Efficiency condenser
First Claim
1. An air conditioning system refrigerant condenser (24) having opposed, substantially parallel, vertically oriented, elongated header tanks (12′
- , 14′
) of substantially uniform internal cross sectional area, including an inlet tank (12′
) and a return tank (14′
), with a plurality of generally parallel flow tubes (16′
) extending between the inlet tank (12′
) and return tank (14′
), generally perpendicular thereto, said flow tubes (16′
) having substantially equal sized ends opening unrestricted into each header tank (12′
, 14′
), said condenser (24) also having a refrigerant inlet (20′
) into the inlet tank (12′
) and a refrigerant outlet (22′
) out of the return header tanks (14′
), so that a refrigerant vapor flows through the inlet (20′
) into the inlet tank (12′
), across the flow tubes (16′
) into the return header tank (14′
) and then out of the outlet (22′
) and in which at least the refrigerant inlet (20′
) is sufficiently distant from a number of flow tubes (16′
) so as to create a refrigerant flow surplus in the flow tubes (16′
) nearer the refrigerant inlet (20′
) and a refrigerant flow deficit (22′
) through the flow tubes (16′
) farther from the inlet (20′
), characterized by;
a flow restriction (26) located in the return tank (14′
) that restricts the flow, through the return tank (14′
), of refrigerant flowing from the surplus flow tubes (16′
) to the refrigerant outlet (22′
), so as to create a back pressure in said return tank (14′
) that indirectly shifts fluid flow within the inlet tank (12′
), away from the surplus flow tubes and toward the deficit flow tubes, thereby better balancing the refrigerant flow through all flow tubes (16′
) to improve overall condenser efficiency.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air conditioning system refrigerant condenser (24) has opposed, parallel, vertical header tanks header tanks (12′, 14′) with a substantially uniform internal cross sectional area. The inlet tank (12′) and return tank (14′) are connected by a plurality of generally parallel flow tubes (16′), each of which is identical in size and shape with unrestricted ends opening into each header tank (12′, 14′). The refrigerant inlet (20′) into the inlet tank (12′) is located relatively high up, as is the outlet (22′) on the other tank, creating both a vapor deficit in the lower flow tubes (16′) that are farthest from the inlet (20′), as well as liquid pooling in the lower flow tubes (16′) that are below the outlet (22′). By placing a simple flow restriction (26) in the return tank (14′) that restricts the flow, through the return tank (14′), of the refrigerant flowing from the higher, surplus flow tubes (16′) and to the refrigerant outlet (22′), a back pressure is created in the return tank (14′) that indirectly shifts fluid flow within the inlet tank (12′), away from the surplus flow tubes and toward the deficit flow tubes. This rebalances the refrigerant flow through all flow tubes (16′) to improve overall condenser efficiency.
26 Citations
2 Claims
-
1. An air conditioning system refrigerant condenser (24) having opposed, substantially parallel, vertically oriented, elongated header tanks (12′
- , 14′
) of substantially uniform internal cross sectional area, including an inlet tank (12′
) and a return tank (14′
), with a plurality of generally parallel flow tubes (16′
) extending between the inlet tank (12′
) and return tank (14′
), generally perpendicular thereto, said flow tubes (16′
) having substantially equal sized ends opening unrestricted into each header tank (12′
, 14′
), said condenser (24) also having a refrigerant inlet (20′
) into the inlet tank (12′
) and a refrigerant outlet (22′
) out of the return header tanks (14′
), so that a refrigerant vapor flows through the inlet (20′
) into the inlet tank (12′
), across the flow tubes (16′
) into the return header tank (14′
) and then out of the outlet (22′
) and in which at least the refrigerant inlet (20′
) is sufficiently distant from a number of flow tubes (16′
) so as to create a refrigerant flow surplus in the flow tubes (16′
) nearer the refrigerant inlet (20′
) and a refrigerant flow deficit (22′
) through the flow tubes (16′
) farther from the inlet (20′
), characterized by;a flow restriction (26) located in the return tank (14′
) that restricts the flow, through the return tank (14′
), of refrigerant flowing from the surplus flow tubes (16′
) to the refrigerant outlet (22′
), so as to create a back pressure in said return tank (14′
) that indirectly shifts fluid flow within the inlet tank (12′
), away from the surplus flow tubes and toward the deficit flow tubes, thereby better balancing the refrigerant flow through all flow tubes (16′
) to improve overall condenser efficiency.- View Dependent Claims (2)
- , 14′
Specification
-
- Resources
-
Current AssigneeMahle International GmbH (MAHLE-STIFTUNG GmbH)
-
Original AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
-
InventorsBhatti, Mohinder Singh, Kent, Scott Edward, Southwick, David A.
-
Primary Examiner(s)LEO, LEONARD R
-
Application NumberUS09/384,100Time in Patent Office641 DaysField of Search165/174, 165/110US Class Current165/110CPC Class CodesF25B 2339/0445 with throttle portionsF25B 39/04 CondensersF28D 2021/0084 CondensersF28F 9/0265 by using guiding means or i...
