US 12,623,173 B2Granted

Device for refrigeration system

AssigneeTree Associates Ltd.

InventorBernard Killingbeck

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A device for reducing gas density in a liquid phase refrigerant in a refrigeration system is provided, the device comprising; a fluid inlet; a first outlet; a second outlet; a conduit, linking the fluid inlet to the first and second outlets; and a baffle, arranged within the conduit between the accelerator and the first outlet; wherein, the accelerator is configured to accelerate fluid from the fluid inlet towards the outlets, thereby separating out saturated gas in the fluid to reduce the gas density in the fluid; and the baffle is configured to direct the flow of lower gas density fluid towards the second outlet, and allows higher gas density fluid to pass around the baffle towards the first outlet. By providing a device in this manner, the energy efficiency and quality of refrigeration in a refrigeration system is improved.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device for reducing gas density in a liquid phase refrigerant, the device comprising:

a fluid inlet;
a first outlet;
a second outlet;
a conduit, linking the fluid inlet to the first outlet and the second outlet;
an accelerator, arranged within the conduit between the fluid inlet and both the first outlet and the second outlet,
wherein the accelerator is configured to accelerate a fluid from the fluid inlet towards the first outlet and the second outlet, thereby separating out saturated gas in the fluid to reduce the gas density in the fluid;
a baffle, arranged within the conduit between the accelerator and the first outlet, wherein the baffle is configured to direct lower gas density fluid to flow towards the second outlet and allow higher gas density fluid to pass around the baffle towards the first outlet;
wherein a compressor of a refrigeration system comprising the device is fluidly connected to the first outlet and the second outlet of the device;
wherein an evaporator of the refrigeration system is arranged between the compressor and the second outlet of the device;
wherein, in use, the fluid from the second outlet passes through the evaporator before entering the compressor and the fluid from the first outlet does not pass through the evaporator before entering the compressor;
and
wherein a buffer tank of the refrigeration system is arranged between the compressor and the first outlet of the device, and the buffer tank is arranged between the compressor and the evaporator.

9 more elements

A refrigeration system comprising:

a device that comprises:
a fluid inlet;
a first outlet;
a second outlet;
a conduit, linking the fluid inlet to the first outlet and the second outlet;
an accelerator, arranged within the conduit between the fluid inlet and both the first outlet and the second outlet,
wherein the accelerator is configured to accelerate a fluid from the fluid inlet towards the first outlet and the second outlet, thereby separating out saturated gas in the fluid to reduce the gas density in the fluid;
and
a baffle, arranged within the conduit between the accelerator and the first outlet, wherein the baffle is configured to direct lower gas density fluid to flow towards the second outlet and allow higher gas density fluid to pass around the baffle towards the first outlet;
a compressor fluidly connected to the first outlet and the second outlet of the device;
and
an evaporator arranged between the compressor and the second outlet of the device, the evaporator comprising:
evaporator pipework comprising:
an outer conduit arranged around an inner conduit,
wherein the inner conduit comprises walls having a membrane permeable to gas and impermeable to liquid;
wherein, in use, the fluid from the second outlet passes through the evaporator before entering the compressor and the fluid from the first outlet does not pass through the evaporator before entering the compressor.

13 more elements

A refrigeration system comprising:

a device that comprises:
a fluid inlet;
a first outlet;
a second outlet;
a conduit, linking the fluid inlet to the first outlet and the second outlet;
an accelerator, arranged within the conduit between the fluid inlet and both the first outlet and the second outlet,
wherein the accelerator is configured to accelerate a fluid from the fluid inlet towards the first outlet and the second outlet, thereby separating out saturated gas in the fluid to reduce the gas density in the fluid;
and
a baffle, arranged within the conduit between the accelerator and the first outlet,
wherein the baffle is configured to direct lower gas density fluid to flow towards the second outlet and allow higher gas density fluid to pass around the baffle towards the first outlet
a compressor fluidly connected to the first outlet and the second outlet of the device;
and
an evaporator arranged between the compressor and the second outlet of the device;
wherein, in use, the fluid from the second outlet passes through the evaporator before entering the compressor and the fluid from the first outlet does not pass through the evaporator before entering the compressor;
and
a buffer tank,
wherein the buffer tank is arranged between the compressor and the first outlet of the device, and the buffer tank is arranged between the compressor and the evaporator.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.