Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B39/00—Evaporators; Condensers
  • F25B39/04—Condensers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B40/00—Subcoolers, desuperheaters or superheaters
  • F25B40/02—Subcoolers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B41/00—Fluid-circulation arrangements
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
  • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
  • F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
  • F28D1/053—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight
  • F28D1/05316—Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators
  • F28D1/05325—Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators with particular pattern of flow, e.g. change of flow direction
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
  • F28D7/16—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation
  • F28D7/163—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation with conduit assemblies having a particular shape, e.g. square or annular; with assemblies of conduits having different geometrical features; with multiple groups of conduits connected in series or parallel and arranged inside common casing
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/22—Arrangements for directing heat-exchange media into successive compartments, e.g. arrangements of guide plates
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2339/00—Details of evaporators; Details of condensers
  • F25B2339/04—Details of condensers
  • F25B2339/046—Condensers with refrigerant heat exchange tubes positioned inside or around a vessel containing water or pcm to cool the refrigerant gas

Definitions

• HVAC heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning
• Subcoolers are known to be used in shell and tube heat exchangers, such as in condensers of water cooled HVAC chillers and that operate under the condensing temperature. Subcooler design is typically dictated by heat exchange tube geometry size and shell size allowance within the shell and tube heat exchanger.
• Existing subcooler designs can be separate enclosures ranging from, for example discrete envelopments within a condenser shell, to separate welded enclosures within the condenser shell.
• Such subcooler designs that may be discrete envelopments as described above are often welded enclosures to prevent leakage and bypass.
• the costs of such subcooler designs can be high.
• Such subcooler designs described above that may utilize the condenser shell walls as part of the subcooler enclosure can have relatively more refrigerant charge than discrete envelopment designs, and can have significantly more flow area/reduced flow velocities.
• future refrigerant taxes and/or higher prices with new alternative refrigerants may restrict the construction of such designs that utilize portions of the condenser shell wall.
• subcooler performance may suffer and require additional tube surface area to accommodate the lack of heat transfer performance.
• a refrigerant displacement device as described herein and shown in the Figures can address performance and cost issues that may be associated with such existing subcooler designs as described above, by not only minimizing refrigerant charge through the subcooler, but also minimizing the free flow area to increase flow velocity over the subcooler tubes.
• a refrigerant displacement device is a baffle structure that includes a main body that is suitable to be placed into a subcooler, for example along the direction that heat exchange tubes extend, e.g. in an end to end or lengthwise direction/arrangement.
• the main body physically displaces refrigerant from volume or free flow areas within the enclosure of the subcooler that would otherwise be occupied by refrigerant.
• the main body has a number of orifices through the main body, and through which heat exchange tubes may be suitably inserted.
• the orifices have a standoff(s) to create space between an outer diameter of the heat exchange tubes and surfaces on the baffle created by the orifices.
• the displacement device can be a series of baffles, where each of the baffles may have a different depth (e.g. dimension along the tube length), or in some
• the refrigerant displacement device can extend along a majority or about all of the heat exchange tube length running through subcooler.
• the refrigerant displacement device can be suitably incorporated into an HVAC system, for example into a condenser.
• the refrigerant displacement device can be suitably incorporated into a subcooler with a dedicated, discrete envelopment.
• the refrigerant displacement device the refrigerant displacement device can be suitably incorporated into a subcooler that utilizes a portion of the condenser shell walls.
• a method of operating a subcooler in a condenser of an HVAC unit or system includes: causing refrigerant to enter an inlet of a subcooler; causing the refrigerant to flow through orifices of a refrigerant displacement device; causing the refrigerant to be directed by the refrigerant displacement device to flow proximate the heat exchange tubes in areas between surfaces of the baffle created by the orifices and the outer surface of the heat exchange tubes; causing refrigerant to not be physically present at areas in the subcooler that are away from the heat exchange tubes and toward the enclosure of the subcooler, and not proximate the heat exchange tubes; and subcooling the refrigerant, while reducing refrigerant charge through the subcooler and increasing flow velocity proximate the heat exchange tubes.
• the method further comprises causing the refrigerant to flow through annularly shaped spaces created by standoffs on the orifices of the baffle, so that refrigerant flows between the orifices of the baffle and heat exchange tubes inserted therein.
• Fig. 1 is an end view one embodiment of a refrigerant displacement device, and schematically showing a depth from end to end that can vary.
• Fig. 2 is an open end schematic view of a condenser of an HVAC system with a subcooler utilizing a portion of the condenser shell walls as the subcooler enclosure.
• Fig. 3 is an open end schematic view of another condenser of an HVAC system with a subcooler as a separate discreet enclosure.
• Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of a refrigerant displacement device installed in a subcooler.
• a refrigerant displacement device is described and shown in the Figures that can address performance and cost issues that may be associated with such existing subcooler designs as described above, by not only minimizing refrigerant charge through the subcooler, but also minimizing the free flow area to increase flow velocity over the subcooler tubes.
• the refrigerant displacement device is a baffle structure or construction and arrangement of a series of baffles that are suitable for use in a subcooler.
• the utilization of one or more refrigerant displacement baffles allows for minimization of refrigerant but also helps to focus high velocity refrigerant flow proximate to and around the heat exchange tubes to conduct heat away from the refrigerant into the cooling fluid inside the heat exchange tubes. Refrigerant charge can be reduced, and/or chiller efficiency can increase, and/or copper tubing costs can be saved.
