Direct condensation refrigerant recovery and restoration system

Abstract

A refrigerant recovery and purification system particularly applicable to automotive air conditioning systems employs a centrifugal separator connected directly to the disabled automotive air conditioning system and which connects to a slack-sided accumulator and to a condenser chamber, all operating at near atmospheric pressure in a low pressure section. Oil and contaminants are separated by centrifugal action from the incoming refrigerant vapor stream and removed by gravity from the separator chamber. Condensing of the refrigerant vapor in the condenser produces a vacuum pressure for causing vapor to flow from the slack-sided accumulator to the condenser. A conventional refrigeration system supplies refrigerant liquid under pressure to a first evaporator coil within the condenser. The conventional refrigeration system also supplies high pressure liquid refrigerant to a second evaporator coil surrounding a liquid receiver connected by a conduit in series with the condenser and the accumulator. Condensed liquid refrigerant from the condenser flows to the liquid receiver by gravity. Periodically the liquid receiver is pressurized to drive condensed contaminant-free liquid refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant storage tank. Check valves within conduits connecting the condenser to the liquid receiver and the liquid receiver to the liquid refrigerant storage tank facilitate system operation and maintenance of desired pressures within low pressure and high pressure sections of the system.