Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for recovering and recycling refrigerant

US6408637B1 · kind B1 · utility

18Cited by
85References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 1, 1999
Grant dateJun 25, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 1, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25B2345/0052
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus for recovering and recycling refrigerant is provided. The apparatus includes a separation unit, a compressor, and a receiver tank. The separation unit is provided for condensing compressed refrigerant and for vaporizing contaminated refrigerant. The separation unit includes a multichamber structure having a high pressure region and a low pressure region. The high pressure region includes a high pressure inlet for providing compressed refrigerant vapor to the high pressure region, a high pressure outlet for removing condensed refrigerant from the high pressure region, and a compressor oil outlet for removing compressor oil from the high pressure region. The low pressure region includes a low pressure inlet for introducing contaminated refrigerant into the low pressure region, a low pressure outlet for removing vaporized refrigerant from the low pressure region, and a refrigerant oil outlet for removing refrigerant oil from the low pressure region. The compressor is provided for compressing refrigerant from the low pressure outlet of the separation unit to provide compressed refrigerant for feeding to the high pressure inlet of the separation unit. The receiver tank is p…

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