Spx Corporation

Christopher M Powers

Kenneth W Manz

Gregg E Laukhuf

Sandra Snyder

Charles E Dull

A refrigerant handling system that includes an air purge chamber and a refrigerant pump for directing refrigerant into the air purge chamber so that the refrigerant collects in liquid phase at a lower portion of the chamber while air and other non-condensibles collect in a vapor space at the upper portion of the chamber over the refrigerant. A purge valve is connected to the upper portion of the chamber for automatically or manually purging air and other non-condensibles from the chamber. A refrigerant outlet is positioned at the lower portion of the chamber for drawing liquid phase refrigerant from the chamber. A minimum level of liquid phase refrigerant is maintained in the lower portion of the chamber at the outlet isolating the outlet from the vapor space, and preventing removal of air and other non-condensibles from the chamber through the outlet.

Refrigerant handling method with air purge and system clearing

Refrigerant handling system with air purge and system clearing

A refrigerant recovery system that includes a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, and an oil separator connected to the compressor inlet for separating oil from refrigerant recovered from equipment under service. A check valve is connected between a vapor outlet port on the oil separator and the inlet of the compressor for feeding refrigerant directly to the compressor inlet. A pressure sensor is connected to the oil separator for indicating refrigerant vapor pressure within the separator, and a valve is automatically responsive to such refrigerant vapor pressure for connecting a vacuum pump between the oil separator vapor port and the compressor inlet in parallel with the check valve when refrigerant vapor pressure at the oil separator falls below a predetermined value.

Refrigerant handling system and method with enhanced recovery vacuum

A refrigerant handling system that includes a closed vessel for storing refrigerant and an apparatus for determining quantity of air captured within the vessel. A first sensor is operatively coupled to the vessel for providing a first electrical signal as a function of air/refrigerant vapor pressure within the vessel, and a second sensor is operatively coupled to the vessel for providing a second electrical signal as a function of air/refrigerant vapor temperature within the vessel. A microprocessor-based controller has internal memory in which electronic indicia is stored for relating saturation pressure to temperature for multiple types of refrigerant. This stored electronic indicia is employed in conjunction with the first and second sensor signals to determine quantity of air within the vessel as a function of a difference between pressure indicated by the first sensor signal and the saturation pressure indicia at the temperature indicated by the second sensor signal. Air is purged from the vessel, either automatically or manually, when quantity of air so indicated exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Refrigerant handling system with air purge and multiple refrigerant

A refrigerant handling system that includes a compressor and an evaporator for adding heat to refrigerant fed to the compressor inlet. A first condenser is connected to the compressor outlet and disposed in heat exchange relationship to the evaporator for at least partially condensing refrigerant vapor from the compressor outlet by transfer of heat to refrigerant in the evaporator. A second condenser is not in heat exchange relationship with the evaporator. The first and second condensers are connected in series with the compressor outlet, and one or more valves are connected to the second condenser for selectively bypassing refrigerant from the second condenser, while all refrigerant from the compressor outlet flows through the first condenser that is in heat exchange relation to the evaporator.

Refrigerant handling system with auxiliary condenser flow control

Apparatus for purification of a single refrigerant type, or of differing refrigerant types having differing density and moisture solubility characteristics, that includes a filter/drier unit for removing water from refrigerant passing therethrough and having a predetermined water absorption capacity. A refrigerant pump, such as a refrigerant compressor, pumps refrigerant through the filter/drier unit during recovery of refrigerant from equipment under service and/or in a separate refrigerant purification cycle. A flow meter is coupled to the filer/drier unit for measuring volumetric flow of refrigerant passing through the filter/drier unit. Volumetric flow of refrigerant through the flow meter is monitored over time for indicating to an operator when the filter/drier unit should be replaced as a function of mass of refrigerant pumped through the filter/drier unit and independent of types of refrigerant pumped through the filter/drier unit. Operation of the refrigerant pump may be inhibited upon indication that the filter/drier unit should be replaced.

Refrigerant filtration system with filter change indication

A refrigerant recovery system that includes a refrigerant accumulator having an inlet port for connection to the liquid port of equipment from which refrigerant is to be recovered, a vapor outlet port connected to the inlet of a refrigerant compressor, and a liquid outlet port. A valve connects the liquid outlet port of the accumulator to the inlet of a liquid refrigerant pump, which has an outlet for connection to a refrigerant storage container. A liquid refrigerant sensor is coupled to the accumulator and responsive to presence of liquid refrigerant within the accumulator for operating the valve and thereby connecting the accumulator liquid outlet port to the liquid pump. A second valve is responsive to the liquid refrigerant sensor for connecting the compressor outlet to the vapor port of refrigeration equipment under service.

Refrigerant recovery system

A refrigerant recovery system includes a compressor and an evaporator connected to the compressor inlet for evaporating refrigerant passing therethrough to the compressor inlet from refrigerant equipment under service. A sensor is coupled to the system input for detecting presence of liquid phase refrigerant. A valve is connected to the compressor inlet in parallel with the evaporator for bypassing refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor inlet when the sensor indicates that liquid refrigerant is absent at the system input. The liquid refrigerant sensor takes the form of an open canister between the system input and the evaporator, and a liquid level sensor coupled to the canister for sensing level of liquid refrigerant collected within the canister. A solenoid valve is connected in parallel with the evaporator, and is responsive to the liquid level sensor for opening the valve and bypassing the evaporator in the absence of liquid refrigerant within the canister. In this way, when input refrigerant is already in vapor phase, such refrigerant is bypassed to the compressor inlet, eliminating undesirable superheating of the refrigerant within the evaporator.

Refrigerant handling system with inlet refrigerant liquid/vapor flow

A refrigerant recovery system that includes a refrigerant accumulator having an inlet port for connection to the liquid port of equipment from which refrigerant is to be recovered, a vapor outlet port and a liquid outlet port. The liquid outlet port of the accumulator is connected to the inlet of a liquid refrigerant pump, which has an outlet for connection to a refrigerant storage container. A valve is responsive to pressure differential between the liquid refrigerant pump and the accumulator for operatively connecting the accumulator vapor outlet port to the inlet of a compressor. Thus, operation of the compressor functions to draw refrigerant from the equipment under service into the accumulator by reducing pressure within the accumulator, while the liquid pump operates to pump liquid refrigerant collected with the accumulator directly to the refrigerant storage container bypassing the compressor. The valve limits pressure differential across the liquid pump.

Growing community of inventors

Bryan, OH, United States of America

Christopher M Powers