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US 2018/0306474 A1Published application
Expansion valve and vapour compression system
AssigneeDanfoss A/S
InventorsSergio Uribe, Johannes Cornelius Jacobus Van Beek
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AssigneeDanfoss A/S
InventorsSergio Uribe, Johannes Cornelius Jacobus Van Beek
Estimating the term…
An expansion valve (2) for a vapour compression system (1) and a vapour compression system (1) are disclosed. The expansion valve (1) comprises a valve element (9), a valve seat (13) as well as a biasing member (12). The valve element (9) and the valve seat (13) are arranged in a first fluid passage (6) of the expansion valve (2). The expansion valve (2) further comprises a shape memory alloy actuator (17) that exerts a force on the valve element towards an open valve position when the shape memory alloy actuator is heated by an electric current. The object of the invention is to provide an expansion valve for a vapour compression system of the above type that maybe controlled externally but is also self-regulating. To this end the shape memory alloy actuator (17) is arranged in a second fluid passage (7) of the expansion valve (2), wherein the shape memory alloy actuator (17) is arranged to be in thermal contact with the fluid in the second fluid passage (7), such that the shape memory alloy actuator also actuates the valve element (9) towards a closed valve position when the shape memory actuator (17) is cooled by the fluid in the second fluid passage (7).
An expansion valve comprising a valve element, a valve seat as well as a biasing member, that exerts a force on the valve element towards a closed valve position, wherein the valve element and the valve seat are arranged in a first fluid passage of the expansion valve, and wherein the expansion valve further comprises a shape memory alloy actuator that exerts a force on the valve element towards an open valve position when the shape memory alloy actuator is heated by an electric current, wherein, the shape memory alloy actuator is arranged in a second fluid passage of the expansion valve, wherein the shape memory alloy actuator is arranged to be in thermal contact with a fluid in the second fluid passage, such that the shape memory alloy actuator also actuates the valve element towards a closed valve position when the shape memory alloy actuator is cooled by a fluid in the second fluid passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.