Apparatus and method for identifying and distinguishing different refrigerants
AssigneeSPX Corporation
InventorKenneth W. Manz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Refrigerant type is identified and determined by storing in electronic memory indicia representative of saturation pressure/temperature characteristics of a plurality of differing refrigerant types. A liquid refrigerant sample of unknown type is obtained and vaporized under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure. Refrigerant vapor temperature is measured at two different vapor pressures during the vaporization process, and such temperatures and pressures are then compared with the indicia prestored in memory. Two temperature readings at differing vapor pressures are sufficient to distinguish refrigerant type based upon the prestored saturation/temperature indicia.
Claims23
A method of determining refrigerant type comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing in electronic memory indicia representative of saturation pressure/temperature characteristics of a plurality of differing refrigerant types,
- (b) obtaining a liquid refrigerant sample of unknown type,
- (c) vaporizing the liquid refrigerant sample under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure,
- (d) measuring refrigerant temperature at two different vapor pressures during said step (c), (e) comparing said temperatures measured in said step (d) to said stored indicia, and (f) determining type of refrigerant in said liquid sample as a function of said comparison in said step (e).
A method of determining refrigerant type comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a liquid refrigerant sample of unknown type,
- (b) vaporizing the liquid refrigerant sample,
- (c) measuring temperature of refrigerant vapor generated in said step (b) at atmospheric pressure, and
- (d) determining refrigerant type as a function of refrigerant vapor temperature measured in said step (c).
Apparatus for identifying refrigerant type comprising:
- means for obtaining a refrigerant sample in liquid phase,
- means for vaporizing the liquid refrigerant sample by directing the sample through an orifice to atmospheric pressure,
- temperature sensing means for providing an electrical signal as a function of temperature of refrigerant vapor exiting said orifice to atmospheric pressure, and
- means for determining refrigerant type as a function of said electrical signal.
Apparatus for identifying refrigerant type comprising:
- an electronic memory having prestored therein indicia that relates refrigerant saturation pressure to temperature for a plurality of differing refrigerants,
- means for obtaining a liquid refrigerant sample,
- means for vaporizing said liquid refrigerant sample at atmospheric pressure,
- means for measuring refrigerant vapor temperature during operation of said vaporizing means at two differing refrigerant vapor pressures, one of which is atmospheric pressure,
- means for comparing such refrigerant vapor temperatures and pressures to said indicia stored in memory, and
- means for determining refrigerant type as a function of such comparison.
Apparatus for identifying refrigerant type comprising:
- an electronic memory having prestored therein indicia that relates refrigerant saturation pressure to temperature for a plurality of differing refrigerants,
- means for obtaining a liquid refrigerant sample,
- means for vaporizing said liquid refrigerant sample,
- means for measuring refrigerant vapor temperature at two differing refrigerant vapor pressures during operation of said vaporizing means,
- means for comparing such refrigerant vapor temperatures and pressures to said indicia stored in memory,
- means for determining refrigerant type as a function of such comparison, and
- means for capturing the vaporized liquid refrigerant sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.