In HVAC systems, uneven refrigerant distribution across evaporator coils leads to significant performance losses. Field measurements show temperature variations of up to 15°C between branches, resulting in reduced heat transfer efficiency and increased energy consumption. These distribution challenges become particularly acute in systems with multiple parallel circuits, where pressure differentials can cause up to 30% variation in mass flow rates between branches.

The fundamental challenge lies in maintaining uniform refrigerant distribution across parallel circuits while accounting for two-phase flow dynamics, gravitational effects, and varying operational conditions.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including hierarchical capillary networks, variable-diameter branch configurations, dynamic expansion valve control systems, and novel flow equalization mechanisms. These and other approaches focus on achieving consistent heat transfer performance while maintaining system reliability and operational efficiency.

1. Heat Exchange System with Hierarchical Capillary Network and Integrated Liquid Separation Mechanism

珠海格力电器股份有限公司, GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES INC OF ZHUHAI, 2024

A heat exchange system that optimizes capillary distribution within a building through a novel network topology. The system comprises multiple capillary units connected in a hierarchical arrangement, each featuring a refrigerant pipe segment, a liquid separator, and a capillary network. The network's structure allows for precise control over liquid distribution and separation, while the hierarchical arrangement enables adaptive distribution across different areas. This configuration enables optimal temperature uniformity throughout the space, addressing common issues associated with traditional capillary networks.

CN110360741B-patent-drawing

2. Air Conditioner Compressor with Concentric Tubes of Varying Cross-Sectional Areas for Uniform Refrigerant Flow

HISENSE AIR CONDITIONING CO LTD, 海信空调有限公司, 2024

Air conditioner with optimized refrigerant distribution through a novel compressor design. The compressor features a unique configuration where the refrigerant flows through a series of concentric tubes, with each tube having a different cross-sectional area. This design enables the compressor to maintain uniform refrigerant flow rates across all tubes, eliminating the uneven distribution typically associated with conventional compressor configurations. This uniform flow ensures consistent heat transfer performance throughout the refrigerant circuit.

CN221593185U-patent-drawing

3. Indoor Unit with Parallel Heat Exchangers and Vaporization Tubes for Consistent Refrigerant Temperature Regulation

Nantong Hengzhao Electric Co., Ltd., 2024

Indoor unit with high energy efficiency ratio and an air conditioner having the indoor unit, which enables optimal heat transfer between indoor and outdoor environments through controlled refrigerant temperature management. The indoor unit features parallel connections of multiple heat exchangers, each with vaporization tubes that precisely regulate refrigerant temperature at the outlet. This configuration ensures consistent refrigerant temperature across all heat exchangers, thereby maximizing overall heat transfer efficiency.

CN220728356U-patent-drawing

4. Heat Exchanger with Variable Diameter Branch Inlet Pipes for Uniform Refrigerant Distribution

珠海格力电器股份有限公司, GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES INC OF ZHUHAI, 2024

Heat exchanger and air conditioning indoor unit for improved uniformity of outlet air temperature. The heat exchanger features a heat exchanger main body with refrigerant branch inlet pipes connected to the main body, where the branch pipes are arranged along the height direction of the main body. Each branch pipe has a different diameter. The indoor unit incorporates this heat exchanger into its design, enabling precise control over the refrigerant flow distribution across the unit's air outlet.

5. Air Conditioning Indoor Unit with Tee-Shaped Connector and Blind Tube for Uniform Refrigerant Distribution

HISENSE AIR CONDITIONING CO LTD, Hisense Air Conditioning Co., Ltd., 2024

Air conditioning indoor unit design that improves uniform refrigerant distribution through a novel connector system. The design features a tee-shaped connector with a blind tube that prevents centrifugal force from disrupting refrigerant flow patterns. The blind tube is positioned at a minimum distance of 2 mm from the second circulation channel, ensuring sufficient static stability. This configuration enables uniform refrigerant distribution across the indoor heat exchanger, particularly in applications where conventional designs may experience uneven flow due to centrifugal separation.

CN220506932U-patent-drawing

6. Evaporator and Air Conditioner Control Method with Dynamic Fan Speed Adjustment Based on Branch Temperature Monitoring

GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES INC ZHUHAI, 2024

Control method for evaporator and air conditioner that improves evaporator performance by optimizing branch liquid distribution. The method monitors refrigerant temperature and compressor inlet air temperature across multiple evaporator branches, then dynamically adjusts fan speed based on the temperature gradients between branches. This approach prevents fan speed increases that can cause localized liquid separation issues and maintains consistent flow across all branches.

