Internal liquid suction heat exchanger

Abstract

In one aspect, an evaporator assembly for a refrigeration system is provided. The evaporator assembly includes a pressure vessel having an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is configured to supply refrigerant to a compressor of the refrigeration system. A liquid suction heat exchanger is disposed within the pressure vessel. The liquid suction heat exchanger is configured to receive a liquid refrigerant for heat exchange with the refrigerant in the pressure vessel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The subject matter disclosed herein relates to heat exchangers and, more specifically, to flooded evaporator heat exchangers for use in refrigeration systems.BACKGROUND[0002]Compressors are commonly employed to circulate a refrigerant through a refrigeration cycle in a cooling system. One particular use of the compressor is in a refrigeration system commonly known as a chiller. In addition to the compressor, the typical chiller also includes a condenser, an evaporator or cooler, and in some applications an oil-refrigerant separator. These components are connected to each other by tubing that circulates the refrigerant through the system. The evaporator typically includes a plurality of tubes that circulate water, which is cooled by an evaporating refrigerant, and the cooled water is circulated in a closed loop to another heat exchanger or cooling coil. At the cooling coil, circulating building or process air is directed through the cooling coil by a fan s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a method for improving the efficiency of refrigeration systems. This is achieved by cooling down liquid refrigerant in the evaporator and then supplying it to the compressor. This cooled liquid refrigerant is then vaporized and superheated in the compressor, resulting in a higher temperature and greater amount of energy utilization. The method results in a more effective refrigeration system.

Problems solved by technology

With the adoption of low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, the characteristics of refrigerant cycles may result in lower discharge superheat.

Due to the lower discharge superheat, oil may not be effectively separated from the discharge gas in the oil separator.

This may cause excessive oil circulation, oil foaming in the evaporator, and / or a loss in performance.

Further, a refrigerant may contain residual atomized liquid particles (carryover) at the end of a heat exchange stage (mostly due to low superheating of the vapor and high vapor exit velocities), which may damage components downstream of the heat exchanger or result in operational issues.

In addition, some known systems have poor versatility in response to changes in the fluid temperature and flowrate requirements downstream.

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