Patent ID: 7086249

Claim:
A refrigerant distribution device in an inlet header of a multiple tube heat exchanger of a refrigeration system, the system having an expansion device means that delivers a two-phase refrigerant fluid to the inlet header, the multiple tube heat exchanger having an outlet header that delivers a cooled refrigerant fluid that is substantially in a vapor state and a plurality of tubes in fluid communication between the inlet and outlet headers; the refrigerant distribution device including an inlet passage within the inlet header, the inlet passage being in communication with the expansion device means; one or more small diameter nozzles within the inlet header in fluid communication with the inlet passage; one or more capillary liquid nozzles also within the inlet header and in fluid communication with the inlet passage; the two-phase refrigerant fluid in the inlet passage having a refrigerant liquid-vapor interface below which the fluid is predominantly in a liquid phase and above which the fluid is predominantly in a vapor phase; the one or more small diameter nozzles having vapor inlet ports that lie above the refrigerant liquid-vapor interface; the one or more capillary liquid nozzles having liquid inlet ports that lie below the refrigerant liquid-vapor interface; refrigerant flow into the inlet passage and a pressure difference between the inlet passage and the outlet header forcing a liquid flow through the one or more capillary liquid nozzles and a vapor flow through the one or more small diameter nozzles so that the vapor flow impinges upon the liquid flow upon emergence from the nozzles to create a homogeneous mixture of refrigerant extending over substantially the entire length of the inlet header to be delivered relatively uniformly through the plurality of tubes to the outlet header for efficient distribution of the refrigerant fluid.