Carrier Corporation

Texas Instruments Corporation

Carrier Cororation

Howard H Fraser, Jr

Michael F Taras

Alexander Lifson

Russell George Lewis

Shahrokh Etemad

William R Lane

Thomas R Barito

Thomas L Kassouf

David C Baumann

Jacob A Bayyouk

James William Bush

Thomas J Dobmeier

Donald Yannascoli

John R D'Entremont

David J McFarlin

Raymond L DeBlois

John J Jacobs

Mark P Weldon

James C Wilson

George A Anderson, Iii

William J Boonzha

Stefan H Grunwald

Richard C Stoeffler

Andre Stumpf

A method for detecting compressor or system degradation or malfunction in a multiple circuit compressor system includes the steps of providing a multiple circuit compressor system including at least a first circuit and a second circuit; and comparing a first value corresponding to an operating parameter of the first circuit with a second value corresponding to an operating parameter of the second circuit.

Fault recognition in systems with multiple circuits

In a shell-and-tube heat exchanger with the tubes disposed within the shell for conducting the flow of a fluid to be in heat transfer interaction with a refrigerant contained in the volume formed by the heat exchanger shell and the external surfaces of the tube bundle, the tubes are elongated in their cross-section, with the elongation axis being oriented in the vertical direction to thereby enhance the heat transfer process and potentially reduce the heat exchanger size or tube count. The design features can be applied to both flooded and falling film heat exchangers and are equally applicable to both evaporators and condensers.

Tubes with elongated cross-section for flooded evaporators and condensers

A refrigerant system is provided where the functions of an economizer heat exchanger and liquid-suction heat exchanger are combined. The two configurations are disclosed with a single common heat exchanger construction. In a first configuration, a series of valves selectively routes only one of two possible refrigerant flows through a common heat exchanger such that a control can selectively activate either an economizer heat exchanger circuit or a liquid-suction heat exchanger function. In a second configuration, both refrigerant flows are passed to the common heat exchanger through separate fluid lines and are selectively activated by the control. Variations of the second configuration are also disclosed.

Refrigerant system with common economizer and liquid-suction heat exchanger

A vapor compression system includes a main vapor compression circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator serially connected by main refrigerant lines, the compressor having a main discharge port, a suction port and an economizer/bypass port, an economizer circuit connected between the condenser and the economizer/bypass port of the compressor and including an auxiliary expansion device and a heat exchanger serially connected by economizer refrigerant lines, the economizer refrigerant lines and the main refrigerant lines being exposed to each other for heat exchange in the heat exchanger; and a bypass circuit including a bypass line extending from the economizer/bypass port to the suction port, and a bypass valve positioned along the bypass line, the bypass valve being positionable between a closed position wherein the economizer circuit is active and the bypass circuit is inactive, and an open position wherein the economizer circuit is active and the bypass circuit is active. The system and method advantageously allow for the economizer circuit and bypass circuit to be operational at the same time. By using an electronically controlled auxiliary expansion device, four modes of operation are permissible. As a result, life cycle and system costs can be reduced and compressor reliability and system performance can be enhanced. Additionally the control scheme and method extend the system operating envelope, hence preventing nuisance shutdowns, and further improving compressor reliability.

Vapor compression system

A multiple circuit refrigerant system includes a single economizer heat exchanger utilized for each of at least two circuits. The use of the single economizer heat exchanger reduces the cost of adding an economizer cycle, and further reduces other associated costs. Additionally, heat exchanger and overall system performance is enhanced further. Embodiments show the inclusion of two, three and four circuits, although greater numbers may also benefit form this invention.

Multiple refrigerant circuits with single economizer heat exchanger

A vapor compression system includes a first circuit having first components including a first compressor, a first condenser and a first evaporator; a second circuit having second components including a second compressor, a second condenser and a second evaporator; and interconnecting flow lines for selectively communicating the first compressor with at least one component of the second components to boost system performance at part-load operation as well as enhance its reliability and improve unloading capability.

Performance enhancement of vapor compression systems with multiple circuits

The invention provides two distinct schematics allowing system performance enhancement through the utilization of an auxiliary heat exchanger and splitting the refrigerant flow into primary and secondary paths. A system performance boost is achieved due to extra subcooling of a primary refrigerant flow in an auxiliary heat exchanger as well as superheat reduction of the combined refrigerant flow entering the compressor and a primary refrigerant flow pressure drop decrease through the evaporator (in comparison to the prior art). The invention offers the superior benefits outlined above with only a moderate cost increment. Also, employment of conventional components only, and no compressor modifications make implementation of the proposed schematics even more attractive.

