Vapor/liquid separator for an absorption chiller

申请号 US09966417 申请日 2001-09-27 公开(公告)号 US06572689B2 公开(公告)日 2003-06-03
申请人 Ronald M. Cosby, II; Jeffrey D. Harms; Stephen A. Kujak; Luan K. Nguyen; Thomas G. Travers; 发明人 Ronald M. Cosby, II; Jeffrey D. Harms; Stephen A. Kujak; Luan K. Nguyen; Thomas G. Travers;
摘要 An absorption apparatus for an absorption chiller includes a series of eliminator blades situated between a vaporizing chamber (e.g., a generator or an evaporator) and a devaporizing chamber (e.g., a condenser or an absorber). Each of the blades includes an upstream leg, a downstream leg and a deflection tab. With respect to the direction of vapor flowing from the vaporizing chamber to the devaporizing chamber, the upstream leg is at an upward incline and the downstream leg is at a downward incline. The deflection tab extends out over the downstream leg to create a concavity that helps prevent liquid in the devaporizing chamber from splashing back across the eliminator blade. In some embodiments, a tube support plate includes a series of holes for not only supporting the tube bundles of two heat exchangers but also for supporting the eliminator blades.
权利要求

We claim:1. An absorption apparatus, comprising:a first heat exchanger adapted to heat a fluid to create a vapor;a second heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with the vapor;a vaporizing chamber containing the first heat exchanger;a devaporizing chamber containing the second heat exchanger, wherein the vaporizing chamber and the devaporizing chamber define a passageway therebetween that allows the vapor to move downstream from the vaporizing chamber to the devaporizing chamber; andan eliminator blade disposed within the passageway, wherein the eliminator blade includes an upstream leg with a leading edge adjacent the vaporizing chamber, a downstream leg with a trailing edge adjacent the devaporizing chamber and extending between the trailing edge and a joining edge of the downstream leg, and a deflection tab connected to the joining edge of the downstream leg and extending toward the devaporizing chamber to create a concavity between the deflection tab and the downstream leg, wherein the deflection tab and the upstream leg define a first obtuse angle.2. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the obtuse angle is substantially 180 degrees.3. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upstream leg is substantially planar.4. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the downstream leg is substantially planar.5. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflection tab is substantially planar.6. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upstream leg and the downstream leg define a second obtuse angle.7. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upstream leg is substantially perpendicular to the downstream leg.8. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the downstream leg and the deflection tab define an acute angle.9. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upstream leg is larger than the downstream leg.10. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflection tab is smaller than the upstream leg.11. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflection tab is smaller than the downstream leg.12. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the eliminator blade is comprised of a unitary piece with a crease running along opposite edges of the deflection tab.13. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the downstream leg is disposed at a greater incline than that of the upstream leg.14. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upstream leg and the downstream leg are coupled to each other at a plurality of discrete spots.15. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vaporizing chamber is an evaporator and the devaporizing chamber is an absorber.16. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vaporizing chamber is a generator and the devaporizing chamber is a condenser.17. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tube support plate having a plurality of tube holes and a plurality of eliminator blade holes, wherein the eliminator blade passes through one eliminator blade hole of the plurality of eliminator blade holes, and the plurality of tube holes help support a plurality of heat exchanger tubes associated with at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.18. The absorption apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of heat exchanger tubes are associated with both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.19. The absorption apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a pair of tube sheets that support opposite ends of the plurality of heat exchanger tubes, wherein the tube support plate is interposed between the pair of tube sheets.20. The absorption apparatus of claim 17, wherein a slip fit exists between the eliminator blade and the eliminator blade hole.21. The absorption apparatus of claim 17, wherein a material thickness of the eliminator blade is less than that of the tube support plate.22. The absorption apparatus of claim 17, wherein the eliminator blade is of a material that is more corrosion resistant than that of the tube support plate.23. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distance between the leading edge and the joining edge is between 1.5 and 4.5 inches.24. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distance between the trailing edge and the joining edge is between 1.5 and 4.5 inches.25. The absorption apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflection tab extends from the joining edge a distance of between 0.1 and 0.3 inches.26. An absorption apparatus, comprising:a first heat exchanger adapted to heat a fluid to create a vapor;a second heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with the vapor;a tube support plate having a plurality of tube holes;a plurality of heat exchanger tubes extending through the plurality of tube holes and being associated with at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger;a vaporizing chamber containing the first heat exchanger;a devaporizing chamber containing the second heat exchanger, wherein the vaporizing chamber and the devaporizing chamber define a passageway therebetween that allows the vapor to move downstream from the vaporizing chamber to the devaporizing chamber; andan eliminator blade disposed within the passageway and extending through the tube support plate.27. The absorption apparatus of claim 26, wherein the wherein the eliminator blade includes an upstream leg having a leading edge adjacent the vaporizing chamber and a downstream leg having a trailing edge adjacent the devaporizing chamber, and wherein the upstream leg extends above the upstream edge and the downstream leg extends above the downstream edge.28. The absorption apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a deflection tab having a joining edge connected to downstream leg, wherein the downstream leg extends between the trailing edge and the joining edge.29. The absorption apparatus of claim 28, wherein the deflection tab extends toward the devaporizing chamber to create a concavity between the deflection tab and the downstream leg.30. The absorption apparatus of claim 28, wherein the deflection tab and the upstream leg define a first obtuse angle.31. The absorption apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first obtuse angle is substantially 180 degrees.32. The absorption apparatus of claim 28, wherein the eliminator blade is comprised of a unitary piece with a crease running along opposite edges of the deflection tab.33. The absorption apparatus of claim 27, wherein the upstream leg and the downstream leg are coupled to each other at a plurality of discrete spots.34. The absorption apparatus of claim 26, wherein the vaporizing chamber is an evaporator and the devaporizing chamber is an absorber.35. The absorption apparatus of claim 26, wherein the vaporizing chamber is a generator and the devaporizing chamber is a condenser.36. The absorption apparatus of claim 26, wherein the plurality of heat exchanger tubes are associated with both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.37. The absorption apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a pair of tube sheets that support opposite ends of the plurality of heat exchanger tubes, wherein the tube support plate is interposed between the pair of tube sheets.38. The absorption apparatus of claim 26, wherein a slip fit exists between the eliminator blade and the tube support plate.39. The absorption apparatus of claim 26, wherein a material thickness of the eliminator blade is less than that of the tube support plate.40. The absorption apparatus of claim 26, wherein the eliminator blade is of a material that is more corrosion resistant than that of the tube support plate.41. An absorption apparatus, comprising:a vaporizing chamber;a devaporizing chamber, wherein the vaporizing chamber and the devaporizing chamber define a passageway that allows a vapor to move downstream from the vaporizing chamber to the devaporizing chamber;a pair of tube sheets;a tube support plate interposed between the pair of tube sheets and having a first plurality of tube holes, a second plurality of tube holes, and a plurality of eliminator blade holes interposed between the first plurality of tube holes and the second plurality of tube holes;a first plurality of heat exchanger tubes disposed within the vaporizing chamber, extending through the first plurality of tube holes, being hermetically sealed to the pair of tube sheets, and being adapted to heat a fluid to create the vapor;a second plurality of heat exchanger tubes disposed within the devaporizing chamber, extending through the second plurality of tube holes, being hermetically sealed to the pair of tube sheets, and being in heat exchange relationship with the vapor; anda plurality of eliminator blades extending through the plurality of eliminator blade holes and being disposed within the passageway to help deflect liquid droplets that may be entrained by the vapor, wherein a slip fit exists between the plurality of eliminator blades and the plurality of eliminator blade holes.42. The absorption apparatus of claim 41, wherein each eliminator blade of the plurality of eliminator blades comprises an upstream leg and a downstream leg that are coupled to each other at a plurality of discrete spots.43. The absorption apparatus of claim 41, wherein the vaporizing chamber is an evaporator and the devaporizing chamber is an absorber.44. The absorption apparatus of claim 41, wherein the vaporizing chamber is a generator and the devaporizing chamber is a condenser.45. The absorption apparatus of claim 41, wherein a material thickness of each eliminator blade of the plurality of eliminator blades is less than that of each tube support plate of the plurality of tube support plates.46. The absorption apparatus of claim 41, wherein the plurality of eliminator blades are of a material that is more corrosion resistant than that of the plurality of tube support plates.

说明书全文

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an absorption chiller, and more particularly to a vapor/liquid separator for use between a generator and a condenser or between an evaporator and an absorber.

2. Description of Related Art

Typical absorption chillers have a working solution from which a refrigerant is cyclically vaporized and reabsorbed to provide a cooling effect. Common solutions consist of water and lithium bromide with water being the refrigerant, or ammonia and water, in which case the ammonia is the refrigerant.

