Compact evaporator for chiller application
View Patent ↗An evaporator including a shell having a first end and a second end. A plurality of tubes are disposed within the shell to circulate refrigerant through the shell. A plurality of shell inlets are in fluid communication with the shell to deliver a fluid to exchange heat in the plurality of tubes, preferably through a baffle arrangement. At least one of the shell inlets may be arranged to deliver fluid to the shell adjacent to the first end. In addition, at least one of the other shell inlets may be arranged to deliver fluid adjacent to the second end. A shell outlet is in fluid communication with the shell to discharge fluid from the shell. The shell outlet is arranged to receive the combined liquid delivered to the shell by the plurality of shell inlets.
1. An evaporator for a chilled fluid system comprising:
a shell comprising a first end and a second end;
a plurality of tubes disposed in the shell to circulate refrigerant through the shell;
a plurality of shell inlets in fluid communication with the shell to deliver a fluid to exchange heat with refrigerant in the plurality of tubes, at least one shell inlet being disposed adjacent to the first end and at least one other shell inlet being disposed adjacent to the second end;
a shell outlet in fluid communication with the shell to discharge the fluid from the shell, the shell outlet being arranged and disposed to receive the combined fluid delivered to the shell by the plurality of shell inlets; and
one of an evaporating temperature of the evaporator being substantially independent of a direction of refrigerant flow in the plurality of tubes, a cooling capacity of the evaporator being substantially independent of the direction of refrigerant flow in the plurality of tubes, a rate of heat exchange of the evaporator being substantially independent of the direction of refrigerant flow in the plurality of tubes, a ratio of a shell length to a shell inner diameter being greater than about 5:1, or the outlet being disposed substantially at a mid-point between the first end and the second end.
2. The evaporator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first header being arranged and disposed in fluid communication with the tubes, the first header being disposed adjacent to the first end; and
a second header being arranged and disposed in fluid communication with the tubes, the second header being disposed adjacent to the second end.
3. The evaporator of claim 2 , wherein the first header, second header and the plurality of tubes are arranged to provide multiple refrigerant passes through the shell.
4. The evaporator of claim 2 , wherein the first header, second header and the plurality of tubes are arranged to incorporate a plurality of refrigerant circuits.
5. The evaporator of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises a liquid selected from the group consisting of water, glycol, brine and combinations thereof.
6. The evaporator of claim 1 , wherein the evaporating temperature of the evaporator is substantially independent of the direction of refrigerant flow in the plurality of tubes.
7. The evaporator of claim 1 , wherein the cooling capacity of the evaporator is substantially independent of the direction of refrigerant flow in the plurality of tubes.
8. The evaporator of claim 1 , wherein the rate of heat exchange of the evaporator is substantially independent of the direction of refrigerant flow in the plurality of tubes.
9. The evaporator of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the shell length to the shell inner diameter is greater than about 5:1.
10. The evaporator of claim 9 , wherein the ratio of the shell length to the shell inner diameter is greater than about 7:1.
11. The evaporator of claim 1 , wherein the shell further comprises at least one baffle arranged and disposed to support the plurality of tubes and to direct fluid flow over the plurality of tubes.
12. The evaporator of claim 1 , wherein the outlet is disposed substantially at the mid-point between the first end and the second end.
13. A chilled fluid system comprising:
a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop;
a cooling loop comprising the evaporator and at least one second heat exchanger in fluid communication, wherein a fluid is circulated between the evaporator and the at least one second heat exchanger in the cooling loop;
the evaporator comprising:
a shell comprising a first end and a second end;
a plurality of tubes disposed in the shell to circulate refrigerant from the refrigerant loop through the shell;
a plurality of shell inlets in fluid communication with the shell to deliver a fluid from the cooling loop to exchange heat with the refrigerant in the plurality of tubes, at least one other shell inlet being disposed adjacent to the first end and at least one shell inlet being disposed adjacent to the second end; and
a shell outlet in fluid communication with the shell to discharge the fluid from the shell, the shell outlet being arranged and disposed to receive the combined fluid delivered to the shell by the plurality of shell inlets.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the evaporator farther comprises:
a first header being arranged and disposed in fluid communication with the tubes, the first header being disposed adjacent to the first end; and
a second header being arranged and disposed in fluid communication with the tubes, the second header being disposed adjacent to the second end.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first header, second header and the plurality of tubes are arranged to provide multiple refrigerant passes through the shell.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first header, second header and the plurality of tubes are arranged to allow heat exchange between the fluid and a plurality of refrigerant circuits.
17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the fluid comprises a liquid selected from the group consisting of water, glycol, brine and combinations thereof.
18. The system of claim 13 , wherein an evaporating temperature of the evaporator is substantially independent of a direction of refrigerant flow in the plurality of tubes.
19. The evaporator of claim 13 , wherein a cooling capacity of the evaporator is substantially independent of a direction of refrigerant flow in the plurality of tubes.
20. The evaporator of claim 13 , wherein a rate of heat exchange of the evaporator is substantially independent of a direction of refrigerant flow in the plurality of tubes.
21. The system of claim 13 , wherein a ratio of a shell length to a shell inner diameter is greater than about 5:1.
22. The evaporator of claim 21 , wherein the ratio of the shell length to the shell inner diameter is greater than about 7:1.
23. The system of claim 13 , wherein the shell further comprises at least one baffle arranged and disposed to support the plurality of tube direct fluid flow over the plurality of tubes.
24. The system of claim 13 , wherein the outlet is disposed substantially at a mid-point between the first end and the second end.