METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF STREAMING REFRIGERANT IN A HEAT EXCHANGER

摘要

Methods of managing refrigerant/lubricant in an evaporator are provided. The methods comprise: directing refrigerant/lubricant into a shell side of the evaporator; collecting the refrigerant/lubricant and directing the refrigerant/lubricant toward a longitudinal direction of the evaporator to form a first longitudinal refrigerant/lubricant stream; and forming a refrigerant/lubricant pool to exchange heat with a heat exchanger tube of the evaporator. Also shell and tube evaporators used for the above methods are provided. By forming longitudinal refrigerant streams in the pans, heat exchange efficiency may be improved and a lubricant content in refrigerant streams may be concentrated toward a bottom of the evaporator.