Condenser and refrigeration system comprising same

Abstract

The present application discloses a condenser, comprising a housing, at least one liquid guide plate layer, a condenser tube bundle, a supercooling channel, and a supercooling tube bundle. The liquid guide plate layer is configured to guide refrigerant liquid obtained by condensation of the condenser tube bundle on the upper part of the liquid guide plate layer into the supercooling channel, so as to exchange, in the supercooling channel, heat with a cooling medium in the supercooling tube bundle. According to the condenser of the present application, the supercooling channel is directly provided in the condenser, and at least some of the supercooling tube bundles are directly provided in the supercooling channel, so that the number of the supercooling tube bundles at the bottom of the housing is reduced, thereby lowering the liquid refrigerant height required for immersing the supercooling tube bundles at the bottom of the housing, and thus reducing the refrigerant charge required for the condenser.

Description

Condenser and refrigeration system including the same 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 Art

[0002] A refrigeration system is used to cool or heat an environment. It primarily consists of four components: a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, and an evaporator. The condenser condenses gaseous refrigerant into liquid refrigerant. Some condensers are shell-and-tube heat exchangers, housing heat exchange tubes. The condenser's inlet pipe is typically located at the top of the condenser, where gaseous refrigerant enters the condenser shell. The gaseous refrigerant outside the heat exchange tubes exchanges heat with the cooling medium inside through contact with the tube walls, releasing its latent heat of vaporization and liquefying into a saturated liquid refrigerant. The saturated liquid refrigerant then drips down and collects at the bottom of the shell.

[0003] Some refrigeration systems also include a subcooler, which cools the condensed liquid refrigerant to a temperature lower than the condensation saturation temperature. The subcooler is typically integrated into the bottom of the condenser, and the subcooler shell also houses the heat exchange tubes. Saturated liquid refrigerant gathers at the bottom of the shell and enters the subcooler. The saturated liquid refrigerant outside the heat exchange tubes then exchanges heat with the cooling medium inside the heat exchange tubes, further cooling the saturated liquid refrigerant to subcooled liquid refrigerant before being discharged from the refrigerant outlet. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In a first aspect, the present application provides a condenser comprising: a shell, at least one liquid guide plate layer, a condenser tube bundle, a subcooling channel, and a subcooling tube bundle. The shell has a length direction, a width direction, and a height direction, and defines a heat exchange cavity within the shell, wherein the heat exchange cavity is used to accommodate a refrigerant. The at least one liquid guide plate layer is disposed in the heat exchange cavity and extends along the length direction. The condenser tube bundle is disposed in the heat exchange cavity and extends along the length direction, and the interior of the condenser tube bundle is used to circulate a cooling medium, wherein at least a portion of the condenser tube bundle is disposed above the liquid guide plate layer. The subcooling channel is disposed in the heat exchange cavity, and at least a portion of the subcooling tube bundle is disposed in the subcooling channel. The liquid guide plate layer is configured to guide the refrigerant liquid condensed by the condenser tube bundle above the liquid guide plate layer into the subcooling channel, and to perform heat exchange with the cooling medium in the subcooling tube bundle in the subcooling channel.

[0005] According to the above first aspect, the supercooling channel extends from top to bottom.

[0006] According to the first aspect above, the supercooling channel is a narrow channel, and the width of the supercooling channel is set to increase the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid entering the supercooling channel.

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

[0008] According to the first aspect above, in the height direction, the heat exchange cavity includes at least two condensation spaces, and the at least two condensation spaces are separated by the liquid guide plate layer. The condensation tube bundle includes at least two condensation tube groups, and the at least two condensation tube groups are arranged in the corresponding condensation spaces. The liquid guide plate layer is configured to connect each of the condensation spaces with the subcooling channel fluid, so that: the refrigerant liquid condensed by the condensation tube group in the condensation space above the liquid guide plate layer enters the subcooling channel and exchanges heat with the cooling medium in the subcooling tube bundle. And the uncondensed refrigerant gas flows through the subcooling channel and enters the condensation space below the liquid guide plate layer, and exchanges heat with the cooling medium in the condensation tube group therein.

