Heat exchangers having baffled manifolds

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a fluid having a vapor-phase and a liquid-phase is provided. The heat exchanger includes a first manifold, a second manifold, a plurality of parallel channels, a mixing device, and one or more baffles. The parallel channels are in fluid communication with the first and second manifolds. The mixing device mixes the fluid flowing into the first manifold so that the fluid is a substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture of the vapor and liquid phases. The baffles are within the first manifold and ensure that the fluid enters the parallel channels as the substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture.

1 . A heat exchanger for a fluid having a vapor-phase and a liquid-phase, comprising:
 a first manifold;   a second manifold;   a plurality of parallel channels being in fluid communication with said first and second manifolds;   a mixing device being configured to mix the fluid flowing into said first manifold so that the fluid is a substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture of the vapor and liquid phases; and   one or more baffles within said first manifold, said one or more baffles being configured to ensure that the fluid enters said plurality of parallel channels as the substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture.   
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein the mixing device comprises a distributing insert being disposed within said first manifold. 
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 2 , wherein said distributing insert comprises a plurality of openings having a selected angle with respect to a fluid flow direction through said plurality of parallel channels. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , further comprising a first partition defined within said first manifold so that said plurality of parallel channels define a first pass in fluid communication with an inlet side of said first manifold and a second pass in fluid communication with an outlet side of said first manifold. 
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 4 , further comprising a second partition defined within said second manifold so that said first pass is in fluid communication with an inlet side of said second manifold and said second pass is in fluid communication with an outlet side of said second manifold, said inlet and outlet sides of said second manifold being in fluid communication. 
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a second distribution insert within said outlet side of said second manifold, said second distribution insert being configured to mix the fluid flowing into said outlet side of said second manifold from said inlet side of said second manifold so that the fluid is the substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture; and   one or more second baffles within said outlet side of said second manifold, said one or more baffles being configured to ensure that the fluid enters said plurality of parallel channels of said second pass as the substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture.   
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 6 , further comprising a collection insert within said inlet side of said second manifold, said collection insert configured to mix the fluid flowing from said inlet side of said second manifold to form the substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture, said collection insert being in fluid communication with said second distribution insert. 
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 5 , further comprising a collection insert being configured to mix the fluid flowing from said inlet side of said second manifold to form the substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture. 
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 8 , wherein said collection insert is external to said second manifold. 
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 8 , wherein said collection insert is internal to said second manifold. 
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 10 , further comprising a second collection-distributor placing said collection insert in fluid communication with said second distribution insert. 
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein said first manifold comprises an inlet side divided along an axis from an outlet side by a first partition
 and wherein said plurality of parallel channels comprises a first pass of parallel channels being in fluid communication with said inlet side of said first manifold and said second manifold and a second pass of parallel channels being in fluid communication with said outlet side of said first manifold and said second manifold.   
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 12 , wherein said mixing device comprises a distribution insert within said inlet side of said first manifold, said distribution insert comprising a plurality of openings being configured to mix the fluid flowing into said inlet side of said first manifold so that the fluid is a substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture of the vapor and liquid phases. 
   
   
       14 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 13 ; wherein said one or more baffles are within said inlet side of said first manifold. 
   
   
       15 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 13 , wherein said distribution insert comprises a plurality of openings having a dimension that is uniform across said distribution insert. 
   
   
       16 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 13 , wherein said distribution insert comprises a plurality of openings having a dimension that increase in size in a direction from said first pass to said second pass. 
   
   
       17 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 13 , wherein said distribution insert comprises no walls in common with said first manifold. 
   
   
       18 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 13 , wherein said distribution insert comprises a first wall independent of said first manifold and a second wall common with said first manifold. 
   
   
       19 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 12 ,
 wherein said second manifold comprises:   an inlet side divided along said axis from an outlet side by a second partition;   a second distribution insert within said outlet side of said second manifold, said second distribution insert being configured to mix the fluid flowing into said outlet side of said second manifold from said inlet side of said second manifold so that the fluid is the substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture; and   one or more second baffles within said outlet side of said second manifold being configured to prevent movement of the fluid within said outlet side of said second manifold along said axis.   
   
   
       20 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 19 , further comprising a collection insert being configured to mix the fluid flowing from said inlet side of said second manifold to form the substantially homogeneous two-phase mixture, said collection insert being in fluid communication with said second distribution insert. 
   
   
       21 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 20 , wherein said collection insert is internal or external to said second manifold. 
   
   
       22 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein said first manifold comprises an inlet port and an outlet port, said inlet and outlet ports being configured so that flow of the fluid through said inlet and outlet ports is in a direction substantially parallel to flow of the fluid through said plurality of parallel channels. 
   
   
       23 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein said first manifold comprises an inlet port and an outlet port, said inlet and outlet ports being configured so that flow of the fluid through said inlet and outlet ports is in a direction substantially perpendicular to flow of the fluid through said plurality of parallel channels. 
   
   
       24 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger finds use in a refrigeration circuit. 
   
   
       25 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 24 , wherein said plurality of parallel channels are vertically arranged. 
   
   
       26 . The heat exchanger as in  claim 24 , wherein said plurality of parallel channels are horizontally arranged.