US20100064724A1 - Flooded plate heat exchanger - Google Patents

Flooded plate heat exchanger Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100064724A1
US20100064724A1 US12/504,349 US50434909A US2010064724A1 US 20100064724 A1 US20100064724 A1 US 20100064724A1 US 50434909 A US50434909 A US 50434909A US 2010064724 A1 US2010064724 A1 US 2010064724A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
heat exchanger
refrigerant
secondary vessel
plate heat
fluid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/504,349
Inventor
Mark PLATT
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Multistack LLC
Original Assignee
Multistack LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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Priority to US12/504,349 priority Critical patent/US20100064724A1/en
Assigned to MULTISTACK LLC reassignment MULTISTACK LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: PLATT, MARK
Publication of US20100064724A1 publication Critical patent/US20100064724A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25BREFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B39/00Evaporators; Condensers
    • F25B39/02Evaporators
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28DHEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D21/00Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
    • F28D21/0017Flooded core heat exchangers
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25BREFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2339/00Details of evaporators; Details of condensers
    • F25B2339/02Details of evaporators
    • F25B2339/024Evaporators with refrigerant in a vessel in which is situated a heat exchanger

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improvements in plate type heat exchangers, particularly plate type heat exchangers used as evaporators in vapor compression refrigeration, heat pump systems, and dedicated heat recovery chiller systems.
  • Plate type heat exchangers have been utilized in the past in many applications, including vapor compression refrigeration systems.
  • the present invention is directed toward providing a plate heat exchanger apparatus which fully utilizes the heat exchanger areas of the plates.
  • the present invention sets out a plate heat exchanger apparatus having an secondary or auxiliary vessel for containing liquid, gas, and/or a liquid-gas mixture.
  • the present invention provides an arrangement for accommodating fluid exiting a plate heat exchanger which is employed as an evaporator in a vapor compression refrigeration cycle.
  • the arrangement includes an auxiliary vessel downstream of the evaporator heat exchanger, upstream of the compressor.
  • the evaporation plate heat exchanger may be filled (flooded) with refrigerant in order to utilize all available plate heat exchange surface area for exchanging heat, while allowing the exiting fluid to travel to the auxiliary vessel, such that substantially only vapor exits the auxiliary vessel.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the present invention.
  • the present invention sets out a two chamber plate heat exchanger having an additional chamber for accepting and controlling refrigerant or other fluid in two thermodynamic phases—gas and liquid.
  • the invention further sets out a system for utilizing and controlling the fluid in the system.
  • the inventive two chamber plate heat exchanger may be advantageously employed as an evaporator for refrigerant in a closed-loop vapor compression refrigerant cycle.
  • FIG. 1 a vapor compression refrigeration cycle including the present invention is shown.
  • Refrigerant 11 is condensed to a liquid state 12 in the condenser element 11 before exposure to the expansion valve 9 .
  • the expansion valve 9 may be controlled as set out below.
  • thermodynamic condition of the condensed refrigerant 8 is variously, entirely, in liquid state, or a two-phase liquid vapor state. It is introduced into the plate heat exchanger 1 which together with the secondary or auxiliary vessel 4 forms the evaporative heat exchanger apparatus of the present invention.
  • the refrigerant in the secondary vessel or auxiliary vessel 4 may be in liquid phase, gas phase, and/or a mixed liquid gas phase.
  • the secondary vessel 4 may be arranged above or on top of the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 .
  • Liquid refrigerant 8 is introduced into the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 at or near a bottom portion of the exchanger 1 .
  • Warm fluid 5 from the building load 16 which is to be chilled via the phase change of the refrigerant in the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 is introduced into the exchanger 1 .
  • the secondary vessel 4 is arranged to accommodate the gas and non-gas phases of this refrigerant, the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 can be more effectively utilized to exchange heat from the building load 16 to the refrigerant 8 .
