Heat exchanger
A condenser includes a shell having a vapor refrigerant inlet, a first tube bundle and a liquid refrigerant outlet. A second tube bundle is positioned in a subcooler component. The subcooler component has a center channel and at least two outer channels and conforms to the shell.
1. A condenser, comprising:
a cylindrical shell having an axis;
a first tube bundle positioned in the shell;
a subcooler positioned in the shell beneath the first tube bundle, the subcooler comprising:
a housing, the housing having a top surface positioned next to the first tube bundle;
a second tube bundle enclosed within the housing;
at least one inlet, the at least one inlet being positioned in the housing to permit liquid refrigerant to enter the housing; and
at least one plate grid, the at least one plate grid being positioned above the at least one inlet and connected to the housing and the shell;
wherein the at least one plate grid comprises a plurality of axial members interconnected with a plurality of horizontal members to form a plurality of channels; and
wherein the plurality of horizontal members are connected to the top surface of the housing.
2. The condenser of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of axial members are perpendicular to the plurality of horizontal members.
3. The condenser of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of axial members have unequal heights.
4. The condenser of claim 3 , wherein axial members of the plurality of axial members positioned next to the housing have a height greater than axial members of the plurality of axial members positioned next to the shell.
5. The condenser of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes opposed side surfaces and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the at least one inlet being positioned in at least one of the side surfaces or the bottom surface.
6. The condenser of claim 5 , wherein the housing comprises a center channel and at least two outer channels positioned on opposing sides of the center channel.
7. The condenser of claim 6 , wherein the at least one inlet comprises at least two inlets, each inlet of the at least two inlets is in fluid communication with a corresponding outer channel of the at least two outer channels to permit liquid refrigerant to enter a corresponding outer channel.
8. The condenser of claim 7 , wherein the at least one plate grid comprises at least two plate grids, each plate grid of the at least two plate grids is positioned above a corresponding inlets of the at least two inlets to direct liquid refrigerant to the corresponding inlet.