Apparatus and method for discharging fluid

• US 6,557,371 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: York International Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: York International Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Judge, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US09/778,887
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 624/68, 62/83, 62/84, 625/03, 625/09, 625/12, 165/110, 165/104.27, 165/32, 165/132
• US Class Current: 62/468
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/01 Geometry problems, e.g. for reducing size
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 31/004 oil recirculating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 39/02 Evaporators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/00 Fluid-circulation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0071 Evaporators
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0265 by using guiding means or impingement means inside the header box

Abstract

An apparatus and associated method for discharging a fluid and a liquid separated from the fluid from an outlet chamber of a heat exchanger. The outlet chamber is configured to collect the separated liquid. The outlet chamber is in fluid communication with an outlet opening disposed on an exit surface of the outlet chamber. The apparatus includes a plate that is positionable in the outlet chamber adjacent to the exit surface to form a channel between the plate and the exit surface. The plate is configured to protrude over the outlet tube opening so that the fluid flowing through the outlet chamber and into the outlet opening pulls the liquid collected in the outlet chamber through the channel and out through the outlet opening with the fluid. Because of the plate protruding over the outlet opening, the fluid exiting directly from the outlet chamber through the outlet opening must flow through a decreased area. This decreased area produces the vena contracta effect and creates a low pressure region. The low pressure region draws the collected liquid through the channel and discharges it through the outlet opening with the fluid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for discharging from an outlet chamber a fluid and a liquid separated from the fluid, the outlet chamber configured to collect the separated liquid, the outlet chamber in fluid communication with an outlet opening disposed on an exit surface of the outlet chamber, comprising:

a plate positionable in the outlet chamber adjacent to the exit surface to form a channel between the plate and the exit surface, the plate configured to protrude over the outlet opening so that the fluid flowing through the outlet chamber and into the outlet opening pulls the liquid collected in the outlet chamber through the channel and out through the outlet opening with the fluid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate is configured to form a flow path between the bottom of the outlet chamber and the bottom of the plate for the collected liquid to flow to the channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate is configured to be joined with side surfaces of the outlet chamber to form the channel between the plate and the exit surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate further comprises walls extending from the top thereof and configured to be joined with the exit surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate further comprises walls extending from the bottom to the top thereof and configured to be joined with the exit surface to form the channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate is a disk having top and bottom portions thereof removed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate is configured to protrude less than an inch over the outlet opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate is configured to be positioned less than an inch from the exit surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the plate is configured to be positioned less than an inch from the bottom of the outlet chamber.

10. A method for discharging from an outlet chamber a fluid and a liquid separated from the fluid, the outlet chamber configured to collect the separated liquid, the outlet chamber in fluid communication with an outlet opening disposed on an exit surface of the outlet chamber, comprising the steps of:

positioning a plate in the outlet chamber adjacent to the exit surface so that the plate and the exit surface form a channel therebetween and the plate protrudes over the outlet opening; and

flowing the fluid through the outlet chamber and into the outlet opening to pull the liquid collected in the outlet chamber through the channel and out through the outlet opening with the fluid.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of spacing the bottom of the plate from the bottom of the outlet chamber to form a flow path for the collected liquid to flow to the channel.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of joining the plate with side surfaces of the outlet chamber to form the channel between the plate and the exit surface.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of joining walls extending from the top of the plate with the exit surface.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of joining walls extending from the bottom of the plate to the top of the plate with the exit surface to form the channel.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the plate protrudes less than an inch over the outlet opening.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the plate is positioned less than an inch from the exit surface.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the bottom of the plate is positioned less than an inch from the bottom of the outlet chamber.

18. A heat exchanger, comprising:

a main chamber having a fluid flowing therethrough to absorb heat;

an outlet chamber configured to receive the fluid from the main chamber and to collect a liquid separated from the fluid;

an outlet opening disposed on an exit surface of the outlet chamber, the outlet opening in fluid communication with the outlet chamber; and

a plate positioned in the outlet chamber adjacent to the exit surface to form a channel between the plate and the exit surface, the plate protruding over the outlet opening so that the fluid flowing through the outlet chamber and into the outlet opening pulls the liquid collected in the outlet chamber through the channel and out through the outlet opening with the fluid.

19. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein the bottom of the plate is spaced from the bottom of the outlet chamber to form a flow path for the collected liquid to flow to the channel.

20. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein the plate is joined with side surfaces of the outlet chamber to form the channel between the plate and the exit surface.

21. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein the plate further comprises walls extending from the top thereof and joined with the exit surface.

22. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein the plate further comprises walls extending from the bottom to the top thereof and joined with the exit surface to form the channel.

23. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the fluid undergoes a phase change from liquid to vapor while flowing through the main chamber.

24. The heat exchanger of claim 23, wherein the fluid includes a refrigerant.

25. The heat exchanger of claim 24, wherein the liquid collected in the outlet chamber includes the refrigerant.

26. The heat exchanger of claim 24, wherein the fluid includes an oil.

27. The heat exchanger of claim 26, wherein the liquid collected in the outlet chamber includes the oil.

28. The heat exchanger of claim 27, wherein the liquid collected in the outlet chamber includes the refrigerant.

29. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein the plate is a disk having top and bottom portions thereof removed.

30. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein the plate protrudes less than an inch over the outlet opening.

31. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein the plate is positioned less than an inch from the exit surface.

32. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein the bottom of the plate is positioned less than an inch from the bottom of the outlet chamber.

33. A heat exchanging system having a fluid flowing therethrough in a cycle, comprising:

a compressor;

a first heat exchanger receiving the fluid from the compressor and discharging the fluid after the fluid loses heat while flowing through the first heat exchanger;

an expansion device receiving the fluid from the first heat exchanger; and

a second heat exchanger receiving the fluid from the expansion device and discharging the fluid to the compressor, the second heat exchanger comprising;

a main chamber having the fluid flowing therethrough to absorb heat;

an outlet chamber configured to receive the fluid from the main chamber and to collect a liquid separated from the fluid;

an outlet opening disposed on an exit surface of the outlet chamber, the outlet opening in fluid communication with the outlet chamber; and

a plate positioned in the outlet chamber adjacent to the exit surface to form a channel between the plate and the exit surface, the plate protruding over the outlet opening so that the fluid flowing through the outlet chamber and into the outlet opening pulls the liquid collected in the outlet chamber through the channel and out through the outlet opening with the fluid.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the bottom of the plate is spaced from the bottom of the outlet chamber to form a flow path for the collected liquid to flow to the channel.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the plate is joined with side surfaces of the outlet chamber to form the channel between the plate and the exit surface.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the plate further comprises walls extending from the top thereof and joined with the exit surface.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the plate further comprises walls extending from the bottom to the top thereof and joined with the exit surface to form the channel.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein at least a portion of the fluid undergoes a phase change from liquid to vapor while flowing through the main chamber.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the fluid includes a refrigerant.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the liquid collected in the outlet chamber includes the refrigerant.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the fluid includes an oil.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the liquid collected in the outlet chamber includes the oil.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the liquid collected in the outlet chamber includes the refrigerant.

44. The system of claim 33, wherein the plate is a disk having top and bottom portions thereof removed.

45. The system of claim 33, wherein the plate protrudes less than an inch over the outlet opening.

46. The system of claim 33, wherein the plate is positioned less than an inch from exit surface.

47. The system of claim 33, wherein the bottom of the plate is positioned less than an inch from the bottom of the outlet chamber.