Condenser with external subcooler

A vapor compression system, comprising:

• a condenser configured to condense vapor refrigerant to generate liquid refrigerant, wherein the condenser comprises a refrigerant inlet, a first plurality of tubes, and a first shell having a cylindrical shape in which the first plurality of tubes is disposed and to which the refrigerant inlet is coupled;
• a subcooler configured to receive the liquid refrigerant from the condenser, wherein the subcooler comprises a second plurality of tubes and a second shell in which the second plurality of tubes is disposed;
• and
• an intermediate conduit extending from the cylindrical shape of the first shell to the second shell, wherein the intermediate conduit is configured to pass the liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the subcooler, wherein a central axis extends through the refrigerant inlet of the condenser, through a center point of the cylindrical shape of the first shell, and through the intermediate conduit, wherein the intermediate conduit comprises a first width extending perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the second shell comprises a second width extending perpendicular to the central axis, and wherein the second width is greater than the first width.

A vapor compression system, comprising:

• a refrigerant loop;
• a compressor disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to circulate refrigerant through the refrigerant loop;
• a condenser disposed downstream of the compressor along the refrigerant loop and configured to condense vapor refrigerant to liquid refrigerant, wherein the condenser comprises a first shell having a cylindrical shape, the cylindrical shape comprising an external surface facing outwardly from the condenser;
• a subcooler having a second shell directly coupled to the external surface of the cylindrical shape of the first shell of the condenser such that the subcooler is external to the first shell of the condenser, wherein the second shell comprises a cavity that is configured to receive the liquid refrigerant from the condenser and to cool the liquid refrigerant, wherein the subcooler comprises a partition plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface is configured to direct a first flow of the liquid refrigerant in a first direction directly between the first surface and the external surface of the cylindrical shape of the first shell, wherein the first surface is configured to direct a second flow of the liquid refrigerant in a second direction opposite the first direction and directly between the first surface and the external surface of the cylindrical shape of the first shell, wherein the second surface is configured to direct the first flow of the liquid refrigerant in the second direction directly between the second surface and an internal surface of the second shell, and wherein the second surface is configured to direct the second flow of the liquid refrigerant in the first direction directly between the second surface and the internal surface of the second shell;
• and
• an evaporator comprising a third shell disposed downstream of the subcooler along the refrigerant loop and configured to evaporate the liquid refrigerant into the vapor refrigerant, wherein the first shell, the second shell, and the third shell are independent of one another, such that the third shell does not enclose the first shell and the second shell.