Multistage gas and liquid phase separation type condenser

Abstract

A multistage gaseous and liquid phase separation type condenser has a pair of headers disposed in parallel with each other, and a plurality of flat tubes each connected to the headers at opposite ends thereof and corrugated fins interposed between adjacent flat tubes. Each header is divided by baffles into four chambers. The second header has a receiver and chambers of the second header have communication passageways for placing the chambers of the second header in flow communication with the receiver. The first header has an inlet pipe connected to a middle chamber thereof so as to form an inlet path and an outlet pipe connected to a lower chamber thereof. While the refrigerant flows through the paths defined by a plurality of flat tubes, a first separation of gaseous and liquid phases of the refrigerant occurs within the second header so that the separated gaseous refrigerant is recondensed flowing through an upper path above the inlet path and introduced into the receiver via the communication passageway, whereas the separated liquid refrigerant is introduced into the receiver. A second separation of gaseous and liquid phases of the refrigerant occurs within the receiver in connection with a certain amount of the liquid refrigerant stored in the receiver. The liquid refrigerant in the receiver is communicated with the lower path via a lower communication passageway formed in the lower chamber of the second header.