Condensing device

Abstract

A condensing device comprises a first shell-pass cylinder, one or more heat exchange tubes, a second shell-pass cylinder, and a condensing-subcooling member. At least an upper portion of the second shell-pass cylinder is sleeved around a periphery of the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder. The condensing-subcooling member has a condensing-subcooling passage extending vertically. A top opening of the condensing-subcooling passage communicates with a first shell-pass outlet of the first shell-pass cylinder. A gap is defined between a peripheral wall of the condensing-subcooling passage and an inner wall of the second shell-pass cylinder. The second shell-pass cylinder has a non-condensable gas outlet above the condensing-subcooling member. A liquid storage chamber is defined inside the second shell-pass cylinder below the condensing-subcooling member. The condensing device is compact in structure and ensures condensation, sub-cooling, gas-liquid separation and liquid storage in a relatively small space.

Description

BACKGROUND Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a field of heat exchange, and in particular to a condensing device.Description of Related Art

[0002] The sub-cooling process of a to-be-condensed medium generally requires that the to-be-condensed medium is condensed and cooled in a condenser and then imported into a liquid storage tank for gas-liquid separation. The liquid after gas-liquid separation is stored in the liquid storage tank, while the non-condensable gas after gas-liquid separation is discharged. However, the sub-cooling process of the to-be-condensed medium generally requires secondary cooling, so at least two condensers need to be connected in series, or the condenser is designed to be very large in volume. Moreover, the exiting liquid storage tank is designed separately from the condenser, and large gas-liquid separation space and liquid storage space as well as various connecting tubes usually need to be designed in the liquid storage tank, so that the liquid storage tank is relatively large. Therefore, the existing condensing device formed by combining condensers with a liquid storage tank is large in floor area and high in investment, and the connecting tubes between two condensers and the connecting tubes between the condenser and the liquid storage tank increase the pressure loss of the system.SUMMARY

[0003] A technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a condensing device which is compact in structure and ensures condensation, sub-cooling, gas-liquid separation and liquid storage in a relatively small space.

[0004] To solve the above technical problem, the condensing device comprises: a first shell-pass cylinder extending vertically and having a shell-pass inlet for importing a to-be-condensed shell-pass medium at a top of the first shell-pass cylinder and a first shell-pass outlet for exporting the shell-pass medium at a bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder; one or more heat exchange tubes disposed inside the first shell-pass cylinder along an axis of the first shell-pass cylinder; a second shell-pass cylinder extending vertically having an upper portion; a condensing-subcooling member disposed inside the second shell-pass cylinder below the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder; wherein, at least the upper portion of the second shell-pass cylinder is sleeved around a periphery of the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder; the condensing-subcooling member has a condensing-subcooling passage extending vertically, and the condensing-subcooling passage has a top opening and a bottom opening, the top opening of the condensing-subcooling passage communicates with the first shell-pass outlet of the first shell-pass cylinder, a gap is defined between a peripheral wall of the condensing-subcooling passage and an inner wall of the second shell-pass cylinder facing the condensing-subcooling passage; the second shell-pass cylinder has a non-condensable gas outlet above the condensing-subcooling member; a liquid storage chamber is defined inside the second shell-pass cylinder below the condensing-subcooling member communicating with the bottom opening of the condensing-subcooling passage, the liquid storage chamber communicates with the non-condensable gas outlet through the gap.

[0005] In this way, the one or more heat exchange tubes of the present invention ensure primary condensation of the to-be-condensed shell-pass medium, and the shell-pass medium after primary condensation is subjected to secondary condensation and gas-liquid separation in the condensing-subcooling passage. The liquid after gas-liquid separation flows into the liquid storage chamber under the action of its own gravity, while the non-condensable gas is discharged from the non-condensable gas outlet through spiral passages. Thus, condensation, gas-liquid separation and liquid storage can be ensured in a relatively small space. Moreover, in the present invention, condensation, gas-liquid separation and liquid storage are integrated in one condensing device without providing additional connecting tubes. Meanwhile, the condensing device of the present invention is disposed vertically, bringing great economic benefits to investment, floor occupation, system operation cost and the like.

[0006] To improve the condensation and gas-liquid separation effects, preferably, the condensing-subcooling passage is spirally arranged from inside to outside of the condensing-subcooling member. Thus, the contact area of the condensing and sub-cooling passage with the shell-pass medium can be increased, and the condensation and gas-liquid separation effects can thus be improved.

[0007] The condensing and sub-cooling passage can be electrified for refrigeration. Preferably, the condensing-subcooling member comprises a central tube extending vertically and two spiral plates protruding out of the central tube, the central tube has a top opening communicating with a bottom tube opening of each heat exchange tube and a closed bottom; the two spiral plates are spirally wound clockwise or counterclockwise together along a circumferential direction of the central tube to form two adjacent spiral passages, a first spiral passage and a second spiral passage; the first spiral passage is defined as the condensing-subcooling passage, the second spiral passage has a closed top end and a closed bottom end, the second spiral passage has an inner opening adjacent to the central tube which communicates with the central tube and an outer opening away from the central tube, the second shell-pass cylinder has a first tube-pass inlet pipe which communicates with the outer opening of the second spiral passage. Thus, the shell-pass medium for condensation enters the second spiral passage first to condense the shell-pass medium in the first spiral passage, and then enters the one or more heat exchange tubes to condense the shell-pass medium in the first shell-pass cylinder, so that the condensation and sub-cooling of the shell-pass medium is ensured.

[0008] Preferably, the condensing device comprises at least two groups of heat exchange tubes, a bottom tube opening of each heat exchange tube of a first group of heat exchange tubes communicates with the top opening of the central tube, the first shell-pass cylinder has a second tube-pass inlet pipe communicating with a bottom tube opening of each heat exchange tube of a second group of heat exchange tubes, the second tube-pass inlet pipe is located above the condensing-subcooling member. When there are three or more groups of heat exchange tubes, bottom tube openings of each heat exchange tube of other groups of heat exchange tubes except for the bottom opening of each heat exchange tube of the first group of heat exchange tubes communicate with the corresponding second tube-pass inlet tubes on the side wall of the first shell-pass cylinder, and the number of the second tube-pass inlet tubes corresponds to the number of groups of heat exchange tubes. To improve the gas-liquid separation effect, preferably, the first spiral passage has a central portion adjacent to the central tube and a peripheral portion away from the central tube; and the first shell-pass outlet of the first shell-pass cylinder faces to and communicates with a top end of the central portion of the first spiral passage, a periphery of the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder extends horizontally outward to form an annular cover plate which covers a top end of the peripheral portion of the first spiral passage.

[0009] Thus, the liquid phase in the shell-pass medium flows along the central portion of the first spiral passage, and the gas phase spirally flows outward to the peripheral portion of the first spiral passage, then enters the gap and finally is discharged from the non-condensable gas outlet.

[0010] Preferably, a part of the cover plate away from the non-condensable gas outlet extends outward towards the inner wall of the second shell-pass cylinder. Thus, the non-condensable gas can flow to the non-condensable gas outlet in a centralized manner.

[0011] Preferably, the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder has an inverted-cone shape.

[0012] Preferably, the inverted-cone shaped bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder faces towards the non-condensable gas outlet, facilitating accelerated discharge of the non-condensable gas.

[0013] Preferably, the second shell-pass cylinder has a second shell-pass outlet pipe at a bottom of the second shell-pass cylinder.

[0014] Preferably, the second shell-pass cylinder has a first liquid level meter and a second liquid level meter on the side wall of the second shell-pass cylinder, the first liquid level meter is located at a portion corresponding to a central portion of the condensing-subcooling passage in a vertical direction, and the second liquid level meter is located below the condensing-subcooling passage above the second shell-pass outlet pipe.

[0015] Preferably, the second shell-pass cylinder has a pressure meter port for detecting a pressure of the system of the condensing device on the side wall of the second shell-pass cylinder, and the pressure meter port is located above the non-condensable gas outlet.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the condensing device of the present invention has the following advantages. Apart from the arrangement of the first shell-pass cylinder and the heat exchange tubes, the second shell-pass cylinder and the condensing and sub-cooling member are additionally arranged. The one or more heat exchange tubes ensure primary condensation on the to-be-condensed shell-pass medium, and the shell-pass medium after primary condensation is subjected to secondary condensation and gas-liquid separation in the condensing and sub-cooling passage of the condensing and sub-cooling member. The liquid after gas-liquid separation flows into the liquid storage chamber under the action of its own gravity, while the non-condensable gas is discharged from the non-condensable gas outlet. Thus, condensation, sub-cooling, gas-liquid separation and liquid storage can be ensured in a relatively small space. Moreover, in the present invention, condensation, gas-liquid separation and liquid storage are integrated in one condensing device without providing additional connecting tubes. Meanwhile, the condensing device of the present invention is disposed vertically, bringing great economic benefits to investment, floor occupation, system operation cost and the like.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a condensing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figs. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the condensing device in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a condensing device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a condensing device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The present invention will be further described below in detail by embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.Embodiment 1:

