A condenser and a refrigeration system comprising the same

Abstract

The present application discloses a condenser, comprising a shell, at least one liquid guide plate layer, a condensing tube bundle, and a subcooling passage and a subcooling tube bundle. The liquid guide plate layer is arranged to guide the refrigerant liquid condensed by the condensing tube bundle above the liquid guide plate layer into the subcooling passage and exchange heat with the cooling medium in the subcooling tube bundle in the subcooling passage. The condenser of the present application directly arranges a subcooling passage in the condenser and directly arranges at least part of the subcooling tube bundle in the subcooling passage, thereby reducing the number of subcooling tube bundles at the bottom of the shell, reducing the height of the liquid refrigerant required for the subcooling tube bundles immersed in the bottom of the shell, and further reducing the refrigerant charge required by the condenser.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of refrigeration systems, and in particular to a condenser and a refrigeration system comprising the same. BACKGROUND

[0002] A refrigeration system is used to provide external refrigeration or heating, which mainly comprises a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device and an evaporator. The condenser is used to condense gaseous refrigerant into liquid refrigerant. Some condensers are shell-and-tube heat exchangers, which have heat exchange tubes in the shell. The inlet pipe of the condenser is usually arranged at the upper part of the condenser, and the gaseous refrigerant enters the shell of the condenser from the inlet pipe. The gaseous refrigerant outside the heat exchange tubes exchanges heat with the cooling medium inside the heat exchange tubes through the tube wall, so that the gaseous refrigerant releases latent heat of vaporization and is liquefied into saturated liquid refrigerant. The saturated liquid refrigerant drops downward and collects at the bottom of the shell.

[0003] Some refrigeration systems further comprise a subcooler, which is used to cool the liquid refrigerant obtained by condensation to a temperature lower than the condensation saturation temperature. The subcooler is generally integrated at the bottom of the condenser, and the shell of the subcooler also contains heat exchange tubes. After the saturated liquid refrigerant collects at the bottom of the shell, it enters the subcooler, and the saturated liquid refrigerant outside the heat exchange tubes exchanges heat with the cooling medium inside the heat exchange tubes again, so that the saturated liquid refrigerant is further cooled into subcooled liquid refrigerant and is discharged from the refrigerant outlet. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a condenser in a first aspect, comprising a shell, at least one liquid guide plate layer, a condensing tube bundle, and a subcooling passage and a subcooling tube bundle. The shell has a length direction, a width direction and a height direction, and a heat exchange cavity is defined in the shell, which is used to contain refrigerant. The at least one liquid guide plate layer is arranged in the heat exchange cavity and extends along the length direction. The condensing tube bundle is arranged in the heat exchange cavity and extends along the length direction, and the inside of the condensing tube bundle is used to flow cooling medium, wherein at least a part of the condensing tube bundle is arranged above the liquid guide plate layer. The subcooling passage is arranged in the heat exchange cavity, and at least a part of the subcooling tube bundle is arranged in the subcooling passage. The liquid guide plate layer is arranged to guide the refrigerant liquid condensed by the condensing tube bundle above the liquid guide plate layer into the subcooling passage and exchange heat with the cooling medium in the subcooling tube bundle in the subcooling passage.

[0005] According to the above-mentioned first aspect, the subcooling passage extends from top to bottom.

[0006] According to the above-mentioned first aspect, the subcooling passage is a narrow passage, and the width of the subcooling passage is arranged to accelerate the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid entering the subcooling passage.

[0007] According to the first aspect, the width of the subcooling passage gradually increases from top to bottom, and the width of the subcooling passage is less than 30% of the width of the shell at the same height.

[0008] According to the first aspect, in the height direction, the heat exchange cavity comprises at least two condensation spaces separated by the liquid guide plate layers, and the condensation tube bundle comprises at least two condensation tube groups arranged in the corresponding condensation spaces. The liquid guide plate layers are arranged to make each condensation space in fluid communication with the subcooling passage, so that the condensation tube groups in the condensation space above the liquid guide plate layers condense the refrigerant liquid to enter the subcooling passage and exchange heat with the cooling medium in the subcooling tube bundle. And the uncondensed refrigerant gas flows through the subcooling passage and enters the condensation space below the liquid guide plate layers, and exchanges heat with the cooling medium in the condensation tube groups therein.

