Integrated Flow Separator and Pump-Down Volume Device for Use in a Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A phase separator and fluid storage volume device for a heat exchanger comprises a vessel, a vapor tube, a liquid tube, an access tube and a flow regulating device. The vessel comprises a first chamber, a second chamber, and a divider separating the first chamber from the second chamber. The vapor tube extends from within the second chamber, through the divider and the first chamber to outside the first chamber. The vapor tube also includes holes between an inlet and an outlet of the tube within the first chamber. The liquid tube extends from within the second chamber to outside of the second chamber. The access tube connects to the second chamber. The flow regulating device is disposed within the vapor tube to provide phase separation between refrigerant traveling between the first chamber and the second chamber within the vapor tube.

1 . A device for a heat exchanger, the device comprising:
 a vessel comprising:
 a first chamber; 
 a second chamber; and 
 a divider separating the first chamber from the second chamber; 
   a vapor tube extending from within the second chamber, through the divider and the first chamber to outside the first chamber, wherein the vapor tube includes holes between an inlet and an outlet of the tube within the first chamber;   a liquid tube extending from within the second chamber to outside of the second chamber;   an access opening in the second chamber; and   a flow regulating device disposed within the vapor tube to provide phase separation between refrigerant traveling between the first chamber and the second chamber within the vapor tube.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the first chamber and the second chamber comprise volumes greater than necessary to conduct refrigerant through the device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  and further comprising a heat exchanger connected to the first chamber and the second chamber of the vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:
 a vapor header in fluid communication with the vapor tube outside the first chamber; 
 a liquid header in fluid communication with the liquid tube outside the second chamber; and 
 a parallel flow heat exchanger in fluid communication with the vapor header and the liquid header. 
 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  and further comprising a perforated insert tube in fluid communication with the liquid tube and positioned within the liquid header. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4  wherein a total volume of the first chamber, the second chamber, the vapor header, the liquid header and the heat exchanger equals a total pump-down volume of a heat pump system connected to the device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flow regulating device is positioned within the vapor tube inside of the second chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flow regulating device is positioned within a portion of the vapor tube extending outside of the storage vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flow regulating device comprises a double-accurator. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the double-accurator comprises:
 a first accurator sized and oriented to permit liquid and vapor to pass from the second chamber to the first chamber unrestricted, and to expand vapor passing from the first chamber to the second chamber; and 
 a second accurator positioned adjacent the first accurator and sized and oriented to expand liquid passing from the second chamber to the first chamber, and to permit liquid and vapor to pass from the first chamber to the second chamber. 
 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flow regulating device comprises an arrangement of active or passively controlled valves arranged so as to prevent liquid flow from the second chamber to the first chamber, to permit gas flow from the second chamber to the first chamber, and to prevent gas and liquid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flow regulating device functions as a stop valve for refrigerant flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber, and the flow regulating device functions as a phase-separator for refrigerant flowing from the second chamber to the first chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  and further comprising an expansion device positioned in the access opening in the second chamber. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a compressor;   a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor; and   a first device in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, the first device comprising:
 a first vessel comprising:
 a first vapor chamber; 
 a first liquid chamber; and 
 a divider separating the first vapor chamber from the first liquid chamber; 
 
 a first vapor tube extending from within the first liquid chamber, through the first divider and the first vapor chamber to outside the first vapor chamber, wherein the first vapor tube includes first holes between an inlet and an outlet of the first vapor tube within the first vapor chamber; 
 a first liquid tube extending from within the first liquid chamber to outside of the first liquid chamber; 
 a first access opening in fluid communication with the first liquid chamber; and 
 a first flow regulating device disposed within the first vapor tube to provide phase separation between a working fluid traveling between the first chamber and the second chamber within the vapor tube. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 :
 wherein the first flow regulating device operates as stop valve to inhibit vapor and liquid flow between the first vapor chamber and the first liquid chamber when the first heat exchanger functions as a condenser; and   wherein the first flow regulating device operates to admit substantially only vapor into the first vapor chamber when the first heat exchanger functions as a condenser.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a micro-channel heat exchanger or a mini-channel heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . A system of  claim 14  and further comprising:
 an expansion device in fluid communication with the first access opening; 
 a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the expansion device and the compressor. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  and further comprising:
 a second device connected to the second heat exchanger, the second device comprising:
 a second vessel comprising:
 a second vapor chamber; 
 a second liquid chamber; and 
 a second divider separating the second vapor chamber from the second liquid chamber; 
 
 a second vapor tube extending from within the second liquid chamber, through the second divider and the second vapor chamber to outside the second vapor chamber, wherein the second vapor tube includes second holes between an inlet and an outlet of the second vapor tube within the second vapor chamber; 
 a second liquid tube extending from within the second liquid chamber to outside of the second liquid chamber; 
 a second access opening in fluid communication with the second liquid chamber and the expansion device; and 
 a second flow regulating device disposed within the second vapor tube to provide phase separation between working fluid traveling between the second vapor chamber and the second liquid chamber within the second vapor tube. 
 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  and further comprising:
 a four-way valve regulating flow between the first and second heat exchangers and the compressor; and 
 wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are each capable of operating either as a condenser or an evaporator. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein each of the first and second heat exchangers comprise:
 a vapor header; 
 a liquid header; and 
 a parallel flow heat exchange circuit in fluid communication with the vapor header and the liquid header. 
 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein a total volume of the first vapor chamber, the first liquid chamber and the first heat exchanger comprises a pump-down volume for the system having capacity to store an entirety of a volume of working fluid necessary to operate the system.