Parallel connection pipes 70 are connected to opposite ends 37 and 39 of compressor assembly 30 from connectors 22 on opposite the refrigerant control assembly 20. Connection pipes 70 include vapor pipes 72 and 74. Hot high pressure vapor pipe 72 delivers hot high pressure vapor from compressor assembly 30 to an oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 20. Low pressure vapor return line 74 returns cool, low pressure vapor and any entrained liquid or oil to the compressor from a suction accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 20. In addition, an oil return line 76 returns oil to the compressor from the oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 20.
Alternatively, an oil separator is mounted in the compressor assembly.
Parallel connection pipes 80 are connected between condenser assembly 40 and the refrigerant control assembly 20. Pipes 80 include hot high pressure vapor pipe 82 and a cool liquid refrigerant pipe 84. Hot high pressure vapor pipe 82 is connected to the condenser 40 from the oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 20. Liquid refrigerant pipe 84 is connected to condenser 40 and to a liquid accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 20.
Assemblies 20, 30 and 40 and connecting pipes 70 and 80 complete the parallel horizontal condenser unit 50.
Parallel pipes 90 connect the refrigerant control assembly to the evaporator assembly 60. Pipes 90 include liquid refrigerant pipe 92 and spent vapor return pipe 94. Pipe 92 delivers cool liquid refrigerant to the evaporator 60 from a liquid refrigerant filter and sub cooler in the refrigerant control assembly 20. Pipe 94 returns spent vapor from the evaporator 60 through the sub cooler to a suction accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 20.
Pipe 92 connects to an inlet of an expansion valve and a refrigerant distributor in the evaporator assembly. Pipe 94 connects to a refrigerant evaporator pressure regulator valve in an outlet of the evaporator 60. Wires are connected between the refrigerant control assembly 20 and stepper motors which control the expansion valve and evaporator pressure regulator valve on the evaporator 60. Wires are connected between the refrigerant control assembly 20 and temperature sensors at the inlet and outlet of the evaporator.
Alternatively, the expansion valve and evaporator pressure regulator valve may be mounted in the refrigerant control assembly.
Parallel connection pipes 170 are connected to opposite ends 137 and 139 of compressor assembly 130 from connectors 122 on opposite the refrigerant control assembly 120. Connection pipes 170 include vapor pipes 172 and 174. Hot high pressure vapor pipe 172 delivers hot high pressure vapor from compressor assembly 130 to an oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 120. Low pressure vapor return line 174 returns cool, low pressure vapor and any entrained liquid or oil to the compressor from a suction accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 120. In addition, an oil return line 176 returns oil to the compressor from the oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 120.
Alternatively, an oil separator is mounted in the compressor assembly.
Parallel connection pipes 180 are connected between condenser assembly 140 and the refrigerant control assembly 120. Pipes 180 include hot high pressure vapor pipe 182 and a cool liquid refrigerant pipe 184. Hot high pressure vapor pipe 182 is connected to the condenser 140 from the oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 120. Liquid refrigerant pipe 184 is connected to condenser 140 and to a liquid accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 120.
Assemblies 120, 130 and 140 and connecting pipes 160, 170 and 180 complete the parallel vertical condenser unit 150.
Parallel pipes 190 connect the refrigerant control assembly to the evaporator assembly 160. Pipes 190 include liquid refrigerant pipe 192 and spent vapor return pipe 194. Pipe 192 delivers cool liquid refrigerant to the evaporator 160 from a liquid refrigerant filter in the refrigerant control assembly 120. Pipe 194 returns spent vapor from the evaporator 160 to a suction accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 120.
Pipe 192 connects to an inlet of an expansion valve in the evaporator assembly. Pipe 194 connects to a refrigerant pressure control valve in an outlet of the evaporator 160. Wires are connected between the refrigerant control assembly 120 and stepper motors which control the expansion valve and pressure control valve on the evaporator 160. Sensor wires are connected between the refrigerant control assembly 120 and temperature sensors at the inlet and outlet of the evaporator 160. Alternatively, the expansion valve and refrigerant pressure control valve may be mounted in the refrigerant control assembly 120.
In the embodiments shown in
Parallel connection pipes are connected to an end of compressor assembly 230 from connectors on an adjacent end of the refrigerant control assembly 220. Connection pipes include two vapor pipes. A hot high pressure vapor pipe delivers hot high pressure vapor from compressor assembly 230 to an oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 220. A low pressure vapor return line returns cool, low pressure vapor and any entrained liquid or oil to the compressor 230 from a suction accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 220. In addition, an oil return line returns oil to the compressor from the oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 220. Alternatively, an oil separator is mounted in the compressor assembly 230.
