EP4656970A1

EP4656970A1 - Fluid distributor for a shell-and-tube flooded evaporator

Info

Publication number: EP4656970A1
Application number: EP25171391.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lokanath MOHANTA; Dhruv Chanakya HOYSALL
Original assignee: Carrier Corp
Current assignee: Carrier Corp
Priority date: 2024-05-29
Filing date: 2025-04-17
Publication date: 2025-12-03
Also published as: CN121040683A; US20250369662A1

Abstract

Described herein is a distributor (100) for a shell-and-tube flooded evaporator (200). The distributor (100) comprises a first header (102) comprising one or more first outlets (110) located along a length at a bottom side of the first header (102), and a second header (104) comprising one or more second outlets (112) located along a length at a bottom side of the second header (104). The distributor (100) is configured to be disposed within a shell (202) associated with the evaporator (200) such that the first header (102) and the second header (104) extend along a length, on opposite sides, of an inner wall of the shell (202). The first header (102) and the second header (104) are fluidically connected to one or more refrigerant inlet tubes (108) provided on the shell (202).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/653,104, filed on May 29, 2024 , which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments described herein relate to the field of flooded evaporators, and more particularly, to a fluid distributor for a shell-and-tube flooded evaporator.

SUMMARY

Described herein is a distributor for a shell-and-tube flooded evaporator. The distributor comprises a first header comprising one or more first outlets located along a length at a bottom side of the first header, and a second header comprising one or more second outlets located along a length at a bottom side of the second header, wherein the first header and the second header are configured to be disposed within a shell associated the evaporator such that the first header and the second header extend along a length, on opposite sides of an inner wall, of the shell, and the first header and the second header are fluidically connected to one or more refrigerant inlet tubes provided on the shell.
Optionally , the distributor is configured to receive a refrigerant within the first header and/or the second header and allow the refrigerant to flow along the length of the first header and the second header and flow within the shell in a downward direction via the corresponding first and second outlets.
Optionally, the second header is fluidically connected to the first header via one or more connection ports extending between the first header and the second header, wherein the distributor is configured to receive a refrigerant within the first header and supply the refrigerant into the second header via the one or more connection ports.
Optionally, the distributor is disposed at a bottom portion of the shell, wherein the distributor is configured at a predefined height from a bottom-most point of the shell.
Optionally, the distributor is disposed within the shell such that a first set of tubes of a plurality of tubes associated with the evaporator remains or extends below the distributor.
Optionally, the distributor is disposed within the shell such that a plurality of tubes associated with the evaporator remains or extends above the one or more connection ports or the distributor.
Optionally, a first side of each of the first header and the second header are oriented at a first predefined angle, in opposite directions, with respect to a plane extending tangentially along a bottom-most point of the shell, and wherein the one or more connection ports extend parallel to the plane.
Optionally, the first predefined angle is greater than or equal to 20 degrees.
Optionally, a second side, opposite to the first side, of each of the first header and the second header are oriented at a second predefined angle with respect to the plane.
Optionally, the one or more first outlets of the first header are configured at a third predefined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis and/or transverse axis of the first header and the one or more second outlets of the second header are configured at a fourth predefined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and/or transverse axis of the first header.
Optionally, the one or more connection ports are a hollow member having a rectangular profile or square profile.
Optionally, the one or more connection ports are located adjacent to or in-line with an inlet of the first header or the inlet tube.
Optionally, the one or more connection ports comprise a connection port centrally located between the first header and the second header such that the connection port extends orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the first header and the second header.
Optionally, an end, adjacent to the first header, of the connection port has a bell-shaped inlet, wherein a cross-section of the bell-shaped inlet reduces while moving in a direction toward the connection port.
Optionally, another end, adjacent to the second header, of the connection port has a bell-shaped outlet, wherein a cross-section of the bell-shaped outlet increases while moving in a direction away from the corresponding connection port.
Optionally, the one or more connection ports extend orthogonally between a bottom end of the first header and the second header.
Optionally, the one or more connection ports extend orthogonally between a top end of the first header and the second header.
Optionally, the one or more connection ports extend orthogonally between a middle section, of the first header and the second header.
Optionally, at least one set of tubes of the plurality of tubes are of different type or have different dimensions compared to the remaining tubes among the plurality of tubes.
Optionally, the one or more first outlets and the one or more second outlets are in line.
Optionally, the one or more first outlets and the one or more second outlets are offset from each other.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, features, and techniques will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included, by way of example only, to provide a further understanding of the invention. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. However, the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims.
In the drawings, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