[0009] According to the above-mentioned first aspect, each of the liquid guide plate layers includes at least one liquid guide plate, and each of the liquid guide plate includes a lateral extension portion, wherein in the width direction toward the supercooling channel, the lateral extension portion gradually tilts downward to guide the refrigerant liquid to flow toward the supercooling channel.

[0010] According to the first aspect above, each of the liquid guide plates also includes a longitudinal extension portion, which is connected to the transverse extension portion in the width direction and close to one end of the subcooling channel, wherein the longitudinal extension portion defines at least a portion of the subcooling channel, and wherein the longitudinal extension portion is spaced from the liquid guide plate below it to allow refrigerant gas to enter the corresponding condensation space from the subcooling channel.

[0011] According to the first aspect above, the height of the longitudinally extending portion of each liquid guide plate is set to block the refrigerant liquid from entering the corresponding condensing space from the supercooling channel.

[0012] According to the first aspect, each of the liquid guide plate layers includes at least two liquid guide plates spaced apart in the width direction, and the longitudinal extensions of the at least two liquid guide plates are spaced apart to define at least a portion of the supercooling channel.

[0013] According to the first aspect above, the supercooling channel extends along the height direction and along the length direction.

[0014] According to the first aspect above, an edge of the transversely extending portion of the at least one liquid guide plate is spaced apart from the housing to define at least a portion of the supercooling channel.

[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] FIG1 is a perspective structural diagram of a condenser according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0017] FIG2A is a schematic structural diagram of an axial cross section of the condenser in FIG1 ;

[0018] FIG2B is a flow diagram of the liquid refrigerant in the condenser of FIG2A ;

[0019] FIG2C is a flow diagram of the gaseous refrigerant in the condenser of FIG2A ;

[0020] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of an axial cross-section of a condenser according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a refrigeration system including the condenser according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 . 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] FIG1 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a condenser 100 according to an embodiment of the present application, which is used to illustrate the external structure of the condenser 100. As shown in FIG1 , the condenser 100 includes a shell 101, which is roughly cylindrical in shape and has 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, a water inlet pipe 122, and a water outlet pipe 124. The refrigerant inlet 102 is arranged at the top of the middle part of the shell 101, and is used to provide gaseous refrigerant to the inside of the shell 101. The refrigerant outlet 103 is arranged at the bottom of the middle part of the shell 101, and is used to discharge the liquid refrigerant condensed inside the shell 101 out of the condenser 100.

[0024] At both ends of the shell 101, along its length (L), are a front tube sheet 114 and a rear tube sheet 116, which serve to enclose the shell 101. The front tube sheet 114 and the rear tube sheet 116 are provided with a water inlet pipe 122 and a water outlet pipe 124. The water inlet pipe 122 and the water outlet pipe 124 are capable of communicating with the cooling medium and are in fluid communication with the interior of each heat exchange tube in the shell 101, supplying the cooling medium to the heat exchange tubes for heat exchange. In the embodiment of the present application, the condenser 100 has two tube passes. The water inlet pipe 122 and the water outlet pipe 124 are both provided on the front tube sheet 114, with the water inlet pipe 122 positioned below the water outlet pipe 124.

