Device and method for operating a refrigeration cycle without evaporator icing

A method for performing a refrigeration cycle without ice build-up on the evaporative surface, comprising:

• providing a compressor comprising an inlet and an outlet;
• providing a condenser, comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the condenser inlet is operatively coupled to the outlet of the compressor;
• providing a metering means, comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the metering means is operatively coupled to the outlet of the condenser;
• providing an evaporator, comprising an inlet, an outlet and an evaporative surface, wherein the evaporator inlet is operatively coupled to the outlet of the metering means and the outlet of the evaporator is operatively coupled to the inlet of the compressor;
• providing a hot gas bypass means, comprising an inlet, an outlet, an open position and a closed position, wherein the hot gas bypass means inlet is operatively coupled to the outlet of the compressor and the hot gas bypass means outlet is operatively coupled to the inlet of the evaporator or to an inlet of a manifold, wherein:
• the manifold comprises an inlet and a plurality of outlets, each outlet being operatively coupled to a different one of a plurality of inlets at different locations on the evaporative surface;
• the hot gas bypass means also being operatively coupled to a controller;
• providing one or more means for detecting ice formation on the evaporative surface, each such means being operatively coupled to the evaporative surface wherein, if there is more than one means, each is coupled to a different location on the evaporative surface, and to the controller;
• providing one or more temperature sensing means coupled to the evaporative surface and operatively coupled to the controller;
• providing a controller operatively coupled to each means for detecting the formation of ice on the evaporative surface, to each temperature sensing means and to the hot gas by-pass means;
• and,
• providing a refrigerant that circulates from the compressor to the condenser to the metering means to the evaporator and back to the compressor in a refrigeration cycle;
• wherein:
• when the means for detecting ice formation on the evaporative surface detect(s) such ice formation, a signal is sent to the controller which in turn sends an open signal to the hot gas bypass means, the hot gas bypass means remaining open until the controller receives a signal from the temperature sensing means that is above a pre-set value, at which time the controller sends a close signal to the hot gas bypass means.

A method for performing a refrigeration cycle without ice build-up on the evaporative surface, comprising:

• providing a compressor comprising an inlet and an outlet;
• providing a condenser, comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the condenser inlet is operatively coupled to the outlet of the compressor;
• providing a metering means, comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the metering means is operatively coupled to the outlet of the condenser;
• providing an evaporator, comprising an inlet, an outlet and an evaporative surface, wherein the evaporator inlet is operatively coupled to the outlet of the metering means and the outlet of the evaporator is operatively coupled to the inlet of the compressor;
• providing a hot gas bypass means, comprising an inlet, an outlet, an open position and a closed position, wherein the hot gas bypass means inlet is operatively coupled to the outlet of the compressor and the hot gas bypass means outlet is operatively coupled to the inlet of the evaporator or to an inlet of a manifold, wherein:
• the manifold comprises an inlet and a plurality of outlets, each outlet being operatively coupled to a different one of a plurality of inlets at different locations on the evaporative surface;
• the hot gas bypass means also being operatively coupled to a controller;
• providing one or more temperature sensing means coupled to the evaporative surface, wherein if there is more than one, each is coupled to a different location on the evaporative surface;
• providing a controller operatively coupled to each temperature sensing means and to the controller;
• wherein:
• each temperature-sensing means measures a temperature at its location on the evaporative surface and sends a signal corresponding to that temperature to the controller wherein, if the signal is at or below a pre-selected first set point temperature, the controller sends an open signal to the hot gas bypass means, the hot gas bypass means remaining open until the controller receives a signal from the temperature-sensing means than is above a pre-selected second set point temperature, at which time the controller sends a close signal to the hot gas bypass means.