FIG. 1A and 1B illustrate exemplary top view and perspective views respectively of a fluid distributor for a shell-and-tube flooded evaporator.
FIG. 1C illustrates an exemplary top view of another fluid distributor, where the first and second outlets are offset from each other.
FIG. 1D illustrates an exemplary view of yet another fluid distributor, where multiple connection ports extend between the headers.
FIGs. 2A and 2B illustrate exemplary views of the fluid distributor of FIGs. 1A and 1B being installed in the shell-and-tube flooded evaporator.
FIGs. 2C illustrate an exemplary view of the fluid distributor of FIG. 1D being installed in the shell-and-tube flooded evaporator.
FIGs. 2D illustrate an exemplary view of an embodiment of the fluid distributor without the connection ports, being installed in the shell-and-tube flooded evaporator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of these embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Various terms are used herein. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of this specification, the components described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms such as "above," "below," "upper," "lower," "first", "second" or other like terms to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components, respectively, described herein may be oriented in any desired direction.
A chiller or refrigeration system removes heat from a coolant liquid (may be water or brine) via a vapor-compression or refrigeration cycle. This coolant liquid may then be circulated through a heat exchanger to cool spaces or equipment, or another process stream (such as air or process water). A typical chiller comprises an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion device. Each works together to efficiently transfer heat. In chillers, a flooded evaporator may be employed. Unlike a dry evaporator, where the refrigerant largely vaporizes inside the tubes, in a flooded evaporator, the tubes are immersed in liquid refrigerant. The coolant liquid flows inside the tube that is to be cooled. This design allows for improved heat transfer, as the liquid refrigerant fully envelops the heat exchange tubes, absorbing heat more efficiently. The colder coolant liquid is used to cool the desired space or process stream.
The process begins with the refrigerant absorbing heat from the process fluid, causing the refrigerant to boil and vaporize. This phase change is what effectively removes heat from the system being cooled. The vaporized refrigerant then flows from the flooded evaporator to the compressor. The compressor may increase the pressure of the refrigerant vapor. This process of compression raises the temperature of the refrigerant, preparing it for the next phase of the cycle. The high-pressure, high-temperature vapor may then be directed to the condenser.
In the condenser, the refrigerant vapor may release the absorbed heat to the surroundings, typically air or water. As the refrigerant cools, it condenses into a high-pressure liquid. Finally, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant may flow into the expansion device. The expansion device, which can be a valve or an orifice, may control the flow of refrigerant into the flooded evaporator. As the refrigerant passes through the expansion device, its pressure drops dramatically, leading to a reduction in temperature. This cold, low-pressure liquid refrigerant may re-enter the flooded evaporator, ready to absorb more heat and continue the refrigeration cycle.
As a two-phase refrigerant (mixture of liquid refrigerant and gaseous/vaporous refrigerant) enters an inlet of the evaporator, a fluid distributor may be employed in the flooded evaporator to evenly distribute the liquid portion of the refrigerant across the tubes carrying coolant liquid such as but not limited to water or brine.
In conventional shell-and-tube type flooded evaporators used in chillers, the fluid distributor is located at the bottom of the shell. This configuration necessitates that the inlet for the refrigerant, or the entry point into the shell, also be positioned at the bottom. Such a design approach may impose several limitations and inefficiencies. Since the liquid distributor is placed at the bottom part of the shell, the chiller's design needs to accommodate this configuration by increasing the chiller's height. This requirement for additional height not only impacts the spatial footprint and installation flexibility of the chiller but may also increase the cost associated with the chiller's structural design and materials.
Moreover, this may result in a significant inefficiency as no evaporation of the refrigerant occurs in the space between the distributor and the first row of tubes extending within the shell. This may lead to an unnecessary accumulation of liquid refrigerant in this area, thereby increasing the total refrigerant charge required for the chiller to operate effectively. Furthermore, the inefficient use of refrigerant exacerbates energy consumption and operational inefficiency.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a simple, efficient, and cost-effective solution to address the spatial constraints and charge accumulation issue associated with existing flooded evaporators.
