Experimental and numerical investigation on a new type distributor for R410A air conditioner.

A new type of distributor named throttle-barrel type was proposed in this article. It was studied together with two other types of distributors: pressure-drop and reservoir type experimentally and numerically. The results show that the standard deviation (STD) of mass flow rate of pressure-drop, reservoir and throttle-barrel type are 14.34%, 15.73% and 11.38%, respectively. It has been proved the new type synthesizes the advantages of pressure drop and reservoir type. In addition, it can eliminate the quality influences on the distribution performance in the high mass flow rate range. A Computational Fluid Dynamics model with deviation less than 15% was established to analyse the internal flow details. Taguchi methods were employed to analyze the geometrical parameters. The results show that the influence on the distribution performance from highest to lowest is barrel height, throttle height, tip height, barrel diameter, inlet tube diameter, throttle diameter.