US3726103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigeration system
Assignee: Applied Automation Inc
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Filing: 1971-10-21
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Granted: 1973-04-10
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Expires: 1991-10-21
Abstract
Abstract In an improved refrigeration system having a refrigerant stream, a compressor, a condenser, and a heat exchanger, the temperature of the heat exchanger is maintained at a value greater than a preselected value by controllably passing a portion of the refrigerant stream from a location upstream of the condenser to the refrigerant stream at a location downstream of the condenser and the pressures of the refrigerant stream at locations adjacent preselected locations are maintained at values less than respective preselected values by controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant stream between the heat exchanger and the compressor.
Inventors
- 👤 J Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:51
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B5/00; F25B41/00; F25B41/20; F25B49/00; F25B49/02; F25B2400/00; F25B2400/12; F25B2400/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
440 words
In a refrigeration system for treating at least one fluid passing through at least one heat exchanger, said system having a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, a condenser connected to the outlet of the compressor by a first conduit, the condenser connected to the heat exchanger by a second conduit, and the heat exchanger connected to the inlet of the compressor by a third conduit for the cyclic flow of a refrigerant stream from the outlet of the compressor, through the condEnser, from the condenser through the heat exchanger, and from the heat exchanger back to the compressor via the inlet thereof, the improvement comprising: a bypass line having an inlet and an outlet and being in fluid communication with the refrigerant stream, said bypass inlet being connected to the first conduit and said bypass outlet being connected to one of the second conduit and the heat exchanger for bypassing the condenser with a portion of the refrigerant stream discharging from the compressor; first means for measuring the pressure of the refrigerant stream flowing through the second conduit at a location upstream of the bypass outlet and delivering a signal A in response thereto; second means for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant stream flowing through the third conduit at a second location downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of a first location between the heat exchanger and the compressor; third means for measuring the pressure of the refrigerant stream flowing through the third conduit at a third location between the first location and the compressor and delivering a signal C in response thereto; means for receiving the signal A, comparing said signal A to a set point D, and delivering a signal E in response to said comparison; means for receiving the signal C, comparing said signal C to the set point F, and delivering a signal G in response to said comparison; a hi-select relay connected to the second control valve and the first and second pressure controllers for receiving signals G and E, comparing said signals one to the other, and delivering the larger one of said signals G and E to the second control valve in response to said comparison for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant passing through the third conduit to the compressor inlet in response to said received signal for maintaining the pressures at the inlet of the compressor and between the condenser and the heat exchanger at a value less than a respective preselected value; and means responsive to the measured temperature for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant passing through the bypass line at a preselected value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
440 words
In a refrigeration system for treating at least one fluid passing through at least one heat exchanger, said system having a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, a condenser connected to the outlet of the compressor by a first conduit, the condenser connected to the heat exchanger by a second conduit, and the heat exchanger connected to the inlet of the compressor by a third conduit for the cyclic flow of a refrigerant stream from the outlet of the compressor, through the condEnser, from the condenser through the heat exchanger, and from the heat exchanger back to the compressor via the inlet thereof, the improvement comprising: a bypass line having an inlet and an outlet and being in fluid communication with the refrigerant stream, said bypass inlet being connected to the first conduit and said bypass outlet being connected to one of the second conduit and the heat exchanger for bypassing the condenser with a portion of the refrigerant stream discharging from the compressor; first means for measuring the pressure of the refrigerant stream flowing through the second conduit at a location upstream of the bypass outlet and delivering a signal A in response thereto; second means for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant stream flowing through the third conduit at a second location downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of a first location between the heat exchanger and the compressor; third means for measuring the pressure of the refrigerant stream flowing through the third conduit at a third location between the first location and the compressor and delivering a signal C in response thereto; means for receiving the signal A, comparing said signal A to a set point D, and delivering a signal E in response to said comparison; means for receiving the signal C, comparing said signal C to the set point F, and delivering a signal G in response to said comparison; a hi-select relay connected to the second control valve and the first and second pressure controllers for receiving signals G and E, comparing said signals one to the other, and delivering the larger one of said signals G and E to the second control valve in response to said comparison for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant passing through the third conduit to the compressor inlet in