[0019] Figs. 1-2 show a first preferred embodiment of a condensing device of the present invention. The condensing device comprises a first shell-pass cylinder 110, a heat exchange tube 120, a second shell-pass cylinder 130 and a condensing and sub-cooling member 140.

[0020] The first shell-pass cylinder 110 extending vertically has a shell-pass inlet 111 for importing a to-be-condensed shell-pass medium at a top of the first shell-pass cylinder 110 and a first shell-pass outlet 112 for exporting the shell-pass medium at a bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder 110. The bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder 110 has an inverted-cone shape.

[0021] The heat exchange tube 120 is disposed inside the first shell-pass cylinder 110 along an axis of the first shell-pass cylinder 110.

[0022] The second shell-pass cylinder 130 having an upper portion extends vertically. At least the upper portion of the second shell-pass cylinder 130 is sleeved around a periphery of the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder 110. The second shell-pass cylinder 130 has a non-condensable gas outlet 132 on a side wall of the second shell-pass cylinder 130 corresponding to a position where the inverted-cone shaped bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder 110 is located. A lower portion of the second shell-pass cylinder 130 is defined as a liquid storage chamber 133. The second shell-pass cylinder 130 has a second shell-pass outlet pipe 135 at a bottom of the second shell-pass cylinder 130.

[0023] The condensing-subcooling member 140 is disposed inside the second shell-pass cylinder 130 below the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder 110 above the liquid storage chamber 133. The condensing-subcooling member 140 has a condensing-subcooling passage 141 extending vertically. The condensing-subcooling passage 141 has a top opening and a bottom opening. The top opening of the condensing-subcooling passage 141 communicates with the first shell-pass outlet 112 of the first shell-pass cylinder 110, and the bottom opening of the condensing-subcooling passage 141 communicates with liquid storage chamber 133. A gap 131 is defined between a peripheral wall of the condensing-subcooling passage 141 and an inner wall of the second shell-pass cylinder 130 facing the condensing-subcooling passage 141. The liquid storage chamber 133 communicates with the non-condensable gas outlet 132 through the gap 131.

[0024] In this embodiment, the condensing-subcooling member 140 comprises a central tube 142 extending vertically and two spiral plates 143 protruding out of the central tube 142. The central tube 142 has a top opening communicating with a bottom tube opening of the heat exchange tube 120 and a closed bottom. The two spiral plates 143 are spirally wound clockwise or counterclockwise together along a circumferential direction of the central tube 142 (around the central tube 142) to form two adjacent spiral passages, a first spiral passage 1431 and a second spiral passage 1432. The first spiral passage 1431 is defined as the condensing-subcooling passage 141. The first spiral passage 1431 has a central portion adjacent to the central tube 142 and a peripheral portion away from the central tube 142. A top end of the central portion of the first spiral passage 1431 faces to and communicates with the first shell-pass outlet 112 of the first shell-pass cylinder 110. A periphery of the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder 110 extends horizontally outward to form an annular cover plate 114 which covers a top end of the peripheral portion of the first spiral passage 1431. A part of the cover plate 114 away from the non-condensable gas outlet 132 extends outward towards the inner wall of the second shell-pass cylinder 130.

[0025] The second spiral passage 1432 has a closed top end and a closed bottom end. The second spiral passage 1432 has an inner opening adjacent to the central tube 142 which communicates with the central tube 142 and an outer opening away from the central tube 142. The second shell-pass cylinder 130 has a first tube-pass inlet pipe 134 which communicates with the outer opening of the second spiral passage 1432.

[0026] The tube-pass medium enters the second spiral passage 1432 through the first tube-pass inlet tube 134, then spirally flows to the central tube 142 from outside to inside of the condensing-subcooling member 140, then flows into the heat exchange tube 120 to exchange heat with the shell-pass medium in the first shell-pass cylinder 110, and finally is discharged from a first tube-pass outlet tube 115 on a side wall of an upper portion of the first shell-pass cylinder 110.

