Patent · US Expired

Refrigeration system subcooling control

US4136528A · kind A · utility

74Cited by
2References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 13, 1977
Grant dateJan 30, 1979
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 13, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S62/17
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A control system for a refrigeration system having an air-cooled condenser exposed to normal year round ambient temperatures. Head pressure is controlled in response to sensed subcooling of the refrigerant in the liquid line near the entrance to the expansion device, so as to prevent the occurrence of flash gas at the expansion device, while still allowing minimum head pressures so as to improve energy efficiency. In alternate embodiments, additional controls are provided for assuring at least a predetermined minimum pressure differential across the thermostatic expansion valve. In one preferred embodiment a two-bulb sensing technique is used for subcooling and pressure differential sensing. Both series and parallel condenser-receiver connection systems are disclosed, as are a number of different subcooling sensing and control embodiments.

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