BACKGROUND

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to plate heat exchangers and, more particularly, to plate heat exchangers having modified dryer-filter configurations.

[0002] To ensure cleanliness and keep moisture out of refrigerant loops in heat exchangers, condensers, chillers, heat pumps, etc. dryer-filters are installed in or on a refrigerant fluid line. In traditional configurations the dryer-filters and the condenser are two separate components connected together by refrigerant piping. In heat exchangers used in chillers, a refrigerant fluid is passed through a first fluid path where it enters the heat exchanger and passes through one or more channels between plates. Alternately, between the plates, but maintained fluidly isolated from the first fluid, is a second fluid that is used to cool the refrigerant. Each of the fluids may have an inlet side and an outlet side with respect to the structure of the heat exchanger. The first fluid, such as a refrigerant, may enter the heat exchanger at a first temperature and/or a first state and then exit the heat exchanger at a second temperature and/or second state. After exiting the heat exchanger, the first fluid is passed through a drying device and/or a filtering device, such as a dryer- filter device.

[0003] A dryer-filter that is part of a refrigeration or air conditioning system has two essential functions. First, the dryer is configured to adsorb system contaminants, such as water, which can create acids within the refrigerant fluid. Second, the filter is configured to provide physical filtration of the refrigerant fluid and remove any sediment or other physical materials and deposits therein. Thus, the dryer-filter is an important component to chillers or heat pump systems. SUMMARY

[0004] According to one embodiment, a heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger includes a housing, a first fluid channel within the housing and configured to have a first fluid pass therethrough, a second fluid channel within the housing and configured to have a second fluid pass therethrough, the second fluid channel fluidly isolated from the first fluid channel but in thermal communication with the first fluid channel, and a dryer-filter disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the first fluid channel and configured to filter and dry a first fluid that passes through the first fluid channel. [0005] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the dryer-filter is a single unitary component.

[0006] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the dryer-filter is formed from a filter element and a separate dryer element.

[0007] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include a service connection configured to enable access to the dryer-filter.

[0008] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include a first fluid and a second fluid.

[0009] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the first fluid is a refrigerant.

[0010] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the second fluid is one of water, brine, and refrigerant.

[0011] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the dryer-filter is configured with a filter cylinder element and a dryer cylinder element.

[0012] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the housing defines an exit cavity, wherein the dryer-filter is disposed within the exit cavity. [0013] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the first channel and the second channel are formed between a plurality of plates within the housing.

[0014] According to another embodiment, a method of treating a fluid within a heat exchanger is provided. The method includes passing a fluid into a heat exchanger having an internal dryer-filter, filtering the fluid with the internal dryer-filter, drying the fluid with the internal dryer- filter, and passing the first fluid out of the heat exchanger after filtering and drying the fluid within the heat exchanger.

[0015] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the filtering and drying occur one of simultaneously and substantially simultaneously.

[0016] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include providing a heat exchanger having a housing and defining a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel, and installing a dryer-filter within the housing of the heat exchanger, the dryer- filter configured to treat a fluid that passes through the first fluid channel.

[0017] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the dryer-filter is installed into the housing through a service connection. [0018] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the dryer-filter is a unitary element.

[0019] Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include providing a heat exchanger having an internal dryer-filter. Further technical effects include a compact heat exchanger with a removable dryer-filter that provides easy repair and maintenance. Further technical effects include reducing the volume and weight of a heat exchanger and refrigerant charge of the system that employs a dryer-filter to treat a fluid that passes through the heat exchanger. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the present disclosure are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a traditional configuration of a heat exchanger having a separate dryer-filter component;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a plate heat exchanger having an internal dryer-filter in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and [0023] FIG. 3 is a process of treating a fluid within a heat exchanger having an internal dryer-filter configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic illustration of a traditional configuration of a heat exchanger and a dryer- filter component is shown. Heat exchanger 100 is configured as a plate heat exchanger having an enclosure 102. Within the enclosure 102 two thermal media, or fluids, may thermally communicate without fluid communication and/or mixing between the two media. A first medium may enter the heat exchanger 100 at a first inlet 104 and enter a cavity therein. The first medium may then flow through a plurality of channels, flow paths, or cavities between the plates of the plate heat exchanger 100. During passage through channels, the first medium may thermally communicate with the second medium which may be located in alternating channels of the plate heat exchanger, as known in the art. After passing through the channels, the first medium will then exit the plate heat exchanger 100 at a first outlet 106. Similarly, the second medium may enter the heat exchanger 100 at a second inlet 108, pass through the channels of the plate heat exchanger, and exit the heat exchanger 100 at a second outlet 110. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the flow direction of the two media may be the same or opposite as they pass through the heat exchanger 100. Further, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the location of the inlets and outlets may be varied and located at any position, and the inlets and outlets can be used for any medium. The description herein is merely provided for explanatory purposes and is only an example.

