Patent · US Expired

Method and a device for detecting flash gas

US7681407B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
37References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 3, 2003
Grant dateMar 23, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 15, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25B2500/222
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and a device for detecting flash gas in a vapor-compression refrigeration or heat pump system comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator interconnected by conduits providing a flow path for a refrigerant, by determining a first rate of heat flow of a heat exchange fluid flow across a heat exchanger of the system and a second rate of heat flow of the refrigerant across the heat exchanger, and using the rates of heat flow for establishing an energy balance from which a parameter for monitoring the refrigerant flow is derived, to thereby provide early detection of flash gas with a minimum number of false alarms.

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