Lubricant separator for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
US10330363B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 7, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B1/10
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A lubricant separator is disclosed. The lubricant separator can cause lubricant which is entrained with a heat transfer fluid (e.g., a lubricant—heat transfer fluid mixture) to coalesce and fall (e.g., via gravity) into a bottom portion of a lubricant tank assembly. The lubricant separator can also reduce a velocity of the lubricant—heat transfer fluid mixture as it enters the lubricant tank assembly. The velocity reduction can, for example, reduce an amount of splashing of the lubricant that occurs as the lubricant—heat transfer fluid mixture enters the lubricant tank assembly. The velocity reduction can also, for example, be relatively more conducive to lubricant droplets falling into the bottom portion of the lubricant tank assembly as the flow of the heat transfer fluid is provided to a heat transfer fluid return conduit of the lubricant tank assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.