Parallel connection pipes are connected between condenser assembly 240 and the refrigerant control assembly 220. Pipes include a hot high pressure vapor pipe and a cool liquid refrigerant pipe. The hot high pressure vapor pipe is connected to the condenser 240 from the oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 220. A liquid refrigerant pipe is connected to condenser 240 and to a liquid accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 20.
Assemblies 220, 230 and 240 and connecting pipes and complete the horizontal linear condenser unit 250.
Pipes connect the refrigerant control assembly 220 to the evaporator assembly 260. Pipes include a liquid refrigerant pipe and a spent vapor return pipe. One pipe delivers cool liquid refrigerant to the evaporators 60 from a liquid refrigerant filter in the refrigerant control assembly 220. The other pipe returns spent vapor from the evaporator 260 to a suction accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 220. The liquid refrigerant pipe connects to an inlet of an expansion valve in the evaporator assembly 260. The vapor return pipe connects to a refrigerant pressure control valve in an outlet of the evaporator 260. Wires are connected between the refrigerant control assembly 220 and stepper motors which control the expansion valve and pressure control valve on the evaporator 260. Wires are connected between the refrigerant control assembly 220 and temperature sensors at the inlet and outlet of the evaporator. Alternatively, the expansion valve and refrigerant pressure control valve may be mounted in the refrigerant control assembly 220.
Parallel vertical connection pipes are connected to an end of compressor assembly 330 from connectors on an adjacent end of the refrigerant control assembly 320. The connection pipes include first and second vapor pipes. A hot high pressure vapor pipe delivers hot high pressure vapor from compressor assembly 330 to an oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 320. A low pressure vapor return line returns cool, low pressure vapor and any entrained liquid or oil to the compressor 330 from a suction accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 320. In addition, an oil return line returns oil to the compressor 330 from the oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 320. Alternatively, an oil separator is mounted in the compressor assembly.
Parallel vertical connection pipes are connected between condenser assembly 340 and the refrigerant control assembly 320. The vertical connection pipes include a hot high pressure vapor pipe and a cool liquid refrigerant pipe. The hot high pressure vapor pipe is connected to the condenser 340 from the oil separator in the refrigerant control assembly 320. The liquid refrigerant pipe is connected to condenser 340 and to a liquid accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 320.
Assemblies 320, 330 and 340 and connecting pipes complete the linear vertical condenser unit 350.
Parallel vertical pipes connect the refrigerant control assembly 320 to the evaporator assembly 360. The vertical refrigerant pipes include a liquid refrigerant pipe and a spent vapor return pipe. One pipe delivers liquid refrigerant to the evaporator 360 from a liquid refrigerant filter in the refrigerant control assembly 320. The other pipe returns spent vapor from the evaporator 360 to a suction accumulator in the refrigerant control assembly 320.
The liquid pipe connects to an inlet of an expansion valve in the evaporator assembly 360. The vapor pipe connects to a refrigerant pressure control valve in an outlet of the evaporator 360. Wires are connected between the refrigerant control assembly 320 and stepper motors which control the expansion valve and pressure control valve on the evaporator 360. Sensor wires are connected between the refrigerant control assembly 320 and temperature sensors at the inlet and outlet of the evaporator. Alternatively, the expansion valve and refrigerant pressure control valve may be mounted in the refrigerant control assembly 320.
As shown in
Port 732 provides one half of a quick disconnect self sealing connector to a compressor and driver. A similar port at the opposite end provides one half of a quick disconnect self sealing connector to parallel pipes for connection to the compressor and driver subassembly.
Quick disconnect joint 734 and a similar joint at an opposite end of refrigerant control assembly 720 connect parallel pipes 780 with complementary quick disconnect joints to the condenser assembly.
Quick disconnect joint 736 and a similar joint at the opposite end of the refrigerant control assembly connect refrigerant pipes with complementary quick disconnect joints to the evaporator.
Quick disconnect joints 722 and a similar joint connect parallel pipes to a secondary compressor.
Quick disconnect joint 724 and a similar joint connect parallel pipes to a secondary condenser.
Quick disconnect joint 726 and a similar joint connect parallel pipes with complementary quick disconnect joints to slave evaporators operating at the same temperature as the evaporator connected to quick disconnect joint 736.
Optional additional quick disconnect self sealing joints 737 and 739 and similar joints at the opposite end of assemblies and pipes with complementary self sealing joints connect the refrigeration control assembly 720 respectively to an independent condenser unit and to an independent evaporator operating at a different temperature.
A pendulum 940 is placed in the cylindrical body 911. Seals 942, 944 are fixed on projecting ends 946, 948 of pendulum body 940. Liquid refrigerant pipes 932, 934 are pushed through seals 942, 944 into the projecting ends 946, 948. Incoming liquid 936 from a condenser flows from pipe 932 through internal tube 952 to the top of pendulum 940 and out through a 45° opening 953 into the upper portion 917 of sealed internal chamber 918. The 45° opening 953 increases outlet dimensions, providing less resistance to liquid flow. Internal tube 954 in pendulum 940 has a 45° opening 955 to draw liquid refrigerant 956 from the lower part 919 of sealed chamber 918. Vapor 958 with bubbles, if any, in incoming pipe 932 and internal tube 952 remains in the upper part 917 of chamber 918. Bolts 916 on lids 912 and 914 allow removal of the lids to clean and refurbish the pendulum 940 and chamber 918. The cylindrical body 911 and the pendulum 940 and its internal liquid lines and outlet and inlet 953 and 955 allow the liquid accumulator to be rotated to any position.
Pendulum 980 has internal inlet 982 and outlet 984 flow lines and a small diameter liquid and oil suction line 987. Pendulum 980 has extensions 986, 988, which freely rotate on extended ends of refrigerant vapor pipes 972 and 974. Seals 992 and 994 are fixed on extensions 986 and 988 and receive the pushed-in vapor pipes 972 and 974 when lids 962 and 964 are bolted on ends of the cylindrical body 961 and the suction accumulator 960.
Semicircular internal vapor flow lines 982 and 984 deliver and withdraw vapor to and from opposite ends of accumulator chamber 963. Any oil and liquid in the returning vapor pipe 972 falls to a lower section of an upper portion of accumulator chamber 963. Suction from a compressor inlet attached to vapor outlet pipe 974 draws vapor from the second end of accumulator chamber 963 into interior semicircular vapor flow line 984. Low pressure in interior flow line 984 draws oil or liquid from a bottom portion of the suction accumulator chamber 963, into and through smaller internal tube 987 and into internal tube 984 and out through refrigerant vapor pipe 974 into a suction side of a compressor.
A hot high pressure vapor outlet pipe 1114 is mounted by fixing, welding or brazing in outlet lid 1104, which is bolted 1106 to an outlet end 1108 of the oil separator 1100.
Seal 1132 is fixed to the axial extension 1128 of pendulum 1120. Snap ring 1134 fits in an internal groove in extension 1128. High pressure hot vapor outlet pipe 1114 has a groove 1116 near its end 1115. The end 1115 of vapor outlet pipe 1114 is pushed into position through seal 1132 and snap ring 1134. Seal 1132 seals the pipe 1114 against vapor leakage, and snap ring 1134 prevents relative axial movement of pendulum extension 1128 on the end 1115 of vapor outlet pipe 1114. The high pressure vapor pipe extends outward to a quick connect sealing fitting to attach to a condenser inlet pipe.
Oil return pipe 1146 extends coaxially through high pressure vapor outlet pipe 1114 and is fixed and sealed 1119 where oil return pipe 1146 extends outward and separates from pipe 1114. Inner end 1117 of oil return pipe 1146 is pushed into a seal 1136. Seal 1136 is fixed on the end 1127 of vapor recovery line 1126, which is positioned in the middle of the connection between vapor line 1124 and end 1115 of vapor outlet pipe 1114. Oil from oil return pipe 1146 connected to the compressor helps to lubricate and seal the compressor.
In a simpler embodiment, the outlets of the oil return pipe 1146 and the high pressure vapor pipe 1114 are fixed in cylinder 1144, which is bolted to lid 1104. In a more complex construction, the oil return pipe 1146 passes through an optional stepper motor 1149 driven needle valve 1147 that regulates oil flow through oil return pipe 1146 to the compressor. The stepper motor driven needle valve 1147 is mounted in a cylinder 1148. The cylindrical body 1101 of the oil separator 1100, the pendulum 1120 and the vapor line 1124 and the vapor recovery line 1126 allows rotating the oil separator to any position when installing a heat transfer system.
The end lids 1152 and 1154 have quick connect leakless sealing couplings 1162, 1164 and 1168 respectively to one or more compressors, condensers and evaporators.
Internal piping in the housing connects the quick connect sealing couplings to internal elements. Among the internal elements are a rotatable horizontal liquid accumulator 1110, a rotatable horizontal suction accumulator 1160, a filter 1170, and a rotatable horizontal coalescing oil separator 1180.
Pendulums within cylindrical bodies of those elements allow rotation of the refrigerant control assembly to any position when installing a heat transfer system.
The housing 1151 of the refrigerant control assembly is filled with high density foam 1153 after the components and internal piping are installed for thermal, shock and sound insulation.
While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/276,604, 61/276,605 and 61/276,606, filed Sep. 14, 2009, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. This application incorporates by reference the disclosures of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/657,352 filed Jan. 19, 2010, Ser. No. 12/220,074 filed Jul. 21, 2008, Ser. No. 12/590,473 filed Nov. 9, 2009 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,242.
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