Oil separator and heat exchanger for vapor compression refrigeration system

A method of removing oil from the refrigerant in refrigeration system including a motor driving a compressor for compressing the refrigerant vapor, a condenser for condensing the compressed vapor to a liquid, and an expansion device and an evaporator for expanding and evaporating the liquid to a vapor;

• the method comprising introducing hot compressed refrigerant vapors having a predetermined pressure and containing entrained droplets of oil into a confined space, introducing cool liquid refrigerant under sufficient pressure to overcome the pressure of the hot compressed vapors into the confined space spacedly above the introduction of the hot compressed refrigerant vapors such that droplets of the liquid refrigerant fall downwardly by gravity in direct contact with the upwardly flowing hot compressed refrigerant vapors to effect a countercurrent heat exchange therebetween, subjecting the vapors while in said confined space to sudden changes in flow direction and to sudden changes in velocity to effect separation of the entrained oil droplets of oil from the vapors with the oil droplets falling by gravity into the bottom of the confined space into a pool of refrigerant liquid, separating the oil from the pool of refrigerant liquid, extracting the separated oil to lubricate the motor and compressor, and extracting the refrigerant liquid from the pool to the expansion device and the evaporator.