US3688515A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for removing water and noncondensible gases from certain refrigerants
Assignee: Carrier Corp
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Filing: 1971-06-29
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1991-06-29
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to a system for removing water and noncondensible gases from a refrigerant used in a refrigeration system, which refrigerant has the property of supporting more water in the liquid phase than in the vapor phase. Liquid refrigerant is maintained at a level in a chamber and is heated to drive off the refrigerant vapor. As the liquid refrigerant in the chamber vaporizes, the water content increases until the refrigerant is saturated with water. The water being less dense than the refrigerant, it will collect on the surface of the refrigerant and can be conveniently drained off. The liquid refrigerant is preferably heated by hot gas refrigerant taken from the high side of the system and after passing through a heating coil in the chamber, it is passed to a second chamber in which the vapor of the refrigerant is condensed by the liquid refrigerant flowing to the first chamber. The noncondensible gases are vented from the second chamber in conventional manner.
Inventors
- 👤 William J Lavigne Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:43
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B43/00; F25B43/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of removing water and noncondensible gases from a refrigerant used in a refrigeration system, the refrigerant having the property of supporting more water in its liquid phase than in the vapor phase, comprising the steps of maintaining a supply of the refrigerant in the liquid phase in a chamber, increasing the water content of the refrigerant to saturation by the application of heat to the refrigerant, removing free water from the surface of the refrigerant, condensing the refrigerant in the vapor phase in a second chamber for collection of noncondensible gases in the second chamber and venting the noncondensible gases from the second chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of removing water and noncondensible gases from a refrigerant used in a refrigeration system, the refrigerant having the property of supporting more water in its liquid phase than in the vapor phase, comprising the steps of maintaining a supply of the refrigerant in the liquid phase in a chamber, increasing the water content of the refrigerant to saturation by the application of heat to the refrigerant, removing free water from the surface of the refrigerant, condensing the refrigerant in the vapor phase in a second chamber for collection of noncondensible gases in the second chamber and venting the noncondensible gases from the second chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for removing water from refrigerant in a refrigeration system, the refrigerant having the property of supporting more water in its liquid phase than in the vapor phase, comprising passage means for conducting liquid refrigerant from the refrigeration system to a chamber and maintaining a supply of said refrigerant therein, refrigerant heating means for driving refrigerant vapor from said liquid refrigerant in said chamber to render the refrigerant therein water saturated for the collection of free water on the surface of said liquid refrigerant, means for returning said refrigerant vapor from said chamber to the refrigeration system and drain means for draining the collected water from said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for removing water from refrigerant in a refrigeration system, the refrigerant having the property of supporting more water in its liquid phase than in the vapor phase, comprising passage means for conducting liquid refrigerant from the refrigeration system to a chamber and maintaining a supply of said refrigerant therein, refrigerant heating means for driving refrigerant vapor from said liquid refrigerant in said chamber to render the refrigerant therein water saturated for the collection of free water on the surface of said liquid refrigerant, means for returning said refrigerant vapor from said chamber to the refrigeration system and drain means for draining the collected water from said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
210 words
Apparatus for removing water and noncondensible gases from a refrigerant used in a refrigeration system, the refrigerant having the property of supporting more water in its liquid phase than in the vapor phase, said apparatus comprising first and second chambers, a first passage means for conducting liquid refrigerant containing water from said system to said first chamber and maintaining a supply of predetermined volume of said refrigerant in said chamber, said predetermined volume being less than the volume of said chamber, heating means for heating said liquid refrigerant in said first chamber to drive refrigerant vapor therefrom to raise the water content of said refrigerant to saturation for the separation of water and the collection thereof on the surface of said supply, water drain means for draining the collected water from said first chamber, a second passage means operable to supply refrigerant vapor from said system to said second chamber, condensing means in said second chamber for condensing the refrigerant vapor therein and the separation of noncondensible gases from said refrigerant, a liquid refrigerant metering valve in the lower area of said second chamber and operable to pass liquid refrigerant therefrom to the refrigeration system, and venting means for removing noncondensible gases from the upper area of said second chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
210 words
Apparatus for removing water and noncondensible gases from a refrigerant used in a refrigeration system, the refrigerant having the property of supporting more water in its liquid phase than in the vapor phase, said apparatus comprising first and second chambers, a first passage means for conducting liquid refrigerant containing water from said system to said first chamber and maintaining a supply of predetermined volume of said refrigerant in said chamber, said predetermined volume being less than the volume of said chamber, heating means for heating said liquid refrigerant in said first chamber to drive refrigerant vapor therefrom to raise the water content of said refrigerant to saturation for the separation of water and the collection thereof on the surface of said supply, water drain means for draining the collected water from said first chamber, a second passage means operable to supply refrigerant vapor from said system to said second chamber, condensing means in said second chamber for condensing the refrigerant vapor therein and the separation of noncondensible gases from said refrigerant, a liquid refrigerant metering valve in the lower area of said second chamber and operable to pass liquid refrigerant therefrom to the refrigeration system, and venting means for removing noncondensible gases from the upper area of said second chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said heating means includes a heat exchanging coil mounted in said first chamber and forming a part of said second passage means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said condensing means includes a heat exchanging coil mounted in said second chamber and forming a part of said first passage means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first passage means inclUdes a heat exchanging coil mounted in said first chamber and having an inlet communicating with the vapor area of the condenser of the refrigeration system and having an outlet communicating with said second chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said condensing means includes a heat exchanging coil mounted in said second chamber, said coil having an inlet connected to the evaporator of the refrigeration system in the liquid refrigerant area thereof and having an outlet extending into said first chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first chamber includes a casing, said heating means consists of a heat exchanging coil mounted in said first chamber and a vertically disposed perforated baffle mounted intermediate said coil and said water drain means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second chamber consists of a casing having bottom and top walls, said condensing means includes a condensing coil, a tubular baffle fixed to said casing top wall and depending therefrom within said condensing coil, said second passage means having an outlet arranged to discharge refrigerant vapor within said baffle, the lower edge of said baffle terminating in upwardly spaced relation to the bottom wall of said casing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |