Purging arrangement for refrigeration systems

Claim 1

A purging arrangement for a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and expansion means, said arrangement being operable to purge noncondensable gases from the system and to recover refrigerant mixed with the noncondensable gases comprising: a. a heat exchanger; b. first conduit means connecting said heat exchanger with said condenser for the flow of said noncondensable gases and entrained vapor to said heat exchanger from said condenser; c. second conduit means connected to said heat exchanger to supply a heat exchange medium to said heat exchanger, said heat exchange medium passing in heat transfer relation with said noncondensable gases to condense said entrained vapor carried by said noncondensable gases, thus separating said entrained vapor from said noncondensable Gases, said entrained vapor including refrigerant vapor and water vapor; d. means to separate the condensed refrigerant vapor from said condensed water vapor; e. means to return said condensed refrigerant vapor to said refrigeration system; f. means governing release of noncondensable gases from the heat exchanger, said governing means including a line connecting the heat exchanger with ambient atmosphere, a valve in said line governing passage of said gases through said line and a control for said valve including a member responsive to a predetermined pressure differential between condenser and heat exchanger pressure to actuate said valve to permit discharge of said noncondensable gases from said heat exchanger; and g. means responsive to the actuation of said noncondensable gases discharge valve to prevent flow of said noncondensable gases from said condenser to said heat exchanger.

Claim 7

A method of purging a refrigeration system to remove noncondensable gases and water vapor from the refrigerant of the system and to recover refrigerant vapor mixed with the noncondensable gases and water vapor comprising the steps of: a. collecting the mixture of noncondensable gases, water vapor and refrigerant vapor in a first portion of the system; b. removing the mixture to a second portion of the system; c. passing a heat exchange medium in heat transfer relation with the mixture in the second portion of the system to separate condensable vapors from the noncondensable gases; d. separating the condensed refrigerant vapor from the condensed water vapor; e. returning the condensed refrigerant to the system; f. discharging the noncondensable gases from the second portion of the system when a predetermined pressure differential between the first portion of the system and the second portion of the system is reached; and g. preventing flow of the mixture from the first portion of the system to the second portion of the system when the noncondensable gases are being discharged from the second portion of the system.

Claim 8

A method of purging a refrigeration system to remove noncondensable gases and water vapor from the refrigerant of the system and to recover refrigerant vapor mixed with the noncondensable gases and water vapor comprising the steps of: a. collecting the mixture of noncondensable gases, water vapor and refrigerant vapor in a first portion of the system; b. removing the mixture to a second portion of the system; c. passing a heat exchange medium in heat transfer relation with the mixture in the second portion of the system to separate condensable vapors from the noncondensable gases; d. separating the condensed refrigerant vapor from the condensed water vapor; e. returning the condensed refrigerant to the system; f. discharging the noncondensable gases from the second portion of the system when a predetermined pressure differential between the first portion of the system and the second portion of the system is reached; and g. preventing flow of the mixture from the first portion of the system to the second portion of the system when the noncondensable gases are being discharged from the second portion of the system.