Vector Component for an Air-Conditioning System
AssigneeSpin Energy Corporation
InventorShaun E. Sullivan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices are described for implementing and/or utilizing a vector component within an air-conditioning (a/c) system. In one embodiment, the vector component may be situated between a compressor and a condenser of the a/c system. Moreover, the vector component may receive a superheated vapor from the compressor and route the superheated vapor into one or more capillary tubes. The superheated vapor may be cooled to a liquid by exposing the superheated vapor to a sub-cooled liquid. The liquid may then be transferred to the condenser. Additionally, at least a portion of the sub-cooled liquid may be heated to a saturated vapor and routed back to the compressor, where the above process may be repeated.
Claims20
An air-conditioning system comprising:
- a compressor that receives a saturated vapor and compresses the saturated vapor into a second vapor having a higher temperature and a higher pressure;
- a vector component that cools the second vapor discharged from the compressor into a liquid;
- and
- a condenser that receives the liquid and routes the liquid through a coil or tubes exposed to a flow of air or water to create a sub-cooled liquid, wherein the liquid rejects heat from the air-conditioning system and the rejected heat is carried away by the air or the water.
A method comprising:
- directing a superheated vapor received from a compressor into a capillary tube array that includes one or more capillary tubes;
- surrounding the capillary tube array with a sub-cooled liquid having a temperature lower than the superheated vapor;
- transferring heat from the superheated vapor to the sub-cooled liquid to convert the superheated vapor to a liquid;
- and
- heating, based at least in part on the heat transfer from the superheated vapor to the sub-cooled liquid, at least a portion of the sub-cooled liquid to a vapor.
A device comprising:
- an inner core that receives a compressed, superheated vapor from a compressor and directs the superheated vapor into one or more capillary tubes;
- and
- an outer shell surrounding the inner core that is capable of containing a sub-cooled liquid that lowers a temperature of the superheated vapor such that the superheated vapor is converted into a liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.