Immersion tube for the refrigerant distribution in a chiller

Abstract

An immersion tube for the refrigerant distribution in a chiller may include a tubular shell that at least partially defines an interior space. The tube may also include at least two radial walls arranged within the interior space and that subdivide the interior space into at least two chambers that are separated from one another in a circumferential direction. The at least two radial walls may be structured as a single piece with the tubular shell. The at least two radial walls and the tubular shell may be formed as a one-piece extruded profile and may be twisted such that the at least two radial walls form a helix.

1 . An immersion tube for the refrigerant distribution in a chiller, comprising:
 a tubular shell that at least partially defines an interior space;   at least two radial walls arranged within the interior space and that subdivide the interior space into at least two chambers that are separated from one another in a circumferential direction;   wherein the at least two radial walls are structured as a single piece with the tubular shell; and   wherein the at least two radial walls and the tubular shell are formed as a one-piece extruded profile and are twisted such that the at least two radial walls form a helix.   
     
     
         2 . The immersion tube according to  claim 13 , wherein the helix is coupled within the tubular shell via at least one of a glued connection, a clamped connection, a welded connection, and a soldered connection. 
     
     
         3 . The immersion tube according to  claim 1 , wherein, for each chamber of the at least two chambers, the tubular shell includes a shell-side opening of a plurality of shell-side openings. 
     
     
         4 . The immersion tube according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of shell-side openings are disposed in a straight line. 
     
     
         5 . The immersion tube according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least two radial walls includes five radial walls;   the at least two chambers includes five chambers; and   the five radial walls separate the five chambers from one another.   
     
     
         6 . The immersion tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the immersion tube is composed of aluminium. 
     
     
         7 . A chiller, comprising:
 a stacked plate bundle;   the immersion tube according to  claim 1 ;   an inlet; and   wherein the immersion tube is arranged within the inlet.   
     
     
         8 . A method for producing an immersion tube, comprising:
 producing a tubular shell that at least partially defines an interior space and a plurality of radial walls arranged within the interior space subdividing the interior space into a plurality of chambers that are separated from one another in a circumferential direction;   after producing the plurality of radial walls, twisting the plurality of radial walls such that the plurality of radial walls form a helix; and   wherein one of:
 producing the tubular shell and the plurality of radial walls includes forming the tubular shell and the plurality of radial walls as a one-piece extruded profile, and twisting the plurality of radial walls includes twisting the one-piece extruded profile; and 
 producing the tubular shell and the plurality of radial walls includes forming the tubular shell and the plurality of radial walls as separate extruded profiles, and the method further comprises, after twisting the plurality of radial walls, coupling the helix within the tubular shell. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising introducing a plurality of shell-side openings into the tubular shell, and wherein a shell-side opening is introduced for each chamber of the plurality of chambers. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein producing the tubular shell and the plurality of radial walls includes producing the tubular shell and the plurality of radial walls from aluminium. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of radial walls are produced and twisted such that the plurality of radial walls each have straight longitudinal ends. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein introducing the plurality of shell-side openings into the tubular shell includes drilling the openings into the tubular shell. 
     
     
         13 . An immersion tube for the refrigerant distribution in a chiller, comprising:
 a tubular shell that at least partially defines an interior space;   at least two radial walls arranged within the interior space and that subdivide the interior space into at least two chambers that are separated from one another in a circumferential direction;   wherein the at least two radial walls are structured separately from the tubular shell;   wherein the at least two radial walls and the tubular shell are formed as separate extruded profiles and the at least two radial walls are twisted such that the at least two radial walls form a helix; and   wherein the helix is coupled within the tubular shell.   
     
     
         14 . The immersion tube according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of radial walls each have straight longitudinal ends. 
     
     
         15 . The immersion tube according to  claim 13 , wherein, for each chamber of the at least two chambers, the tubular shell includes a shell-side opening of a plurality of shell-side openings. 
     
     
         16 . The immersion tube according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of shell-side openings are disposed in a straight line. 
     
     
         17 . The immersion tube according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the at least two radial walls includes five radial walls;   the at least two chambers includes five chambers; and   the five radial walls separate the five chambers from one another.   
     
     
         18 . The immersion tube according to  claim 13 , wherein the immersion tube is composed of aluminium. 
     
     
         19 . The immersion tube according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the at least two radial walls includes a plurality of radial walls; and   the plurality of radial walls collectively define a cross section having a star-like shape.   
     
     
         20 . A chiller, comprising:
 the immersion tube according to  claim 13 ;   a stacked plate bundle;   an inlet; and   wherein the immersion tube is arranged within the inlet.