INTEGRATED HEAT EXCHANGER FOR USE IN A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
摘要
A refrigeration system includes a multiple stage compressor 10 having at least two stages 12, 14 for sequentially compressing the refrigerant together with a gas cooler 21 connected to the compressor 10 for re-ceiving compressed refrigerant from the last stage 14 of the compressor to cool the same. An evaporator 18 is connected to the gas cooler 21 via an expansion device to receive cool refrigerant therefrom and cool the fluid stream passing through the evaporator 18. A return passage connects the evaporator 18 to the first stage 12 of the compressor and an intercooler 26 is connected between the first stage 12 and the last stage 14 of the compressor to cool refrigerant compressed by the first stage 12 and direct the refrigerant cooled thereby to the last stage 14 for further compression. The intercooler 26 and the gas cooler 21 are integrated into a single unit 22 and receive a single cooling heat exchange fluid and the gas cooler 21 has a larger heat transfer surface area than the intercooler 26.