Patent · US Expired

Membrane technology to remove non-condensable gases from refrigeration systems

US6128916A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
7References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 27, 1998
Grant dateOct 10, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 27, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25B43/043
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus and method are described for refrigeration employing a condenser, an evaporator, and a compressor, wherein a condenser vent is provided for exhausting accumulated mixtures of non-condensable gas, such as air, and refrigerant gas, wherein accumulated non-condensable gas mixed with refrigerant gas from the condenser vent is provided to a membrane separator comprising at least two chambers separated by a selective membrane, said chambers being a high pressure chamber to which the non-condensable gas mixed with refrigerant gas is supplied, and a low pressure chamber into which the refrigerant gas is selectively permeated through said selective membrane for reintroduction and reuse in the refrigeration cycle, and on said high pressure chamber of said membrane separator, a vent is provided to exhaust non-condensable gas-rich raffinate gas.

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