Flow control at flash tank of open cycle vapor compression heat pumps
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorHeinz Jaster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An arrangement of controls for a vapor compression open cycle industrial process heat pump permits the level of liquid and fluid pressure in a flash tank to be simultaneously and independently monitored and regulated to assure efficient operation of the system and to prevent equipment failure. Liquid level sensing means send a signal to a modulatable valve associated with a liquid discharge pump to maintain the liquid in the flash tank at an optimum level. At the same time, fluid pressure sensing means send a signal to a modulatable inlet throttle valve to regulate fluid pressure in the tank by regulating fluid as required, to maintain tank fluid pressure at the desired level.
Claims13
A vapor compression open cycle heat pump having a source of fluid supplied thereto, said fluid exhibiting fluctuations in its temperature and in its rate of entry into said heat pump including inlet valve means for regulating fluid flow into said heat pump from said source of fluid;
- tank means connecting to said inlet valve means for holding and separating said fluid into a liquid portion and a vapor portion;
- a compressor fluid dynamically communicating with said tank means such that the vapor portion of said fluid can flow to said compressor;
- a discharge pump fluid dynamically communicating with said tank means such that the liquid portion of said fluid can flow to said discharge pump;
- discharge valve means fluid dynamically communicating with said discharge pump so as to regulate the flow of fluid from said pump;
- liquid level responsive control means associated with said tank means for monitoring and controlling the amount of liquid in the liquid portion of said fluid;
- and fluid pressure responsive control means mounted within said tank means for monitoring and controlling pressure of the vapor portion of said fluid.
A method for simultaneously controlling the pressure and liquid level of a flash tank containing a liquid and a vapor phase of a liquid feedstock while removing at least a portion of said vapor phase of said liquid feedstock from said tank comprising:
- sensing pressure of vapor within said flash tank;
- regulating introduction of liquid feedstock into said flash tank in response to the pressure of vapor within said flash tank;
- sensing level of liquid within said flash tank;
- and
- regulating withdrawal of liquid from said flash tank in response to the level of liquid within said flash tank.
A vapor compression open cycle heat pump, comprising:
- tank means for holding and separating a fluid into a liquid portion and a vapor portion;
- inlet valve means coupled to said tank means for controlling input of said fluid into said tank means;
- inlet valve signalling means coupled to said tank means for controlling said inlet valve means in response to pressure within said tank means;
- a discharge pump fluid dynamically communicating with said tank means such that the liquid portion of said fluid can flow to said discharge pump;
- discharge valve means coupled to said discharge pump for regulating flow of liquid from said pump;
- and
- discharge valve signalling means coupled to said tank means for controlling said discharge valve means in response to level of liquid in said tank means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.