[0009] According to the first aspect, each liquid guide plate layer comprises at least one liquid guide plate, and each liquid guide plate comprises a transverse extension, wherein the transverse extension gradually inclines downward in the width direction towards the subcooling passage to guide the refrigerant liquid to flow towards the subcooling passage.

[0010] According to the first aspect, each liquid guide plate further comprises a longitudinal extension connected to one end of the transverse extension in the width direction close to the subcooling passage, wherein the longitudinal extension defines at least part of the subcooling passage, and the longitudinal extension is spaced from the liquid guide plate below to allow refrigerant gas to enter the corresponding condensation space from the subcooling passage.

[0011] According to the first aspect, the height of the longitudinal extension of each liquid guide plate is arranged to block the refrigerant liquid from entering the corresponding condensation space from the subcooling passage.

[0012] According to the first aspect, each liquid guide plate layer comprises at least two liquid guide plates spaced in the width direction, and the longitudinal extensions of the at least two liquid guide plates are spaced to define at least part of the subcooling passage.

[0013] According to the first aspect, the subcooling passage extends in the height direction and in the length direction.

[0014] According to the first aspect, the edge of the transverse extension of the at least one liquid guide plate is spaced from the shell to define at least part of the subcooling passage.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present application provides a refrigeration system, comprising a compressor, an evaporator, a throttling device, and a condenser according to any one of the first aspects, which are arranged in a refrigerant circuit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a condenser according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0017] Figure 2A for Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of the axial section of the condenser;

[0018] Figure 2B for Figure 2A Liquid refrigerant flow diagram in the condenser;

[0019] Figure 2C for Figure 2A Flow diagram of gaseous refrigerant in the condenser;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an axial cross-section of a condenser according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 4 To include Figure 1 Schematic block diagram of a refrigeration system with a condenser according to the illustrated embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. It should be understood that although directional terms such as "front," "back," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" are used in this application to describe various example structural parts and elements of the application, these terms are used herein for convenience of description only and are determined based on the example orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Because the embodiments disclosed in this application can be arranged in different orientations, these directional terms are intended to be illustrative only and should not be construed as limiting.

[0023] Figure 1 FIG1 is a perspective structural diagram of a condenser 100 according to an embodiment of the present application, used to illustrate the external structure of the condenser 100. Figure 1As shown, the condenser 100 comprises a shell 101 which is substantially cylindrical in shape, having a length direction L, a width direction W and a height direction H. The shell 101 is provided with a refrigerant inlet 102, a refrigerant outlet 103 and water inlets 122 and water outlets 124. The refrigerant inlet 102 is arranged at the top of the middle part of the shell 101, for providing gaseous refrigerant into the shell 101. The refrigerant outlet 103 is arranged at the bottom of the middle part of the shell 101, for discharging liquid refrigerant condensed in the shell 101 out of the condenser 100.

[0024] The shell 101 is provided with a front tube sheet 114 and a rear tube sheet 116 at both ends of the length direction L of the shell 101, for closing the shell 101. The front tube sheet 114 and the rear tube sheet 116 are provided with the water inlets 122 and the water outlets 124. The water inlets 122 and the water outlets 124 are in communication with the cooling medium, and are in fluid communication with the inside of each heat exchange tube in the shell 101, for providing the cooling medium for heat exchange to the heat exchange tubes. In the embodiment of the present application, the condenser 100 has two tube passes, and the water inlets 122 and the water outlets 124 are arranged on the front tube sheet 114, and the water inlets 122 are arranged below the water outlets 124.