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

[0026] Figures 2A-2C are schematic axial cross-sectional views of the condenser 100, illustrating the internal structure of the condenser 100. Figure 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the condenser 100 taken along line AA in Figure 1, Figure 2B is a flow diagram of the liquid refrigerant within the condenser 100, and Figure 2C is a flow diagram of the gaseous refrigerant within the condenser 100. As shown in Figures 2A-2C, a heat exchange chamber 208 for accommodating refrigerant is defined within the shell 101. The refrigerant inlet 102 and the refrigerant outlet 103 are both in fluid communication with the heat exchange chamber 208. The condenser 100 also includes a condenser tube bundle 246 and a subcooling tube bundle 252 disposed within the heat exchange chamber 208. Each of the condenser tube bundle 246 and the subcooling tube bundle 252 includes a plurality of parallel heat exchange tubes extending along a longitudinal direction L. Each heat exchange tube is supported at its front and rear ends in the longitudinal direction L on the front tube sheet 114 and the rear tube sheet 116. The interior of each heat exchange tube is in fluid communication with the water inlet pipe 122 and the water outlet pipe 124 (not directly connected), allowing the cooling medium to flow into and out of the heat exchange tube. These heat exchange tubes are arranged in a specific manner within the heat exchange chamber 208 to form a condenser tube bundle 246 and a subcooling tube bundle 252. In the present application, the subcooling tube bundle 252 is generally located in the lower half of the heat exchange chamber 208 to correspond to the water inlet pipe 122. A baffle 207 is provided between the refrigerant inlet 102 and the condenser tube bundle 246. The baffle 207 can prevent the gaseous refrigerant entering the heat exchange chamber 208 from the refrigerant inlet 102 from directly impacting the condenser tube bundle 246.

[0027] Condenser 100 further includes at least one liquid-conducting plate layer 264 disposed within heat exchange chamber 208. Liquid-conducting plate layer 264 extends along a length direction L. The at least one liquid-conducting plate layer 264 divides heat exchange chamber 208 into at least two condensation spaces 218 in a height direction H. Accordingly, condenser tube bundle 246 also includes at least two condenser tube groups. The two condenser tube groups are disposed in corresponding condensation spaces 218. Each condenser tube group is capable of condensing gaseous refrigerant in the corresponding condensation space 218 into liquid refrigerant.

[0028] The condenser 100 also includes a subcooling channel 254. At least a portion of the subcooling channel 254 is defined by the liquid guide plate layer 264 or is defined by the liquid guide plate layer 264 and the shell 101. The subcooling channel 254 is in fluid communication with each condensation space 218 so that the refrigerant liquid discharged from the condensation space 218 can enter the subcooling channel 254. The liquid guide plate layer 264 is configured to guide the refrigerant liquid condensed by the condensation tube group in the condensation space 218 above the liquid guide plate layer 264 from the condensation space 218 into the subcooling channel 254. The subcooling channel 254 extends generally in the up-down direction so as to gather the refrigerant liquid at the bottom of the heat exchange cavity 208. It should be noted that the up-down direction here includes both completely vertical directions and inclined or arc-shaped directions, as long as they are not completely parallel to the horizontal direction.

[0029] At least a portion of the subcooling tube bundle 252 is disposed in the subcooling channel 254, allowing the refrigerant liquid flowing through the subcooling channel 254 to exchange heat with 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 disposed in the subcooling channel 254, allowing the liquid refrigerant in the subcooling channel 254 to exchange heat with the cooling medium in the upper subcooling tube bundle 251. The lower subcooling tube bundle 253 is disposed at the bottom of the heat exchange chamber 208. The liquid refrigerant accumulated at the bottom of the heat exchange chamber 208 submerges the lower subcooling tube bundle 253, exchanging heat with the cooling medium in the lower subcooling tube bundle 253. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, depending on the specific cooling capacity required, the subcooling tube bundle 252 may include only the upper subcooling tube bundle 251, without the lower subcooling tube bundle 253.

