IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,379,141
Granted Patent B2
US 12,379,141 · App. 17/684,033 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Liquid refrigerant sprayer and falling liquid film type evaporator

Inventors: Kou Terai (Osaka, JP); Mitsuharu Numata (Osaka, JP); Yutaka Shibata (Osaka, JP); Hirokazu Fujino (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
F25B39/028F28D5/02F28F9/22F25B2400/23F28D2021/0071
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,379,141
App. No.
17/684,033
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid refrigerant distributor is used for a falling liquid film evaporator. The liquid refrigerant distributor includes a gas-liquid two-phase pipe through which a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows, and a first refrigerant tub including a liquid reservoir section into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows from the gas-liquid two-phase pipe. The first refrigerant tub further includes a droplet collector configured to collect droplets contained in a gas refrigerant separated by the liquid reservoir section.

Claims (64)

1. A liquid refrigerant distributor for use in a falling liquid film evaporator, the liquid refrigerant distributor comprising:

a gas-liquid two-phase pipe through which a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows; and

a first refrigerant tub including a liquid reservoir section into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows from the gas-liquid two-phase pipe,

the first refrigerant tub further including a droplet collector configured to collect droplets contained in a gas refrigerant separated by the liquid reservoir section, wherein

the droplet collector is provided, as a separate element from the gas-liquid two-phase pipe, above the liquid reservoir section inside the first refrigerant tub, and

the droplet collector is a mesh structure.

2. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 1 , wherein

the gas-liquid two-phase pipe releases the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant downward to the liquid reservoir section.

3. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 2 , further comprising

a second refrigerant tub disposed below the first refrigerant tub, wherein

the liquid reservoir section has a communication hole that allows the liquid refrigerant to fall to the second refrigerant tub, and

the liquid refrigerant that has fallen to the second refrigerant tub is distributed to a heat transfer tube group of the falling liquid film evaporator.

4. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 1 , wherein

a bottom of the gas-liquid two-phase pipe has a perforated metal structure with a plurality of holes, and

an area proportion of the holes in the perforated metal structure increases with increasing distance from an introduction port of the gas-liquid two-phase pipe for the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant.

5. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 4 , further comprising

a second refrigerant tub disposed below the first refrigerant tub, wherein

the liquid reservoir section has a communication hole that allows the liquid refrigerant to fall to the second refrigerant tub, and

the liquid refrigerant that has fallen to the second refrigerant tub is distributed to a heat transfer tube group of the falling liquid film evaporator.

6. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 1 , wherein

the liquid reservoir section includes a primary liquid reservoir into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows, and a secondary liquid reservoir into which a liquid refrigerant separated from the gas refrigerant by the primary liquid reservoir flows, and

the secondary liquid reservoir is disposed on at least one side of the primary liquid reservoir.

7. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 6 , wherein

the secondary liquid reservoir is configured to gather the liquid refrigerant that has overflowed the primary liquid reservoir.

8. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 6 , further comprising

a second refrigerant tub disposed below the first refrigerant tub, wherein

the liquid reservoir section has a communication hole that allows the liquid refrigerant to fall to the second refrigerant tub, and

the liquid refrigerant that has fallen to the second refrigerant tub is distributed to a heat transfer tube group of the falling liquid film evaporator.

9. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 6 , wherein

the primary liquid reservoir includes a separation accelerator configured to accelerate gas-liquid separation of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant.

10. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 9 , wherein

the separation accelerator is a mist eliminator.

11. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 9 , wherein

the separation accelerator is disposed in an entirety or an upper portion of the primary liquid reservoir to be adjacent to a lower portion of the gas-liquid two-phase pipe.

12. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 9 , wherein

the separation accelerator is disposed in a lower portion or each of both side portions of the primary liquid reservoir.

13. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 1 , further comprising

a second refrigerant tub disposed below the first refrigerant tub, wherein

the liquid reservoir section has a communication hole that allows the liquid refrigerant to fall to the second refrigerant tub, and

the liquid refrigerant that has fallen to the second refrigerant tub is distributed to a heat transfer tube group of the falling liquid film evaporator.

14. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 7 , further comprising

a second refrigerant tub disposed below the first refrigerant tub, wherein

the liquid reservoir section has a communication hole that allows the liquid refrigerant to fall to the second refrigerant tub, and

the liquid refrigerant that has fallen to the second refrigerant tub is distributed to a heat transfer tube group of the falling liquid film evaporator.

15. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 1 , wherein

the first refrigerant tub includes a gas passage portion through which the gas refrigerant separated by the liquid reservoir section is passed, and a gas discharge port through which the gas refrigerant that has passed through the gas passage portion is discharged from the first refrigerant tub.

16. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 1 , wherein

the droplet collector is a mist eliminator.

17. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 1 , wherein

the droplet collector is adjacent to a side portion or an upper portion of the gas-liquid two-phase pipe.

18. The falling liquid film evaporator comprising

the liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 1 .

19. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 1 , wherein

a gas passage portion through which the gas refrigerant is passed is provided inside the first refrigerant tub.

20. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 19 , wherein

the gas passage portion is provided above the mesh structure.

21. A liquid refrigerant distributor for use in a falling liquid film evaporator, the liquid refrigerant distributor comprising:

a gas-liquid two-phase pipe through which a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows; and

a first refrigerant tub including a liquid reservoir section into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows from the gas-liquid two-phase pipe,

the first refrigerant tub further including a droplet collector configured to collect droplets contained in a gas refrigerant separated by the liquid reservoir section, and

the first refrigerant tub includes a gas passage portion, separate from the droplet collector through which the gas refrigerant separated by the liquid reservoir section is passed, and a gas discharge port through which the gas refrigerant that has passed through the gas passage portion is discharged from the first refrigerant tub, wherein

a cross-sectional area of the gas passage portion increases toward the gas discharge port.

22. The liquid refrigerant distributor of claim 21 , wherein

the cross-sectional area of a region of the gas passage portion corresponding to a gas outlet pipe of the falling liquid film evaporator is relatively small.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2022
From: TERAI, KOU; NUMATA, MITSUHARU; SHIBATA, YUTAKA; FUJINO, HIROKAZU
To: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 059150/0182 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-175100 · Sep 26, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2020036170 · Sep 25, 2020
Related Publication 20220178595A1 · Jun 9, 2022
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