Heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention is directed to a heat exchanger which optimizes the heat exchanger capacity, including a first manifold and a second manifold. A fluid drawing device is provided in the second manifold. The fluid drawing device is in fluid communication with an outlet, the fluid drawing device drawing liquid refrigerant from a lowest vertical portion of the second manifold, permitting only liquid refrigerant located near the lowest vertical portion to flow into the fluid drawing device and creating a continuous liquid seal, allowing the second manifold to behave as a receiver and orifice, allowing excess liquid refrigerant to continually accumulate in the second manifold. Vertically oriented tubes extend in fluid communication between the first manifold and the second manifold. The heat exchanger is capable of operating in either a condenser mode or an evaporator mode with virtually no adverse effect on system performance.

1 . A heat exchanger which optimizes the heat exchanger capacity, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a first manifold;   a second manifold;   a fluid drawing device is provided in the second manifold, the fluid drawing device being in fluid communication with an outlet, the fluid drawing device draws liquid refrigerant from a lowest vertical portion of the second manifold, permitting only liquid refrigerant located near the lowest vertical portion to flow into the fluid drawing device and creating a continuous liquid seal, allowing the second manifold to behave as a receiver and orifice, allowing excess liquid refrigerant to continually accumulate in the second manifold;   vertically oriented tubes extending in fluid communication between the first manifold and the second manifold;   wherein the heat exchanger is capable of operating in either a condenser mode or an evaporator mode with virtually no adverse effect on system performance.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein a ratio of the tube width to the effective cross sectional diameter of the first manifold and the second manifold (an “effective cross sectional ratio”) is less than 1.20. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the fluid drawing device comprises a tube having an opening being in fluid communication with the outlet positioned near the lowest vertical portion of the second manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the fluid drawing device is a J tube. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein multiple openings are provided in each tube, the openings extend the length of the tubes and are substantially evenly spaced in a single row and are of uniform size. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein multiple openings are provided in each tube, the openings extend the length of the tubes and are unevenly spaced in a one or more rows and are of different size or shape. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the refrigerant is drawn into the tubes from the lowest vertical portion of the second manifold. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is capable of operating in either the condenser mode or the evaporator mode with virtually no adverse effect on system performance, while simultaneously not requiring bypass valves to circumvent the receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the effective cross sectional ratio is between about 0.90 to about 1.18. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the effective cross sectional ratio is less than 1.18. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the effective cross sectional ratio is less than 0.90. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger which optimizes the heat exchanger capacity, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a first manifold;   a second manifold;   a fluid drawing device is provided in the second manifold, the fluid drawing device comprises a tube having an opening in fluid communication with an outlet positioned near a lowest vertical portion of the second manifold, the fluid drawing device draws liquid refrigerant from a lowest vertical portion of the second manifold, permitting only liquid refrigerant located near the lowest vertical portion to flow into the fluid drawing device and creating a continuous liquid seal, allowing the second manifold to behave as a receiver and orifice, allowing excess liquid refrigerant to continually accumulate in the second manifold;   vertically oriented tubes extending in fluid communication between the first manifold and the second manifold;   wherein the heat exchanger is capable of operating in either a condenser mode or an evaporator mode with virtually no adverse effect on system performance.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12  wherein the refrigerant is drawn into the tubes from a lowest vertical portion of the second manifold. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger is capable of operating in either the condenser mode or the evaporator mode with virtually no adverse effect on system performance, while simultaneously not requiring bypass valves to circumvent the receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12  wherein the fluid drawing device is a J tube. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the effective cross sectional ratio is between about 0.90 to about 1.18. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the effective cross sectional ratio is less than 1.18. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the effective cross sectional ratio is less than 0.90.