US 5,341,649 A · Heat transfer system method and apparatus

Abstract

Method and apparatus for remotely monitoring the condition of a heat transfer fluid in the liquid line of a heat transfer system. The operation of the system is controlled in response to the results of the remote monitoring which may be used to indicate excessive moisture in the heat transfer fluid, low levels of heat transfer fluid, and non-condensed transfer fluid in the liquid line. Based upon the monitoring of the transfer fluid for non-condensed fluid, the rate of movement of a cooling fluid past a condenser for the transfer fluid is varied so that the temperature of the heat transfer fluid is kept as low as possible without formation of bubbles of non-condensed transfer fluid in the liquid line.

Claims25

Dependent claims

Apparatus for remotely monitoring the condition of a heat transfer fluid stream in a conduit of a heat transfer system, comprising;

(a) a radiation source,
(b) means for detecting radiation,
(c) an indicating element adapted to change color when the moisture content of the heat transfer fluid changes, said indicating element being located so that the amount of radiation detected by said radiation detection means is altered in response to a change in color of said indicating element,
(d) means for positioning said radiation source so that radiation therefrom impinges a fluid stream in a conduit,
(e) means for positioning said radiation detecting means to detect radiation after impingement with the fluid stream,
(f) means responsive to said radiation detecting means for generating a signal which is proportional to the amount of radiation detected, and
(g) means responsive to said signal for indicating the condition of said fluid stream.

4 more elements

Heat transfer apparatus, comprising;

(a) a heat transfer fluid circulating loop including means for evaporating a heat transfer fluid, means for condensing heat transfer fluid received from said evaporating means, liquid line means for conducting heat transfer fluid from said condensing means to said evaporating meads, suction line means for conducting heat transfer fluid from said evaporating means to said condensing means, and means for controlling operation of at least one circulating loop component,
(b) means for monitoring a condition of a heat transfer fluid in said liquid line including a radiation source for directing radiation to impinge a heat transfer fluid in said liquid line, means for detecting radiation from said radiation source after impingement with a heat transfer fluid, and means responsive to the amount of radiation detected for indicating the condition of an impinged heat transfer fluid, the formation of bubbles of non-condensed fluid in an impinged heat exchange fluid stream altering the amount of radiation detected by said radiation detection means, and
(c) means responsive to the amount of radiation detected for generating a detection signal which is proportional to the amount of non-condensed heat exchange fluid in a heat exchange fluid stream in said liquid line, and
(d) means responsive to said proportional signal for varying said operation controlling means to change operation of s circulating loop component in an smooth continuous manner.

1 more element

Heat transfer apparatus, comprising;

(a) a heat transfer fluid circulating loop including means for evaporating a heat transfer fluid, means for condensing heat transfer fluid received from said evaporating means, liquid line means for conducting heat transfer fluid from said condensing means to said evaporating means, and suction line means for conducting heat transfer fluid from said evaporating means to said condensing means,
(b) means for monitoring a condition of a heat transfer fluid in said liquid line including a radiation source for directing radiation to impinge a heat transfer fluid in said liquid line, means for detecting radiation from said radiation source after impingement with a heat transfer fluid, and means responsive to the amount of radiation detected for indicating the condition of an impinged heat transfer fluid, the formation of bubble of non-condensed fluid in an impinged heat exchange fluid stream altering the amount of radiation detected by said radiation detection means,
(c) means responsive to the amount of radiation detected for generating a detection signal which is proportional to the amount of non-condensed heat exchange fluid in a heat exchange fluid stream in said liquid line,
(d) means for moving a cooling fluid past and in heat exchange relationship with said condensing means to remove heat from a heat exchange fluid in said condensing means,
(e) means responsive to said detection signal for varying the rate at which said cooling fluid moving means moves said cooling fluid past said condensing means to maintain heat exchange fluid in said liquid line at the lowest temperature possible without formation of non-condensed heat exchange fluid in said liquid line;
(f) means for sensing the temperature of a heat exchange fluid in said liquid line and providing a signal when said fluid exceeds a predetermined temperature, and
(g) means responsive to said liquid line excessive temperature signal for terminating operation of said cooling fluid rate varying means and for setting said cooling fluid moving means to move said cooling fluid at a predetermined rate.

4 more elements

Heat transfer apparatus, comprising;

(a) a heat transfer fluid circulating loop including means for evaporating a heat transfer fluid, means for condensing heat transfer fluid received from said evaporating means, liquid line means for conducting heat transfer fluid from said condensing means to said evaporating means, and suction line means for conducting heat transfer fluid from said evaporating means to said condensing means,
(b) means for monitoring a condition of a heat transfer fluid in said liquid line including a radiation source for directing radiation to impinge a heat transfer fluid in said liquid line, means for detecting radiation from said radiation source after impingement with a heat transfer fluid, and means responsive to the amount of radiation detected for indicating the condition of an impinged heat transfer fluid, the formation of bubbles of non-condensed fluid in an impinged heat exchange fluid stream altering the amount of radiation detected by said radiation detection means,
(c) means responsive to the amount of radiation detected for generating a detection signal which is proportional to the amount of non-condensed heat exchange fluid in a heat exchange fluid stream in said liquid line,
(d) means for moving a cooling fluid past and in heat exchange relationship with said condensing means to remove heat from a heat exchange fluid in said condensing means,
(e) means responsive to said detection signal for varying the rate at which said cooling fluid moving means moves said cooling fluid past said condensing means to maintain heat exchange fluid in said liquid line at the lowest temperature possible without formation of non-condensed heat exchange fluid in said liquid line,
(f) means for sensing the temperature of a heat exchange fluid in said suction line and providing a signal when the fluid goes below a predetermined temperature, and
(g) means responsive to said suction line low temperature signal for terminating operation of said cooling fluid rate varying means and for setting said cooling fluid moving means to move said cooling fluid at a predetermined rate.

4 more elements

Heat transfer apparatus, comprising;

(a) a heat transfer fluid circulating loop including means for evaporating a heat transfer fluid, means for condensing heat transfer fluid received from said evaporating means, liquid line means for conducting heat transfer fluid from said condensing means to said evaporating means, and suction line means for conducting heat transfer fluid from said evaporating means to said condensing means,
(b) means for monitoring a condition of a heat transfer fluid in said liquid line including a radiation source for directing radiation to impinge a heat transfer fluid in said liquid line, means for detecting radiation from said radiation source after impingement with a heat transfer fluid, and means responsive to the amount of radiation detected for indicating the condition of an impinged heat transfer fluid, the formation of bubbles of non-condensed fluid in an impinged heat exchange fluid stream altering the amount of radiation detected by said radiation detection means,
(c) means responsive to the amount of radiation detected for generating a detection signal which is proportional to the amount of non-condensed heat exchange fluid in a heat exchange fluid stream in said liquid line,
(d) means for moving a cooling fluid past and in heat exchange relationship with said condensing means to remove heat from a heat exchange fluid in said condensing means,
(e) means responsive to said detection signal for varying the rate at which said cooling fluid moving means moves said cooling fluid past said condensing means to maintain heat exchange fluid in said liquid line at the lowest temperature possible without formation of non-condensed heat exchange fluid in said liquid line,
(f) means for sensing the pressure of a heat exchange fluid prior to entry of a fluid into said condensing means and providing a signal when the pressure of the fluid goes above a predetermined pressure, and
(g) means responsive to said excessive pressure signal for terminating operation of said cooling liquid rate varying means and for setting said cooling fluid moving means to move said cooling fluid at a predetermined rate.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heat transfer system method and apparatus

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Heat transfer system method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25