Capacity control for multiple-phase ejector refrigeration systems

Claim 2

A refrigeration system comprising an evaporator; a vapor compressor adapted to compress a refrigerant; a condenser receiving hot refrigerant vapor from said compressor, said condenser operating to liquefy said refrigerant; a multiple-phase ejector comprising means defining a liquid chamber having a liquid inlet, means defining a vapor chamber having a vapor inlet, and an outlet discharging a two-phase vapor-liquid refrigerant stream; means for supplying high pressure liquid from the condenser to said liquid inlet; a vapor-liquid separator receiving the two-phase refrigerant stream and adapted to separate said phases; means for transferring the liquid phase from said separator to said evaporator; means for connecting said evaporator to said vapor inlet; means connecting said separator to said compressor to deliver refrigerant vapor to the suction side of said compressor; and means for supplying a portion of the hot vapor, flowing from said compressor to said condenser, to one of said ejector chambers.

Claim 3

A system as defined in claim 1 in which said hot vapor-supplying means supplies said hot vapor portion to said ejector liquid chamber.

Claim 4

A system as defined in claim 2 in which said hot vapor-supplying means is operative to supply said hot vapor portion to said ejector liquid chamber at a controlled rate in response to the capacity requirements of said system.

Claim 5

A system as defined in claim 2 in which said hot vapor-supplying means includes a conduit conducting said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber, means controlling vapor flow in said conduit and including a valve, and means for operating said valve.

Claim 6

A system as defined in claim 4 in which said valve-operating means includes means for sensing the absolute superheat of vapor delivered to the suction side of said vapor compressor.

Claim 7

A system as defined in claim 4 in which said valve-operating means includes means responsive to variations in pressure of the vapor delivered to the suction side of said compressor.

Claim 8

A system as defined in claim 4 in which said valve-operating means includes means responsive to variations in pressure and temperature of the vapor delivered to the suction side of said compressor.

Claim 9

A system as defined in claim 4 in which said valve includes a movable valve member operative to control the flow of vapor through said conduit; and said valve-operating means includes a casing, a flexible diaphragm in said casing and defining a compartment, said diaphragm being connected to said valve member, a thermal-sensing member responsive to variations in the temperature of the refrigerant vapor delivered to the suction side of said compressor and connected to said compartment to effect movement of said diaphragm and thereby move said valve member.

Claim 10

A system as defined in claim 4 in which said vaLve includes a movable valve member operative to control the flow of vapor through said conduit; and said valve-operating means includes a casing, a flexible diaphragm in said casing and defining a vapor compartment, said diaphragm being connected to said valve member, passage means connected to said separator-and compressor-connecting means and to said vapor compartment for providing refrigerant vapor to said vapor compartment to effect movement of said diaphragm, in response to variations in the pressure of the refrigerant vapor, to move said valve member.

Claim 11

A system as defined in claim 4 in which said valve includes a movable valve member operative to control the flow of vapor through said conduit; and said valve-operating means includes a casing having a flexible diaphragm in said casing and dividing said casing to provide spaced first and second compartments, said diaphragm being connected to said valve member, a thermal-sensing bulb responsive to variations in the temperature of the refrigerant vapor delivered to the suction side of said compressor and connected to said first compartment to effect movement of said diaphragm and thereby move said valve member, said valve-operating means further including passage means connecting said second compartment and said separator-and compressor-connecting means for providing refrigerant vapor to said vapor compartment to effect movement of said diaphragm, in response to variations of the pressure of the refrigerant vapor, to move said valve member in cooperation with movement of said valve member by the variations in pressure in said first compartment controlled by said bulb.

Claim 12

A system as defined in claim 3 in which said hot vapor-supplying means includes a first conduit conducting said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber; a first valve in said first conduit; means for operating said first valve to supply said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber at a controlled rate in response to the capacity requirement of said system, and a second conduit in parallel with said first conduit and bypassing said first valve to conduct said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber, and a second valve in said second conduit.