[0027] The shell-pass medium is imported into the first shell-pass cylinder 110 through the shell-pass inlet 111, then flows downward into the first spiral passage 1431 and exchanges heat with the tube-pass medium in the second spiral passage 1432. The liquid phase is stored in the liquid storage chamber 133, while the gas phase flows upward and is discharged from the non-condensable gas outlet 132.

[0028] Meanwhile, the second shell-pass cylinder 130 has a first liquid level meter 136 and a second liquid level meter 137 on the side wall of the second shell-pass cylinder 130. The first liquid level meter 136 is located at a portion corresponding to a central portion of the condensing-subcooling passage 141 in a vertical direction, and the second liquid level meter 137 is located below the condensing-subcooling passage 141 above the second shell-pass outlet pipe 135. To monitor a liquid level in the liquid storage chamber 133, the maximum of liquid level in the liquid storage chamber 133 does not exceed 10% of a width of each spiral plate 143 in a vertical direction, and the minimum of liquid level is located between the first liquid level meter 136 and the second liquid level meter 137, specifically shown by the double-dot dash lines in Fig. 1, where the upper double-dot dash line refers to the maximum of liquid level, and the lower double-dot dash line refers to the minimum of liquid level.

[0029] The second shell-pass cylinder 130 has a pressure meter port 138 for detecting a pressure of the system of the condensing device on the side wall of the second shell-pass cylinder 130, and the pressure meter port 138 is located above the non-condensable gas outlet 132.Embodiment 2:

[0030] Fig. 3 shows a second preferred embodiment of a condensing device of the present invention. The condensing device in this embodiment is basically the same as the condensing device in Embodiment 1, the only difference with Embodiment 1 is that there are two groups of heat exchange tubes 120 in this embodiment. A bottom tube opening of each heat exchange tube 120 of a first group of heat exchange tubes 120 communicates with the top end of the central tube 142. The first shell-pass cylinder 110 has a second tube-pass inlet pipe 113 communicating with a bottom tube opening of each heat exchange tube of a second group of heat exchange tubes. The second tube-pass inlet pipe 113 is located above the condensing-subcooling member 140. Meanwhile, in addition to the first tube-pass outlet tube 115 which communicates with a top tube opening of each heat exchange tube 120 of a first group of heat exchange tubes 120, the first shell-pass cylinder 110 has a second tube-pass outlet tube 116 on a side wall of an upper portion of the first shell-pass cylinder 110. The second tube-pass outlet tube 116 communicates with a top tube opening of each heat exchange tube 120 of a second group of heat exchange tubes 120. The arrangement of multiple groups of heat exchange tubes 120 facilitates multiple strands of the medium exchanging heat with a to-be-condensed shell-pass medium.

[0031] Conceivably, when there are three, four or more groups of heat exchange tubes 120, the number of the second tube-pass inlet tubes 113 and the number of the second tube-pass outlet tubes 116 are also increased accordingly.Embodiment 3:

[0032] Fig. 4 shows a third preferred embodiment of a condensing device of the present invention. The condensing device in this embodiment is basically the same as the condensing device in Embodiment 1, the only difference is that a bottom tube opening of a heat exchange tube 120 directly communicates with a connecting tube 117 on a lower portion of a first shell-pass cylinder 110. In this embodiment, if there are also two groups of heat exchange tubes 120, there are two connecting tubes 117. Correspondingly, the first shell-pass cylinder 110 has a first tube-pass outlet tube 115 and a second tube-pass outlet tube 116 on a side wall of an upper portion of the first shell-pass cylinder 110. A condensing and sub-cooling member 140 only has a condensing and sub-cooling passage 141 extending vertically. A shell-pass medium in the first shell-pass cylinder 110 passes through the condensing and sub-cooling passage 141 and is then subjected to gas-liquid separation.

[0033] It should be noted that in the description and claims of the present invention, the terms used to indicate direction, such as "front, back", "up, down", "left, right", "side, top, bottom", etc. are used to describe structures and elements of the present invention for better explanation. And these terms used here are based on an orientation in the accompanying drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed by the present invention can be set in different directions, these terms indicating directions are only used as explanations and should not be used as restrictions. For example, the verbs "up", "down" should not be limited to the direction opposite or consistent with the gravity.

