Method and apparatus for analyzing refrigerant properties
AssigneeSPX Corporation
InventorsKenneth W. Manz, Sandra Snyder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more properties of a refrigerant are analyzed by evacuating a refrigerant sample vessel, drawing a refrigerant vapor sample into the vessel, and condensing the refrigerant sample within the vessel for measurement and indication of one or more desired properties of the liquid refrigerant sample. By drawing the sample refrigerant in vapor phase rather than liquid phase, the sample will be relatively free of lubricant, particulate or water contamination. The sample vessel can be readily cleaned by simple evacuation in preparation for the next measurement cycle.
Claims5
A refrigerant handling system that includes a compressor having an inlet, input means for connecting said compressor inlet to a source of refrigerant, and means coupled to said input means for analyzing and indicating refrigerant composition, purity or both composition and purity prior to passage of the refrigerant to said compressor comprising:
- a refrigerant sample vessel,
- means for connection to said vessel to evacuate said vessel,
- means for selectively connecting said vessel to a vapor port at the refrigerant source so that reduced pressure in said vessel draws refrigerant in vapor phase into said vessel,
- means coupled to said vessel for reducing temperature of said vessel and thereby condensing refrigerant within said vessel, and
- means operatively coupled to said vessel for measuring and indicating composition, purity or both composition and purity of liquid phase refrigerant in said vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.