Heat exchanger for hvac&r system

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a first section of an interior volume of the heat exchanger. The first section includes a plurality of heat exchanger tubes and is configured to direct a working fluid flow across the plurality of heat exchanger tubes from an inlet of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a second section of the interior volume, where the second section is configured to direct the working fluid to an outlet of the heat exchanger. The outlet includes a center axis extending therethrough. The second section overlaps with the center axis and the first section is offset from the center axis.

1 . A heat exchanger of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a first section of an interior volume of the heat exchanger, wherein the first section comprises a plurality of heat exchanger tubes, and the first section is configured to direct a working fluid flow across the plurality of heat exchanger tubes from an inlet of the heat exchanger; and   a second section of the interior volume, wherein the second section is configured to direct the working fluid to an outlet of the heat exchanger, wherein the outlet comprises a center axis extending therethrough, the second section overlaps with the center axis, and the first section is offset from the center axis.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , comprising an intermediate section of the interior volume, wherein the intermediate section is configured to direct the working fluid flow from the first section to the second section, and the intermediate section comprises an additional plurality of heat exchanger tubes configured to be submerged within the working fluid flow received from the first section. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the intermediate section is at least partially aligned with the outlet along the center axis. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second section is void of heat exchanger tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , comprising a partition extending between the first section and the second section, wherein the partition is configured to block direct flow of the working fluid flow from the first section to the second section. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , comprising a baffle extending obliquely from the partition, into the second section, and at least partially toward the outlet, wherein the baffle is configured to guide the working fluid flow through the second section and toward the outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the baffle comprises a slot formed therethrough to enable flow of liquid working fluid through the baffle. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plurality of partitions disposed within the interior volume, wherein the second section of the interior volume extends between the plurality of partitions;   a first baffle extending from a first partition of the plurality of partitions toward a second partition of the plurality of partitions; and   a second baffle extending from the second partition toward the first partition.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the first baffle and the second baffle define a serpentine flow path through the second section. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , comprising a shell of the heat exchanger, wherein the shell defines the interior volume, and wherein the first section of the interior volume is defined between the shell and at least one partition of the plurality of partitions. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein a first distal end of the first baffle overlaps with a second distal end of the second baffle to form respective overlapping portions of the first baffle and the second baffle. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the center axis extends through the overlapping portions. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , comprising the outlet, wherein the outlet is fluidly coupled to a compressor of the HVAC&R system. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , comprising an additional first section of the interior volume, wherein the additional first section comprises a plurality of additional heat exchanger tubes, the additional first section is configured to direct an additional working fluid flow across the plurality of additional heat exchanger tubes from an additional inlet of the heat exchanger, and the first section and the additional first section are disposed on opposite sides of the second section. 
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a shell comprising an interior volume, an inlet configured to direct working fluid into the interior volume, and a discharge outlet configured to discharge the working fluid from the interior volume, wherein the discharge outlet comprises a center axis;   a first set of tubes disposed within the interior volume and configured to circulate a conditioning fluid therethrough to exchange heat with the working fluid directed across the first set of tubes, wherein the first set of tubes is offset from the center axis;   a second set of tubes disposed within the interior volume and configured to circulate the conditioning fluid therethrough to exchange heat with the working fluid directed across the second set of tubes, wherein the second set of tubes is offset from the center axis; and   a discharge column extending between the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes, wherein the discharge column overlaps with the center axis and is configured to direct the working fluid toward the discharge outlet.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , comprising:
 a plurality of partitions disposed within the shell, wherein the plurality of partitions defines the discharge column; and   a plurality of baffles extending from the plurality of partitions and into the discharge column to define a serpentine flow path through the discharge column, wherein the serpentine flow path is configured to receive the working fluid and direct the working fluid toward the discharge outlet.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein a first baffle of the plurality of baffles is coupled to a first partition of the plurality of partitions, a second baffle of the plurality of baffles is coupled to a second partition of the plurality of partitions, and the first baffle overlaps with the second baffle. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , comprising:
 an intermediate section of the interior volume, wherein the intermediate section is configured to direct the working fluid from the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes to the discharge column; and   an additional set of tubes disposed within the intermediate section and configured to be submerged within the working fluid received from the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes.   
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a shell defining an interior volume, wherein the shell comprises an inlet and an outlet, and the outlet comprises a center axis; and   a plurality of partitions disposed within the shell to define a first section of the interior volume and a second section of the interior volume, wherein the first section is offset from the center axis, the second section overlaps with the center axis, the first section comprises a plurality of heat exchanger tubes disposed therein, the first section is configured to direct a flow of working fluid across the plurality of heat exchanger tubes, and the second section is configured to direct the flow of working fluid to the outlet to discharge the flow of working fluid from the interior volume of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , comprising a plurality of baffles coupled to the plurality of partitions to define a serpentine flow path through the second section of the interior volume, wherein each partition of the plurality of partitions overlaps with the center axis of the outlet.