[0025] Thus, the gaseous refrigerant can enter the inside of the condenser 100 from the refrigerant inlet 102 at the top of the condenser 100, and exchange heat with the cooling medium in the heat exchange tubes in the inside of the condenser 100, so that the gaseous refrigerant is condensed into liquid refrigerant, and finally the liquid refrigerant is discharged out of the condenser 100 from the refrigerant outlet 103 at the bottom of the condenser 100. And the cooling medium in the heat exchange tubes enters the heat exchange tubes through the water inlets 122, and flows out of the heat exchange tubes from the water outlets 124.

[0026] Figures 2A-2C The structure of the axial section of the condenser 100 is shown in FIG. 2, for showing the internal structure of the condenser 100. In FIG. 2, Figure 2A The structure of the axial section of the condenser 100 is shown in FIG. 2, for showing the internal structure of the condenser 100. In FIG. 2, Figure 1 The structure of the axial section of the condenser 100 is shown in FIG. 2, for showing the internal structure of the condenser 100. In FIG. 2, Figure 2B The structure of the axial section of the condenser 100 is shown in FIG. 2, for showing the internal structure of the condenser 100. In FIG. 2, Figure 2C The structure of the axial section of the condenser 100 is shown in FIG. 2, for showing the internal structure of the condenser 100. In FIG. 2, Figures 2A-2CAs shown, the shell 101 defines a heat exchange cavity 208 for accommodating refrigerant therein, and the refrigerant inlet 102 and the refrigerant outlet 103 are both in fluid communication with the heat exchange cavity 208. The condenser 100 further comprises a condensing tube bundle 246 and a sub-cooling tube bundle 252 arranged in the heat exchange cavity 208. The condensing tube bundle 246 and the sub-cooling tube bundle 252 each comprise a plurality of heat exchange tubes parallel to each other, which extend along the length direction L and are supported on the front tube plate 114 and the rear tube plate 116 at the front and rear ends in the length direction L of each heat exchange tube. The interior of each heat exchange tube is in fluid communication (not direct communication) with the water inlet pipe 122 and the water outlet pipe 124, so that the cooling medium can flow into and out of the interior of the heat exchange tube. The heat exchange tubes are arranged in the heat exchange cavity 208 in a specific manner to form the condensing tube bundle 246 and the sub-cooling tube bundle 252. In the present application, the sub-cooling tube bundle 252 is arranged in the lower half region of the heat exchange cavity 208 to correspond to the water inlet pipe 122. A baffle 207 is arranged between the refrigerant inlet 102 and the condensing tube bundle 246, which can prevent the gaseous refrigerant entering the heat exchange cavity 208 from the refrigerant inlet 102 from directly impacting the condensing tube bundle 246.

[0027] The condenser 100 further comprises at least one liquid guide plate layer 264 arranged in the heat exchange cavity 208. The liquid guide plate layer 264 extends along the length direction L. The at least one liquid guide plate layer 264 divides the heat exchange cavity 208 in the height direction H into at least two condensing spaces 218. Correspondingly, the condensing tube bundle 246 also comprises at least two condensing tube groups. The two condensing tube groups are arranged in the corresponding condensing spaces 218. Each condensing tube group can condense the gaseous refrigerant in the corresponding condensing space 218 into liquid refrigerant.

[0028] The condenser 100 further comprises a sub-cooling passage 254. At least a part of the sub-cooling passage 254 is defined by the liquid guide plate layer 264 or is defined by the liquid guide plate layer 264 and the shell 101 together. The sub-cooling passage 254 is in fluid communication with each condensing space 218, so that the refrigerant liquid discharged from the condensing space 218 can enter the sub-cooling passage 254. The liquid guide plate layer 264 is arranged to guide the refrigerant liquid condensed by the condensing tube group in the condensing space 218 above the liquid guide plate layer 264 to enter the sub-cooling passage 254 from the condensing space 218. The sub-cooling passage 254 extends in the up-down direction to facilitate the gathering of the refrigerant liquid to the bottom of the heat exchange cavity 208. It should be noted that the up-down direction herein includes not only the completely vertical direction, but also the inclined or arc-shaped direction, as long as it is not completely parallel to the horizontal direction.