Referring to FIGs. 1A to 2D, a fluid distributor 100 for a shell-and-tube type flooded evaporator 200 (referred to as flooded evaporator or evaporator 200 hereinafter) is disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the distributor 100 may include a first header 102 comprising a first inlet 102-1, and one or more first outlets 110 (collectively referred to as first outlets 110, herein) located at first predefined positions along a length at the bottom side of the first header 102. The distributor 100 may also include a second header 104 comprising a first inlet 104-1 and one or more second outlets 112 (collectively referred to as second outlets 112, herein) located at second predefined positions along a length at the bottom side of the second header 104. In one or more embodiments, the second header 104 may extend parallel to the first header 102, where the first header 102 may be fluidically connected to the second header 104 via one or more connection ports 106 (collectively referred to as connection ports 106 and individually referred to as connection port 106, herein) extending orthogonally therebetween. However, in other embodiments, the first header 102 may extend parallel to the second header 102 without any connection ports connecting the first and second headers 102, 104.
As illustrated in FIGs. 2A to 2C, in one or more embodiments, the distributor 100 may be disposed at a bottom portion (BP) within a hollow shell 202 associated with the evaporator 200 such that the distributor 100 remains at a predefined height (H) from the bottom-most point of the shell 202, with the first header 102 and the second header 104 of the distributor 100 extending along a length or longitudinal axis (A-A'), on opposite sides of an inner wall, of the shell 202 and the connection port(s) 106 extending between the first header 102 and the second header 104. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2D, in one or more embodiments, the distributor 100 may be disposed at the bottom portion (BP) within the hollow shell 202 such that the first header 102 and the second header 104 remain at a predefined height (H) from the bottom-most point of the shell 202, with the first header 102 and the second header 104 of the distributor 100 extending along a length or longitudinal axis (A-A'), on opposite sides of an inner wall, of the shell 202, without the connection port(s) 106.
The shell 202 may be a hollow cylindrical enclosure that may comprise one or more inlets at opposite sides of the curved surface and an outlet 206 at the top portion of the shell 202. This outlet of the shell 202 may be further fluidically connected to the compressor (not shown) associated with the chiller and the inlet(s) of the shell 202 may be fluidically connected to the expansion valve (not shown) associated with the chiller via one or more refrigerant inlet tube(s) 108. Further, a plurality of heat exchange tubes 204 (referred to as tubes 204 or bundled tubes 204, hereinafter) may extend longitudinally through the shell 202 as shown in FIGs. 2A and 2C.
It is to be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that as the distributor 100 remains at the predefined height (H) from the bottom-most point (BP) of the shell 202, this allows at least a (first) set of tubes 204-A among the tubes 204 associated with the evaporator 200 to be disposed below the distributor 100 at a bottom portion of the shell 202 where typically liquid refrigerant may accumulate due to gravity, and remaining (second) tubes 204-B among the tubes 204 associated with the evaporator 200 to be disposed above the distributor 100. As a result, the (first set of) tubes 204-A in the liquid pool may evaporate the liquid refrigerant at the bottom of the shell 202, thereby reducing the charge amount in the shell 202. In addition, this configuration may also allow the use of different types or different dimensions of tubes 204 in the evaporator 200. Thus, higher-performing tubes 204 may be used at the bottom portion to promote vigorous boiling of the refrigerant pool at the bottom of the shell 202. Moreover, as the headers 102, 104 are at the sides of the shell 202, the vapor refrigerant formed in the shell 202 may escape near the side walls of the shell 202 without stirring the liquid pool, which may help in lowering liquid or charge carryover toward the compressor. However, in some embodiments, the tubes 204 associated with the evaporator 200 may be disposed within the shell 202 such that none of tubes 204 remain below the distributor 100 or the connection ports 106.
