Heat exchanger for mixed refrigerant systems

Abstract

A vapor compression cycle is provided including a compressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator fluidly connected via one or more fluid conduits, A fluid circulating within the one of more fluid conduits has a high temperature glide. An intermediate heat exchanger has a first part including at least one pass there through and a second part including at least one pass there through. The first part is arranged downstream from the condenser and at least a portion of the fluid output from the condenser is provided to the first part of the intermediate heat exchanger. Within the first part, a temperature of the at least a portion of the fluid output from the condenser is reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vapor compression cycle comprising:
 a compressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator fluidly connected via one or more fluid conduits;   a fluid circulating within the one of more fluid conduits, wherein the fluid has a high temperature glide; and   an intermediate heat exchanger having a first part including at least one pass there through and a second part including at least one pass there through, wherein the first part is arranged downstream from the condenser and at least a portion of the fluid output from the condenser is provided to the first part of the intermediate heat exchanger, wherein within the first part, a temperature of the at least a portion of the fluid output from the condenser is reduced.   
     
     
         2 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 1 , wherein the high temperature glide is at least 2° F. 
     
     
         3 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 1 , wherein the high temperature glide is at least 5° F. 
     
     
         4 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 1 , wherein the high temperature glide is at least 10° F. 
     
     
         5 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid includes a mixture having two or more distinct fluid components having different boiling temperatures and condensing temperatures. 
     
     
         6 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the two or more distinct fluid components is a refrigerant. 
     
     
         7 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 5 , wherein the refrigerant is an A2L refrigerant or an A3 refrigerant. 
     
     
         8 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 1 , wherein the second part of the intermediate heat exchanger is arranged downstream from and in fluid communication with an outlet of the evaporator. 
     
     
         9 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 8 , wherein within the second part, a temperature of a fluid provided to the second part of the intermediate heat exchanger from the outlet of the evaporator is increased. 
     
     
         10 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the fluid output from the condenser is provided to the first part of the intermediate heat exchanger and a second portion of the fluid output from the condenser is provided to the second part of the intermediate heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 10 , further comprising another expansion device arranged upstream from and in fluid communication with the second part of the intermediate heat exchanger, wherein the second portion of fluid output from the condenser is provided to the another expansion device. 
     
     
         12 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 11 , wherein the first part of the intermediate heat exchanger and the another expansion device are arranged in parallel. 
     
     
         13 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 10 , wherein the first portion of fluid output from the condenser is mixed with the second portion of fluid output from the condenser directly upstream from the compressor. 
     
     
         14 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 10 , wherein the second portion of fluid output from the condenser is configured to bypass the expansion device and the evaporator. 
     
     
         15 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 10 , wherein the intermediate heat exchanger is a refrigerant to refrigerant heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The vapor compression cycle of  claim 10 , wherein the intermediate heat exchanger is a liquid suction heat exchanger.