Trane International Inc.

Johnson Controls Technology Company

Jun Wang

Roger Joseph Voorhis

Robert Fredrick Schult

Justin Slade Winters

Mahesh Valiya Naduvath

Satheesh Kulankara

John Francis Judge

Sean Andrews Smith

William Burgess Fox

Michael William Groen

Doyle R Goodman

Gregory Martin Peppard

Jennifer Lynn Caudill

Brian Westfall

Felix Quintero

Michael Griffith

Brandy L Harper

Tao Zhou

Embodiments of a refrigerant distributor for a micro-channel heat exchanger (MCHEX) are described. The refrigerant distributor may be configured to have orifices and/or a flow valve that are inside a header of the MCHEX. The MCHEX can be used as an evaporator in a cooling cycle, where refrigerant is distributed into the header(s) through the orifices and the flow valve may be generally in a closed state that generally prevents a refrigerant flow through the flow valve. In a heating cycle, the flow valve of the refrigerant distributor may be configured to be in an open state that allows the refrigerant to flow into the refrigerant distributor and to be directed out of the MCHEX through the refrigerant distributor. In some embodiments, the refrigerant distributor may be configured to receive liquid refrigerant, so as to eliminate the need of an expansion valve in a HVAC system.

Refrigerant distributor of micro-channel heat exchanger

Methods, systems and apparatuses are directed to a capacity modulating assembly configured to distribute two-phase refrigerant mixture to an evaporator of a HVAC system, such as a micro-channel heat exchanger (MCHEX) evaporator. The capacity modulating assembly may include a plurality of expansion devices. During capacity modulation, at least one of the plurality of expansion devices can be closed so that a refrigerant flow rate through the remaining expansion devices can be maintained. The capacity modulating assembly can include a refrigerant outflow port, which may help direct refrigerant out of the heat exchanger. The capacity modulating assembly can be connected with the MCHEX. The plurality of expansion devices can be configured to extend inside a header of the MCHEX to help distribute refrigerant to the micro-channel tubes of the MCHEX.

Capacity modulating an expansion device of a HVAC system

Apparatuses, systems and methods implementing a multi-coil heat exchanger are directed to providing good heat transfer performance, capacity, and efficiency, and while reducing pressure drop through multi-coil microchannel evaporators. The multi-coil heat exchanger in some examples is a multi-coil microchannel evaporator. The multi-coil microchannel evaporator can be implemented in a refrigerant system that is a single circuit, where the multi-coil microchannel evaporator is an air to refrigerant type heat exchanger. The multi-coil microchannel evaporator includes a distribution to the multiple coils of the multi-coil microchannel evaporator, where the distribution includes one or more separations to transmit refrigerant to each of the coils of the multi-coil microchannel evaporator and one or more junctions to transmit refrigerant from the coils.

Multi-coil microchannel evaporator

Embodiments of a heat exchanger, e.g. a micro-channel heat exchanger are disclosed. The heat exchanger may include a plurality of rows of micro-channel tubes, each of which can be configured to direct a working fluid in a specific direction. The heat exchanger may include one or more distributors in a distribution header of the heat exchanger, each of which can be connected to a different application circuit (e.g. a refrigeration circuit) so that a capacity of the heat exchanger may be regulated. The heat exchanger as disclosed herein can be used as an evaporator and/or a condenser in a refrigeration system.

Heat exchanger with partitioned inlet header for enhanced flow distribution and refrigeration system using the heat exchanger

A multi-row heat exchanger coil includes a first row of coil, a second row of coil positioned generally parallel to the first row of coil, a bent portion fluidly communicating the first and second rows of coil, an interior space formed between the first and second rows of coil, and a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes at least one connection member configured to connect the first and second rows, thereby securing the first and second rows of coil to each other, a mounting member configured to prevent airflow from exiting from the interior space at a side of the multi-row heat exchanger coil, and fastening mechanism configured to attach the mounting member to the connection member.

Mounting assembly for heat exchanger coil

An oil separator for use in separating oil from refrigerant gas in a chiller system is provided. Its operation is based on centrifugal separation principles and does not require the use any type of filter or media pack to remove oil from refrigerant gas. The oil separator includes a non-circular (e.g., elliptical) refrigerant outlet pipe that transitions the linear flow from the inlet connection to a swirling (e.g., circular) flow within the cylindrical housing. The non-circular shape of the entrance to the refrigerant outlet pipe provides for more turbulent gas flow and a greater extraction of oil as well as minimization of pressure losses.

Oil separator

A liquid refrigerant drainage mechanism is described for use in a flooded evaporator to mitigate liquid carryover. The drainage mechanism can trap liquid refrigerant droplets, create a liquid column to overcome a pressure difference across the mechanism and drain liquid back to the pool in the evaporator. The drainage mechanism is disposed in a suction baffle, and has a mesh pad and a tapered pipe secured to the bottom of the baffle. The pipe has a drainage aperture at one end to allow the accumulated liquid refrigerant to return to the refrigerant pool below. The mesh pad helps to separate liquid droplets that coalesce and fall into the tapered pipe. By using this liquid drainage mechanism in conjunction with a suction baffle, liquid carryover can be reduced and chiller performance improved.

Growing community of inventors

Clarksville, TN, United States of America

Jun Wang