7. Refrigeration System with Multi-Diameter Evaporator Heat Exchanger Configuration

HAIER SMART HOME CO LTD, Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., Qingdao Haier Air Conditioner Electronics Co., Ltd., 2023

A refrigeration system with improved evaporator uniformity through a novel heat transfer design. The system incorporates a unique heat transfer configuration where the evaporator's heat exchanger is divided into three sections: a first section with a smaller diameter, a second section with a standard diameter, and a third section with an expanded diameter. This configuration enables the first section to maintain higher temperatures while the second and third sections gradually transition to standard diameters, ensuring uniform heat transfer across the entire evaporator.

CN219199554U-patent-drawing

8. Air Conditioner Control Device with Dynamic Expansion Valve Adjustment for Refrigerant Flow Distribution

HAIER SMART HOME CO LTD, 2023

Control method and device for air conditioners that improves refrigerant distribution and heat transfer efficiency through a novel expansion valve strategy. The method involves dynamically adjusting the expansion valve opening to optimize refrigerant flow distribution between evaporator branches. By increasing the expansion valve opening when the branch temperature difference between inlet and outlet exceeds a predetermined threshold, the method enhances the evaporator's heat transfer capacity while preventing excessive refrigerant flow into the shunt. This approach ensures more uniform refrigerant distribution between evaporator branches and maintains optimal subcooling conditions in the condenser.

CN116241961A-patent-drawing

9. Heat Exchanger Distributor with Rotating Gear-Based Flow Equalization Mechanism

广东美的制冷设备有限公司, GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO LTD, 2023

A distributor for heat exchanger assemblies that ensures uniform liquid distribution across multiple branch pipes by using a novel flow equalization mechanism. The distributor comprises a body with a cavity, inlet and outlet pipes connected to it, and a flow equalization piece with a cavity. The flow equalization piece includes a rotating gear that controls gas flow between branch pipes. The gear is positioned in a chamber that communicates with the branch pipes, and it ensures that only gas can flow between the branch pipes, thereby maintaining uniform distribution across all pipes.

10. Liquid Separator with Oblique Branch Pipe Confluence for Controlled Refrigerant Distribution

HAIER SMART HOME CO LTD, 2023

Liquid separator, heat exchanger, refrigeration cycle system, and air conditioner that enables precise refrigerant distribution between branch pipes through controlled flow rate variations. The separator incorporates a unique confluence design where the first liquid branch pipe communicates obliquely with the separator housing, allowing gravity-driven separation of refrigerant streams. This differential flow rate between branch pipes enables precise control over refrigerant distribution, particularly in systems requiring precise temperature control.

11. Evaporator with Three-Pass Loop System and Integrated Dual-Loop Heat Exchange Path

博格思众热交换器有限公司, BERGSTROM HEAT EXCHANGER CO LTD, 2022

Evaporator design improves heat transfer efficiency by creating balanced heat exchange paths through a novel configuration. The evaporator features a three-pass loop system with a unique configuration where the first and second loops are connected to form a single heat exchange path, while the third loop is a separate path. This configuration ensures that the refrigerant temperature difference between the two loops is minimized, resulting in improved heat transfer performance across the entire system.

CN215983338U-patent-drawing

12. Refrigeration System with Distributor Featuring Backflow Chamber for Enhanced Refrigerant Flow Uniformity

青岛海信日立空调系统有限公司, QINGDAO HISENSE HITACHI AIR-CONDITION SYSTEM CO LTD, 2022

A refrigeration system with improved heat exchanger uniformity and efficiency through a novel distributor design. The system incorporates a distributor with a backflow chamber that modifies the refrigerant flow path through the heat exchanger, enabling precise control over refrigerant distribution across multiple tubes. This backflow chamber enhances mixing uniformity by introducing a controlled flow of refrigerant from the back of the heat exchanger, while maintaining the flow path through the main chamber. The design enables the system to achieve optimal refrigerant distribution while maintaining heat transfer efficiency, particularly in applications requiring precise temperature regulation.

13. Heat Exchanger Refrigerant Distribution System with Distinct Liquid and Gas Flow Paths

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP, 2021

A refrigerant distribution system for heat exchangers that enhances performance under low-load conditions. The system comprises a heat exchanger with a unique distribution chamber configuration that enables efficient vapor-liquid phase distribution. The chamber features a separate liquid flow path and a gas flow path that are positioned at a distance from each other. This design allows the vapor phase refrigerant to separate from the liquid phase refrigerant, while maintaining continuous flow through the gas-liquid separation chamber. The system is particularly effective in applications where the refrigerant flow rate is slow, such as during low-load operation.

