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US 12,359,828 B2Granted
Low charge packaged ammonia refrigeration system with evaporative condenser
AssigneeEvapco, Inc.
InventorsKurt L. Liebendorfer, Gregory S. Derosier, Trevor Hegg, Sarah L. Ferrari, Don Hamilton, Nicholas Hesser, Kenneth Wright
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packaged, pumped liquid, evaporative-condensing recirculating ammonia refrigeration system with charges of 10 lbs or less of refrigerant per ton of refrigeration capacity. The compressor and related components are situated inside the plenum of a standard evaporative condenser unit, and the evaporator is close coupled to the evaporative condenser. Single or dual phase cyclonic separators may also be housed in the plenum of the evaporative condenser.
Claims17
A refrigeration system comprising:
- a refrigerant evaporator coil,
- vapor/liquid separation structure connected to an outlet of said evaporator coil via refrigerant line configured to separate low pressure refrigerant vapor from low pressure refrigerant liquid;
- a refrigerant compressor connected to an outlet of said vapor liquid separation structure via refrigerant line and configured to compress refrigerant vapor from said vapor liquid separation structure;
- an evaporative refrigerant condenser connected to an outlet of said refrigerant compressor via refrigerant line and configured to condense refrigerant vapor produced in said compressor to refrigerant liquid,
- a high pressure-side expansion device connected to an outlet of said evaporative refrigerant condenser via refrigerant line and configured to reduce pressure of refrigerant liquid received from said evaporative refrigerant condenser;
- a collection vessel connected to an outlet of said high pressure-side expansion device via refrigerant line for receiving refrigerant liquid from said high pressure-side expansion device;
- a low pressure-side expansion device connected to an outlet of said collection vessel via refrigerant line and configured to reduce pressure of refrigerant liquid received from said collection vessel;
- refrigerant line connecting an outlet of said low pressure-side expansion device to an inlet of said vapor/liquid separation structure and configured to deliver refrigerant liquid to said separation structure;
- said vapor/liquid separation structure having a liquid outlet that is connected via refrigerant line to an inlet of said evaporator;
- wherein said vapor/liquid separation structure, said compressor, said high pressure side expansion device, said collection vessel, and said low pressure side expansion device are situated inside a plenum of said evaporative refrigerant condenser;
- and
- wherein said refrigerant is ammonia.
9 more elements
A method for assembling a refrigeration system having a refrigerant evaporator coil,
- a liquid/vapor separator connected to an outlet of said evaporator coil via refrigerant line configured to separate low pressure refrigerant vapor from low pressure refrigerant liquid,
- a refrigerant compressor connected to an outlet of said liquid/vapor separator via refrigerant line and configured to compress refrigerant vapor from said liquid/vapor separator,
- an evaporative refrigerant condenser connected to an outlet of said refrigerant compressor via refrigerant line and configured to condense refrigerant vapor produced in said compressor to refrigerant liquid,
- a high pressure-side expansion device connected to an outlet of said evaporative refrigerant condenser via refrigerant line and configured to reduce pressure of refrigerant liquid received from said evaporative refrigerant condenser,
- a collection vessel connected to an outlet of said high pressure-side expansion device via refrigerant line for receiving refrigerant liquid from said high pressure-side expansion device,
- a low pressure-side expansion device connected to an outlet of said collection vessel via refrigerant line and configured to reduce pressure of refrigerant liquid received from said collection vessel, and
- said method comprising packaging said refrigerant compressor, said vapor/liquid separator, said high pressure-side expansion device, said collection vessel, and said low pressure-side expansion device in a plenum of said evaporative refrigerant condenser, connecting said refrigerant evaporator coil to said evaporative refrigerant condenser via refrigerant line, and filling said refrigerant system with ammonia refrigerant.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.