Ultra narrow channel ultra low refrigerant charge evaporative condenser

Abstract

A tube bundle for an evaporative refrigerant condenser having a plurality of straight single pass tubes extending between a refrigerant inlet header and a refrigerant outlet header, said tubes having a cross-sectional shape in the form of an ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis, wherein said major axis is longer than said minor axis by a factor of 3 to 7, wherein the amount of required refrigerant charge for a particular heat exchange capacity is substantially and unexpectedly reduced resulting in a substantial and unexpected increase in efficiency.

1 . A tube bundle for an evaporative refrigerant condenser comprising a refrigerant inlet header, a refrigerant outlet heater, and a plurality of straight single pass tubes extending between said refrigerant inlet header and said refrigerant outlet header, said tubes having a cross-sectional shape in the form of an ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis, wherein said major axis is longer than said minor axis by a factor of 3 to 10. 
     
     
         2 . The tube bundle according to  claim 1  wherein said major axis has a length of 1.4 inches to 1.7 inches, outside tube diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The tube bundle according to  claim 1 , wherein said minor axis has a width of 0.1 inches to 0.25 inches, outside tube diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The tube bundle according to  claim 1 , wherein said major axis has a length of 1.4 inches to 1.7 inches, outside tube diameter and wherein said minor axis has a width of 0.1 inches to 0.25 inches, outside tube diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The tube bundle according to  claim 1 , wherein each tube is spaced from each horizontally adjacent tube by 0.5 inches to 0.75 inches, center to center. 
     
     
         6 . The tube bundle according to claim, wherein each tube is spaced from each vertically adjacent tube by x inches to y inches, center to center. 
     
     
         7 . An evaporative refrigerant condenser or closed circuit fluid cooler comprising:
 a housing;   a fan located near a top of said housing to draw air into said housing and force it through said top of said housing;   a water distribution system, including a pump and water distribution nozzles, said water distribution nozzles located beneath said fan;   a tube bundle located beneath said fan, said tube bundle comprising a refrigerant inlet header, a refrigerant outlet heater, and a plurality of straight single pass tubes extending between said refrigerant inlet header and said refrigerant outlet header, said tubes having a cross-sectional shape in the form of an ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis, wherein said major axis is longer than said minor axis by a factor of 3 to 10;   a plenum located beneath said tube bundle,   a water basin located at a bottom of said plenum for collecting water distributed from said water distribution system;   said pump configured to draw water from said water basin and force it through said water distribution nozzles;   an air inlet on at least one side of said housing adjacent said plenum to allow entry of air drawn by said fan.   
     
     
         8 . The evaporative refrigerant condenser or closed circuit fluid cooler according to  claim 7 , further comprising a direct heat exchange fill located between said water distribution nozzles for facilitating direct heat exchange between said air and said water. 
     
     
         9 . The evaporative refrigerant condenser or closed circuit fluid cooler according to  claim 7 , wherein said direct heat exchange fill rests directly on said tube bundle, and said tube bundle provides structural support for said direct heat exchange fill. 
     
     
         10 . A counterflow closed circuit cooler or refrigerant condenser comprising:
 a housing;   a fan located near a top of said housing to draw air into said housing and force it through said top of said housing;   a water distribution system, including a pump and water distribution nozzles, said water distribution nozzles located beneath said fan;   a direct heat exchange fill located beneath said water distribution nozzles for facilitating direct heat exchange between said air and said water;   a plenum located beneath said direct heat exchange fill,   a redistribution basin located beneath said plenum and configured to collect water distributed from said water distribution nozzles and redistributed it to a lower portion of said housing;   a tube bundle located beneath said redistribution basin, said tube bundle comprising a refrigerant inlet header, a refrigerant outlet heater, and a plurality of straight single pass tubes extending between said refrigerant inlet header and said refrigerant outlet header, said tubes having a cross-sectional shape in the form of an ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis, wherein said major axis is longer than said minor axis by a factor of 3 to 10;   a water basin located at a bottom of said housing for collecting water distributed from said water distribution system;   said pump configured to draw water from said water basin and force it through said water distribution nozzles;   an air inlet on a side of said housing adjacent said plenum to allow entry of air drawn by said fan.   
     
     
         11 . An induced draft evaporative condenser or closed circuit cooler comprising:
 a housing;   a fan located near a top of said housing to draw air into said housing and force it through said top of said housing;   a water distribution system, including a pump and water distribution nozzles, said water distribution nozzles located adjacent said fan;   a tube bundle located beneath said water distribution nozzles, said tube bundle comprising a refrigerant inlet header, a refrigerant outlet heater, and a plurality of straight single pass tubes extending between said refrigerant inlet header and said refrigerant outlet header, said tubes having a cross-sectional shape in the form of an ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis, wherein said major axis is longer than said minor axis by a factor of 3 to 10;   a direct heat exchange fill located beneath said tube bundle for facilitating direct heat exchange between said air and said water;   a plenum located beneath said fan,   a water basin located at a bottom of said housing for collecting water distributed from said water distribution system;   said pump configured to draw water from said water basin and force it through said water distribution nozzles;   
       an air inlet on a bottom side of said housing adjacent said fill to allow entry of air drawn by said fan.