Suction line heat exchanger

Abstract

Suction line heat exchangers and systems are disclosed. An example suction line heat exchanger (HX) includes an outer chamber including a first refrigerant channel and an inner chamber including a second refrigerant channel. The suction line HX further includes a first set of ports fluidically coupling first and second HXs via the second refrigerant channel, and a second set of ports fluidically coupling the second HX with a compressor via the first refrigerant channel. The inner chamber receives a first portion of refrigerant from the first HX and guides the first portion of refrigerant toward the second HX, the outer chamber receives a second portion of refrigerant from the second HX and guides the second portion of refrigerant toward the compressor, and the second portion of refrigerant substantially fills the outer chamber and surrounds the inner chamber such that heat transfers between the first and second portions of refrigerant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suction line heat exchanger, comprising:
 an outer chamber including a first refrigerant channel;   an inner chamber including a second refrigerant channel distinct from the first refrigerant channel, wherein the inner chamber is disposed within the outer chamber;   a first set of ports fluidically coupling a first heat exchanger with a second heat exchanger via the second refrigerant channel;   a second set of ports fluidically coupling the second heat exchanger with a compressor via the first refrigerant channel; and   wherein:
 the inner chamber receives a first portion of refrigerant from the first heat exchanger and guides the first portion of refrigerant toward the second heat exchanger, 
 the outer chamber receives a second portion of refrigerant from the second heat exchanger and guides the second portion of refrigerant toward the compressor, and 
 the second portion of refrigerant substantially fills the outer chamber and surrounds the inner chamber such that heat transfers between the first portion of refrigerant and the second portion of refrigerant. 
   
     
     
         2 . The suction line heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the inner chamber includes a desiccant for removing moisture from the refrigerant. 
     
     
         3 . The suction line heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the inner chamber includes a filter for removing particles from the refrigerant. 
     
     
         4 . The suction line heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the inner chamber includes removable member, the removable member sealing a desiccant within the inner chamber when coupled to the suction line heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The suction line heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein an expansion device is fluidically coupled between the suction line heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The suction line heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the outer chamber prevents a liquid refrigerant from returning to the compressor. 
     
     
         7 . The suction line heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first portion of refrigerant is a liquid refrigerant;   the second portion of refrigerant is a mixed refrigerant; and   the mixed refrigerant is converted into to a gas refrigerant within the outer chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The suction line heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer chamber is an accumulator; and   the inner chamber is dryer.   
     
     
         9 . A refrigerant system, comprising:
 a compressor fluidically coupled between a suction line heat exchanger and a first heat exchanger;   the first heat exchanger fluidically coupled between the compressor and the suction line heat exchanger;   a second heat exchanger fluidically coupled with the suction line heat exchanger;   the suction line heat exchanger, wherein the suction line heat exchanger includes:
 an outer chamber including a first refrigerant channel, 
 an inner chamber including a second refrigerant channel distinct from the first refrigerant channel, wherein the inner chamber is disposed within the outer chamber, 
 a first set of ports fluidically coupling the first heat exchanger with the second heat exchanger via the second refrigerant channel, and 
 a second set of ports fluidically coupling the second heat exchanger with the compressor via the first refrigerant channel; and 
   wherein:
 the inner chamber receives a first portion of refrigerant from the first heat exchanger and guides the first portion of refrigerant toward the second heat exchanger, 
 the outer chamber receives a second portion of refrigerant from the second heat exchanger and guides the second portion of refrigerant toward the compressor, and 
 the second portion of refrigerant substantially fills the outer chamber and surrounds the inner chamber such that heat transfers between the first portion of refrigerant and the second portion of refrigerant. 
   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an expansion device fluidically coupled between the suction line heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerant system of  claim 9 , wherein the inner chamber includes a desiccant for removing moisture from the refrigerant. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerant system of  claim 9 , wherein the inner chamber includes a filter for removing particles from the refrigerant. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerant system of  claim 9 , wherein the inner chamber includes removable member, the removable member sealing a desiccant within the inner chamber when coupled to the suction line heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerant system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first portion of refrigerant is a liquid refrigerant;   the second portion of refrigerant is a mixed refrigerant; and   the mixed refrigerant is converted into to a gas refrigerant within the outer chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerant system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors; and   a controller, the controller including one or more instructions for causing performance of:
 receiving operational data from the one or more sensors; and 
 adjusting operation of at least the compressor based on the operational data. 
   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerant system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 one or more air-mover devices; and   wherein the controller further includes instructions for causing the performance of adjusting operation of the one or more air-mover devices based on the operational data.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerant system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a reservoir communicatively coupled between the suction line heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and   wherein the controller further includes instructions for causing the performance of adjusting a charge level of the refrigerant based on the operating data.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerant system of  claim 15 , wherein the operating data includes one or more of a temperature of the first portion of refrigerant, a temperature of the second portion of refrigerant, a pressure of the first portion of refrigerant, a pressure of the second portion of refrigerant, a compressor speed, a compression ratio, and an air-mover device speed. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a suction line heat exchanger, comprising:
 providing an outer chamber including a first refrigerant channel;   providing an inner chamber including a second refrigerant channel distinct from the first refrigerant channel;   disposing the inner chamber within the outer chamber such that the inner chamber is exposed to a refrigerant receive within the outer chamber;   providing a first set of ports for receiving and providing the refrigerant via the second refrigerant channel; and   providing a second set of ports for receiving and providing the refrigerant via the first refrigerant channel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 forming a service port on the inner chamber, the service port providing access to the inner chamber.