[0029] At least a portion of the subcooling tube bundle 252 is arranged in the subcooling passage 254 to enable heat exchange between the refrigerant liquid flowing through the subcooling passage 254 and the subcooling tube bundle 252. In an embodiment, the subcooling tube bundle 252 includes an upper subcooling tube bundle 251 and a lower subcooling tube bundle 253. The upper subcooling tube bundle 251 is arranged in the subcooling passage 254 to enable heat exchange between the liquid refrigerant in the subcooling passage 254 and the cooling medium in the upper subcooling tube bundle 251. The lower subcooling tube bundle 253 is arranged at the bottom of the heat exchange cavity 208. The liquid refrigerant accumulated at the bottom of the heat exchange cavity 208 submerges the lower subcooling tube bundle 253 to enable heat exchange between the liquid refrigerant and the cooling medium in the lower subcooling tube bundle 253. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the subcooling tube bundle 252 can include only the upper subcooling tube bundle 251 without the lower subcooling tube bundle 253, depending on the specific refrigeration capacity requirement.

[0030] Specifically, in the present embodiment, the at least one liquid guide plate layer 264 includes three liquid guide plate layers 264 arranged in the height direction H with intervals, and the three liquid guide plate layers 264 divide the heat exchange cavity 208 into four condensing spaces 218 arranged in sequence from top to bottom between the refrigerant inlet 102 and the refrigerant outlet 103. And each liquid guide plate layer 264 includes two liquid guide plates 261 arranged in the width direction W with intervals, and at least a portion of the subcooling passage 254 is formed between the two liquid guide plates 261. The two liquid guide plates 261 of each liquid guide plate layer 264 substantially divide the condensing space 218 below the liquid guide plate layer 264 in the width direction W into two substantially symmetrical sub-condensing spaces 271 and a subcooling space 272 between the two sub-condensing spaces 271. Thus, in the height direction H, the top condensing space 218 does not include the subcooling space 272, and the subcooling spaces 272 of the other three condensing spaces 218 form the subcooling passage 254.

[0031] The condenser tube bundle 246 also includes a first condenser tube group 241, a second condenser tube group 242, a third condenser tube group 243, and a fourth condenser tube group 244, which are arranged in the height direction H from top to bottom in the four condensing spaces 218, respectively. The second condenser tube group 242, the third condenser tube group 243, and the fourth condenser tube group 244 each include left and right portions separated by a sub-cooling space 272, which are arranged in the corresponding sub-condensing space 271, respectively. The fourth condenser tube group 244 is also separated from the lower sub-cooling tube bundle 253 by a certain distance. Thus, the refrigerant liquid (i.e., liquid refrigerant) condensed by the first condenser tube group 241, the second condenser tube group 242, and the third condenser tube group 243 above the liquid guide plate layer 264 can be guided by the liquid guide plate layer 264 into the sub-cooling passage 254, and further reduced in temperature to be collected at the bottom of the shell 101. The refrigerant liquid condensed by the fourth condenser tube group 244 is directly collected at the bottom of the shell 101.

[0032] More specifically, each liquid guide plate 261 includes a transverse extension 262 and a longitudinal extension 263. The transverse extension 262 is used to separate the condensing spaces 218, and the longitudinal extension 263 is used to separate the sub-condensing space 271 and the sub-cooling space 272. In the width direction W toward the sub-cooling passage 254, the transverse extension 262 gradually slopes downward to guide the flow of refrigerant liquid toward the sub-cooling passage 254. The longitudinal extension 263 is connected to the inner end of the transverse extension 262. The inner end here refers to the end of the transverse extension 262 closest to the sub-cooling passage 254 in the width direction W. As an example, the outer end of the transverse extension 262 of each liquid guide plate 261 is separated from the shell 101 by a certain distance to form a gas passage, thereby allowing fluid communication between each condensing space 218. The bottom end of the longitudinal extension 263 of each liquid guide plate 261 is also separated from the liquid guide plate layer 264 below by a certain distance to form a gas passage, thereby allowing fluid communication between the sub-cooling passage 254 and the condensing space 218. In this embodiment, the length of the longitudinal extension 263 gradually increases in the direction from top to bottom. This is because the closer to the top, the more gas is mixed in the liquid refrigerant in the sub-cooling passage 254, and the greater the distance needs to be separated between the longitudinal extension 263 and the transverse extension 262 below. The longitudinal extension 263 also prevents the refrigerant liquid in the sub-cooling passage 254 from splashing onto the condenser tube bundle 246 on both sides when it drips onto the sub-cooling tube bundle 252. In some embodiments, the liquid guide plate can also not have a longitudinal extension.

