Condenser inlet diffuser

Abstract

A shell side condenser inlet diffuser for a vapor compression refrigeration system is provided. The diffuser includes an inlet to receive a compressed refrigerant from a compressor of a refrigeration system. A chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet to receive compressed refrigerant, the chamber having an upper side and a lower side and lateral sides bridging the upper and lower sides, the chamber having a plurality of openings to discharge refrigerant inside the condenser. A protrusion is disposed inside the chamber. The protrusion and the chamber are configured and disposed to diffuse and direct a flow of refrigerant from the compressor to inside the condenser, the refrigerant leaving the chamber having a higher pressure level than the refrigerant entering the chamber.

1 . An inlet diffuser for a condenser of a vapor compression refrigeration system, the inlet diffuser comprising: 
 an inlet to receive a compressed refrigerant from a compressor of a refrigeration system;    a chamber in fluid communication with the inlet to receive compressed refrigerant, the chamber having an upper side and a lower side and lateral sides bridging the upper and lower sides, the chamber having a plurality of openings to discharge refrigerant inside of a condenser;    a protrusion disposed inside the chamber; and    wherein the protrusion and the chamber are configured and disposed to diffuse and direct a flow of refrigerant from the inlet to the plurality of openings, the refrigerant leaving the chamber at the plurality of openings having a higher pressure level than the refrigerant entering the chamber at the inlet.    
   
   
       2 . The inlet diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the chamber is disposed inside the condenser.  
   
   
       3 . The inlet diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the protrusion is a cone.  
   
   
       4 . The inlet diffuser of  claim 3  wherein the cone is a right circular cone.  
   
   
       5 . The inlet diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the chamber has a plurality of passageways extending from the protrusion to the plurality of openings, the cross sectional area of each passageway of the plurality of passageways increases as the passageway extends toward the plurality of openings.  
   
   
       6 . The inlet diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the chamber and protrusion condition the flow of compressed refrigerant entering the condenser in a substantially horizontal direction with minimal flow losses.  
   
   
       7 . The inlet diffuser of  claim 6  wherein the velocity of the flow of refrigerant leaving the chamber is less than the velocity of the flow of refrigerant entering the chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The inlet diffuser of  claim 1  wherein an end of the inlet adjacent the chamber includes a flared portion.  
   
   
       9 . The inlet diffuser of  claim 8  wherein the radius of curvature of the flared portion is sized and configured to minimize a swirling component of the flow of the refrigerant entering the chamber.  
   
   
       10 . A chiller system comprising: 
 a compressor, a condenser arrangement and an evaporator arrangement connected in a closed refrigerant loop;    an inlet in fluid communication between the compressor and the condenser arrangement to receive a compressed refrigerant from the compressor;    a chamber in fluid communication with the inlet to receive compressed refrigerant, the chamber having an upper side and a lower side and lateral sides bridging the upper and lower sides, the chamber having a plurality of openings to discharge refrigerant inside of the condenser arrangement;    a protrusion disposed inside the chamber; and    wherein the protrusion and the chamber are configured and disposed to diffuse and direct a flow of refrigerant from the inlet to the plurality of openings, the refrigerant leaving the chamber having a higher pressure level than the refrigerant entering the chamber.    
   
   
       11 . The chiller system of  claim 10  wherein the chamber is disposed inside the condenser.  
   
   
       12 . The chiller system of  claim 10  wherein the protrusion is a cone.  
   
   
       13 . The chiller system of  claim 10  wherein the cone is a right circular cone.  
   
   
       14 . The chiller system of  claim 10  wherein the chamber has a plurality of passageways extending from the protrusion to the plurality of openings, the cross sectional area of each passageway of the plurality of passageways increases as the passageway extends toward the plurality of openings.  
   
   
       15 . The chiller system of  claim 10  wherein the chamber and protrusion condition the flow of compressed refrigerant entering the condenser arrangement in a substantially horizontal direction with minimal flow losses.  
   
   
       16 . The chiller system of  claim 15  wherein the velocity of the flow of refrigerant leaving the chamber is less than the velocity of the flow of refrigerant entering the chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The chiller system of  claim 10  wherein an end of the inlet adjacent the chamber includes a flared portion.  
   
   
       18 . The chiller system of  claim 10  wherein the radius of curvature of the flared portion is sized and configured to minimize a swirling component of the flow of the refrigerant entering the chamber.  
   
   
       19 . The chiller system of  claim 10  wherein during operation of the condenser arrangement, the chamber is configured to provide a substantially equalized level of collected liquid refrigerant along a lower portion of the condenser arrangement.  
   
   
       20 . The chiller system of  claim 10  wherein direct impingement of tubes of the condenser arrangement by flow of refrigerant vapor entering the condenser arrangement is minimized.  
   
   
       21 . A shell and tube condenser comprising: 
 an inlet to receive a compressed refrigerant from a compressor of a refrigeration system;    a chamber in fluid communication with the inlet to receive compressed refrigerant, the chamber having an upper side and a lower side and lateral sides bridging the upper and lower sides, the chamber having a plurality of openings to discharge refrigerant inside of a condenser;    a protrusion disposed inside the chamber; and    wherein the protrusion and the chamber are configured and disposed to diffuse and direct a flow of refrigerant from the inlet to the plurality of openings, the refrigerant leaving the chamber having a higher pressure level than the refrigerant entering the chamber.    
   
   
       22 . The shell and tube condenser of  claim 21  wherein the chamber is disposed inside the condenser.  
   
   
       23 . The shell and tube condenser of  claim 21  wherein the protrusion is a cone.  
   
   
       24 . The shell and tube condenser of  claim 21  wherein the cone is a right circular cone.  
   
   
       25 . The shell and tube condenser of  claim 21  wherein the cross sectional area of the upper, lower and lateral sides of the chamber increases toward the plurality of openings.  
   
   
       26 . The shell and tube condenser of  claim 21  wherein the chamber and protrusion condition the flow of compressed refrigerant entering the condenser in a substantially horizontal direction with minimal flow losses.  
   
   
       27 . The shell and tube condenser of  claim 26  wherein the velocity of the flow of refrigerant leaving the chamber is less than the velocity of the flow of refrigerant entering the chamber.  
   
   
       28 . The shell and tube condenser of  claim 21  wherein an end of the inlet adjacent the chamber includes a flared portion.  
   
   
       29 . The shell and tube condenser of  claim 21  wherein the radius of curvature of the flared portion is sized and configured to substantially reduce a swirling component of the flow of the refrigerant entering the chamber.  
   
   
       30 . The shell and tube condenser of  claim 21  wherein during operation of the condenser arrangement, the chamber is configured to provide a substantially equalized level of collected liquid refrigerant along a lower portion of the condenser arrangement.  
   
   
       31 . The shell and tube condenser of  claim 21  wherein direct impingement of tubes of the condenser arrangement by the flow of the refrigerant vapor is minimized.