  • the inventive element of the secondary vessel 4 is specifically arranged to perform the function of holding and managing the gas and non-gas phase refrigerant. In this way, the entire surface area of the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 can be utilized to exchange heat from the building load 16 to the refrigerant 8 .
  • the evaporative plate heat exchanger may include a dual refrigerant inlet, to minimize maldistribution of heat and fluid flow in the exchanger.
  • a fluid connection is arranged from the bottom of the secondary vessel 4 to the top of the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 , in order to communicate the refrigerant between the secondary vessel and the heat exchanger.
  • the evaporated refrigerant 7 travels through the secondary vessel 4 and exits at the top of the vessel 4 .
  • the system is arranged to ensure that any gas-phase refrigerant 7 exits the secondary vessel 4 , while liquid and two-phase fluids remain in the secondary vessel 4 , to be delivered back into the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 for evaporation, in a closed-loop manner.
  • a secondary vessel liquid level sensor 2 monitors the level of liquid in the secondary vessel 4 , and sends a corresponding liquid level signal 3 back to the expansion valve controller 18 .
  • the liquid level signal 3 indicates to the controller 18 whether to variably open or close the expansion valve 9 , in order to supply essentially liquid or gas phase refrigerant to the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 .
  • the expansion valve controller 18 /expansion valve 9 assembly is arranged to adjust the thermodynamic characteristics of the refrigerant 12 , 8 in order to supply the secondary valve 4 /evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 structure with refrigerant 8 in a condition which is determined to be required for most effective and efficient heat transfer, and energy consumption in the form of compressor work.
  • the secondary valve 4 /evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 structure may be utilized in connection with dedicated heat recovery chillers, heat pump systems, and/or conventional chiller refrigeration cycles.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention discloses a heat exchanging apparatus including a plate type heat exchanger auxiliary vessel arrangement whereby the auxiliary vessel contains fluid in more than one phase to enable the corresponding plate type heat exchanger to be flooded with heat exchanger fluid in order to fully employ its heat exchange surfaces in the task of exchanging heat.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention
  • The present invention relates to improvements in plate type heat exchangers, particularly plate type heat exchangers used as evaporators in vapor compression refrigeration, heat pump systems, and dedicated heat recovery chiller systems.
  • 2. Description of the Related Art
  • Plate type heat exchangers have been utilized in the past in many applications, including vapor compression refrigeration systems.
  • However, these heat exchangers suffer from a problem, in that when employed as an evaporator in a vapor compression refrigeration cycle, they are often just upstream of a compressor. Because liquid plate refrigerant entrained in a gas phase refrigerant flowing from the evaporator into the compressor tends to damage the compressor and also reduces its efficiency, fluid emerging from an evaporator is ideally essentially vapor.
  • In the past, prior art plate heat exchanger evaporators in these applications could not be fully utilized regarding their heat transfer capabilities. Particularly the total available heat exchange surface area could not be fully utilized, because a portion of the plate heat exchanger, usually near the top, would be purposely kept essentially free of liquid evaporant, ensuring that eventually any vapor state refrigerant would exit at the top, adjacent the outlet to the plate type heat exchanger. In this manner, a portion of the heat transfer area of the plates would be used to contain vapor refrigerant just prior to exiting the exchanger, instead being used to evaporate liquid refrigerant.
  • The result is that a portion of the plate heat exchanger would be underutilized for its intended purpose of evaporating liquid refrigerant.
  • This situation resulted in plate heat exchangers which were oversized and meanwhile underutilized for their intended purpose.
  • BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention is directed toward providing a plate heat exchanger apparatus which fully utilizes the heat exchanger areas of the plates.
  • Particularly, the present invention sets out a plate heat exchanger apparatus having an secondary or auxiliary vessel for containing liquid, gas, and/or a liquid-gas mixture.