Further, the first inlet 102-1 of the first header 102 may be fluidically connected to the refrigerant inlet tube 108 provided on one of the sides of the shell 202, where the side inlet 102-1 may help reduce the overall height of the chiller. This inlet tube 108 may be further fluidically connected to the expansion device associated with the chiller. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2A to 2C, the distributor 100 may receive (cold, low-pressure liquid or two-phase) refrigerant from the expansion device within the first header 102 via the one of the refrigerant inlet tubes 108 and further supply the received refrigerant into the second header 104 via the connection ports 106, allowing the refrigerant to flow along the length of the first header 102 and the second header 104 and further flow within the shell 202 in a substantially downward direction via the corresponding first and second outlets 112 of the headers. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2D, when no connection ports 106 are provided between the first header 102 and the second header 104, the distributor 100 may receive (cold, low-pressure liquid or two-phase) refrigerant from the expansion device within the first header 102 as well as the second header 104 via the refrigerant inlet tubes 108-1, 108-2 and further allow the refrigerant to flow along the length of the first header 102 and the second header 104 and flow within the shell 202 in a substantially downward direction via the corresponding first and second outlets 110, 112 of the headers.
In one or more embodiments, the first header 102 and the second header 104 may be oriented at a first predefined angle (α₁, α₂), in opposite directions, with respect to a plane (P-P') extending tangentially along the bottom-most point (BP) of the shell 202. However, the connection ports 106 may extend parallel to the plane (P-P'). In one or more embodiments, the first predefined angle (α₁, α₂) may be greater than or equal to 10 degrees but is not limited to the like.
In one or more embodiments, the headers 102, 104 may be oriented such that a first side, adj acent to the side wall of the shell 202, of the first header 102 and the second header 104 may remain in line with the inner wall of the shell 202. In one or more embodiments, the first side (adjacent to the inner side wall) of the headers 102, 104 may have a substantially curved profile based on a profile of the adjacent inner wall of the shell 202.
Further, a second side, opposite to the first side, of the first header 102 and the second header 104 may have a substantially curved profile or a planar profile that may remain inclined at a second predefined (acute) angle with respect to the plane (P-P') extending tangentially along the bottom-most point (BP) of the shell 202. The inclined profile of the second side (adjacent sides) of the first and second header 102, 104 respectively may help increase the internal space for the tubes 204 within the shell 202, thereby allowing a greater number of tubes 204 to be disposed between the headers or within the shell 202 and further enhancing the heat exchange within the evaporator 200. However, in other embodiments (not shown), the second side of the first and second headers 102, 104 may also be parallel to each other or perpendicular to the plane (P-P').
In one or more embodiments, the first outlets 110 of the first header 102 may be at a third predefined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first header 102 and the second outlets 112 of the second header 104 may be at a fourth predefined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first header 102. This arrangement may help prevent direct impinging or flow of the liquid refrigerant, supplied within the shell 202 via the corresponding outlets, on the tubes 204 associated with the evaporator 200, thereby preventing any failure or damage to the tubes 204. In one or more embodiments, the third and fourth predefined angles may be the same. However, they may also be different. As illustrated in FIGs 1A and 1C, in one or more embodiments, the first outlets 110 and the second outlets 112 may open in a substantially downward direction towards the bottom of the shell 202 such that these outlets remain inclined towards a central region of the shell 202 (or away from the opposite planar sides of the shell 202). However, in other embodiments (not shown), the first outlets 110 and the second outlets 112 may also be inclined or open towards the opposite planar sides of the shell 202.
Further, in one or more embodiments, as illustrated in FIGs. 1A, 1B, and 1D, the first outlets 110 of the first header 102 and the second outlets 112 of the second header 104 may be in line. However, in other embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, the first outlets 110 of the first header 102 and the second outlets 112 of the second header 104 may be offset from each other.
In one or more embodiments, the distributor 100 may include at least one connection port 106 that may have a substantially rectangular profile or substantially square profile. However, in other embodiments, the distributor 100 may include more than one connection port 106 which may have a substantially rectangular profile or substantially square profile. Further, in one or more embodiments (not shown), the distributor 100 may include at least one connection port 106 that may have a cylindrical or cuboidal profile.
