Mono-Cyclone Heat Exchanger Separator for Stable Refrigerant Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional core-in-shell heat exchangers experience mal-distribution of two-phase refrigerant and sloshing issues in offshore environments, leading to uneven refrigerant distribution and adverse effects on thermal performance due to movement of the heat exchanger.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger system comprising a core-in-shell heat exchanger connected with a liquid/gas separator, where the separator separates the gas from the liquid and directs them to specific regions of the heat exchanger, and a liquid sump is used to manage the liquid flow, incorporating momentum-breaking devices and sloshing baffles to mitigate sloshing and ensure even distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a distributor is provided in the outer shell to distribute the two-phase refrigerant, then the refrigerant distribution should be improved, but the flow of two-phase refrigerant within the outer shell results in mal-distribution and sloshing of liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the two-phase refrigerant into liquid and gas phases using a separator before distribution. The liquid portion is directed through a distributor to the core while the gas portion is routed separately, preventing sloshing and ensuring stable, uniform liquid distribution across the core-in-shell heat exchanger channels.
Solution Approach 2:
A separator acts as an intermediary device between the refrigerant supply and the heat exchanger core. It pre-separates the two-phase mixture, providing a stable liquid feed to the distributor and preventing direct sloshing of two-phase flow into the core channels, thereby maintaining distribution stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the heat exchanger is designed for on-shore stable environment, then the conventional channel configuration functions adequately, but in offshore environment with rocking or swaying, it leads to mal-distribution and sloshing of refrigerant
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the refrigerant flow path into separate liquid and gas handling streams. The liquid stream is stabilized through a separator and distributor system that prevents sloshing during movement, while the gas stream is managed separately, allowing the heat exchanger to function effectively in both stable on-shore and dynamic offshore environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator performs preliminary separation of the two-phase refrigerant before it enters the distribution system. This pre-separation action ensures that only stable liquid flow reaches the distributor and core channels, preventing sloshing issues that would otherwise be triggered by environmental movement in offshore conditions.
3Ease of operation
If slots or openings are provided in the channel to distribute two-phase refrigerant, then distribution control is enabled, but sloshing of refrigerant in the channel leads to pulses and uneven entry into the heat exchanger body
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful two-phase flow condition is extracted and separated before reaching the distribution slots. The separator removes the gas phase from the liquid phase, allowing the distributor slots to receive only stable liquid flow. This eliminates the pulsing and uneven distribution that would result from sloshing two-phase flow through the slots.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator serves as an intermediary between the two-phase refrigerant source and the distribution slots. It mediates the flow by separating phases, ensuring that the slots receive controlled, stable liquid flow rather than sloshing two-phase mixture, thereby achieving both distribution control and entry uniformity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively separates and distributes the liquid and gas phases, reducing sloshing and enhancing thermal performance by ensuring consistent refrigerant flow and distribution, even in dynamic offshore conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid/gas separator configured to receive a liquid/gas mixture and to separate the gas from the liquid
Implementation Method 2
The refrigerant is also passed through the core to cool the natural gas while being maintained separate from the natural gas
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A heat exchanger system includes a core-in-shell heat exchanger and a liquid/gas separator. The liquid/gas separator is configured to receive a liquid/gas mixture and to separate the gas from the liquid. The liquid/gas separator is connected to the core-in-shell heat exchanger via a first line for transmitting gas from the liquid/gas separator to a first region in the core-in-shell heat exchanger and connected to the core-in-shell heat exchanger via a second line for transmitting liquid from the liquid/gas separator to a second region of the core-in-shell heat exchanger