[0030] Specifically, in this embodiment, at least one liquid guide plate layer 264 includes three liquid guide plate layers 264 spaced apart in the height direction H. The three liquid guide plate layers 264 divide the heat exchange chamber 208 into four condensation spaces 218. The four condensation spaces 218 are sequentially arranged from top to bottom between the refrigerant inlet 102 and the refrigerant outlet 103. Furthermore, each liquid guide plate layer 264 includes two liquid guide plates 261 spaced apart in the width direction W. At least a portion of the subcooling channel 254 is formed between the two liquid guide plates 261. The two liquid guide plates 261 of each liquid guide plate layer 264 generally divide the condensation space 218 below the liquid guide plate layer 264 in the width direction W into two substantially symmetrical sub-condensation spaces 271 and a subcooling space 272 located between the two sub-condensation spaces 271. Thus, in the height direction H, the top condensation space 218 does not include a subcooling space 272, while the subcooling spaces 272 of the other three condensation spaces 218 constitute the subcooling channel 254.

[0031] Furthermore, the condenser tube bundle 246 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, respectively, arranged in four condensation spaces 218 from top to bottom. The second condenser tube group 242, the third condenser tube group 243, and the fourth condenser tube group 244 comprise left and right portions separated by a subcooling space 272, each portion being arranged in a corresponding sub-condensing space 271. Furthermore, the fourth condenser tube group 244 is spaced a certain distance from the lower subcooling tube bundle 253. As a result, the refrigerant liquid (i.e., liquid refrigerant) condensed from the first condenser tube group 241, the second condenser tube group 242, and the third condenser tube group 243, located above the liquid guide plate layer 264, can enter the subcooling channel 254 under the guidance of the liquid guide plate layer 264, further reducing its temperature and then gathering at the bottom of the housing 101. The refrigerant liquid condensed from the fourth condenser tube group 244, on the other hand, gathers directly at the bottom of the housing 101.

[0032] More specifically, each liquid guide plate 261 includes a transverse extension portion 262 and a longitudinal extension portion 263. The transverse extension portion 262 is used to separate the various condensation spaces 218, and the longitudinal extension portion 263 is used to separate the sub-condensation space 271 from the sub-cooling space 272. In the width direction W toward the sub-cooling channel 254, the transverse extension portion 262 gradually tilts downward to guide the refrigerant liquid to flow toward the sub-cooling channel 254. The longitudinal extension portion 263 is connected to the inner end of the transverse extension portion 262. The inner end here refers to the end of the transverse extension portion 262 close to the sub-cooling channel 254 in the width direction W. As an example, the outer end of the transverse extension portion 262 of each liquid guide plate 261 is spaced a certain distance from the shell 101 to form a gas channel, thereby allowing fluid communication between each condensation space 218. The bottom end of the longitudinal extension 263 of each liquid guide plate 261 is also spaced a certain distance from the underlying liquid guide plate layer 264 to form a gas channel, thereby ensuring fluid communication between the subcooling channel 254 and the condensing space 218. In this embodiment, the lengths of the multiple longitudinal extensions 263 gradually increase from top to bottom. This is because the closer to the top, the more gas is entrained in the liquid refrigerant in the subcooling channel 254, requiring a greater distance between the longitudinal extension 263 and the underlying transverse extension 262. Furthermore, the longitudinal extension 263 prevents refrigerant liquid in the subcooling channel 254 from splashing onto the condensing tube bundles 246 on either side when dripping onto the subcooling tube bundle 252. In some embodiments, the liquid guide plate may 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 flow direction of the refrigerant liquid and refrigerant gas is described in more detail below with reference to Figures 2B and 2C. As shown in Figure 2B, 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 supercooling channel 254 under the guidance of the transverse extension 262. The other portion drips directly into the supercooling channel 254. After heat exchange with the second condenser tube group 242 and the third condenser tube group 243, the condensed refrigerant liquid also drips from top to bottom onto the corresponding liquid guide plate layer 264, and then enters the supercooling channel 254 under the guidance of the transverse extension 262. After heat exchange with the fourth condensing tube group 244 , the condensed refrigerant liquid no longer enters the subcooling channel 254 , but directly drips to the bottom of the shell 101 and exchanges heat with the lower subcooling tube bundle 253 to be 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] As shown in FIG2C , after heat exchange with the first condenser tube group 241, a portion of the uncondensed refrigerant gas diffuses through the gas passage at the outer end of the transverse extension portion 262 of the liquid guide plate layer 264 below it into the condensation space 218 below it, where it undergoes heat exchange with the second condenser tube group 242. Another portion of the uncondensed refrigerant gas diffuses through the gas passage at the bottom end of the longitudinal extension portion 263 of the liquid guide plate layer 264 below it into the condensation space 218 below it, where it undergoes heat exchange with the second condenser tube group 242. After heat exchange with the second condenser tube group 242, a portion of the refrigerant gas that remains uncondensed diffuses through the gap between the outer end of the transverse extension portion 262 of the liquid guide plate layer 264 below it and the housing 101 into the condensation space 218 below it, where it undergoes heat exchange with the third condenser tube group 243. Another portion of the refrigerant gas first enters the subcooling channel 254, then diffuses from the subcooling channel 254 through the bottom end of the longitudinally extending portion 263 of the liquid guide plate layer 264 below it into the condensation space 218 below it to exchange heat with the third condenser tube group 243. Similarly, after heat exchanging with the third condenser tube group 243, the refrigerant gas that remains uncondensed diffuses into the condensation space 218 below it to exchange heat with the fourth condenser tube group 244. After heat exchanging with the fourth condenser tube group 244, this refrigerant gas can be completely condensed into refrigerant liquid.

