Condenser subcooler component of a vapor compression system

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a condenser includes a shell having a longitudinal axis, a first tube bundle disposed within the shell, and a subcooler component disposed within the shell beneath the first tube bundle. The subcooler component includes a rectilinear housing, a plurality of rectilinear grid support assemblies disposed within the rectilinear housing and spaced lengthwise along the axis of the shell, and a second tube bundle disposed within the rectilinear housing, wherein tubes of the second tube bundle are held in place within rectilinear grid channels of the rectilinear grid support assemblies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A condenser, comprising:
 a shell having a longitudinal axis;   a first tube bundle disposed within the shell;   a subcooler component disposed within the shell beneath the first tube bundle, the subcooler component comprising:
 a rectilinear housing; 
 a plurality of rectilinear grid support assemblies disposed within the rectilinear housing and spaced lengthwise along the longitudinal axis of the shell; and 
 a second tube bundle disposed within the rectilinear housing, wherein tubes of the second tube bundle are held in place within rectilinear grid channels of the rectilinear grid support assemblies. 
   
     
     
         2 . The condenser of  claim 1 , wherein the rectilinear housing is a single rectilinear extruded piece. 
     
     
         3 . The condenser of  claim 1 , wherein the rectilinear housing is formed of sheet metal folded into a rectilinear shape. 
     
     
         4 . The condenser of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rectilinear grid support assemblies comprises a plurality of rectilinear grid support sections. 
     
     
         5 . The condenser of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rectilinear grid support assemblies comprises one central rectilinear grid support section and at least two side rectilinear grid support sections disposed on opposite sides of the central rectilinear grid support section. 
     
     
         6 . The condenser of  claim 5 , wherein the side rectilinear grid support sections are each smaller than the central rectilinear grid support section. 
     
     
         7 . The condenser of  claim 1 , wherein the subcooler component comprises one or more rectilinear grid supports disposed at axial ends of the subcooler component, wherein each of the one or more rectilinear grid supports comprises a plurality of rectilinear grid support channels configured to support the tubes of the second tube bundle. 
     
     
         8 . A condenser subcooler component, comprising:
 a rectilinear housing;   a plurality of rectilinear grid support assemblies disposed within the rectilinear housing and spaced lengthwise along a longitudinal axis of the rectilinear housing; and   a tube bundle disposed within the rectilinear housing, wherein tubes of the tube bundle are held in place within rectilinear grid channels of the rectilinear grid support assemblies.   
     
     
         9 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 8 , wherein the rectilinear housing is a single rectilinear extruded piece. 
     
     
         10 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 8 , wherein the rectilinear housing is formed of sheet metal folded into a rectilinear shape. 
     
     
         11 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of rectilinear grid support assemblies comprises a plurality of rectilinear grid support sections. 
     
     
         12 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of rectilinear grid support assemblies comprises one central rectilinear grid support section and at least two side rectilinear grid support sections disposed on opposite sides of the central rectilinear grid support section. 
     
     
         13 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 8 , wherein the side rectilinear grid support sections are each smaller than the central rectilinear grid support section. 
     
     
         14 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 13 , comprising one or more rectilinear grid supports disposed at axial ends of the condenser subcooler component, wherein each of the one or more rectilinear grid supports comprises a plurality of rectilinear grid support channels configured to support the tubes of the tube bundle. 
     
     
         15 . A condenser subcooler component, comprising:
 a rectilinear housing;   a plurality of rectilinear grid support assemblies disposed within the rectilinear housing and spaced lengthwise along a longitudinal axis of the rectilinear housing, wherein each of the plurality of rectilinear grid support assemblies comprises a plurality of rectilinear grid support sections; and   a tube bundle disposed within the rectilinear housing, wherein tubes of the tube bundle are held in place within rectilinear grid channels of the rectilinear grid support assemblies.   
     
     
         16 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 15 , wherein the rectilinear housing is a single rectilinear extruded piece. 
     
     
         17 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 15 , wherein the rectilinear housing is formed of sheet metal folded into a rectilinear shape. 
     
     
         18 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of rectilinear grid support assemblies comprises one central rectilinear grid support section and at least two side rectilinear grid support sections disposed on opposite sides of the central rectilinear grid support section. 
     
     
         19 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 15 , wherein the side rectilinear grid support sections are each smaller than the central rectilinear grid support section. 
     
     
         20 . The condenser subcooler component of  claim 19 , comprising one or more rectilinear grid supports disposed at axial ends of the condenser subcooler component, wherein each of the one or more rectilinear grid supports comprises a plurality of rectilinear grid support channels configured to support the tubes of the tube bundle.