones containing one or more circuits. Control means are provided to route refrigerant through each zone in a series progression when the heat exchanger is serving as a condenser. The flow geometry is automatically changed when the function of the exchanger is reversed from condenser to evaporator so that refrigerant flows simultaneously through each of the heat transfer zones.
Claims13
A heat exchanger suitable for use in a heat pump wherein the exchanger acts as a condenser when the flow of refrigerant through the exchanger is in one direction and as an evaporator when the flow of refrigerant through the exchanger is in the opposite direction, the exchanger including
- one or more refrigerant flow circuits contained within the exchanger,
- means to separate the circuits into a plurality of heat transfer zones that are arranged so that when air flows through the heat exchanger, the air flows through the heat transfer zones in parallel, and
- control means operatively associated with the last mentioned means for routing refrigerant in series through the heat transfer zones when the flow of refrigerant through the exchanger is in one direction and to route the refrigerant simultaneously through each of the zones when the flow of refrigerant is in the opposite direction.
A heat exchanger for use in a heat pump wherein the exchanger serves as a condenser when the flow of refrigerant to the exchanger is in one direction and as an evaporator when the flow of refrigerant to the exchanger is in the opposite direction, the exchanger including
- a coil having a plurality of refrigerant flow circuits passing therethrough,
- a first set of said circuits running between a primary header and an intermediate header, the primary header being connected to a compressor line for delivering refrigerant into the exchanger when the refrigerant flow to the exchanger is in one direction,
- a second set of said circuits running between said intermediate header and a secondary header, said secondary header being connected to a liquid line for delivering refrigerant to the exchanger when the flow of refrigerant to the exchanger is in the opposite direction and positioned with respect to the first set of said circuits so that when air flows through the heat exchanger the air flow through the first set of said circuits is in parallel with the air flow through the second set of said circuits,
- a check valve operatively positioned between the primary and secondary headers, the valve being arranged to prevent refrigerant from moving therethrough when the flow of refrigerant to the exchanger is in said one direction whereby the refrigerant is caused to move in series through the first and then the second set of circuits and to pass refrigerant directly from the secondary header into the primary header when the flow is in the opposite direction,
- an expansion device operatively connected to the liquid line and arranged to expand refrigerant into each of the circuits between the intermediate header and the coil, and
- a second check valve positioned in the liquid line between the secondary header and the expansion device arranged to operate in opposition to said first check valve to prevent refrigerant from moving into said secondary header from said liquid line when the flow is in the opposite direction whereby the refrigerant moving in the opposite direction is passed simultaneously into each circuit through said expansion device and to permit passage of refrigerant when the flow is in said one direction.
A method of routing refrigerant through a heat exchanger arranged to serve as a condenser when the flow of refrigerant to the exchanger is in one direction and as an evaporator when the flow to the exchanger is in the opposite direction, the steps including
- dividing the heat exchanger into a plurality of heat transfer zones arranged so that when air flows through the heat exchanger, the air flows through the zones in parallel paths,
- directing refrigerant in a series flow progression through each of the heat transfer zones when the flow to the exchanger is in one direction, and
- rerouting the refrigerant through each of the heat transfer zones simultaneously when the flow to the exchanger is in the opposite direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.