WO2021192192A1-patent-drawing

14. Air Conditioning System with Parallel Heat Exchangers and Dynamic Refrigerant Distribution Control

MIDEA GROUP CO LTD, Midea Group Co., Ltd., GD MIDEA HEATING AND VENTILATING EQUIPMENT CO LTD, 2021

Air conditioning system that optimizes refrigerant distribution across parallel heat exchangers through dynamic temperature control. The system comprises an indoor unit with multiple heat exchangers connected in parallel, each with its own control device comprising a throttling device and controller. The controllers monitor the heat exchanger temperatures and adjust the throttling device opening in real-time based on the temperature signals, ensuring precise matching of refrigerant flow rates to wind speeds at each heat exchanger location. This enables optimal heat transfer while maintaining system reliability and energy efficiency.

15. Falling Film Evaporator with Multi-Stage Heat Exchange Configuration

Zhuhai Gree Electric Appliances Co., Ltd., GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES INC OF ZHUHAI, 2021

A falling film evaporator for refrigeration systems that achieves higher heat transfer efficiency through optimized heat exchange geometry. The evaporator design incorporates a novel, multi-stage configuration that enables complete coverage of the heat transfer surface, eliminating the limitations of traditional single-stage designs. This multi-stage approach enables improved heat transfer characteristics, particularly in applications requiring high heat capacity.

16. Device and Method for Refrigerant Flow Distribution Using Path-Specific Superheat Adjustment

MIDEA GROUP CO LTD, 美的集团股份有限公司, 美的集团武汉制冷设备有限公司, 2020

A method and device for optimizing refrigerant flow distribution in multi-flow evaporators to enhance performance and efficiency. The method measures outlet temperatures and superheats across multiple refrigerant paths, then adjusts flow rates based on path-specific superheat levels. This approach ensures uniform refrigerant temperature distribution across all paths, maximizing latent heat utilization and maintaining system performance under variable operating conditions.

CN106969547B-patent-drawing

17. Liquid Distributor with Swirling Channels and Mixing Structure for Uniform Refrigerant Flow

HAIER SMART HOME CO LTD, 2020

A liquid distributor for air conditioners that enhances uniform refrigerant distribution by creating a swirling flow path through a specially designed body. The distributor features a main body with multiple swirling channels that connect to a liquid inlet and mixing structure. This design enables the refrigerant to rotate and tumble through the mixing chamber before being divided into multiple streams, significantly improving the mixing process and preventing stratification. The swirling flow path promotes uniform distribution of the refrigerant across the air conditioner's output, leading to improved performance and reduced stratification issues.

18. Air Conditioner with Microchannel Heat Exchangers and Optimized Refrigerant Flow Transitions

Qingdao Hisense Hitachi Air-conditioning Systems Co., Ltd., QINGDAO HISENSE HITACHI AIR-CONDITION SYSTEM CO LTD, 2020

Air conditioner with uniform refrigerant flow through microchannel heat exchangers. The design improves refrigerant distribution by optimizing flow transitions between the separator, gas pipe, and liquid pipe, ensuring consistent refrigerant flow through the heat exchanger. This enables enhanced heat transfer efficiency and uniform refrigerant distribution across multiple heat exchanger sections.

CN210980112U-patent-drawing

19. Heat Exchange Pipeline with Interconnected Capillary Units and Liquid Distribution Sections

GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES INC OF ZHUHAI, Zhuhai Gree Electric Appliances Co., Ltd., 2020

Heat exchange pipeline for air conditioning systems that optimizes capillary tube distribution and liquid separation through a novel network architecture. The pipeline comprises multiple capillary units with interconnected liquid distribution sections, where each unit includes a refrigerant pipe section, a dispensing head, and a capillary network. The network is designed to distribute refrigerant across the capillary network through a series of interconnected sections, while maintaining uniform liquid distribution across the capillary network. This configuration enables improved heat transfer performance and uniform floor temperature through optimized capillary tube distribution.

20. Air Conditioner Refrigerant Distribution System with Dynamic Branch Flow Control and Pressure Monitoring

HAIER SMART HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE CO LTD, 2019

Air conditioner control method that improves evaporator distribution efficiency through a novel branch configuration. The method employs a refrigerant main pipe, two branch pipes, and flow valves to create a network of interconnected branches that selectively control refrigerant flow between the evaporators. The control system monitors outlet pressures from both branch outlets and dynamically adjusts the flow valves to optimize refrigerant distribution between the evaporators, thereby achieving more uniform heat transfer.

21. Evaporator with Compartmentalized Liquid Chamber and Tube Group for Uniform Temperature Distribution

22. Condenser with Central Core and Fin Array for Uniform Refrigerant Distribution

23. Heat Exchanger with Splitter Assembly for Uniform Refrigerant Distribution

24. Liquid Distribution Disc with Annular Flow Channel for Uniform Refrigerant Distribution

25. Heat Exchanger Assembly with Opposing Inlet Headers and Series-Connected Distribution Sections

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