[0025] The first fluid or medium may be a refrigerant and the second fluid or medium may be water, brine, refrigerant, or other medium. At the first inlet 104, the first fluid may be a gas and as it passes through the channels of the heat exchanger 100, the gas may condense and become a liquid. Thus, the heat exchanger 100 may operate as a condenser. The first inlet 104 may be fed from a pipe or other configuration, with the refrigerant entering the heat exchanger 100, passing therethrough, exiting heat exchanger 100 at first outlet 106, and then proceeding to be conveyed to perform a cooling operation in a device or structure to be cooled. This defines a refrigerant loop.

[0026] To ensure cleanliness and maintain the refrigerant loop moisture-free, a dryer-filter 114 may be installed in the refrigerant loop on the liquid line 112, i.e., after first outlet 106. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the dryer- filter 114 may be installed within or on the refrigerant loop to fluidly communicate and interact with the liquid refrigerant that exits the heat exchanger 100. The dryer-filter 114 is configured to adsorb system contaminants and to provide physical filtration of the first fluid as it is cycled through the refrigerant loop. The dryer serves to absorb water and the filter provides physical filtration, to thus maintain the efficiency of the heat exchanger 100.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, traditional systems are configured with the dryer-filter 114 and heat exchanger 100 as two separate and distinct components connected together by refrigerant piping 112. Due to this, the refrigerant loop is long and additional refrigerant charge is required to enable and fluidly fill the additional piping to thus maintain proper fluid pressures within the system.

[0028] Turning now to FIG. 2, a schematic view of a heat exchanger in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure is shown. As shown, a heat exchanger 200 has an inlet side 202 at the top of FIG. 2 and an outlet side 204 at the bottom of FIG. 2. The heat exchanger 200, as shown, may be configured as a plate heat exchanger housed within an enclosure 201 that is configured to enable thermal energy transfer between two thermal media, such as two fluids. In some embodiments, a first fluid may pass through a first fluid path and may be a refrigerant coolant and a second fluid may pass through a second fluid path and may be water, brine, refrigerant, etc. As indicated by the arrows indicated in FIG. 2, the first fluid may enter the heat exchanger 200 at the inlet side 202, pass through a body of the heat exchanger 200, and then exit the heat exchanger 200 at the outlet side 204. The first fluid may be in thermal communication with a second fluid, but not in fluid communication therewith, as is known in the art.

[0029] In operation, the first fluid will pass through an inlet pipe 206 and enter the body of the heat exchanger 200 at an inlet 208 that is on the inlet side 202. The first fluid will enter an inlet cavity 210 at the inlet side 202 of the heat exchanger 200 where the first fluid may flow into a number of first channels 212 that are disposed between a number of plates 214. The first fluid will flow through the first channels 212 and exit the first channels 212 into an exit cavity 216 at the outlet side 204 of the heat exchanger 200. The first fluid will exit the heat exchanger 200 through an outlet 218 and flow through an exit pipe 220. The exit pipe 220 may be configured to deliver the first fluid to a device or structure to be cooled by the first fluid. [0030] A second fluid is disposed within a number of second channels 222 that are alternately configured or formed between the plates 214. The plates 214 are formed from a material that enables thermal energy to be transferred between the first fluid in the first channels 212 and the second fluid in the second channels 222. In some embodiments, the first fluid may be a refrigerant and the second fluid may be water, brine, refrigerant, or other thermal medium.

[0031] The first fluid may be in the form of a gas, or partially gas, when it enters at the inlet 208 and as it passes through the first channels 212 the gas may be cooled and condensed into a liquid. As the liquid approaches the outlet side 204, rather than entering the exit pipe 220 and proceeding to a separate dryer-filter (see FIG. 1), the first fluid, in liquid form, passes through a dryer-filter 224 that is located or disposed within the heat exchanger 200. That is, the dryer-filter 224 is internal to the housing 201 of the heat exchanger 200. Accordingly, the liquid form of the first fluid may be filtered and dried, i.e., treated, within the heat exchanger 200, thus eliminating the need for a separate dryer- filter and/or additional piping associated therewith. [0032] The dryer-filter 224 may be configured similar to a traditional dryer-filter, but is configured in direct fluid communication with each of the first channels 212, and thus, the liquid form of the first fluid may be filtered and dried efficiently within the heat exchanger 200. After passing through the dryer-filter 224, the first fluid, now in a filtered and dried liquid state, may exit the heat exchanger 200 through outlet 218 and into exit pipe 220 to be provided to cool an attached device or structure.