Claim 13

A system as defined in claim 11 in which said first valve-operating means includes means for sensing the absolute superheat of vapor delivered to the suction side of said vapor compressor.

Claim 14

A system as defined in claim 11 in which said first valve-operating means includes means for sensing variations in the pressure of the vapor delivered to the suction side of said vapor compressor.

Claim 15

A system as defined in claim 11 in which said first valve-operating means includes means for sensing variations in pressure and temperature of the vapor delivered to the suction side of said vapor compressor.

Claim 16

A system as defined in claim 3 in which said hot vapor-supplying means includes a conduit conducting said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber; a first valve in said conduit; means for operating said first valve to supply said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber at a controlled rate in response to the capacity requirements of said system, and a second valve in series with said first valve in said conduit.

Claim 17

A system as defined in claim 3 in which said hot vapor-supplying means includes a conduit conducting said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber; a first valve in said conduit; means for operating said first valve to supply said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber at a controlled rate in response to the capacity requirements of said system, and a second valve in series with said first valve in said conduit and controlling the supply of said hot vapor portion to said first valve.

Claim 18

A system as defined in claim 15 in which said first valve-operating means includes means for sensing the absolute superheat of vapor delivered to the suction side of said vapor compressor.

Claim 19

A system as defined in claim 15 in which said first valve-operating means includes means for seNsing variations in the pressure of the vapor delivered to the suction side of said vapor compressor.

Claim 20

A system as defined in claim 15 in which said first valve-operating means includes means for sensing variations in pressure and temperature of the vapor delivered to the suction side of said vapor compressor.

Claim 21

A system as defined in claim 3 in which said hot vapor-supplying means includes a first conduit conducting said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber; a first valve in said first conduit; means for operating said first valve to supply said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber at a controlled rate in response to the capacity requirements of said system, and a second valve disposed in said first conduit and in series with said first valve, a second conduit disposed in parallel with said first conduit and bypassing said first valve and said second valve to conduct said hot vapor portion to said liquid chamber, and a third valve in said second conduit.

Claim 22

A system as defined in claim 20 in which said first valve-operating means includes means for sensing the absolute superheat of vapor delivered to the suction side of said vapor compressor.

Claim 23

A system as defined in claim 20 in which said first valve-operating means includes means for sensing variations in the pressure of the vapor delivered to the suction side of said vapor compressor.

Claim 24

A system as defined in claim 20 in which said first valve-operating means includes means for sensing variations in pressure and temperature of the vapor delivered to the suction side of said vapor compressor.

Claim 25

A system as defined in claim 1 in which said vapor chamber of said ejector comprises an eductor section and a diffuser section, and said hot vapor supply means is connected to, and provides said hot vapor portion to, one of said eductor and diffuser sections.

Claim 26

A system as defined in claim 24 in which said hot vapor supply means provides said hot vapor portion to said eductor section.

Claim 27

A system as defined in claim 24 in which said hot vapor supply means provides said hot vapor portion to said diffuser section.

Claim 30

In a vapor cycle refrigerant system including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected to provide a closed refrigeration circuit; a multiple-phase ejector connected in said circuit to boost the suction pressure of vapor supplied to said compressor, said ejector being driven by high-pressure liquid refrigerant; means for separating the two-phase stream leaving said ejector and returning the vapor phase to said compressor and delivering a liquid phase to said evaporator, the improvement comprising means for disrupting the efficiency of the pressure boosting capacity of said ejector by admitting vapor to the substantially liquid driving stream from said condenser.

Claim 31

In a vapor cycle refrigerant system including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected to provide a closed refrigeration circuit; a multiple-phase ejector connected in said circuit to boost the suction pressure of vapor supplied to said compressor, said ejector being driven by high-pressure liquid refrigerant; means for separating the two-phase stream leaving said ejector and returning the vapor phase to said compressor and delivering a liquid phase to said evaporator, the improvement comprising means for disrupting the efficiency of the pressure boosting capacity of said ejector by admitting vapor to the substantially liquid driving stream from said condenser.