Abstract Apparatus for concurrently circulating a refrigerant and a refrigerant oil through a closed reversible cycle ice-making system having interconnected compressor, condenser and evaporator components and in a manner which provides efficient heat exchange, capacity and compressor lubrication. The invention is characterized by a combination of three interdependent features, namely, (1) During the ice-forming phase, an emulsion of a refrigerant and a refrigerant oil is caused to flow through the evaporator chamber at sufficient velocity and turbulence to prevent substantial adherence of the oil to the chamber side walls and to produce substantially uniform freezing temperatures on the wall surfaces; (2) During the alternate defrosting phase and when the emulsion has separated into hot gaseous refrigerant and refrigerant oil, the gaseous refrigerant is caused to flow through the chamber at sufficient velocity to suspend the oil and sweep it from the chamber walls, and (3) During both of said phases, a positive pressure drop across the evaporator chamber is maintained within the range of 0 lbs./sq. in. to 2 lbs./sq. in. to thereby create a balanced efficiency between oil circulation and heat exchanger on one hand, and the capacity of the system on the other.
Compressor lubrication apparatus for a closed reversible cycle ice-making system comprising: a condenser; a compressor; an evaporator, said evaporator including a pair of spaced upright substantially concentric members forming a sealed annular chamber therebetween, said chamber being substantially free of any fluid guide means between the inner opposed walls thereof, the respective areas of said members remote from the chamber defining ice-forming surfaces; means including said compressor for circulating during the freezing phase a refrigerant-oil media under high pressure an upwardly and unidirectionally in a helical path extending from the bottom to the upper portion of said chamber; and means including said compressor for circulating during the alternate defrosting phase the separated refrigerant and oil of said media under relatively low pressure and upwardly and unidirectionally in said helical path, said last-named means consisting of an inlet nozzle positioned horizontally and tangentially at the bottom portion of the chamber and adapted to direct the media into one end of said helical path, and an outlet at the upper portion of the chamber communicating with the other end of said path, whereby the velocity and turbulence of the media will produce a substantially uniform heat exchange in the chamber while preventing a pressure drop across the chamber as a result of the accumulation of unsuspended oil therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
Compressor lubrication apparatus for a closed reversible cycle ice-making system comprising: a condenser; a compressor; an evaporator, said evaporator including a pair of spaced upright substantially concentric members forming a sealed annular chamber therebetween, said chamber being substantially free of any fluid guide means between the inner opposed walls thereof, the respective areas of said members remote from the chamber defining ice-forming surfaces; means including said compressor for circulating during the freezing phase a refrigerant-oil media under high pressure an upwardly and unidirectionally in a helical path extending from the bottom to the upper portion of said chamber; and means including said compressor for circulating during the alternate defrosting phase the separated refrigerant and oil of said media under relatively low pressure and upwardly and unidirectionally in said helical path, said last-named means consisting of an inlet nozzle positioned horizontally and tangentially at the bottom portion of the chamber and adapted to direct the media into one end of said helical path, and an outlet at the upper portion of the chamber communicating with the other end of said path, whereby the velocity and turbulence of the media will produce a substantially uniform heat exchange in the chamber while preventing a pressure drop across the chamber as a result of the accumulation of unsuspended oil therein.