American Standard Inc.

James C Wendschlag

James W Larson

James Richard Sand

A liquid/gas bypass line bypasses an expansion device of a refrigeration apparatus. An inlet of the bypass line is connected slightly above the bottom of a condenser so that it can pass either liquid refrigerant or vaporous refrigerant, depending on the level of liquid refrigerant in the condenser. The other end of the bypass line is connected to discharge into the evaporator, bypassing the expansion device. The bypass line functions as a conventional hot gas bypass during low load conditions when the level of liquid refrigerant is below the line's inlet. When the level rises above the inlet, often occurring when the condenser coolant temperature is low and the compressor is fully loaded, the bypass line returns excess accumulated liquid refrigerant to the evaporator. Maintaining the proper levels of liquid refrigerant in both the condenser and the evaporator not only provides the most effective use of their heat transfer surfaces, but also promotes the proper return of oil to the compressor.

Liquid/gas bypass

A lubricant composition with decreased solubility in a liquid refrigerant and increased foaming characteristics useful in refrigeration systems to promote oil return to a compressor. A lubricant composition comprises a base lubricant, synthetic paraffinic oil, and a foaming agent. These ingredients are blended in predetermined amounts, so that when the lubricant is used in the refrigeration system, an oil rich layer will form atop the liquid refrigerant in the system's flooded evaporator, and a thick, stable foam will form when vaporized refrigerant boils up through the oil rich layer. The oil foam is then drawn through a connection at the top of the flooded evaporator and returned to the compressor.

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Pueblo, CO, United States of America

James C Wendschlag