In operation, the solution is heated within a generator to vaporize the refrigerant from the solution. For a solution of lithium bromide and water, the water vaporizes, while the remaining solution becomes more concentrated with lithium bromide. For absorption systems using a solution of ammonia and water, the ammonia is the vaporized component.

After vaporizing the refrigerant in the generator, the remaining liquid concentrated solution returns to an absorber. Meanwhile, the generated refrigerant vapor passes through a vapor/liquid separator before entering a condenser, where the refrigerant vapor condenses.

From the condenser, the refrigerant enters a lower-pressure evaporator. The reduced pressure in the evaporator expands the refrigerant, which lowers the refrigerant's temperature significantly. Within the evaporator, the refrigerant passes across a heat exchanger to cool what is known as chilled water. The chilled water can then be used as needed, such as to cool rooms or other areas of a building. While in the evaporator, the refrigerant vaporizes as the refrigerant absorbs heat from the relatively warm “chilled water.” The refrigerant vapor then passes through another vapor/liquid separator before being drawn into the absorber. Inside the absorber, strong solution returning from the generator reabsorbs the vapor to create a dilute solution. The dilute solution is then pumped back to the generator to perpetuate the solution separation/absorption process.

The effectiveness of the vapor/liquid separators (both, the one between the generator and the condenser and the one between the evaporator and the absorber) can have a significant impact on an absorption chiller's overall performance. An effective separator should inhibit droplets, entrained by vapor, from being carried over from a vaporizing chamber (e.g., the generator or the evaporator) and into a devaporizing chamber (e.g., the condenser or the absorber). The separator should also inhibit liquid solution from splashing back out of the devaporizing chamber and into the vaporizing chamber.

Ineffective vapor/liquid separation can cause several problems for absorption chillers. For chillers using lithium bromide, for example, concentrated solution splashing back out of the absorber and into the evaporator can cause salt to build up in the evaporator and thus lower the vapor pressure of the refrigerant, resulting in reduced chiller capacity and/or reduced COP (coefficient of performance). Additionally, liquid carryover from the evaporator into the absorber results in lost chiller capacity and/or COP. Liquid carryover from the generator into the condenser eventually results in salt buildup in the evaporator, resulting in lost chiller capacity and/or COP.

Various devices have been developed for separating droplets from a stream of gas or vapor. Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,490,210; 4,802,901; 5,230,725; 5,269,823; 5,269,009; 5,464,459 and 5,514,193. Although the devices have tortuous flow paths that may be effective as a barrier to droplets, such flow paths may create a significant pressure differential that impedes the flow of vapor. Thus, the devices are not necessarily the most suitable for use in absorption chillers, which can be particularly sensitivity to pressure drops.

With absorption chillers, it is very important to minimize the pressure drop between its generator and condenser and between its evaporator and absorber. A pressure drop across a generator/condenser or an evaporator/absorber separator adversely affects the saturation temperature of the generated refrigerant in both components. A pressure drop across a liquid/vapor separator is detrimental to the performance of the heat exchanger in the absorber and/or generator.

Also, intricate vapor/liquid separators may require equally intricate mounting hardware to hold the separator in place. Such mounting hardware may be costly to build, difficult to install, and/or create an additional obstruction to the flow of vapor. Such hardware inside an absorption chiller is generally inaccessible for repair or replacement, since absorption chillers are usually hermetically sealed. Thus, the mounting hardware is commonly made of relatively expensive stainless steel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an absorption apparatus with a vapor/liquid separator that includes a series of eliminator blades configured to impede droplets while creating minimal flow resistance to vapor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eliminator blade that with respect to the direction of vapor flow includes an upwardly inclined upstream leg and a downwardly inclined downstream leg, and further includes a deflection tab that is coplanar with the upstream leg. The tab extends out over the downstream leg to create a concavity that helps prevent liquid from splashing back across the eliminator blade.

Another object of the invention is to optimize the relative size, shape, spacing and orientations of an upstream leg, a downstream leg and a deflection tab of an eliminator blade.

Another object is to provide a single-piece eliminator blade that includes an upstream leg, a downstream leg and a deflection tab.

Yet, another object is to provide an eliminator blade that can be readily manufactured using an inexpensive spot welding process.