Claims

1. A condensing device, comprising: a first shell-pass cylinder (110) extending vertically and having a shell-pass inlet (111) for importing a to-be-condensed shell-pass medium at a top of the first shell-pass cylinder (110) and a first shell-pass outlet (112) for exporting the shell-pass medium at a bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder (110); one or more heat exchange tubes (120) disposed inside the first shell-pass cylinder (110) along an axis of the first shell-pass cylinder (110); a second shell-pass cylinder (130) extending vertically having an upper portion; a condensing-subcooling member (140) disposed inside the second shell-pass cylinder (130) below the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder (110); characterized in that, at least the upper portion of the second shell-pass cylinder (130) is sleeved around a periphery of the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder (110); the condensing-subcooling member (140) has a condensing-subcooling passage (141) extending vertically, and the condensing-subcooling passage (141) has a top opening and a bottom opening, the top opening of the condensing-subcooling passage (141) communicates with the first shell-pass outlet (112) of the first shell-pass cylinder (110), a gap (131) is defined between a peripheral wall of the condensing-subcooling passage (141) and an inner wall of the second shell-pass cylinder (130) facing the condensing-subcooling passage (141); the second shell-pass cylinder (130) has a non-condensable gas outlet (132) above the condensing-subcooling member (140); a liquid storage chamber (133) is defined inside the second shell-pass cylinder (130) below the condensing-subcooling member (140) communicating with the bottom opening of the condensing-subcooling passage (141), the liquid storage chamber (133) communicates with the non-condensable gas outlet (132) through the gap (131).

2. The condensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the condensing-subcooling passage (141) is spirally arranged from inside to outside of the condensing-subcooling member (140).

3. The condensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the condensing-subcooling member (140) comprises a central tube (142) extending vertically and two spiral plates (143) protruding out of the central tube (142), the central tube (142) has a top opening communicating with a bottom tube opening of each heat exchange tube (120) and a closed bottom; the two spiral plates (143) are spirally wound clockwise or counterclockwise together along a circumferential direction of the central tube (142) to form two adjacent spiral passages, a first spiral passage (1431) and a second spiral passage (1432); the first spiral passage (1431) is defined as the condensing-subcooling passage (141), the second spiral passage (1432) has a closed top end and a closed bottom end, the second spiral passage (1432) has an inner opening adjacent to the central tube (142) which communicates with the central tube (142) and an outer opening away from the central tube (142), the second shell-pass cylinder (130) has a first tube-pass inlet pipe (134) which communicates with the outer opening of the second spiral passage (1432).

4. The condensing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the condensing device comprises at least two groups of heat exchange tubes (120), a bottom tube opening of each heat exchange tube of a first group of heat exchange tubes communicates with the top opening of the central tube (142), the first shell-pass cylinder (110) has a second tube-pass inlet pipe (113) communicating with a bottom tube opening of each heat exchange tube of a second group of heat exchange tubes, the second tube-pass inlet pipe (113) is located above the condensing-subcooling member (140).

5. The condensing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first spiral passage (1431) has a central portion adjacent to the central tube (142) and a peripheral portion away from the central tube (142); the first shell-pass outlet (112) of the first shell-pass cylinder (110) faces to and communicates with a top end of the central portion of the first spiral passage (1431), a periphery of the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder (110) extends horizontally outward to form an annular cover plate (114) which covers a top end of the peripheral portion of the first spiral passage (1431).

6. The condensing device according to claim 5, characterized in that a part of the cover plate (114) away from the non-condensable gas outlet (132) extends outward towards the inner wall of the second shell-pass cylinder (130).

7. The condensing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder (110) has an inverted-cone shape.

8. The condensing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the inverted-cone shaped bottom of the first shell-pass cylinder (110) faces towards the non-condensable gas outlet (132).

9. The condensing device according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the second shell-pass cylinder (130) has a second shell-pass outlet pipe (135) at a bottom of the second shell-pass cylinder (130).

10. The condensing device according to claim 9, characterized in that the second shell-pass cylinder (130) has a first liquid level meter (136) and a second liquid level meter (137) on the side wall of the second shell-pass cylinder (130), the first liquid level meter (136) is located at a portion corresponding to a central portion of the condensing-subcooling passage (141) in a vertical direction, and the second liquid level meter (137) is located below the condensing-subcooling passage (141) above the second shell-pass outlet pipe (135).

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