[0033] As a result, the liquid refrigerant (i.e., refrigerant liquid) condensed by the condensing tube group in the condensing space 218 above the liquid guide plate layer 264 can flow into the subcooling channel 254, where it is subcooled by heat exchange with the cooling medium in the subcooling tube bundle 252. The uncondensed gaseous refrigerant (i.e., refrigerant gas) diffuses through the gap between the outer end of the transverse extension 262 and the shell 101 or through the gap at the bottom of the longitudinal extension 263 into the condensing space 218 below the liquid guide plate layer 264, where it is condensed by heat exchange with the cooling medium in the condensing tube group therein.

[0034] The following combination Figure 2B and Figure 2C More specifically, the flow directions of the refrigerant liquid and refrigerant gas are described. Figure 2B As shown, the refrigerant gas entering the condenser 100 from the refrigerant inlet 102 first undergoes heat exchange with the first condenser tube group 241 located at the top. A portion of the condensed refrigerant liquid drips from top to bottom onto the liquid guide plate layer 264 below the first condenser tube group 241 and enters the subcooling channel 254 under the guidance of the transverse extension 262. Another portion drips directly into the subcooling channel 254. After heat exchange with the second and third condenser tube groups 242 and 243, the condensed refrigerant liquid also drips from top to bottom onto the corresponding liquid guide plate layer 264 and then enters the subcooling channel 254 under the guidance of the transverse extension 262. After heat exchange with the fourth condenser tube group 244, the condensed refrigerant liquid no longer enters the subcooling channel 254, but instead drips directly to the bottom of the shell 101, exchanging heat with the lower subcooling tube bundle 253 and becoming subcooled.

[0035] As the refrigerant liquid enters the subcooling channel 254 and flows from top to bottom, it exchanges heat with the subcooling tube bundle 252 in the subcooling channel 254, and the resulting subcooled refrigerant liquid accumulates at the bottom of the shell 101. The subcooled refrigerant liquid accumulated at the bottom of the shell 101 forms a liquid surface of a certain height and immerses the lower subcooling tube bundle 253, allowing the refrigerant liquid to further exchange heat with the lower subcooling tube bundle 253 and become subcooled. Finally, it is discharged through the refrigerant outlet 103.

[0036] like Figure 2CAs shown, after the heat exchange with the first condensing tube group 241, part of the uncondensed refrigerant gas diffuses into the condensing space 218 below through the gas passage at the outer end of the transverse extension 262 of the liquid guide plate layer 264 below to exchange heat with the second condensing tube group 242. Another part of the uncondensed refrigerant gas diffuses into the condensing space 218 below through the gas passage at the bottom end of the longitudinal extension 263 of the liquid guide plate layer 264 below to exchange heat with the second condensing tube group 242. After the heat exchange with the second condensing tube group 242, part of the still uncondensed refrigerant gas diffuses into the condensing space 218 below through the gap between the outer end of the transverse extension 262 of the liquid guide plate layer 264 below and the shell 101 to exchange heat with the third condensing tube group 243. Another part of the refrigerant gas first enters the supercooling passage 254 and then diffuses into the condensing space 218 below through the bottom end of the longitudinal extension 263 of the liquid guide plate layer 264 below to exchange heat with the third condensing tube group 243. Similarly, after the heat exchange with the third condensing tube group 243, the still uncondensed refrigerant gas diffuses into the condensing space 218 below to exchange heat with the fourth condensing tube group 244. After the heat exchange with the fourth condensing tube group 244, these refrigerant gases can be completely condensed into refrigerant liquid.