A further object is to provide an eliminator blade that is particularly suited for a generator/condenser or an evaporator/absorber of an absorption chiller, wherein liquid may try to splash back in a direction counter to the primary direction of vapor flow.

A still further object is to use a tube support plate of a heat exchanger to support a bank of eliminator blades by having the eliminator blades pass through a series of holes in the plate.

Another object is to ease the installation of a bank of eliminator blades inserted through a series of holes in a tube support plate by providing a slip fit between the blades and the holes.

Another object is to make the eliminator blades of relatively thin stainless steel and to make the tube support plate, which supports the blades, of milder steel that is thicker than the blades. The thinness of the blades provides minimal flow resistance, the stainless steel protects the eliminator blade from corrosion, and the mere thickness of the tube support plate helps the plate tolerate corrosion.

These and other objects of the invention are provided by an absorption apparatus that includes a series of eliminator blades situated between a vaporizing chamber and a devaporizing chamber of an absorption chiller. Each of the blades includes an upstream leg, a downstream leg and a deflection tab. With respect to the direction of vapor flowing from the vaporizing chamber to the devaporizing chamber, the upstream leg is at an upward incline and the downstream leg is at a downward incline. The deflection tab extends out over the downstream leg to create a concavity that helps prevent liquid in the devaporizing chamber from splashing back across the eliminator blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a cross-sectional view taken along line

1

1

of

FIG. 2

, with the view illustrating a vapor/liquid separator for an absorption apparatus comprising a generator and a condenser.

FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view taken along line

2

2

of FIG.

1

.

FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional view taken along line

3

3

of

FIG. 4

, with the view illustrating a vapor/liquid separator for an absorption apparatus comprising evaporator and an absorber.

FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional view taken along line

4

4

of FIG.

3

.

FIG. 5

is an end view of an eliminator blade according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6

is an end view of an eliminator blade according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7

is perspective view of an eliminator blade according to yet another embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that none of the drawing figures are necessarily drawn to scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A set of eliminator blades

10

can be used in an absorption apparatus

12

, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, and/or used in absorption apparatus

14

, as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. In both cases, eliminator blades

10

are for allowing refrigerant vapor to pass from a vaporizing chamber to a devaporizing chamber, while inhibiting liquid droplets from passing between the two chambers. The term, “vaporizing chamber” refers to any apparatus that vaporizes a liquid, and the term, “devaporizing chamber” refers to any apparatus that reduces a vapor to a liquid through a condensing or absorption process. Examples of a vaporizing chamber include a generator

16

, as shown in

FIG. 1

, and an evaporator

18

, as shown in FIG.

3

. Examples of a devaporizing chamber include a condenser

20

of

FIGS. 1 and 2

, and an absorber

22

, as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. Drawing

FIGS. 1-4

are partially schematic to broadly capture the essence of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Generator

16

and condenser

20

are contained within a common shell

24

, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. For the illustrated embodiment, generator

16

includes a heat exchanger

26

comprising numerous heat exchanger tubes

28

, which are supported at opposite ends by tube sheets

30

and

32

. Similarly, condenser

20

includes another heat exchanger

34

comprising heat exchanger tubes

36

, which are also supported by tube sheets

30

and

32

. An upper dividing plate

38

and a lower dividing plate

40

divide the generator and condenser chambers and define a passageway

42

that places the two chambers in fluid communication with each other.

One or more tube support plates

44

are attached to an interior surface of shell

24

to provide heat exchanger tubes

28

and

36

with additional support. Tube support

44

can be made of 0.25-inch thick mild steel plate with holes

46

and

48

that allow the insertion of tubes

28

and

36

. Tube support

44

also includes a series of eliminator blade holes

50

for supporting a central portion of eliminator blades

10

. It should be noted that one eliminator blade has been removed to clearly illustrate hole

50

; however, in practice, there are no open blade holes as each hole

50

receives an eliminator blade. Blade holes

50

are of a shape and size that allow blades

10

to be readily inserted, with preferably a slip fit existing between blades

10

and holes

50

. Holes

46

,

48

and

50

can be laser cut into tube supports

44

; however, alternate processes include drilling, stamping, electrical discharge machining, water-jet cutting, casting, and plastic injection molding (if made of plastic).

To support the ends of blades

10

, brackets

51

can be attached to tube sheets

30

and

32

. Brackets

51

have holes similar to holes

50

, whereby brackets

51

can support the ends of blades

10

in a manner similar to the way tube supports

44

support the central portion of blades

10

.

