Falling film evaporator with refrigerant distribution system
AssigneeAmerican Standard Inc.
InventorsJon P. Hartfield, Duane F. Sanborn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Compression refrigeration apparatus for removing heat from a heat load using a falling film evaporator, operated with an azeotropic refrigerant and utilizing a spray tree distribution system that distributes a refrigerant film on a heat exchange surface by spraying liquid refrigerant onto a surface and allowing the refrigerant to drip onto the primary heat exchange surface. The apparatus allows for efficient recovery of lubricant deposited in the evaporator without redistributing the lubricant within the evaporator. In an alternative embodiment, liquid refrigerant is sprayed onto a mesh screen where it drips onto the primary heat exchange surface.
Claims18
A spray tree distribution system comprising:
- a fluid inlet;
- a manifold operably connected to the fluid inlet and adapted to receive fluid therefrom;
- a plurality of substantially horizontal fluid distributing devices operably connected to the manifold and adapted to receive fluid therefrom;
- wherein each of the fluid distributing devices includes an outer tube defining an interior chamber having at least one fluid outlet from the interior chamber and an inner connected to the manifold and having at least one fluid outlet open to the interior chamber.
Apparatus for distributing a liquid, said apparatus comprising:
- a generally horizontal outer tube surrounded by a space and defined by a wall enclosing an outer lumen and having an interior surface interrupted by an axially extending slot through said wall running along a lower portion of said tube which communicates between said lumen and said space, at least one flange extending downwardly from said outer tube along said slot;
- and
- an inner tube positioned in said outer lumen and having an inner lumen, a liquid input port, and at least one orifice which communicates between said inner lumen and said outer lumen and is positioned to spray a liquid from said inner lumen onto said interior surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.