Vapor cycle system for cooling components and associated method
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorKevin Edward Hinderliter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vapor cycle system for cooling components includes a refrigeration circuit through which a mass of a refrigerant flows. The refrigeration circuit, in turn, includes a compressor, a first condenser, a second condenser fluidly coupled to the first condenser in series, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. Furthermore, the system includes a refrigerant charge control device configured to increase or decrease the mass of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration circuit, wherein the refrigerant charge control device comprises a storage device.
Claims19
A vapor cycle system for cooling components, the system comprising:
- a refrigeration circuit through which a mass of a refrigerant flows, the refrigeration circuit comprising:
- a compressor;
- a first condenser;
- a second condenser fluidly coupled to the first condenser in series;
- an expansion valve;
- an evaporator;
- and
- a refrigerant charge control device configured to increase or decrease the mass of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration circuit, wherein the refrigerant charge control device comprises a storage device.
A method for cooling components using a vapor cycle system, the vapor cycle system including a refrigeration circuit through which a mass of a refrigerant flows, the refrigeration circuit including a first condenser and a second condenser fluidly coupled to the first condenser in series, the vapor cycle system further including a refrigerant charge control device including a storage device coupled to a pressure source via a control valve and configured to increase or decrease the mass of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration circuit, the method comprising:
- monitoring, with a computing system, a pressure of the refrigerant exiting the second condenser;
- monitoring, with the computing system, a temperature of the refrigerant exiting the second condenser;
- and
- controlling, with the computing system, an operation of the refrigerant charge control device to adjust the mass of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration circuit based on the monitored pressure and the monitored temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.