Refrigeration apparatus and methods
US5590539A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jan 7, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF28F1/00
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention resides in improvements to refrigeration systems which rely on circulation of refrigerant gas through compression and expansion phases, and thereby discharging heat from a fluid to be cooled. The refrigeration systems of the invention include a refrigerant loop (24) and a lubricating oil loop (26). The oil loop includes a high capacity-to-volume oil to air oil cooler (48), for cooling the lubricating oil in the oil loop (26). The oil cooler includes a fan, and a variable speed drive for controlling the speed of rotation of the fan. The Preferred refrigerant is ammonia. Incorporating the above improvements into refrigeration systems enables an overall reduction in system sizing, and constancy in the temperature of the oil at the exit of the oil cooler. Such systems, having heat exchange capacity of at least 200,000 Btu/hr., up to at least 500,000 Btu/hr., can be mounted in a frame (14) whereby the overall refrigeration unit (10) comprising refrigeration system (13) and frame (14) can fit a standard 80,000 pound capacity truck. Preferred embodiments do not require cooling water; the only required utilities being a motive power source, used primarily to power the compres…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.