Refrigerant system performance enhancement by use of additional heat exchanger

A method for detecting compressor degradation includes the steps of providing a dataset for a compressor relating compressor operating parameters to each other; detecting real time actual values of the compressor operating parameters including an evaluated operating parameter; using at least one of the real time actual values and the dataset to determine a predicted value of the evaluated operating parameter; and comparing the predicted value of the evaluated operating parameter to the real time actual value of the evaluated operating parameter. This advantageously allows a prognosis of compressor performance to determine whether performance degradation is occurring.

Compressor degradation detection system

An improved apparatus and method for injecting a liquid/vapor into compression chambers at an intermediate pressure utilizes the economizer injection ports already found in the compressor. By selectively communicating a liquid to be injected into the compression chambers to the economizer return line, the economizer return line and its ports are utilized for this liquid/vapor injection. In this way, no additional flow connections at the compressor are necessary. Moreover, by injecting the liquid at an intermediate pressure point, the other benefits are provided. In general, the liquid is injected to reduce the discharge temperature of the refrigerant under certain operational conditions.

Injection of liquid and vapor refrigerant through economizer ports

A refrigeration system for cooling air is disclosed. The system includes a substantially liquid refrigerant and an evaporator for transferring heat from the air to the substantially liquid refrigerant. The substantially liquid refrigerant becomes a low temperature, low pressure first substantially gaseous refrigerant. A compressor compresses the first substantially gaseous refrigerant into a high pressure, high temperature superheated second gaseous refrigerant. A lubricant circuit supplies lubricant to the compressor. A condenser rejects heat from the second gaseous refrigerant and forms a high pressure, lower temperature sub-cooled liquid refrigerant. The condenser has an output stream. A metering device transforms the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant into the substantially liquid refrigerant for the evaporator. A heat exchanger receives the first substantially gaseous refrigerant as a coolant on route to the compressor. The first substantially gaseous refrigerant is relatively cooler than the lubricant and the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant. The lubricant via the lubricant circuit flows through the heat exchanger and cools prior to entering the compressor and the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger means sub-cools prior to entering the metering device.

Refrigeration system with integrated oil cooling heat exchanger

A refrigeration system for cooling air s disclosed. The system includes a substantially liquid refrigerant and an evaporator for transferring heat from the air to the substantially liquid refrigerant. The substantially liquid refrigerant becomes a low temperature, low pressure first superheated gas refrigerant. A compressor compresses the first superheated gas refrigerant into a high pressure, high temperature second further superheated gas refrigerant. A lubricant circuit supplies lubricant to the compressor, wherein a portion of the lubricant is mixed with the further superheated gas refrigerant. A condenser rejects heat from the second superheated gas refrigerant and forms a high pressure, low temperature sub-cooled liquid refrigerant. The condenser has an output stream. A metering device transforms the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant into the substantially liquid refrigerant for the evaporator. An economizer circuit provides an intermediate temperature and pressure economizer refrigerant flow to the compressor. The economizer refrigerant flow originates from the output stream of the condenser. The economizer circuit includes an economizer heat exchanger. The economizer heat exchanger includes paths for receiving and cooling the lubricant before returning to the compressor and the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant on route to the metering device, wherein the economizer refrigerant flow is a cooling medium in the heat exchanger.

Refrigeration system with integrated economizer/oil cooler

A 250 watt cryocooler employs a Stirling cycle and is capable of maintaining a constant temperature of 77.degree. K. while fitting a standard electronic equipment rack.

Compact and serviceable packaging of a self-contained cryocooler system

A crush tube is used to provide a fluid connection between a first and second member. The crush tube has two tubular portions with a spherical portion therebetween. The tubular portions are loosely received in nominally coaxial bores having entrance chamfers. The spherical portion is deformed into contact with the chamfers as well as between the members whereby the tube provides a sealed fluid path between the bores.

Crush tube fluid connection

Self-contained portable cryogenic cooling unit to be used to cool

A welded bellows is formed by welding together a stack of annular elements such that spacer rings are located between adjacent elements at the inner and outer diameters and are the locations for the welds. The spacer rings eliminate very small clearances/contact between movable members which can be the locations for stress risers in the presence of dirt.

Growing community of inventors

Lafayette, NY, United States of America

Howard H Fraser, Jr