The operation of absorption apparatus

12

will be described with reference to a solution

52

consisting of lithium bromide and water, with water being the refrigerant. A dilute concentration of solution

52

enters generator

16

through an inlet pipe

54

and is distributed in a conventional manner across relatively hot heat exchanger tubes

28

to vaporize water

52

a

out of solution

52

. Tubes

28

are heated by conveying, through the interior of tubes

28

, a portion

52

c

(refrigerant) of solution

52

that has been previously heated by a high temperature generator, which is a process commonly practiced by those skilled in the art. However, heating tubes

28

by conveying other hot fluids, such as combustion gas or steam, is also well within the scope of the invention.

As tubes

28

heat solution

52

, water vapor

52

a

(i.e., refrigerant) vaporizing from solution

52

creates a more concentrated liquid solution

52

b

that collects at the bottom of generator

16

. Liquid solution

52

b

exits generator

16

through a pipe

56

, which conveys solution

52

b

to another absorption apparatus associated with generator

16

: typically an absorber or an intermediate heat exchanger.

Water vapor

52

a

moves from generator

16

, across eliminator blades

10

and into condenser

20

. The movement of vapor is promoted by vapor

52

a

condensing on tubes

36

, which are cooled by conveying relatively cool water from an outside source, such as a conventional cooling tower. Water

58

from the cooling tower can enter tubes

36

through an inlet pipe

60

and exit through an outlet pipe

62

. Liquid refrigerant

52

d

or condensate from water vapor

52

a

collects at the bottom of condenser

20

.

In some cases, refrigerant

52

d

may be a combination of water condensing in condenser

20

and water vapor and/or liquid that has passed through tubes

28

in generator

16

. For instance, heated water vapor

52

c

from a high temperature generator may enter generator

16

through an inlet pipe

64

, pass through tubes

28

to release heat to solution

52

, and exit generator

16

as a condensate through an outlet, such as pipe

66

. Pipe

66

could then convey the condensate to the bottom of condenser

20

through an inlet pipe

70

(or through some other internal or external passageway), whereby vapor

52

c

condenses and mixes with vapor

52

a

to accumulate as liquid

52

d

at the bottom of condenser

20

.

To minimize the pressure drop across eliminator blades

10

and to prevent liquid from carrying over or splashing back as vapor

52

a

passes from generator

16

to condenser

20

, blades

10

have a particular shape and orientation. Referring to

FIG. 5

in addition to

FIG. 1

, each blade

10

includes an upstream leg

72

with a leading edge

74

adjacent generator

16

, a downstream leg

76

with a trailing edge

78

adjacent condenser

20

, and a deflection tab

80

that connects to a joining edge

82

of downstream leg

76

. Upstream leg

72

and deflection tab

80

define an obtuse angle

84

for creating minimal resistance to vapor flowing from generator

16

to condenser

20

. It has been found that angle

84

is preferably 180-degrees (i.e., tab

80

and upstream leg

72

are generally coplanar). Also, tab

80

overhangs downstream leg

76

to create a concavity

86

, or pocket, that helps catch liquid tending to splash back from condenser

20

toward generator

16

.

It has also been found that an angle

88

between upstream leg

72

and downstream

76

is preferably at least 90-degrees, as shown in blade

10

′ of

FIG. 6

, with an optimum angle

88

of approximately 110-degrees, as shown in FIG.

5

. Downstream leg

76

is preferably at a greater incline than that of upstream leg

72

. For example, in some embodiments, downstream leg

76

is at a 45-degree incline

90

, and upstream leg

72

is at a 25-degree incline

92

. Positive results are achieved when an acute angle

94

exists between tab

80

and downstream leg

76

. The actual value of angle

94

may vary; however, a currently preferred value is approximately 70-degrees.

The actual size of tab

80

and legs

72

and

76

may also vary; however, positive results occur when upstream leg

72

is larger than downstream leg

76

, and when tab

80

is smaller than legs

72

and

76

. More specifically, the upstream leg's length (as measure along the primary direction of fluid flow from edge

74

to edge

100

) is preferably 3.2 inches (plus or minus 1.5 inches), the downstream leg's length is preferably 1.5 inches (plus or minus 0.75 inches), and the length of tab

80

is preferably 0.2 inches (plus or minus 0.1 inches).

