Refrigerant level management in heat exchangers of an HVAC chiller
US10422559B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 2017 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2700/21175
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods and systems to manage refrigerant levels in a chiller system are provided. An evaporator of the chiller system may be configured to have a spill over port allowing oil containing refrigerant to spill over through the spill over port. The spill over port may be positioned at a place that corresponds to a desired refrigerant level in the evaporator. The spill over refrigerant may be directed into a heat exchanger that is configured to substantially vaporize refrigerant of the spill over refrigerant to a slightly superheat temperature. A method of maintaining a proper refrigerant level in the evaporator may include regulating a refrigerant flow to the evaporator so that the vaporized refrigerant of the spill over refrigerant is maintained at the slightly superheat temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.