Patent · US Active

Refrigeration apparatus with refrigerant lubricant subcooling heat exchanger and use thereof

US11454432B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
3References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 18, 2020
Grant dateSep 27, 2022
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 17, 2040

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25B2600/2509
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A refrigeration apparatus, including a main circuit for a loop circulation of a main flow of refrigerant, the main circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. The refrigeration apparatus comprises a lubrication branch, for deriving a lubrication flow from the main flow for feeding the compressor for lubrication. The main circuit includes a low-temperature part, consisting in the evaporator, the compressor inlet, and any part of the main circuit between the evaporator and the compressor inlet. The lubrication branch further includes a subcooling heat exchanger, which is configured for enabling an exchange of heat between the lubrication flow circulating through the lubrication branch and the main flow of refrigerant circulating through the low-temperature part, so that the lubrication flow may be cooled by the main flow of refrigerant circulating through the low-temperature part, within the subcooling heat exchanger.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.