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US 2025/0116441 A1Published application
Smart accumulator with oil circulation ratio sensing
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsEckhard Achim Groll, James Edward Braun, Orkan Kurtulus, Parveen Dhillon, Vatsal Manilal Shah
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Abstract
System and methods for oil circulation ratio (OCR) sensing with a suction-line accumulator are provided. The accumulator may include a sensor configured to detect the level of oil. The accumulator may further include a valve which opens when oil is at a high-level and closes when oil is at a low-level. The valve may release accumulated oil into the suction-line based on a level-sensor inside the accumulator.
Claims16
An accumulator for a vapor compression cycle system comprising:
- a shell defining an internal cavity;
- an inlet line to the internal cavity, the inlet line configured connect to a first suction line of the vaper compression cycle system and eject vapor and oil into the internal cavity;
- an outlet line having a vapor inlet disposed in the shell, an oil inlet disposed in the shell proximate to a bottom of the internal cavity, and an outlet which extends out of the internal cavity of the shell and is configured to connect to a second suction line of the vapor compression cycle system;
- a valve;
- and a level sensor disposed in the internal cavity,
- wherein the valve is configured open and cause oil accumulated at the bottom of the internal cavity to flow into the oil inlet, out of the outlet, and into the second suction line when oil is accumulated at upper location of the level sensor, and
- wherein the valve is configured to close and stop oil from flowing into oil inlet when oil drains to a lower location of the level sensor.
4 more elements
A vapor compression cycle system comprising:
- An accumulator connected in series with a suction line, the accumulator comprising:
- a shell defining an internal cavity;
- an inlet line to the internal cavity, the inlet line configured to eject vapor and oil from the suction line into the internal cavity;
- an outlet line having a vapor inlet disposed in the shell, an oil inlet disposed in the shell proximate to a bottom of the internal cavity, and an outlet which extends out of the internal cavity and is configured to connect to the suction line;
- a valve;
- and a level sensor disposed in the internal cavity,
- wherein the valve is configured open and cause oil accumulated at the bottom of the internal cavity to flow into the oil inlet, out of the outlet, and into the suction line when oil is accumulated at upper location of the level sensor, and
- wherein the valve is configured to close and stop oil from flowing into the suction line when oil reaches a lower location of the level sensor.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.