Evaporator and refrigeration system comprising the same
An evaporator ( 500 ) comprises a first header ( 501 ) defining one end formed with a first refrigerant port ( 5010 ), a second header ( 502 ) defining one end formed with a second refrigerant port ( 5020 ), heat-exchange tubes ( 503 ) each connected between the headers ( 501, 502 ) to communicate the headers ( 501, 502 ), fins ( 504 ) respectively interposed between adjacent heat-exchange tubes ( 503 ), and a defrosting tube ( 505 ) defining a first end connected to one of the headers ( 501, 502 ) to communicate with an interior of the one header. A position of the first end of the defrosting tube ( 505 ) is spaced apart from the one end of the one header by a predetermined distance. A refrigeration system comprises the evaporator. By providing the defrosting tube ( 505 ), defrosting speed is increased, defrosting time is shortened, and energy efficiency of the refrigeration system is improved.
1. A refrigeration system comprising:
a compressor;
a four-way valve defining first to fourth valve ports, the first valve port and the third valve port being connected to the compressor;
a condenser defining an inlet connected to the second valve port;
a throttle mechanism defining an inlet connected to an outlet of the condenser;
an evaporator connected between the fourth valve port and an outlet of the throttle mechanism, the evaporator including:
a first header defining one end at which a first refrigerant port is formed;
a second header defining one end at which a second refrigerant port is formed;
a plurality of heat-exchange tubes each of which is connected between the first and second headers to communicate the first and second headers;
a plurality of fins respectively interposed between adjacent ones of the heat-exchange tubes; and
a defrosting tube defining a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to one of the first and second headers to communicate with an interior of the one header, a position at which the first end of the defrosting tube is connected to the one of the first and second headers is spaced apart from the one end of the one header by a predetermined distance, and the second end is connected with the fourth valve port of the four-way valve directly or via a valve; and
a refrigerant switching unit connected to the evaporator, connected between the fourth valve port and the outlet of the throttle mechanism, allowing a refrigerant to enter into the first header from the four-way valve through the throttle mechanism and flow out of the second header to return to the four-way valve when the refrigeration system is in a “normal operation” mode, and allowing the refrigerant to enter into the one header from the four-way valve through the defrosting tube and flow out of the other of the first and second headers to return to the four-way valve through the throttle mechanism when the refrigeration system is in a “defrosting operation” mode.
2. The refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant switching unit includes first to fourth valves, the first valve is connected between the fourth valve port of the four-way valve and the second refrigerant port of the second header, a first side of the second valve is connected between the first valve and the second refrigerant port, a second side of the second valve is connected to the throttle mechanism, a first side of the third valve is connected between the second side of the second valve and the throttle mechanism, a second side of the third valve is connected to the first refrigerant port of the first header, and the fourth valve is connected between the fourth valve port and the second end of the defrosting tube.
3. The refrigeration system according to claim 2 , wherein the first end of the defrosting tube is connected to either of the first and second headers.
4. The refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the defrosting tube is connected to the second header and the refrigerant switching unit-includes a first valve connected between the fourth valve port of the four-way valve and the second refrigerant port of the second header and a fourth valve connected between the fourth valve port and the second end of the defrosting tube.
5. The refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the defrosting tube is connected to the second header, the second end of the defrosting tube is connected to the fourth valve port of the four-way valve directly, and the refrigerant switching unit includes a first valve connected between the fourth valve port of the four-way valve and the second refrigerant port of the second header.
6. The refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the defrosting tube is connected to a middle portion of the one header.
7. The refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein an angle between an axis of the defrosting tube and an axis of each of the heat-exchange tubes is between about 45 degrees and about 315 degrees.
8. The refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance is greater than about 100 millimeters.
9. The refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein a refrigerant guide tube is inserted into the one header, defines an open end and a closed end and is formed with a plurality of openings, the open end of the refrigerant guide tube extends out from a refrigerant port of the one header and forms the one of the first and second refrigerant ports.