# US 10,371,422 B2 · Condenser with tube support structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,422 B2 - Document ID: US10371422B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/430,718 - Filed: 2017-02-13 - Published: 2018-08-16 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-13 - Assignees: Daikin Applied Americas Inc. - Applicants: Daikin Applied Americas Inc. - Inventors: Louis A. Moreaux - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371422B2 ## CPC - F25B 39/00: Evaporators; Condensers - B01D 1/04: Evaporators with horizontal tubes - B01D 1/28: with vapour compression - B01D 5/0009: {Horizontal tubes} - B01D 5/009: {Collecting, removing and/or treatment of the condensate} - F28B 1/02: using water or other liquid as the cooling medium - F28B 9/08: for collecting and removing condensate - F28D 7/16: the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation ({F28D7/0008 - F28D7/0058 take precedence}; F28D7/02 - F28D7/10 take precedence) - F28F 9/0131: {formed by plates (F28F9/0138 takes precedence)} - F28F 17/005: {Means for draining condensates from heat exchangers, e.g. from evaporators (F28B9/08 takes precedence)} - F25B 25/005: {using primary and secondary systems} - F25B 39/04: Condensers - F25B 2339/046: Condensers with refrigerant heat exchange tubes positioned inside or around a vessel containing water or pcm to cool the refrigerant gas - F25B 2339/047: Water-cooled condensers - F28D 7/1607: {with particular pattern of flow of the heat exchange media, e.g. change of flow direction (F28D7/1623, F28D7/1638, F28D7/1661, F28D7/1676, F28D7/1692 take precedence)} - F28D 7/1676: {with particular pattern of flow of the heat exchange media, e.g. change of flow direction} - F28D 2021/0063: {Condensers} - F28D 2021/007: {Condensers} - F28F 2009/226: {Transversal partitions} - F28F 2009/228: {Oblique partitions} - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - F28B: STEAM OR VAPOUR CONDENSERS (condensation of vapours B01D5/00; steam engine plants having condensers F01K; liquefaction of gases F25J; details of heat-exchange and heat-transfer arrangements of general application F28F) - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) ## Abstract A condenser for a vapor compression system includes a shell, a tube bundle, and a tube support structure. The shell has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. The tube bundle includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed inside the shell. Refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant inlet is supplied onto the tube bundle. The heat transfer tubes extend generally parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the shell. The tube support structure is configured and arranged to support the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the tube bundle within the shell. The tube support structure includes at least one tube support plate inclined relative to a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the shell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A condenser adapted to be used in a vapor compression system, the condenser comprising: a shell having a refrigerant inlet that at least refrigerant with gas refrigerant flows therethrough and a refrigerant outlet that at least refrigerant with liquid refrigerant flows therethrough, with a longitudinal center axis of the shell extending generally parallel to a horizontal plane; a tube bundle including a plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed inside of the shell to receive the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant inlet onto the tube bundle, the heat transfer tubes extending generally parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the shell; and a tube support structure configured and arranged to support the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the tube bundle within the shell, the tube support structure including a plurality of tube support plates arranged at intervals relative to each other along a longitudinal direction of the shell, each tube support plate being inclined relative to a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the shell, and the plurality of tube support plates being arranged to overlap with each other when viewed from above along the vertical direction, with a top end of a single plate of the plurality of tube support plates overlapping with a bottom end of only one adjacent single plate of the plurality of tube support plates located next along the longitudinal direction of the shell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tube support plates is planar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tube support plates extends from above the tube bundle to below the tube bundle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tube support plates has holes that receive the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the tube bundle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The condenser according to claim 4, wherein the holes of each of the plurality of tube support plates have the plurality of heat transfer tubes fitted into the holes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tube support plates is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees to 80 degrees relative to a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the shell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tube support plates is inclined at an angle of 50 degrees to 75 degrees relative to a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the shell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of tube support plates are arranged at equal intervals relative to each other along the longitudinal direction of the shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of tube support plates are disposed to cover a majority of the longitudinal center axis of the shell when viewed from above. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of tube support plates are inclined at a same angle relative to the longitudinal center axis of the shell. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tube support plates has a notch at a top thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tube support plates has a notch at a bottom thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein the tube support structure includes a plate support member extending generally parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the shell, the plate support member supporting the plurality of tube support plates. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The condenser according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant is R1233zd.