Manufacturing an eliminator blade according to the present invention can be done in various ways. In

FIG. 5

, for example, blade

10

is formed of a unitary piece of sheet metal. The material is folded to create a crease

96

at joining edge

82

and another crease

98

at a distal edge

100

of deflection tab

80

.

An eliminator blade can also be made of two pieces, as is the case of eliminator blade

10

″ of FIG.

7

. An upstream piece

102

is spot welded to a downstream piece

104

to create an upstream leg

72

′, a downstream leg

76

′ and a deflection tab

80

′. The spot welding process couples pieces

102

and

104

together at several discrete spots

106

.

To minimize the flow restriction between adjacent eliminator blades, the blades have a vertical spacing (i.e., center-to-center pitch dimension) that is less than the length of upstream leg

72

and is preferably between one and two inches. Also, the material thickness of blades

10

,

10

′, and

10

″ are kept to a minimum (e.g., 10-22 gage sheet metal). However, to ensure that a relatively thin blade can resist or tolerate corrosion, blades

10

,

10

′, and

10

″ are preferably made of stainless steel or plastic. In this way, the blade's material thickness does not have to be as thick as tube support plate

44

, which is made of less corrosion resistant material, such as mild steel.

Blades

10

,

10

′, or

10

″ can also provide a liquid/vapor separator for absorption apparatus

14

, which comprises evaporator

18

and absorber

22

, as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. In the illustrated example, water

108

to be chilled within evaporator

18

is forced in series through an inlet pipe

110

, a bundle of heat exchanger tubes

112

, and an outlet pipe

114

. To cool chilled water

108

, refrigerant from a condenser is directed across tubes

112

. For example, refrigerant

52

d

leaving condenser

20

through outlet pipe

116

can be fed into the bottom of evaporator

18

through an evaporator inlet pipe

118

. A pump having a suction port connected to a pipe

120

and a discharge port connected to a pipe

122

can circulate refrigerant

52

d

across tubes

112

as depicted by distribution arrows

124

.

Refrigerant

52

d

vaporizes as it absorbs heat from chilled water

108

passing through tubes

112

. Vaporized refrigerant

52

e

is drawn through eliminator blades

10

and into absorber

22

as concentrated solution

52

f

absorbs vapor

52

e

within absorber

22

. Depending on the particular absorption system being used, solution

52

f

can be provided by various sources, such as generator

16

via pipe

56

. To promote the absorption process, solution

52

f

is distributed across several heat exchanger tubes

126

that convey cooling water

128

from an outside source, such as a conventional cooling tower. Water

128

from the cooling tower may pass in series through an inlet pipe

130

, the bundle of tubes

126

, and an outlet pipe

132

. A pump having a suction port connected to a pipe

134

and a discharge port connected to a pipe

136

can circulate solution

52

f

across tubes

126

as depicted by distribution arrows

138

.

In many respects, the structure of absorption apparatus

14

is similar to that of apparatus

12

. Evaporator

18

and absorber

22

are contained within a common shell

140

. For the illustrated embodiment, evaporator

18

includes a heat exchanger

142

comprising numerous heat exchanger tubes

112

, which are supported at opposite ends by tube sheets

144

and

146

. Similarly, absorber

22

includes another heat exchanger

148

comprising heat exchanger tubes

126

, which are also supported by tube sheets

144

and

146

. An upper dividing plate

148

and a lower dividing plate

150

divide the evaporator and absorber chambers and define a passageway

152

that places the two chambers in fluid communication with each other.

One or more tube support plates

154

are attached to an interior surface of shell

140

to provide heat exchanger tubes

112

and

126

with additional support. Similar to tube support plates

44

, tube supports

154

can be made of 0.25-inch thick mild steel plate with holes

156

and

158

that allow the insertion of tubes

112

and

126

. Tube support

154

also includes a series of eliminator blade holes

160

for supporting eliminator blades

10

. Blade holes

160

are of a shape and size that allow blades

10

to be readily inserted, with preferably a slip fit existing between blades

10

and holes

160

(i.e., the inside dimensions of the hole are at least as great as the corresponding outside dimensions of the blade where the blade meets the tube support). Again, for illustration purposes only, one blade has been removed from its corresponding hole. To support the ends of blades

10

, brackets

51

can be attached to tube sheets

144

and

146

.

Although the invention is described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations are well within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the claims, which follow.

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