Mitsubishi Electric has developed a new plate heat exchanger for heat pumps whose heat-transfer performance is three times higher than that of conventional models with corrugated plates. According to the manufacturer, this makes it possible to:
- reduce the number of plates in the design;
- cut the refrigerant charge to about one third of the previous volume.
Reducing the amount of refrigerant is especially relevant as the industry transitions to flammable refrigerants with low global warming potential. Minimizing the charge helps significantly reduce risks associated with accidental leaks. 🔥
Conventional heat exchangers with corrugated plates do not provide sufficient efficiency, and attempts to install micro-offset fins between flat plates to increase turbulence and heat transfer did not deliver the desired result due to uneven distribution of the refrigerant’s two-phase flow. Mitsubishi Electric engineers solved this problem by adding special distribution channels at the heat exchanger inlets and outlets.
The channel layout was optimized using the company’s proprietary simulation technology for complex two-phase flows. The new design ensures uniform refrigerant distribution across all plates even with micro-offset fins present.
The technology may be used in a wide range of equipment, including:
- water cooling and heating systems;
- heat pumps for electric vehicles 🚗;
- air conditioners.