# US 11,079,147 B2 · Method for loading refrigerant in an air conditioning system

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- Number: US 11,079,147 B2
- Document ID: US11079147B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/577,608
- Filed: 2016-05-23
- Published: 2018-06-14
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-29
- Assignees: Snap-On Climate Solutions S.R.L.
- Applicants: Snap-On Climate Solutions S.R.L.
- Inventors: Rahhali Sanhaji
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079147B2

## CPC

- F25B 45/00: Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant
- F25B 49/022: {Compressor control arrangements}
- F25B 2345/001: Charging refrigerant to a cycle
- F25B 2345/003: Control issues for charging or collecting refrigerant to or from a cycle
- F25B 2345/006: characterised by charging or discharging valves
- F25B 2345/007: characterised by the weighing of refrigerant or oil
- F25B 2500/19: Calculation of parameters
- F25B 2700/19: Pressures
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A method for loading refrigerant fluid into an A/C system from an apparatus for recovering and regenerating refrigerant fluid includes a step of hydraulically connecting the apparatus with the A/C system by a high pressure pipe and a low pressure pipe and a step of loading refrigerant fluid present in a storage container of the apparatus into the A/C system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of loading refrigerant into an A/C system from an apparatus for recovering and regenerating the refrigerant, the method comprising the steps of:
hydraulically connecting the apparatus with the A/C system through a high pressure pipe and a low pressure pipe;
loading the refrigerant present in a storage container of the apparatus into the A/C system;
wherein the loading step comprises:
measuring an initial amount of refrigerant P0 present in the storage container;
setting a value B of an amount of total refrigerant to be loaded into the A/C system;
loading into the A/C system, through the high pressure duct and/or the low pressure duct, an amount of refrigerant in liquid phase equal to B−x, wherein x is a predetermined quantity;
calculating a value by the equation B*=B+m, wherein m is a quantity that is positive, negative or null, the absolute value of m being less than the absolute value of B;
further loading, for a number i of cycles, where i=1, 2, . . . , n, quantities αi of refrigerant, comprising the steps of:
measuring an actual amount of refrigerant Pi present in the storage container at the i-th cycle;
determining by subtraction a value Ti=P0−Pi, where Ti is an overall amount of refrigerant discharged from the storage container as of the i-th cycle;
calculating a quantity αi by the equation αi=B*−Ti;
loading into the A/C system an amount of refrigerant in liquid phase equal to αi/2 through the high pressure pipe and/or the low pressure pipe;
the further loading ending when αi becomes less than a predetermined value ε.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the quantity m is a function of an average difference of pressure DPaverage between a pressure in the storage container and a pressure in the A/C system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the quantity m is a function of the average difference of pressure DPaverage according to the following:
if DPaverage<1 bar, then 8 g<m<12 g;
if 1 bar≤DPaverage<2 bar, then 1 g<m<5 g; and
if DPaverage>2 bar, then −4 g<m<0.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the quantity m is a function of an average mass flowrate DMaverage of refrigerant during the loading of the amount of refrigerant B−x.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein the quantity m is a function of the average mass flowrate DMaverage according to the following:
if DMaverage<535 g/minute, then 8 g<m<12 g;
if 535 g/minute≤DMaverage<1070 g/minute, then 1 g<m<5 g; and
if DMaverage≥1070 g/minute, then −4 g<m<0.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein 20 g<x<80 g.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein, before the loading step, the method further comprises a step of sending an amount V1 of refrigerant in gaseous phase through the low pressure pipe towards the A/C system, in order to push the refrigerant in liquid phase present in the low pressure pipe toward the A/C system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein, after the loading step of refrigerant in the liquid phase, the method further comprises a step of sending an amount V2 of refrigerant in gaseous phase through the high pressure pipe towards the A/C system, in order to push the refrigerant in liquid phase present in the high pressure pipe towards the A/C system.