[0037] In the present application, the subcooling channel 254 is a narrow channel, that is, the subcooling channel 254 is relatively narrow in the width direction W. This allows the refrigerant liquid to flow faster after entering the subcooling channel 254 from the condensing space 218. This accelerates the flow of the refrigerant liquid entering the subcooling channel 254, maintaining a certain flow rate as the refrigerant liquid flows through the surface of the subcooling tube bundle 252 in the cold channel 254, thereby ensuring good heat exchange performance for the subcooling tube bundle 252. As an example, the width of the subcooling channel 254 gradually increases from top to bottom, and at the same height, the width of the subcooling channel 254 is less than 30% of the width of the shell 101.

[0038] FIG3 shows a schematic diagram of an axial cross-section of a condenser 300 according to another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG3 , the external structure of condenser 300 is identical to that of condenser 100 , except that the structure of liquid guide plate layer 364 differs from that of liquid guide plate layer 264 , and the structure of subcooling channel 354 differs from that of subcooling channel 254 .

[0039] Specifically, the condenser 300 also includes a heat exchange chamber 208. Four liquid guide plate layers 364 divide the heat exchange chamber 208 from top to bottom into four condensation spaces 318 and one subcooling space 319. The condensation tube bundle 346 includes four condensation tube groups respectively disposed in the condensation spaces 318.

[0040] In this embodiment, each liquid guide plate layer 364 includes two liquid guide plates 361. Each liquid guide plate 361 includes only transverse extensions 362, but no longitudinal extensions. The inner ends of the transverse extensions 362 of the two liquid guide plates 361 in each liquid guide plate layer 364 are interconnected, and the outer edges of the transverse extensions 362 are spaced apart from the housing 101 to form a subcooling channel 354. Furthermore, the transverse extensions 362 of each liquid guide plate 361 gradually slope downward from the inner end to the outer end, thereby guiding the refrigerant liquid condensed by the condensing tube assembly above it toward the subcooling channel 354.

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

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the supercooling channel 354 is also a narrow channel, so that the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid entering the supercooling channel 354 is accelerated.