[0033] The dryer-filter 224 may be a cylindrical dryer that fits within the exit cavity 216, and thus no modification or no substantial modification is necessary to implement the internal dryer- filter 224 in existing heat exchangers. In some embodiments, the filter element of the dryer-filter 224 may be a cylinder that is housed or disposed within a cylindrical dryer element of the dryer-filter 224. Thus, the construction may be a cylinder- within-cylinder configuration. In other embodiments, the filter element may be housed or disposed external to the cylindrical dryer element, in a cylinder-within-cylinder configuration. Further, in other embodiments, the two elements of the dryer-filter may be sequential or serial, such that the liquid of the first fluid is passed through one of the dryer element and the filter element first, such as across the exit cavity 216, and the other of the filter element and the dryer element may be located at or proximal to the outlet 218. Thus, a first treatment process, filtration or drying, may be performed as the first fluid enters the exit cavity 216 and a second filtration process may be performed as the first fluid exits the heat exchanger 200 through the outlet 218 and into the exit pipe 220.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchanger 200 also includes an optional service connection 226 that is proximate to the dryer-filter 224. The service connection 226 is configured to allow for access to and installation and/or maintenance of the dryer-filter 224. The service connection 226 may be located on a manifold port or attached to an existing liquid connection port on the heat exchanger 200. The optional service connection 226 can be configured as a removable cap, screw, coupling, fitting, joining configuration, joint, access panel, etc.

[0035] The above described heat exchanger may be manufactured with the internal dryer-filter formed therein. For example, a traditional plate heat exchanger may be formed using known processes, with a cavity at either end, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2. A dryer-filter component may then be inserted into the exit cavity that is in fluid communication with the channels of the heat exchanger that will retain a fluid to be filtered and dried, e.g., the channels of a refrigerant loop. In some embodiments, a service connection and/or port may be used for the installation process of the dryer-filter. In other embodiments, the dryer- filter may be installed through a fluid port, e.g., exit port 218 of FIG. 2. In some embodiments the filter and dryer elements of the dryer-filter may form an integral or single component, and in other embodiments, the two elements may be installed separately within the heat exchanger.

[0036] Turning now to FIG. 3, a process of filtering and drying a refrigerant within a heat exchanger is shown. The process 300, at step 302 a first fluid is conveyed into a heat exchanger. At step 304, the first fluid is then passed through one or more channels of the heat exchanger to be in thermal communication with a second fluid. After passing through the channels of the heat exchanger, the first fluid will then pass through a dryer-filter that is installed within the heat exchanger. At step 306 the first fluid will be filtered by the internal dryer-filter of the heat exchanger. At step 308, the first fluid will be dried by the internal dryer- filter of the heat exchanger. After treatment in the internal dryer- filter, the treated fluid will exit the heat exchanger at step 310. As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the process 300 may be performed with a heat exchanger similar to that shown in FIG. 2, or may be performed with other heat exchangers without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Further, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the order of steps in FIG. 3 is not limiting. For example, step 308 may be performed before step 306, or step 306 and step 308 may be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously.

[0037] Advantageously, embodiments described herein provide heat exchangers with internal dryer-filters that enable a more compact heat exchanger while providing the same functionality as prior systems. Further, advantageously, as a result of the internal dryer-filter in accordance with embodiments described herein, the number of elements and amount of fluid that must be used within the system may be reduced. For example, a separate dryer-filter element outside of the heat exchanger may require additional piping to enable proper filtration and drying, and additional fluid may be required to maintain proper fluid pressures within the system for operation. In contrast, the additional piping and fluid is not required when embodiments disclosed herein are employed. Further, due to the reduced number of elements and the reduced amount of fluid required for operation, the total weight of the system may be reduced, providing additional advantages. [0038] While the present disclosure has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the present disclosure is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the present disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. [0039] For example, although shown as a single element within the heat exchanger, the dryer-filter that is internal to the heat exchanger may be formed from multiple separate elements, such as sequential or serial configurations of filters and/or dryers. Further, although no fluid ports are shown with respect to the second fluid in FIG. 2, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the second fluid may have a fluid loop or cycle that passes the second fluid through the second channels into and out of the heat exchanger. Further, those of skill in the art will appreciate that both the first fluid and the second fluid may be configured to pass through separate dryer-filters that are internal to the heat exchanger, such that both fluids may be treated within a single heat exchanger-dryer-filter system.

Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.