[0037] In the present application, the supercooling passage 254 is a narrow passage, i.e., the width of the supercooling passage 254 in the width direction W is small, so that the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid can be accelerated after entering the supercooling passage 254 from the condensing space 218. Thus, the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid entering the supercooling passage 254 can be accelerated, and the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid flowing over the surface of the supercooling tube bundle 252 in the supercooling passage 254 can be ensured, so that the heat exchange performance of the supercooling tube bundle 252 is good. As an example, the width of the supercooling passage 254 gradually increases from top to bottom, and at the same height, the width of the supercooling passage 254 is less than 30% of the width of the shell 101.

[0038] Figure 3 A structural schematic view of an axial section of a condenser 300 according to another embodiment of the present application is shown. As shown, the condenser 300 has the same external structure as the condenser 100, and the difference lies in the structure of the liquid guide plate layer 364 and the structure of the supercooling passage 354. Figure 3

[0039] Specifically, the condenser 300 also includes the heat exchange cavity 208, and the four liquid guide plate layers 364 divide the heat exchange cavity 208 into four condensing spaces 318 and one supercooling space 319 from top to bottom. The condensing tube bundle 346 includes four condensing tube groups respectively arranged in the condensing spaces 318.​

[0040] In this embodiment, each liquid guide plate layer 364 comprises two liquid guide plates 361, which only comprise the transverse extension 362 but not the longitudinal extension. The inner ends of the transverse extensions 362 of the two liquid guide plates 361 of each liquid guide plate layer 364 are connected to each other, and the edges of the outer ends of the transverse extensions 362 are spaced from the shell 101 to form the subcooling passage 354. And the transverse extensions 362 of each liquid guide plate 361 are gradually inclined downward in the direction from the inner end to the outer end, so as to guide the condensed refrigerant liquid of the condensing tube set above to flow to the subcooling passage 354.

[0041] The subcooling tube bundle 352 also comprises an upper subcooling tube bundle 351 and a lower subcooling tube bundle 353. The upper subcooling tube bundle 351 is arranged in the subcooling passage 354, and the lower subcooling tube bundle 353 is arranged in the subcooling space 319.

[0042] And in this embodiment, the subcooling passage 354 is also a narrow passage, so that the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid entering the subcooling passage 354 is accelerated.

[0043] Thus, the refrigerant gas entering the heat exchange cavity 208 from the refrigerant inlet 102 can sequentially pass through the four condensing spaces 318 from top to bottom, and be condensed into refrigerant liquid by heat exchange with the condensing tube bundle 346 in the condensing spaces 318. The condensed liquid refrigerant (i.e. refrigerant liquid) of the condensing tube set in the condensing space 318 above the liquid guide plate layer 364 can be guided by the liquid guide plate layer 364 to flow to the subcooling passage 354, and subcooled by heat exchange with the cooling medium in the subcooling tube bundle 352. The uncondensed gaseous refrigerant (i.e. refrigerant gas) diffuses into the condensing space 318 below the liquid guide plate layer 264, and is condensed by heat exchange with the cooling medium in the condensing tube set. The condensed refrigerant liquid and the subcooled refrigerant liquid in the subcooling passage 354 are collected together in the subcooling space 319 at the bottom of the shell 101, subcooled by heat exchange with the lower subcooling tube bundle 353, and finally discharged from the refrigerant outlet 103.

[0044] This embodiment is particularly suitable for condensers whose middle part of the shell is not suitable for arranging a subcooling passage.