response to said received signal for maintaining the pressures at the inlet of the compressor and between the condenser and the heat exchanger at a value less than a respective preselected value; and means responsive to the measured temperature for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant passing through the bypass line at a preselected value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including an accumulator positioned in the second conduit at a location upstream of the outlet of the bypass conduit and being connected to the first means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including a liquid knockout positioned in the third conduit at a fourth location between the first and third locations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of heat exchangers each being connected in fluid communication to the second conduit, the third conduit, and the bypass line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
376 words
In a method for cooling at least one fluid passing through at least one heat exchanger by compressing a refrigerant stream in a compression zone, passing the compressed refrigerant through a condenser, passing the refrigerant from the condenser through the heat exchanger, and recycling the refrigerant discharging from the heat exchanger to the compression zone, the improvement comprising: passing a portion of the compressed refrigerant from between the compressor and the condenser into the refrigerant stream at a mixing location between an outlet of the condenser and an outlet of the heat exchanger; measuring the pressure of the refrigerant passing from the condenser to the heat exchanger at a location upstream of the mixing location and delivering a signal A in response to said measurement; comparing signal A to a set point signal D and delivering a signal E in response to said comparison; measuring the pressure of the refrigerant passing from the heat exchanger to the compression zone at a third location and delivering a signal C responsive to said measurement; comparing signal C to a set point signal F and delivering a signal G in response to said comparison; comparing signals G and E one To the other and delivering the larger one of said signals G and E in response to said comparison; controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant stream passing from the heat exchanger to the compression zone in response to one of said signals G and E for maintaining the pressures at an inlet of the compression zone and between the condenser and the heat exchanger at values less than respective preselected values, said controlling of the flow rate being at a first location between the third location and the heat exchanger; measuring the temperature of the refrigerant stream passing between the heat exchanger and the compression zone at a second location downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the first location and delivering a signal B in response to said temperature measurement; comparing signal B to a set point H and delivering a signal I in response to said comparison; and controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant portion in response to said signal I for maintaining the heat exchanger at a temperature greater than a preselected value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
376 words
In a method for cooling at least one fluid passing through at least one heat exchanger by compressing a refrigerant stream in a compression zone, passing the compressed refrigerant through a condenser, passing the refrigerant from the condenser through the heat exchanger, and recycling the refrigerant discharging from the heat exchanger to the compression zone, the improvement comprising: passing a portion of the compressed refrigerant from between the compressor and the condenser into the refrigerant stream at a mixing location between an outlet of the condenser and an outlet of the heat exchanger; measuring the pressure of the refrigerant passing from the condenser to the heat exchanger at a location upstream of the mixing location and delivering a signal A in response to said measurement; comparing signal A to a set point signal D and delivering a signal E in response to said comparison; measuring the pressure of the refrigerant passing from the heat exchanger to the compression zone at a third location and delivering a signal C responsive to said measurement; comparing signal C to a set point signal F and delivering a signal G in response to said comparison; comparing signals G and E one To the other and delivering the larger one of said signals G and E in response to said comparison; controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant stream passing from the heat exchanger to the compression zone in response to one of said signals G and E for maintaining the pressures at an inlet of the compression zone and between the condenser and the heat exchanger at values less than respective preselected values, said controlling of the flow rate being at a first location between the third location and the heat exchanger; measuring the temperature of the refrigerant stream passing between the heat exchanger and the compression zone at a second location downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the first location and delivering a signal B in response to said temperature measurement; comparing signal B to a set point H and delivering a signal I in response to said comparison; and controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant portion in response to said signal I for maintaining the heat exchanger at a temperature greater than a preselected value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method, as set forth in claim 5, including removing liquid from the refrigerant stream at a location between the first location and the third location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method, as set forth in claim 5, including passing the refrigerant stream and the removed portion of the refrigerant stream through a plurality of heat exchangers.
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) | 1976-04-09 | 1976-10-09 | 1977-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-09 | 1980-10-09 | 1981-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-09 | 1984-10-09 | 1985-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |