Patent · US Expired

Performance enhancement of vapor compression system

US6658867B1 · kind B1 · utility

12Cited by
6References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 12, 2002
Grant dateDec 9, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25B2400/13
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In an air conditioning system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, a process includes the steps of feeding discharged refrigerant from the compressor to the condenser so as to provide a condensed refrigerant flow; splitting the condensed refrigerant flow into a main flow and an auxiliary flow wherein the auxiliary flow includes between about 8 and about 12% wt. of total mass flow rate of the condensed refrigerant flow; reducing temperature and pressure of the auxiliary flow so as to provide an economizer flow; passing the economizer flow and the main flow through a heat exchanger so as to provide a sub-cooled main flow and an economizer discharge flow; feeding the economizer discharge flow to the compressor; and feeding the sub-cooled main flow through the evaporator to the compressor. The system and process in accordance with the present invention advantageously allow for parameter optimization, circuit combination, and performance improvement through integration of economized and non-economized circuits.

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