INTEGRATED FLOW SEPARATOR AND PUMP-DOWN VOLUME DEVICE FOR USE IN A HEAT EXCHANGER

摘要

A phase separator and fluid storage volume device for a heat exchanger comprises a vessel, a vapor tube, a liquid tube, an access tube and a flow regulating device. The vessel comprises a first chamber, a second chamber, and a divider separating the first chamber from the second chamber. The vapor tube extends from within the second chamber, through the divider and the first chamber to outside the first chamber. The vapor tube also includes holes between an inlet and an outlet of the tube within the first chamber. The liquid tube extends from within the second chamber to outside of the second chamber. The access tube connects to the second chamber. The flow regulating device is disposed within the vapor tube to provide phase separation between refrigerant traveling between the first chamber and the second chamber within the vapor tube.