[0043] As a result, refrigerant gas entering the heat exchange chamber 208 from the refrigerant inlet 102 can pass through the four condensation spaces 318 sequentially from top to bottom, undergoing heat exchange in the condensation tube bundles 346 therein and condensing into refrigerant liquid. The liquid refrigerant (i.e., refrigerant liquid) condensed by the condensation tube group in the condensation space 318 above the liquid guide plate layer 364 can be guided by the liquid guide plate layer 364 to flow into the subcooling channel 354, where it heat-exchanges with the cooling medium in the subcooling tube bundles 352 and becomes subcooled. The uncondensed gaseous refrigerant (i.e., refrigerant gas) diffuses into the condensation space 318 below the liquid guide plate layer 264, where it heat-exchanges with the cooling medium in the condensation tube group there and condenses. The condensed refrigerant liquid and the subcooled refrigerant liquid in the subcooling channels 354 gather in the subcooling space 319 at the bottom of the shell 101, undergoes heat exchange with the lower subcooling tube bundle 353, becomes subcooled, and is finally discharged through the refrigerant outlet 103.

[0044] This embodiment is particularly suitable for a condenser in which the middle portion of the shell is not suitable for arranging a supercooling channel.

[0045] FIG4 is a schematic block diagram of the refrigeration system 490 of the present application, which is used to illustrate the position and function of the condenser 100 in the refrigeration system 490. As shown in FIG4 , the refrigeration system 490 includes a compressor 493, a condenser 100, a throttling device 492 and an evaporator 491, which are connected to form a closed system through pipelines, and the system is filled with refrigerant. Among them, 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 the outside. Specifically, the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from 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 a high-pressure saturated liquid refrigerant, and exchanges heat with the subcooling tube bundle in the condenser 100 to be further cooled into a high-pressure subcooled liquid refrigerant. It is then discharged through the refrigerant outlet 103 and flows into the throttling device 492. After being throttled to a low-pressure two-phase refrigerant, it flows into the evaporator 491, where it absorbs heat and is evaporated into a low-pressure gaseous refrigerant. Finally, it flows out of the evaporator 491 and flows back into the compressor 493, completing the refrigerant cycle.

[0046] The applicant has found that in existing condensers 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 chamber filled with liquid refrigerant between the subcooler and the condenser shell to prevent gaseous refrigerant from entering the subcooler. This will result in the condenser requiring too much refrigerant to be filled. In addition, in existing subcoolers, it is generally necessary to include an additional subcooler shell to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant liquid by restricting 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 existing subcoolers, 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 increase the pressure drop of the refrigerant liquid when it flows through the cold tube bundle, making it possible for the liquid refrigerant to flash before entering the throttling device.

[0047] In the condenser of the present application, a subcooling channel is directly arranged in the condenser, and at least a portion of the subcooling tube bundle is directly arranged in the subcooling channel, thereby reducing the number of subcooling tube bundles at the bottom of the shell, thereby reducing the height of liquid refrigerant required to immerse the subcooling tube bundles at the bottom of the shell, and further reducing the refrigerant charge required for the condenser.

[0048] The condenser of the present application sets the subcooling channel as a narrow channel, so that the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid can be accelerated after flowing into the subcooling channel, so there is no need to additionally set up a subcooler shell to increase the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid.

[0049] Furthermore, the supercooling channel of the condenser of the present application extends in the up-down direction and no longer flows in the length direction, so the support plate will not cause the refrigerant liquid to generate a pressure drop during the flow process, resulting in a lower pressure drop of the refrigerant.

[0050] In addition, the condenser of the present application includes a liquid guide plate layer, so that the refrigerant liquid generated by the condensation of the condenser tube bundle above the liquid guide plate layer can be discharged in time without affecting the heat exchange between the condenser tube bundle below the liquid guide plate layer and 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 many variations of the condensing device and refrigeration system of the present application are possible without departing from the spirit, scope, and context of the teachings of the present application. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that there are different ways to change the structural details of the embodiments disclosed in the present application, all of which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention and the claims.

