US 11,709,020 B2
Efficient suction-line heat exchanger
Karthick Kuppusamy, Salem (IN); Manian Pillai, Chennai (IN); and Ranjithkumar Palanivelu, Aranthangi (IN)
Assigned to Lennox Industries Inc.
Filed by Lennox Industries Inc., Richardson, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/236,147.
Prior Publication US 2022/0341673 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. F28D 7/16 (2006.01); F28F 1/24 (2006.01); F28F 13/12 (2006.01); F28D 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC F28D 7/1623 (2013.01) [F28F 1/24 (2013.01); F28F 13/12 (2013.01); F28D 2021/0068 (2013.01); F28F 2215/00 (2013.01); F28F 2250/00 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat exchanger comprising:
a shell having an inlet and an outlet and forming a cavity;
wherein a first of a liquid refrigerant and a vapor refrigerant enters the inlet of the shell;
a coiled tube positioned within the cavity, the coiled tube connected to an inlet tube from outside the shell and an outlet tube to outside the shell;
wherein a second of the liquid refrigerant and the vapor refrigerant enters the inlet tube of the coiled tube;
a swirler arranged adjacent the inlet of the shell, the swirler being dimensioned to distribute the first of the liquid refrigerant and the vapor refrigerant across the coiled tube; and
wherein the swirler comprises a frustoconical cone, the frustoconical cone having a first diameter at a first end adjacent the inlet of the shell and a second diameter opposite the inlet of the shell, the first diameter being less than the second diameter.