In one or more embodiments, the connection port(s) 106 may be centrally located between the second sides of the first header 102 and the second header 104 as shown in FIGs. 1A to 1D such that the connection port(s) 106 extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis (A-A') of the first header 102 and the second header 104 (or the longitudinal axis (A-A') of the shell 202). In such embodiments, the connection ports 106 may be located adjacent to or in line with the inlet 102-1 of the first header 102 or the inlet tube 108. However, in other embodiments, the connection ports 106 may also be located at different locations along the length of the first and second headers 102, 104. Accordingly, the distributor 100 may receive (cold, low-pressure liquid) refrigerant from the expansion device within the first header 102 via the inlet tube 108 and further supply the received refrigerant into the second header 104 via the connection ports 106, allowing the refrigerant to flow sideways along the length of the first header 102 and the second header 104 and further flow within the shell 202 in a substantially downward direction via the corresponding first and second outlets 112 of the headers.
Further, in one or more embodiments, at least one of the connection ports 106 may extend orthogonally between the bottom end of the second side of the first header 102 and the second header 104 as shown in FIGs. 2A to 2C. Furthermore, in some embodiments (not shown), at least one of the connection ports 106 may extend orthogonally between the top end of the second side of the first header 102 and the second header 104. Furthermore, in some other embodiments (not shown), at least one of the connection ports 106 may extend orthogonally between a middle section (between the top and bottom end) of the second side of the first header 102 and the second header 104. However, in other embodiments (not shown), the connection ports 106 may also be at any other elevation between the first and second header 104. It is to be appreciated that the position, dimension, and numbers of the connection ports 106 mentioned above are only exemplary, and these can be changed to different positions, different dimensions, and a higher or lower number without any limitation whatsoever, and all such implementations are well within the scope of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 1C, in one or more embodiments, an end 106-1, adjacent to the first header 102, of the connection port 106 may have a bell-shaped inlet 114, where a cross-section of the bell-shaped inlet 114 may smoothly reduce while moving in a direction towards the connection port 106. The bell-shaped inlet 114 may facilitate in smooth or laminar flow of the refrigerant from the inlet tube 108 or the first header 102 into the connection port 106. Further, in one or more embodiments (not shown), another end 106-2, adjacent to the second header 104, of the connection port 106 may also have a bell-shaped outlet, where a cross-section of the bell-shaped outlet may increase while moving away from the corresponding connection port 106, enabling uniform and smooth outflow of the refrigerant into the second header 104.
While various embodiments herein have been described for the distributor 100 being employed in a flooded evaporator 200, however, the distributor 100 may also be employed in other heat exchangers as well, without any limitations, and all such embodiments are well within the scope of the invention.
Thus, the described embodiments address the spatial constraints and charge accumulation issues associated with existing flooded evaporators, by providing a simple and efficient fluid distributor for flooded evaporators, which uniformly and safely supplies refrigerant across the tubes associated with the shell of the flooded evaporator while maintaining low charge (or lowering charge accumulation) in the shell, keeping the height of the overall chiller lower, and also preventing any charge carry over towards the compressor. Additionally, the distributor allows the use of different types of tubes within the shell and allows these tubes to be positioned at the bottom of the shell. This may help improve the overall heat exchange capability or evaporation process in the evaporator.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation or material to the teachings herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope defined by the appended claims.
In interpreting the specification, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C ....and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
Without excluding further possible embodiments, an example embodiment is summarized in the following clause:
A distributor as described in the subject disclosure, wherein at least one set of tubes of the plurality of tubes are of different type or have different dimensions or different performance compared to the remaining tubes of the plurality of tubes.