[0045] Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of the refrigeration system 490 of the present application, which is used to show the position and function of the condenser 100 in the refrigeration system 490. As shown in FIG. 9, the refrigeration system 490 comprises a compressor 491, a condenser 100, an evaporator 492, and an expansion valve 493. The compressor 491, the condenser 100, the evaporator 492, and the expansion valve 493 are connected in series to form a refrigeration cycle. Figure 4As shown, the refrigeration system 490 includes a compressor 493, the condenser 100, a throttling device 492 and an evaporator 491, which are connected by pipes into a closed system and filled with refrigerant in the system. The refrigerant flows through the compressor 493, the condenser 100, the throttling device 492 and the evaporator 491 in sequence, so that the refrigeration system 490 can cool or heat externally. Specifically, the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged by the compressor 493 flows into the condenser 100 through the refrigerant inlet 102, exchanges heat with the condensing tube bundle in the condenser 100 to release heat and is condensed into high-pressure saturated liquid refrigerant, and further exchanges heat with the subcooling tube bundle in the condenser 100 to be further cooled into high-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant. Then it is discharged through the refrigerant outlet 103 and flows into the throttling device 492, and after being throttled into low-pressure two-phase refrigerant, it flows into the evaporator 491, absorbs heat and is evaporated into low-pressure gaseous refrigerant in the evaporator 491, and finally flows out of the evaporator 491 and reflows into the compressor 493, completing the circulation of the refrigerant.

[0046] The applicant found that in the existing condenser including a subcooler, the subcooler is generally integrated at the bottom of the condenser. In order to ensure the heat exchange efficiency of the subcooler, there must be enough refrigerant liquid in the condenser, so that the refrigerant liquid level is higher than the top position of the subcooler, thereby forming a liquid storage cavity full of liquid refrigerant between the subcooler and the condenser shell to prevent gaseous refrigerant from entering the subcooler. This will cause the condenser to require too much refrigerant charge. In addition, in the existing subcooler, an additional subcooler shell is generally required to increase the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid by limiting the flow of the refrigerant liquid in the subcooler shell, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency between the refrigerant liquid and the subcooling tube bundle. In addition, in the existing subcooler, the refrigerant liquid generally flows along the length direction L in the subcooler to exchange heat with the subcooling tube bundle. In the length direction L, some support plates are generally provided to strengthen the fixation of the subcooling tube bundle. These support plates will increase the pressure drop of the refrigerant liquid when flowing through the subcooling tube bundle, so that the liquid refrigerant may flash before entering the throttling device.

[0047] The condenser of the present application directly provides a subcooling channel in the condenser and directly provides at least part of the subcooling tube bundle in the subcooling channel, thereby reducing the number of subcooling tube bundles at the bottom of the shell, reducing the height of the liquid refrigerant required to immerse the subcooling tube bundles at the bottom of the shell, and further reducing the refrigerant charge required by the condenser.

[0048] The condenser of the present application provides a narrow subcooling channel, so that the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid can be accelerated after flowing into the subcooling channel, and therefore an additional subcooler shell is not required to increase the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid.

[0049] And the subcooling passage of the condenser of the present application extends along the up-down direction, and no longer flows along the length direction, so the support plate does not cause pressure drop of the refrigerant liquid during the flow, so that the pressure drop of the refrigerant is lower.

[0050] In addition, the condenser of the present application includes a liquid guide plate layer, so that the condensed refrigerant liquid generated by the condensing tube bundle above the liquid guide plate layer can be discharged in time, without affecting the heat exchange of the condensing tube bundle below the liquid guide plate layer with the refrigerant gas, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the condenser.

[0051] Although the present application will be described with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the condensing device and refrigeration system of the present application can have many variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also realize that there are different ways to change the structural details in the embodiments disclosed in the present application, all of which fall within the spirit and scope of the present application and the claims.

