Refrigeration system oil separator

Claim 2

In a refrigeration system having a plurality of compressors operating at different suction pressures, a plurality of evaporators adapted to operate a plurality of separate and independent refrigerated fixtures, a condenser to receive vapor refrigerant from all of the compressors, and a receiver for supplying liquid refrigerant to all of the evaporators, wherein the improvement comprises: an oil separator to separate oil from the refrigerant before the refrigerant is passed to the condenser, said oil separator having a receiving chamber and an oil-retaining chamber; said oil separator further having an outlet member, said outlet member having an open end in said receiving chamber to communicate hot refrigerant gas from said oil separator to the condenser; individual discharge lines from each compressor to communicate the pulsating discharge of oil and refrigerant gas separately from each compressor whereby pulsating discharge from all of the compressors is received and mixed in said receiving chamber and the noise and vibration caused by the pulsating discharge is dampened in said receiving chamber; and oil return means operably connected to said oil-retaining chamber for returning the separated oil independently to each compressor according to the particular deMands of the various compressors.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, wherein said outlet member is heated by the hot refrigerant gas and said outlet member passes substantially through said retaining chamber to maintain the temperature of oil in said retaining chamber above the condensing temperature of the refrigerant.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1, wherein said receiving chamber is cylindrical, said discharge lines pass discharge into said receiving chamber tangent to the inner surface of said receiving chamber to generate cyclonic separation of the oil and refrigerant gas in the discharge.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1, wherein the flow of refrigerant gas from said upper portion into said outlet member is partially restricted to assist in dampening the noise and vibration.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1, wherein separated oil is retained in said retaining chamber and a return line communicates oil from said retainer.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5, wherein acid traps are located at the open end of said outlet member and in said return line to prevent acid from passing from said oil separator.

Claim 8

The refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said oil return means includes valve means to regulate the flow of oil returning to each compressor and independent control means associated with each compressor to control said valve means.

Claim 9

In a single condenser-receiver commercial refrigeration system having a plurality of compressors, some of which operate at different suction pressures, and multiple evaporators, an oil separator having a housing defining a cylindrical vessel, said vessel having an upper receiving chamber and a lower retaining chamber; individual discharge lines to separately pass pulsating discharge from each said compressor into said receiving chamber, said receiving chamber dampening the noise and vibration resulting from the mixing of the pulsating discharge; said discharge lines passing discharge into said receiving chamber tangent to the inner surface of said vessel to generate cyclonic separation of the oil and refrigerant gas in the discharge; said retaining chamber receiving the separated oil and having an oil outlet for the varying flow of oil returning to the compressor; a gas outlet member having an end open in said receiving chamber to pass hot refrigerant gas from said receiving chamber to the condensor, said outlet member passing substantially through said retaining chamber and transferring heat from the refrigerant gas to the oil in said retaining chamber to prevent the refrigerant from condensing and mixing with the oil; and valve means associated with each said compressor for controlling the amount of oil returned to each said compressor.

Claim 10

In a single condenser-receiver commercial refrigeration system having a plurality of compressors, some of which operate at different suction pressures, and multiple evaporators, an oil separator having a housing defining a cylindrical vessel, said vessel having an upper receiving chamber and a lower retaining chamber; individual discharge lines to separately pass pulsating discharge from each said compressor into said receiving chamber, said receiving chamber dampening the noise and vibration resulting from the mixing of the pulsating discharge; said discharge lines passing discharge into said receiving chamber tangent to the inner surface of said vessel to generate cyclonic separation of the oil and refrigerant gas in the discharge; said retaining chamber receiving the separated oil and having an oil outlet for the varying flow of oil returning to the compressor; a gas outlet member having an end open in said receiving chamber to pass hot refrigerant gas from said receiving chamber to the condensor, said outlet member passing substantially through said retaining chamber and transferring heat from the refrigerant gas to the oil in said retaining chamber to prevent the refrigerant from condensing and mixing with the oil; and valve means associated with each said compressor for controlling the amount of oil returned to each said compressor.

Claim 11

The refrigeration system of claim 8, wherein said oil separator includes acid trap means to prevent acid from passing from said vessel into other components of the refrigeration system, said acid trap means including a removable and replaceable cylindrical filter cartridge supported at one end about an upper section of said outlet member and extending beyond said open end; and said vessel including a removable cap assembly enclosing the other end of said cartridge whereby refrigerant flow from said receiving chamber into said open end of said outlet member passes first through said cartridge.

