Methods and systems to manage refrigerant in a heat exchanger
US10571168B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 3, 2012 |
| Grant date | Feb 25, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF28D7/16
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods and systems to manage refrigerant flow inside a shell and tube heat exchanger, such as a condenser, to reduce inundation effect are provided. A method of managing refrigerant flow may include collecting at least a portion the refrigerant in the liquid state and directing the collected refrigerant in the liquid state toward an end of an internal space of the condenser. The method may further include directing the refrigerant in the liquid form toward a subcooling section. The method may also include directing the collected in the liquid state toward a refrigerant outlet located at proximately a middle section of a length of the condenser through the subcooling section. The condenser may have one or more separation/collection pans positioned within heat transfer tubes to collect and direct the refrigerant in the liquid form. A two-stage refrigerant distributor is also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.