Claims

1. A condenser, comprising: a housing (101) having a length direction (L), a width direction (W) and a height direction (H), the housing (101) defining a heat exchange cavity (208) inside for containing refrigerant; and a condensing tube bundle (246) arranged in the heat exchange cavity (208) and extending along the length direction (L), the inside of the condensing tube bundle (246) being for circulating cooling medium; characterized in that the condenser further comprises: at least one liquid guide plate layer (264) arranged in the heat exchange cavity (208) and extending along the length direction (L), wherein at least a portion of the condensing tube bundle (246) is arranged above the liquid guide plate layer (264) ; and a subcooling channel (254) arranged in the heat exchange cavity (208) and at least a portion of a subcooling tube bundle (252) arranged in the subcooling channel (254) ; wherein the liquid guide plate layer (264) is arranged to guide refrigerant liquid condensed by the condensing tube bundle (246) above the liquid guide plate layer (264) into the subcooling channel (254) and exchange heat with the cooling medium in the subcooling tube bundle (252) in the subcooling channel (254). 2.The condenser according to claim 1, characterized in that: the subcooling channel (254) extends from top to bottom. 3.The condenser according to claim 2, characterized in that: the subcooling channel (254) is a narrow channel, and the width of the subcooling channel (254) is arranged to accelerate the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid entering the subcooling channel (254). 4.The condenser according to claim 3, characterized in that: the width of the subcooling channel (254) gradually increases from top to bottom, and the width of the subcooling channel (254) is less than 30% of the width of the housing (101) at the same height. 5.The condenser according to claim 1, characterized in that: in the height direction (H), the heat exchange cavity (208) comprises at least two condensing spaces (218) separated by the liquid guide plate layer (264), and the condensing tube bundle (246) comprises at least two condensing tube groups (241, 242, 243, 244) arranged in the corresponding condensing space (218) ; wherein the liquid guide plate layer (264) is arranged to make each condensing space (218) in fluid communication with the subcooling channel (254), so that: the refrigerant liquid condensed by the condensing tube group in the condensing space (218) above the liquid guide plate layer (264) enters the subcooling channel (254) and exchanges heat with the cooling medium in the subcooling tube bundle (252). And the non-condensed refrigerant gas flows through the sub-cooling passage (254) and enters a condensing space (218) below the liquid guide plate layer (264) and exchanges heat with the cooling medium in the condensing tube set.

6. The condenser of claim 5, wherein: Each of the liquid guide plate layers (264) includes at least one liquid guide plate (261), and each of the liquid guide plates (261) includes a lateral extension (262) that gradually slopes downward in the width direction (W) toward the sub-cooling passage (254) to direct the refrigerant liquid to flow toward the sub-cooling passage (254).

7. The condenser of claim 6, wherein: Each of the liquid guide plates (261) further includes a longitudinal extension (263) connected to one end of the lateral extension (262) in the width direction (W) near the sub-cooling passage (254), and the longitudinal extension (263) defines at least a portion of the sub-cooling passage (254), and the longitudinal extension (263) is spaced from the liquid guide plate (261) thereunder to allow refrigerant gas to enter the corresponding condensing space (218) from the sub-cooling passage (254).

8. The condenser of claim 7, wherein: The height of the longitudinal extension (263) of each of the liquid guide plates (261) is configured to block refrigerant liquid from entering the corresponding condensing space (218) from the sub-cooling passage (254).

9. The condenser of claim 7, wherein: Each of the liquid guide plate layers (264) includes at least two liquid guide plates (261) spaced in the width direction (W), and the longitudinal extensions (263) of the at least two liquid guide plates (261) are spaced to define at least a portion of the sub-cooling passage (254).

10. The condenser of claim 9, wherein: The sub-cooling passage (254) extends in the height direction (H) and in the length direction (L).

11. The condenser of claim 6, wherein: The edge of the lateral extension (262) of the at least one liquid guide plate (261) is spaced from the housing (101) to define at least a portion of the sub-cooling passage (254).

12. A refrigeration system comprising a compressor (493), an evaporator (491), a throttling device (492) and a condenser arranged in a refrigerant circuit, wherein: The condenser is the condenser (100) according to any one of claims 1-11.

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