  • More particularly, the present invention provides an arrangement for accommodating fluid exiting a plate heat exchanger which is employed as an evaporator in a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The arrangement includes an auxiliary vessel downstream of the evaporator heat exchanger, upstream of the compressor.
  • In this manner, the evaporation plate heat exchanger may be filled (flooded) with refrigerant in order to utilize all available plate heat exchange surface area for exchanging heat, while allowing the exiting fluid to travel to the auxiliary vessel, such that substantially only vapor exits the auxiliary vessel.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the present invention.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention sets out a two chamber plate heat exchanger having an additional chamber for accepting and controlling refrigerant or other fluid in two thermodynamic phases—gas and liquid. The invention further sets out a system for utilizing and controlling the fluid in the system.
  • The inventive two chamber plate heat exchanger may be advantageously employed as an evaporator for refrigerant in a closed-loop vapor compression refrigerant cycle.
  • Referring to FIG. 1, a vapor compression refrigeration cycle including the present invention is shown.
  • Refrigerant 11 is condensed to a liquid state 12 in the condenser element 11 before exposure to the expansion valve 9. The expansion valve 9 may be controlled as set out below.
  • Depending on the position of the expansion valve 9, the thermodynamic condition of the condensed refrigerant 8 is variously, entirely, in liquid state, or a two-phase liquid vapor state. It is introduced into the plate heat exchanger 1 which together with the secondary or auxiliary vessel 4 forms the evaporative heat exchanger apparatus of the present invention.
  • The refrigerant in the secondary vessel or auxiliary vessel 4 may be in liquid phase, gas phase, and/or a mixed liquid gas phase.
  • The secondary vessel 4 may be arranged above or on top of the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1.
  • Liquid refrigerant 8 is introduced into the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 at or near a bottom portion of the exchanger 1. Warm fluid 5 from the building load 16 which is to be chilled via the phase change of the refrigerant in the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 is introduced into the exchanger 1. Because the secondary vessel 4 is arranged to accommodate the gas and non-gas phases of this refrigerant, the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 can be more effectively utilized to exchange heat from the building load 16 to the refrigerant 8. Specifically, there is no need to allow empty space at the top of the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 to ensure that no liquid leaves the exchanger en route to the compressor 10 inlet, because the inventive element of the secondary vessel 4 is specifically arranged to perform the function of holding and managing the gas and non-gas phase refrigerant. In this way, the entire surface area of the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 can be utilized to exchange heat from the building load 16 to the refrigerant 8.
  • In another embodiment, the evaporative plate heat exchanger may include a dual refrigerant inlet, to minimize maldistribution of heat and fluid flow in the exchanger.
  • In one embodiment, a fluid connection is arranged from the bottom of the secondary vessel 4 to the top of the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1, in order to communicate the refrigerant between the secondary vessel and the heat exchanger.
  • The evaporated refrigerant 7 travels through the secondary vessel 4 and exits at the top of the vessel 4. The system is arranged to ensure that any gas-phase refrigerant 7 exits the secondary vessel 4, while liquid and two-phase fluids remain in the secondary vessel 4, to be delivered back into the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 for evaporation, in a closed-loop manner.
  • A secondary vessel liquid level sensor 2 monitors the level of liquid in the secondary vessel 4, and sends a corresponding liquid level signal 3 back to the expansion valve controller 18. The liquid level signal 3 indicates to the controller 18 whether to variably open or close the expansion valve 9, in order to supply essentially liquid or gas phase refrigerant to the evaporative plate heat exchanger 1.
  • The expansion valve controller 18/expansion valve 9 assembly is arranged to adjust the thermodynamic characteristics of the refrigerant 12, 8 in order to supply the secondary valve 4/evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 structure with refrigerant 8 in a condition which is determined to be required for most effective and efficient heat transfer, and energy consumption in the form of compressor work.
  • The secondary valve 4/evaporative plate heat exchanger 1 structure may be utilized in connection with dedicated heat recovery chillers, heat pump systems, and/or conventional chiller refrigeration cycles.

