System and method for distributing refrigerant to a parallel flow heat exchanger using refrigerant injectors

Abstract

A heat exchanger is disclosed that includes a plurality of parallel refrigerant paths, and a refrigerant injector operatively associated with an inlet to each refrigerant path for independently metering single phase refrigerant into each of the parallel refrigerant paths.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a) a plurality of parallel refrigerant paths; and   b) a refrigerant injector operatively associated with an inlet to each refrigerant path for independently metering single phase refrigerant into each of the parallel refrigerant paths.   
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant injectors are adapted and configured to meter equal amounts of refrigerant into the refrigerant paths of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the refrigerant injectors is in fluid communication with a source of pressurized refrigerant. 
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 3 , wherein a distribution manifold delivers single phase refrigerant to each of the refrigerant injectors. 
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for controlling the flow of single phase refrigerant through each of the refrigerant injector. 
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured as an evaporator. 
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured as a boiler. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a) a plurality of alternating refrigerant and hot fluid layers arranged in a parallel configuration;   b) a refrigerant injector operatively associated with an inlet to each refrigerant layer for metering single phase refrigerant into each of the refrigerant layers; and   c) a distribution manifold for delivering single phase refrigerant to each of the refrigerant injectors.   
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the refrigerant injectors are adapted and configured to meter equal amounts of refrigerant into the refrigerant layers of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising means for controlling the flow of single phase refrigerant through the refrigerant injectors. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured as an evaporator. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured as a boiler. 
     
     
         13 . A method of distributing refrigerant in a heat exchanger having a plurality of parallel refrigerant flow paths, comprising the steps of:
 a) associating a refrigerant injector with each refrigerant flow path of the heat exchanger; and   b) independently injecting single phase refrigerant into each of the refrigerant flow paths of the heat exchanger to maximize the performance of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the step of independently injecting single phase refrigerant into each of the refrigerant flow paths of the heat exchanger involves metering equal amounts of refrigerant into each refrigerant flow path. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of distributing single phase refrigerant to each of the refrigerant injectors, and controlling the flow of single phase refrigerant through each of the refrigerant injectors.