Claims

1. A condenser, characterized in that include: A shell (101), the shell (101) having a length direction (L), a width direction (W), and a height direction (H), the shell (101) defining a heat exchange cavity (208), the heat exchange cavity (208) being used to accommodate a refrigerant; at least one liquid-conducting plate layer (264), the at least one liquid-conducting plate layer (264) being disposed in the heat exchange cavity (208) and extending along the length direction (L); a condenser tube bundle (246), the condenser tube bundle (246) being arranged in the heat exchange cavity (208) and extending along the length direction (L), the interior of the condenser tube bundle (246) being used for circulating a cooling medium, wherein at least a portion of the condenser tube bundle (246) is arranged above the liquid guide plate layer (264); as well as A subcooling channel (254) and a subcooling tube bundle (252), wherein the subcooling channel (254) is arranged in the heat exchange cavity (208), and at least a portion of the subcooling tube bundle (252) is arranged in the subcooling channel (254); The liquid guide plate layer (264) is configured to guide the refrigerant liquid condensed by the condensation tube bundle (246) above the liquid guide plate layer (264) into the subcooling channel (254) and perform heat exchange 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 supercooling channel (254) extends from top to bottom.

3. The condenser according to claim 2, characterized in that: The supercooling channel (254) is a narrow channel, and the width of the supercooling channel (254) is set to accelerate the flow speed of the refrigerant liquid entering the supercooling channel (254).

4. The condenser according to claim 3, characterized in that: The width of the supercooling channel (254) gradually increases from top to bottom, and the width of the supercooling channel (254) is less than 30% of the width of the shell (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) includes at least two condensation spaces (218), the at least two condensation spaces (218) are separated and formed by the liquid guide plate layer (264), the condensation tube bundle (246) includes at least two condensation tube groups (241, 242, 243, 244), and the at least two condensation tube groups (241, 242, 243, 244) are arranged in corresponding condensation spaces (218); The liquid guide plate layer (264) is configured to connect each of the condensation spaces (218) to the supercooling channel (254) in fluid communication, so that: The refrigerant liquid condensed by the condensation tube group in the condensation 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); After flowing through the supercooling channel (254), the uncondensed refrigerant gas enters the condensation space (218) below the liquid guide plate layer (264) and exchanges heat with the cooling medium in the condensation tube group therein.

6. The condenser according to claim 5, characterized in that: 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 transverse extension portion (262), wherein in the width direction (W) toward the supercooling channel (254), the transverse extension portion (262) gradually tilts downward to guide the refrigerant liquid to flow toward the supercooling channel (254).

7. The condenser according to claim 6, characterized in that: Each of the liquid guide plates (261) further includes a longitudinal extension portion (263), the longitudinal extension portion (263) being connected to one end of the transverse extension portion (262) in the width direction (W) and close to the subcooling channel (254), wherein the longitudinal extension portion (263) defines at least a portion of the subcooling channel (254), wherein the longitudinal extension portion (263) is spaced from the liquid guide plate (261) below it to allow refrigerant gas to enter the corresponding condensation space (218) from the subcooling channel (254).

8. The condenser according to claim 7, characterized in that: The height of the longitudinal extension portion (263) of each liquid guide plate (261) is set to block the refrigerant liquid from entering the corresponding condensation space (218) from the supercooling channel (254).

9. The condenser according to claim 7, characterized in that: Each of the liquid guide plate layers (264) includes at least two liquid guide plates (261) spaced apart in the width direction (W), and the longitudinal extension portions (263) of the at least two liquid guide plates (261) are spaced apart to define at least a portion of the supercooling channel (254).

10. The condenser according to claim 9, characterized in that: The supercooling channel (254) extends along the height direction (H) and along the length direction (L).

11. The condenser according to claim 6, characterized in that: An edge of the transverse extension portion (262) of the at least one liquid guide plate (261) is spaced from the housing (101) to define at least a portion of the supercooling channel (254).

12. A refrigeration system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a compressor (493), an evaporator (491), a throttling device (492) and a condenser (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, which are arranged in a refrigerant circuit.

Images