Claim 12

In a single refrigeration system having a plurality of compressors operating at different suction pressures, a plurality of evaporators adapted to operate separate and independent refrigerated fixtures, a condenser to receive all of the vapor refrigerant supplied by said compressors, and a receiver for supplying liquid refrigerant to all of said evaporators, an oil separator for separating oil from refrigerant received from said compressors before being passed to said condenser, said separator comprising a closed vessel having integral upper and lower portions, separate inlet lines connected to said upper portion for separate communication of the pulsating discharge of refrigerant from each compressor with the combIned discharge of all the compressors being mixed in said upper portion thereby dampening the noise and vibration caused by the pulsating discharge, said lower portion adapted to receive the oil from said upper portion and maintain at least a portion of the oil received for reserve purposes, an oil return means operably connected to said lower portion including valve means to regulate the flow of oil returning to each compressor and independent control means associated with each compressor to control said valve means whereby oil returns from said lower portion to the compressors according to the particular demands of each compressor.

Claim 13

In a single refrigeration system having a plurality of compressors operating at different suction pressures, a plurality of evaporators adapted to operate separate and independent refrigerated fixtures, a condenser to receive all of the vapor refrigerant supplied by said compressors, and a receiver for supplying liquid refrigerant to all of said evaporators, an oil separator for separating oil from refrigerant received from said compressors before being passed to said condenser, said separator comprising a closed vessel having integral upper and lower portions, separate inlet lines connected to said upper portion for separate communication of the pulsating discharge of refrigerant from each compressor with the combIned discharge of all the compressors being mixed in said upper portion thereby dampening the noise and vibration caused by the pulsating discharge, said lower portion adapted to receive the oil from said upper portion and maintain at least a portion of the oil received for reserve purposes, an oil return means operably connected to said lower portion including valve means to regulate the flow of oil returning to each compressor and independent control means associated with each compressor to control said valve means whereby oil returns from said lower portion to the compressors according to the particular demands of each compressor.

Claim 14

In a refrigeration system having multiple compressors and multiple evaporators, a condenser and a receiver, wherein the improvement comprises: an oil separator to separate oil from the discharge gas of the compressors before it is passed to the condenser, said oil separator having a closed vessel, said vessel including a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion integral therewith; a plurality of inlet lines communicating with said upper portion for separate communication of the pulsating discharge from each compressor, said inlet lines having discharge ends positioned tangent to the inner surface of said cylindrical upper portion for causing cyclonic separation of the oil from the discharge gas in said upper portion; said lower portion being adapted to receive the separated oil from said upper portion and having a retaining chamber for storing at least a portion of the oil received in surplus for a varying oil return flow; an outlet member for communication of the hot gas from said housing, said outlet member having an open end in said upper portion for receiving the separated gas and extending through said retaining chamber for transferring heat from the hot gas flowing therein to the stored oil therearound; and oil return means in communication with said lower portion for returning oil according to the demand of said individual compressors.

Claim 15

In a refrigeration system having multiple compressors and multiple evaporators, a condenser and a receiver, wherein the improvement comprises: an oil separator to separate oil from the discharge gas of the compressors before it is passed to the condenser, said oil separator having a closed vessel, said vessel including a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion integral therewith; a plurality of inlet lines communicating with said upper portion for separate communication of the pulsating discharge from each compressor, said inlet lines having discharge ends positioned tangent to the inner surface of said cylindrical upper portion for causing cyclonic separation of the oil from the discharge gas in said upper portion; said lower portion being adapted to receive the separated oil from said upper portion and having a retaining chamber for storing at least a portion of the oil received in surplus for a varying oil return flow; an outlet member for communication of the hot gas from said housing, said outlet member having an open end in said upper portion for receiving the separated gas and extending through said retaining chamber for transferring heat from the hot gas flowing therein to the stored oil therearound; and oil return means in communication with said lower portion for returning oil according to the demand of said individual compressors.

Claim 16

The device of claim 11, wherein the discharge ends of some of said inlet lines in said vessel are positioned 180* apart from the discharge ends of the other said inlet lines in said vessel.

Claim 17

The device of claim 11, wherein the flow of refrigerant gas from said upper portion into said outlet member is partially restricted to assist in dampening noise and vibration caused by the pulsating discharge from the compressors.

Claim 18

The device of claim 11, wherein a first acid trap is positioned about the open end of said outlet member and a second acid trap prevents acid from passing from said vessel into the refrigeration system.

Claim 19

The device of claim 14, wherein said first acid trap partially restricts the flow of refrigerant gas from said upper portion into said outlet member to assist in dampening noise and vibration caused by the pulsating discharge from the compressors.