• the refrigerant displacement device herein can allow for the flexibility in any type of subcooler, e.g. discrete envelope designs and designs that use a portion of the condenser shell wall as the subcooler enclosure, by utilizing a refrigerant displacement device, such as baffle(s), to reduce refrigerant charge through displacement.
• the refrigerant displacement device can also enhance heat transfer performance within the subcooler by minimizing flow areas and focusing refrigerant flow within a flow annulus around the subcooler tubing.
• the refrigerant displacement device can be utilized in a subcooler, for example in a condenser of a water cooled chiller or HVAC unitary product, where the refrigerant displacement device is a physical structure, such as one or more displacing baffles.
• Fig. 1 is an end view one embodiment of a refrigerant displacement device, and also schematically showing a depth from end to end that can vary.
• the refrigerant displacement device may be one or more baffles.
• An exemplary baffle "A" is shown in Fig. 1 that may be used in a refrigerant displacement device.
• the baffle A is shown for example from a side as if it were inserted into a chiller and if the view of the chiller was taken from an end.
• the baffle A has a structure 1 that physically prevents refrigerant from occupying certain spaces inside the subcooler when the baffle A is installed.
• the baffle A has a number of orifices 2 through which heat exchange tubes can be inserted.
• the orifices have protrusions or standoffs 4 that allow for space, such as an annulus or annular shape, to be present between an outer surface of a heat exchange tube that may inserted through the orifices 2 and the inner diameter or circumferential-like wall of the orifices 2.
• the protrusions 4 define the amount of space between orifice and the heat exchange tubes and could be modified as appropriate to achieve certain flow velocities and amount of subcooling needed/desired.
• the shape, geometry, and actual dimensions of the baffle A, its orifices 2, its protrusions 4, or its overall structure 1 are not meant to be limiting.
• baffles A can be inserted within the subcooler as an array to provide displacement of refrigerant (to minimize dead space, decrease free flow area within the subcooler) and to focus refrigerant flow proximate and around the heat exchange tubes to help with heat exchange performance, e.g. by increasing flow velocities near and around the heat exchange tubes, which can increase the refrigerant side heat transfer coefficient and decrease the amount of subcooler heat transfer that may be required, which can reduce copper tube surface area.
• the refrigerant displacement device can be a series or array of baffles, where each baffle has a depth from end to end, e.g. such as when viewing perpendicularly into the page of Fig. 1.
• depth "D" (see also e.g. dashed lines and double arrows in Fig. 1) can be varied to achieve the desired, needed size of the baffle along the length of the heat exchange tubes.
• the depth "D” that is shown is merely illustrative and not meant to be limiting. It will be appreciated that the depths can be varied.
• the baffle could be a single extruded piece, rather than a series of baffles, that spans much of the tube length within the subcooler (see e.g. Fig. 4 further described below). It will also be appreciated that the baffle does not have to be a single extrusion, but could be a dual extrusion or just a few extruded pieces to account for other subcooler structures, e.g. the position of inlet/outlet structures into/out of the subcooler.
• baffles pieces that may be used could have common interlocking structures to allow baffles to be linked together and to create multiple subcooler cross sectional geometries, for example by having suitable press fit structures, or suitable fastening capability, or may be connected by epoxy or using interlocking modules similar to e.g. LEGO toys.
• the baffle material could be a composite or plastic material, such as polypropylene.
• the material of the refrigerant displacement device is generally not meant to be limiting, although HVAC system friendly and refrigerant friendly, non-corrosive materials may be preferred.
• a screen may also be used to block debris from flowing through the subcooler, such as on an inlet and/or outlet of the subcooler.
• Fig. 2 shows one type of condenser 10 with a subcooler "B" that has heat exchange tubes 6 where its enclosure 8 is formed by utilizing the wall(s) of the condenser shell and perhaps other pieces of the condenser, such as a drain pan and/or inlet/outlet structures.
• An outlet 5 from the subcooler B is also shown. It will be appreciated that a suitable inlet into the subcooler B would be employed to allow refrigerant to flow inside the subcooler B, for example from the bottom or on sides of the subcooler B.
• Fig. 3 is an open end schematic view of another condenser of an HVAC system with a subcooler as a separate discreet enclosure.
• Fig. 3 shows condenser 20 with a subcooler "C" that has heat exchange tubes 16 where its enclosure 18 formed as a separate discreet enclosure that may be welded to the condenser shell.
• An outlet 15 from the subcooler C is also shown. It will be appreciated that a suitable inlet into the subcooler C would be employed to allow refrigerant to flow inside the subcooler C, for example from the bottom or on sides of the subcooler C.
• the refrigerant displacement device may be incorporated into either of the subcooler designs B and/or C from Figs. 2 and 3.
• Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of a condenser 30 that has a subcooler 34, with a refrigerant displacement device 32 installed in the subcooler 34.
• Heat exchange tubes or tube bundle 36 can be inserted through the refrigerant displacement device 32, e.g. through orifices and protrusions similarly constructed as in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 4 is to schematically show an example of the relative area and coverage of the refrigerant displacement device 32 inside the subcooler 34.
• the refrigerant displacement device 32 can extend the majority or almost the entire length of the subcooler 34 and have coverage on most of the tube bundle 36.
• the refrigerant displacement device A can be constructed and arranged as that in Fig. 4.
• refrigerant displacement device is discussed in the context of a condenser, it will be appreciated that it may be useful for any shell and tube subcooler design, and any HVAC unit and/or system as appropriate, and which may not include a condenser.

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• 2012
  • 2012-09-26 DE DE212012000286.3U patent/DE212012000286U1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2012-09-26 US US14/431,078 patent/US20150247658A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-09-26 WO PCT/CN2012/081990 patent/WO2014047799A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-09-26 IN IN3086DEN2015 patent/IN2015DN03086A/en unknown
  • 2012-09-26 CN CN201290001306.3U patent/CN204988005U/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime

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