Abstract:
An evaporator configured to transfer heat between air flowing through the evaporator and refrigerant within the evaporator, and transfer heat between the refrigerant within the evaporator and phase change material (PCM) within the evaporator. The evaporator includes a first plate, a second plate, and a first tube. The second plate is coupled to the first plate to form an assembly that defines a cavity to contain PCM. The assembly also defines a first opening that cooperates with corresponding first openings in other assemblies to define a first manifold to convey refrigerant. The first manifold is defined when the assembly is arranged with the other assemblies to form a stack. The first tube is in fluidic communication with the first manifold. The assembly cooperates with an adjacent assembly of the other assemblies when the stack is formed to define a first slot configured to receive the first tube.
Abstract:
A heat exchanger assembly includes spaced apart tubes and a fin. The fin extends between and in thermal contact with adjacent tubes. The fin defines a planar portion between adjacent tubes. The planar portion defines a louver. The louver defines an axis about which the louver is rotated relative to the planar portion when the louver is formed. A middle portion of the louver is rotated about the axis to a first angle. A top portion of the louver is rotated about the axis to a second angle greater than the first angle such that the louver angle is varied along the axis. The louver may be characterized along the axis by a continuous transition of angle from the first angle to the second angle. A bottom portion of the louver may be rotated about the axis to a third angle greater than the first angle.
Abstract:
An evaporator having a phase change material clam shell housing is provided. The evaporator includes an upper manifold, a plurality of refrigerant tubes extending from the manifold, and a louvered clam shell housing defining a chamber for storing a phase change material. The louvered clam shell housing is disposed between and in thermal communication with the upper portion of two adjacent refrigerant tubes. The louvered clam shell housing is formed of two clam shell plates, each having louvers defined by slats folded into the phase change chamber. The folded slats define louver openings in the clam shell housing enabling the phase change material to make direct contact with the adjacent refrigerant tubes, thereby improving thermal communication between the refrigerant flowing in the tubes and the phase change material in the clam shell housing.
Abstract:
A heat exchanger assembly is provided having at least one header, a plurality of spaced apart fluid tubes in hydraulic communication with the header, and a plurality of corrugated fins disposed between the tubes. The corrugated fins include a planar portion having a louver segment defined between a pair of primary slits, in which the louver segment includes an intermediate slit splitting the louver segment into a pair of mini-louvers. The mini-louvers are counter-offset such that one of the mini-louvers is on one side of the planar portion and the other one of the mini-lover is on the other side of the planar portion. The mini-louvers may be pivoted about their respective junctures such that each of the mini-louver segments is oblique relative to the planar portion.