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Title: Heat exchanger-accumulator

Patent ·
OSTI ID:863636

What is disclosed is a heat exchanger-accumulator for vaporizing a refrigerant or the like, characterized by an upright pressure vessel having a top, bottom and side walls; an inlet conduit eccentrically and sealingly penetrating through the top; a tubular overflow chamber disposed within the vessel and sealingly connected with the bottom so as to define an annular outer volumetric chamber for receiving refrigerant; a heat transfer coil disposed in the outer volumetric chamber for vaporizing the liquid refrigerant that accumulates there; the heat transfer coil defining a passageway for circulating an externally supplied heat exchange fluid; transferring heat efficiently from the fluid; and freely allowing vaporized refrigerant to escape upwardly from the liquid refrigerant; and a refrigerant discharge conduit penetrating sealingly through the top and traversing substantially the length of the pressurized vessel downwardly and upwardly such that its inlet is near the top of the pressurized vessel so as to provide a means for transporting refrigerant vapor from the vessel. The refrigerant discharge conduit has metering orifices, or passageways, penetrating laterally through its walls near the bottom, communicating respectively interiorly and exteriorly of the overflow chamber for controllably carrying small amounts of liquid refrigerant and oil to the effluent stream of refrigerant gas.

Research Organization:
Northrup Industries, Hutchins, TX (United States); Atlantic Richfield Company, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-78CS31718
Assignee:
Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Patent Number(s):
4,217,765
Application Number:
06/045392
OSTI ID:
863636
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 1979 Jun 04
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English