Claims

A distributor (100) for a shell-and-tube flooded evaporator (200), the distributor comprising:
a first header (102) comprising one or more first outlets (110) located along a length at a bottom side of the first header; and

a second header (104) comprising one or more second outlets (112) located along a length at a bottom side of the second header,

wherein the first header and the second header are configured to be disposed within a shell (202) associated with the evaporator such that the first header and the second header extend along a length, on opposite sides of an inner wall of the shell, and the first header and the second header are fluidically connected to one or more refrigerant inlet tubes (108) provided on the shell.
The distributor of claim 1, wherein the distributor is configured to receive a refrigerant within the first header and/or the second header and allow the refrigerant to flow along the length of the first header and the second header and flow within the shell in a downward direction via the corresponding first and second outlets.
The distributor of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second header is fluidically connected to the first header via one or more connection ports (106) extending between the first header and the second header, and wherein the distributor is configured to receive a refrigerant within the first header and supply the refrigerant into the second header via the one or more connection ports.
The distributor of claim 3, wherein a first side of each of the first header and the second header are oriented at a first predefined angle, in opposite directions, with respect to a plane, the plane extending tangentially along a bottom-most point of the shell, and wherein the one or more connection ports extends parallel to the plane, optionally wherein the first predefined angle is greater than or equal to 10 degrees.
The distributor of claim 4, wherein a second side, opposite to the first side, of each of the first header and the second header are oriented at a second predefined angle with respect to the plane.
The distributor of claim 5, wherein the one or more first outlets of the first header are configured at a third predefined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis and/or transverse axis of the first header, and the one or more second outlets of the second header are configured at a fourth predefined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and/or transverse axis of the first header.
The distributor of any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the one or more connection ports are a hollow member having a rectangular profile or square profile.
The distributor of any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the one or more connection ports are located adjacent to or in-line with an inlet of the first header or the inlet tube.
The distributor of any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the one or more connection ports comprise a connection port centrally located between the first header and the second header, the connection port extending orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the first header and the second header.
The distributor of claim 9, wherein an end, adjacent to the first header, of the connection port has a bell-shaped inlet (114), and wherein a cross-section of the bell-shaped inlet reduces while moving in a direction toward the connection port.
The distributor of claim 10, wherein another end, adjacent to the second header, of the connection port has a bell-shaped outlet, and wherein a cross-section of the bell-shaped outlet increases while moving in a direction away from the connection port.
The distributor of any of claims 3 to 11, wherein the one or more connection ports extend orthogonally between a bottom end of the first header and the second header, or wherein the one or more connection ports extend orthogonally between a top end of the first header and the second header, or wherein the one or more connection ports extend orthogonally between a middle section of the first header and the second header.
The distributor of any preceding claim, wherein the distributor is disposed at a bottom portion of the shell, and wherein the distributor is configured at a predefined height from a bottom-most point of the shell.
The distributor of any preceding claim, further comprising a plurality of tubes associated with the evaporator, wherein a first set of tubes of the plurality of tubes remains or extends below the distributor.
The distributor of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more first outlets and the one or more second outlets are in line, or wherein the one or more first outlets and the one or more second outlets are offset from each other.