Oil separator for compressors of heat pumps and chillers

Abstract

An oil separator comprising an elongated horizontally oriented container having an inlet near one end through which an oil-refrigerant vapor mixture can be introduced into the container, the container having outlets near its other end for the separated oil and refrigerant vapor, respectively. A deflector is located within the container in the flow path of the oil-vapor mixture, and there is a demister within the container downstream of the deflector. The bottom of the container constitutes an oil sump, and a partition within the container has an opening in its portion within the sump, the partition carrying the demister at a location above the oil level in the sump. The cross-sectional flow area of the demister is smaller than the surface area of the partition above the oil level. The length of the demister is sufficient to permit oil drops in the oil-vapor mixture to unite with oil clinging to the demister mesh. Two spaced apart demisters may be used. In an alternative embodiment, a second container extending into the elongated container has the oil-vapor inlet and a perforated bottom above the sump oil level. Within the second container is an annulus, a stilling chamber, and a demister downstream of the annulus. A heater and/or a cooling device may be located within the oil sump.