Abstract: A separator and distributor assembly for a falling film evaporator housed within the evaporator shell includes a housing defining a separation volume, a refrigerant inlet configured to admit a liquid and vapor refrigerant flow into the separation volume and one or more refrigerant gutters extending along a lengthwise axis of the housing. The refrigerant gutter has a gutter inlet at a bottom of the separation volume, and the one or more refrigerant gutters are configured to receive separated liquid refrigerant from the separation volume. One or more sparge channels are in fluid communication with the refrigerant gutters. The sparge channel includes one or more sparge openings at a top of the sparge channel vertically below the gutter inlet. The one or more sparge openings are configured to flow liquid refrigerant therefrom.

Abstract: A shell-and-tube heat exchanger and an air conditioning system. The shell-and-tube heat exchanger includes: a shell provided with a liquid inlet and an vapor outlet, the vapor outlet being disposed at an top portion of the shell; and a heat exchange tube bundle disposed in the shell in an axial direction of the shell; wherein the heat exchange tube bundle includes: a plurality of first heat exchange tubes located at an upper portion, the first heat exchange tubes having a first spacing therebetween; and a plurality of second heat exchange tubes located at a lower portion, the second heat exchange tubes having a second spacing therebetween; the first spacing is different from the second spacing.

Abstract: A falling film evaporator includes a housing and a plurality of evaporator tubes located in the housing. A liquid refrigerant distribution system is positioned in the housing and includes a manifold having a plurality of manifold outlet openings and a baffle positioned between the manifold and a distribution vessel and comprising a plurality of baffle openings. The distribution vessel has a plurality of distribution vessel openings for conveying the liquid refrigerant onto evaporator tubes when in use. A method of operating an evaporator includes conveying a two-phase vapor and liquid refrigerant mixture to a manifold and spraying the mixture out of the manifold through a plurality of manifold openings toward a distribution vessel. The mixture in impinged on a baffle located between the manifold and the distribution vessel and the liquid refrigerant is separated from the mixture via the impingement. The liquid refrigerant is collected at the distribution vessel.

Abstract: A shell-and-tube heat exchanger and an air conditioning system. The shell-and-tube heat exchanger includes: a shell provided with a liquid inlet and an vapor outlet, the vapor outlet being disposed at an top portion of the shell; and a heat exchange tube bundle disposed in the shell in an axial direction of the shell; wherein the heat exchange tube bundle includes: a plurality of first heat exchange tubes located at an upper portion, the first heat exchange tubes having a first spacing therebetween; and a plurality of second heat exchange tubes located at a lower portion, the second heat exchange tubes having a second spacing therebetween; the first spacing is different from the second spacing.

Abstract: A separator and distributor assembly for a falling film evaporator housed within the evaporator shell includes a housing defining a separation volume, a refrigerant inlet configured to admit a liquid and vapor refrigerant flow into the separation volume and one or more refrigerant gutters extending along a lengthwise axis of the housing. The refrigerant gutter has a gutter inlet at a bottom of the separation volume, and the one or more refrigerant gutters are configured to receive separated liquid refrigerant from the separation volume. One or more sparge channels are in fluid communication with the refrigerant gutters. The sparge channel includes one or more sparge openings at a top of the sparge channel vertically below the gutter inlet. The one or more sparge openings are configured to flow liquid refrigerant therefrom.

Abstract: A condenser for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration system includes a condenser shell, a refrigerant inlet located at the condenser shell, and a condenser drain located at the condenser shell. A condenser tube bundle is located in the condenser shell such that a refrigerant flow entering the condenser via the refrigerant inlet passes over the condenser tube bundle before exiting the condenser at the condenser drain. Two or more condenser ballast volumes are located in the condenser shell between the tube bundle and the condenser drain. The two or more condenser ballast volumes are spaced apart to define a channel therebetween. A condenser ballast volume of the two or more condenser ballast volumes has a horizontal top surface.

Abstract: A falling film evaporator (12) includes an evaporator vessel (26), a plurality of evaporator tubes (38) disposed in the in evaporator vessel (26) through which a volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed and a suction port (42) extending through the evaporator vessel (26) to remove vapor refrigerant from the evaporator vessel (26). A refrigerant distribution system (34) is located in the evaporator vessel (26) to distribute a flow of liquid refrigerant over the plurality of evaporator tubes (38). The refrigerant distribution system (34) is configured such that the refrigerant distribution system (34) has a first height at the suction port (42) and a second height greater than the first height at a longitudinal location (28) other than at the suction port (42).

Abstract: A condenser for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration system includes a condenser shell, a refrigerant inlet located at the condenser shell, and a condenser drain located at the condenser shell. A condenser tube bundle is located in the condenser shell such that a refrigerant flow entering the condenser via the refrigerant inlet passes over the condenser tube bundle before exiting the condenser at the condenser drain. Two or more condenser ballast volumes are located in the condenser shell between the tube bundle and the condenser drain. The two or more condenser ballast volumes are spaced apart to define a channel therebetween. A condenser ballast volume of the two or more condenser ballast volumes has a horizontal top surface.

Abstract: A falling film evaporator (12) includes an evaporator vessel (26), a plurality of evaporator tubes (38) disposed in the in evaporator vessel (26) through which a volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed and a suction port (42) extending through the evaporator vessel (26) to remove vapor refrigerant from the evaporator vessel (26). A refrigerant distribution system (34) is located in the evaporator vessel (26) to distribute a flow of liquid refrigerant over the plurality of evaporator tubes (38). The refrigerant distribution system (34) is configured such that the refrigerant distribution system (34) has a first height at the suction port (42) and a second height greater than the first height at a longitudinal location (28) other than at the suction port (42).

Abstract: A falling film evaporator includes a housing and a plurality of evaporator tubes located in the housing. A liquid refrigerant distribution system is positioned in the housing and includes a manifold having a plurality of manifold outlet openings and a baffle positioned between the manifold and a distribution vessel and comprising a plurality of baffle openings. The distribution vessel has a plurality of distribution vessel openings for conveying the liquid refrigerant onto evaporator tubes when in use. A method of operating an evaporator includes conveying a two-phase vapor and liquid refrigerant mixture to a manifold and spraying the mixture out of the manifold through a plurality of manifold openings toward a distribution vessel. The mixture in impinged on a baffle located between the manifold and the distribution vessel and the liquid refrigerant is separated from the mixture via the impingement. The liquid refrigerant is collected at the distribution vessel.