Patent ID: 7331195

Claim:
A refrigerant distribution device in an inlet header of a multiple tube heat exchanger of a refrigeration system, the system delivering a refrigerant fluid to at least one of the inlet headers, the multiple tube heat exchanger having one or more outlet headers that deliver a cooled refrigerant fluid that is substantially in a vapor state and multiple tubes in fluid communication between the inlet and outlet headers; the refrigerant distribution device including an inlet passage located at least partially within the inlet header; and one or more small diameter conduits within at least one of the inlet headers in fluid communication with the inlet passage; each conduit having a liquid inlet port and a nozzle; the refrigerant flow into the inlet passage introducing liquid and vapor through a common tube and forcing flow though the one or more conduits so that effluent from the nozzles comprises a homogeneous mixture of refrigerant in liquid and vapor phases extending over substantially the entire length of the inlet header to be delivered relatively uniformly through the multiple tubes to the outlet header for efficient distribution of the refrigerant fluid.