Tube sheets for evaporator coil

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021080193-A1
Application number	US-202017020112-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 14, 2020
Priority date	Sep 18, 2019
Publication date	Mar 18, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided and includes coils, a header disposed at an end of the coils to distribute fluid into the coils, an evaporator tube fluidly communicative with an end of the header and a tube sheet disposed against a side of one of the coils which is nearest to the end of the header to catch condensate dripping off the evaporator tube and to drain the condensate away from the coils.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
coils; a header disposed at an end of the coils to distribute fluid into the coils; an evaporator tube fluidly communicative with an end of the header; and a tube sheet disposed against a side of one of the coils which is nearest to the end of the header to catch condensate dripping off the evaporator tube and to drain the condensate away from the coils.

2 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the coils are disposable in an air stream and the fluid comprises refrigerant.

3 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein:
the coils are provided in a sloped configuration, the heat exchanger further comprises a drain pan disposed at an end of the coils opposite the header, the tube sheet extends along the side of the one of the coils from the header to the drain pan, and the evaporator tube is fluidly communicative with an input end of the header to deliver the fluid to the header.

4 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein:
the coils are provided in a V-shaped configuration with the header provided as a first header at an end of a first portion of the coils and a second header at an end of a second portion of the coils, the heat exchanger further comprises a drain pan disposed at respective ends of the first and second portions of the coils opposite the first and second headers, respectively, the tube sheet is provided as a first tube sheet that extends along the side of the one of the coils of the first portion of the coils from the first header to the drain pan and as a second tube sheet that extends along the side of the one of the coils of the second portion of the coils from the second header to the drain pan, and the evaporator tube is fluidly communicative with an input end of the first header to deliver the fluid to the first header and with an output end of the second header to receive the fluid from the second header.

5 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising a drain pan disposed at an end of the coils opposite the header and a T-shaped bar.

6 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the tube sheet has one of a C-shaped cross-section, an L-shaped cross-section and a curved cross-section.

7 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the tube sheet is attached to the side of the one of the coils by one or more of a weld, one or more fasteners and adhesive.

8 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising foam interposed between the tube sheet and the side of the one of the coils.

9 . A method of assembling a heat exchanger comprising coils, a header to distribute fluid into the coils, an evaporator tube fluidly communicative with an end of the header and a tube sheet, the method comprising:
disposing the tube sheet against a side of one of the coils which is nearest to the end of the header; and configuring the tube sheet to catch condensate dripping off the evaporator tube and to drain the condensate away from the coils.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the configuring of the tube sheet comprises forming the tube sheet with one of a C-shaped cross-section, an L-shaped cross-section and a curved cross-section.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the disposing comprises attaching the tube sheet to the side of the one of the coils by one or more of a weld, one or more fasteners and adhesive.

12 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising interposing foam between the tube sheet and the side of the one of the coils.

13 . A heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
a door; and a heat exchanger accessible via the door, the heat exchanger comprising:
coils;
a header disposed at an end of the coils to distribute fluid into the coils;
an evaporator tube fluidly communicative with an end of the header; and
a tube sheet disposed to be urged by the door against a side of one of the coils which is nearest to the end of the header to catch condensate dripping off the evaporator tube and to drain the condensate away from the coils.

14 . The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the coils are disposable in an air stream and the fluid comprises refrigerant.

15 . The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 13 , wherein:
the coils are provided in a sloped configuration, the heat exchanger further comprises a drain pan disposed at an end of the coils opposite the header, the tube sheet extends along the side of the one of the coils from the header to the drain pan, and the evaporator tube is fluidly communicative with an input end of the header to deliver the fluid to the header.

16 . The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 13 , wherein:
the coils are provided in a V-shaped configuration with the header provided as a first header at an end of a first portion of the coils and a second header at an end of a second portion of the coils, the heat exchanger further comprises a drain pan disposed at respective ends of the first and second portions of the coils opposite the first and second headers, respectively, the tube sheet is provided as a first tube sheet that extends along the side of the one of the coils of the first portion of the coils from the first header to the drain pan and as a second tube sheet that extends along the side of the one of the coils of the second portion of the coils from the second header to the drain pan, and the evaporator tube is fluidly communicative with an input end of the first header to deliver the fluid to the first header and with an output end of the second header to receive the fluid from the second header.

17 . The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 13 , further comprising a drain pan disposed at an end of the coils opposite the header.

18 . The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the tube sheet has one of a C-shaped cross-section, an L-shaped cross-section and a curved cross-section.

19 . The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the tube sheet is attached to the side of the one of the coils by one or more of a weld, one or more fasteners and adhesive.

20 . The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 13 , further comprising foam interposed between the tube sheet and the side of the one of the coils.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Christensen Phillips Charlie
• Jenkins Joshua
• Mercer Kevin
• Amick James

Classifications

• F24F13/222

  for evacuating condensate · CPC title

• F24F1/36

  Drip trays for outdoor units · CPC title

• F24F1/16

  Arrangement or mounting thereof · CPC title

• F28D2021/0071

  Evaporators · CPC title

• F28D2001/0266

  Particular core assemblies, e.g. having different orientations or having different geometric features · CPC title