Fluid distributor for a shell-and-tube flooded evaporator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shell-and-tube flooded evaporators face spatial constraints and inefficiencies due to the placement of the fluid distributor at the bottom, leading to increased height requirements, unnecessary refrigerant accumulation, and higher energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A fluid distributor with first and second headers extending along opposite sides of the shell, allowing refrigerant to flow downward from a predefined height, reducing charge accumulation and enabling the use of different tube types and dimensions, while maintaining a lower overall chiller height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fluid distributor is placed at the bottom of the shell, then the refrigerant can be distributed, but the height of the chiller increases and refrigerant accumulates unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor headers are positioned horizontally along the sides of the shell rather than vertically at the bottom, changing the spatial dimension of refrigerant distribution from vertical to horizontal. This allows refrigerant to be distributed along the length of the shell at a reduced height, eliminating the need for excessive vertical space while maintaining distribution effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributor is divided into multiple segments including a first header with first outlets, a second header with second outlets, and connection ports between them. This segmentation allows refrigerant to be distributed through multiple pathways along the shell, achieving comprehensive coverage without requiring a single tall vertical distributor structure.
2Ease of operation
If the fluid distributor is placed at the bottom, then refrigerant can flow downward, but charge accumulation occurs and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor provides localized refrigerant distribution through multiple outlets positioned along the headers rather than a single bottom discharge point. This creates localized flow zones that prevent large-scale charge accumulation while maintaining efficient refrigerant flow to the tubes, reducing the energy required to move refrigerant through the system.
Solution Approach 2:
By transitioning from vertical bottom-discharge flow to horizontal side-header flow, the system eliminates the gravitational accumulation zone at the bottom while maintaining downward flow to tubes through the outlet orientation. This dimensional change prevents charge accumulation without compromising flow efficiency.
3Productivity
If the distributor is positioned to allow downward refrigerant flow, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but spatial constraints are not addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor utilizes the horizontal dimension along the shell sides rather than consuming vertical volume. By positioning headers horizontally with outlets oriented to provide downward flow, the system maintains effective heat exchange while preserving vertical space, thus improving productivity without increasing overall chiller volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented header structure with multiple outlets distributed along the length allows refrigerant to reach multiple tube zones efficiently. This segmentation enables compact spatial arrangement where refrigerant flow paths are optimized for heat exchange while the overall distributor footprint remains small, addressing both productivity and volume constraints.
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 solution addresses spatial constraints and charge accumulation issues, enhancing heat exchange efficiency and reducing energy consumption by uniformly distributing refrigerant across tubes without increasing the chiller's footprint.
Implementation Method 1
the distributor is configured to receive a refrigerant within the first header and supply the refrigerant into the second header via the one or more connection ports
Implementation Method 2
the distributor is configured to receive a refrigerant within the first header and/or the second header and allow the refrigerant to flow along the length of the first header and the second header and flow within the shell in a downward direction via the corresponding first and second outlets
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Described herein is a distributor (100) for a shell-and-tube flooded evaporator (200). The distributor (100) comprises a first header (102) comprising one or more first outlets (110) located along a length at a bottom side of the first header (102), and a second header (104) comprising one or more second outlets (112) located along a length at a bottom side of the second header (104). The distributor (100) is configured to be disposed within a shell (202) associated with the evaporator (200) such that the first header (102) and the second header (104) extend along a length, on opposite sides, of an inner wall of the shell (202). The first header (102) and the second header (104) are fluidically connected to one or more refrigerant inlet tubes (108) provided on the shell (202).