Claims (6)

1. An evaporator heat exchanger apparatus comprising:
a plate heat exchanger,
a secondary vessel disposed at an upper position of said plate heat exchanger, and being in fluid connection therewith,
the secondary vessel having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet,
said secondary vessel containing refrigerant in liquid, gas, and/or a two-phase state,
a liquid refrigerant fluid connection connecting the bottom of the secondary vessel and the top of the plate heat exchanger such that substantially all available heat exchanger surface area in said plate heat exchanger is exposed to refrigerant to be evaporated,
wherein said secondary vessel contains multi-phase refrigerant, and releases gas phase refrigerant.
2. An evaporator heat exchanger apparatus according to claim 1,
said secondary vessel being contiguous with said plate heat exchanger.
3. An evaporator heat exchanger apparatus according to claim 1,
said secondary vessel being separate from and in fluid connection with said plate heat exchanger.
4. An evaporator heat exchanger apparatus according to claim 1,
said fluid inlet being in fluid connection with said expansion valve, said fluid outlet being in fluid connection with said compressor.
5. An evaporator heat exchanger apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising an automatically actuated expansion valve, an expansion valve controller, and a secondary vessel fluid level sensor, wherein said expansion valve controller responds to a signal from said secondary vessel fluid level sensor, said expansion valve controller actuating said automatically actuated expansion valve to variously open and close to maintain a liquid refrigerant level at a predetermined level in said secondary vessel.
6. An evaporator heat exchanger apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein refrigerant in said secondary vessel fluid outlet is substantially entirely in gas phase.
US12/504,349 2008-09-18 2009-07-16 Flooded plate heat exchanger Abandoned US20100064724A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/504,349 US20100064724A1 (en) 2008-09-18 2009-07-16 Flooded plate heat exchanger

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US9822208P 2008-09-18 2008-09-18
US12/504,349 US20100064724A1 (en) 2008-09-18 2009-07-16 Flooded plate heat exchanger

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9677778B2 (en) 2010-04-20 2017-06-13 Climacool Corp. Modular chiller unit with dedicated cooling and heating fluid circuits and system comprising a plurality of such units
US10900675B2 (en) 2012-12-03 2021-01-26 Waterfurnace International, Inc. Method of operating a heating and cooling system

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3559722A (en) * 1969-09-16 1971-02-02 Trane Co Method and apparatus for two-phase heat exchange fluid distribution in plate-type heat exchangers
US4562885A (en) * 1983-08-29 1986-01-07 General Resource Corporation Plate heat exchanger and pressure blast cleaner
US5031409A (en) * 1990-07-16 1991-07-16 Tyson Foods, Inc. Method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of ice production
US5546073A (en) * 1995-04-21 1996-08-13 Carrier Corporation System for monitoring the operation of a compressor unit
US5709094A (en) * 1995-03-15 1998-01-20 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Air conditioner control apparatus based on coolant type detection
US6688137B1 (en) * 2002-10-23 2004-02-10 Carrier Corporation Plate heat exchanger with a two-phase flow distributor
US6935123B2 (en) * 1996-02-16 2005-08-30 Ross's Manufacturing, Llc Method of using an ice cream machine

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3559722A (en) * 1969-09-16 1971-02-02 Trane Co Method and apparatus for two-phase heat exchange fluid distribution in plate-type heat exchangers
US4562885A (en) * 1983-08-29 1986-01-07 General Resource Corporation Plate heat exchanger and pressure blast cleaner
US5031409A (en) * 1990-07-16 1991-07-16 Tyson Foods, Inc. Method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of ice production
US5709094A (en) * 1995-03-15 1998-01-20 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Air conditioner control apparatus based on coolant type detection
US5546073A (en) * 1995-04-21 1996-08-13 Carrier Corporation System for monitoring the operation of a compressor unit
US6935123B2 (en) * 1996-02-16 2005-08-30 Ross's Manufacturing, Llc Method of using an ice cream machine
US6688137B1 (en) * 2002-10-23 2004-02-10 Carrier Corporation Plate heat exchanger with a two-phase flow distributor

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9677778B2 (en) 2010-04-20 2017-06-13 Climacool Corp. Modular chiller unit with dedicated cooling and heating fluid circuits and system comprising a plurality of such units
US10900675B2 (en) 2012-12-03 2021-01-26 Waterfurnace International, Inc. Method of operating a heating and cooling system
US11713890B2 (en) 2012-12-03 2023-08-01 Waterfurnace International, Inc. Method of operating a heating and cooling system
US12117200B2 (en) 2012-12-03 2024-10-15 Waterfurnace International, Inc. Conduit module coupled with heating or cooling module

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AS Assignment

Owner name: MULTISTACK LLC,WISCONSIN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PLATT, MARK;REEL/FRAME:023280/0488

Effective date: 20090716

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION