Refrigerant handling system and method with air purge and multiple refrigerant capabilities
AssigneeSPX Corporation
InventorDaniel L. Olds
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A refrigerant handling system that includes a closed chamber having an inlet for directing refrigerant in liquid phase into the chamber such that the refrigerant collects at a lower portion of the chamber and non-condensibles are trapped in the upper portion of the chamber over the refrigerant. The rate of increase in level of refrigerant in the chamber is measured as liquid phase refrigerant is directed thereto, and non-condensibles are purged from the upper portion of the chamber when the rate of increase of refrigerant level is less than a preselected threshold.
Claims15
A method of purging non-condensibles from refrigerant that comprises the steps of:
- (a) directing refrigerant in liquid phase into a closed chamber such that the refrigerant collects at a lower portion of said chamber and non-condensibles are trapped in an upper position of said chamber over the refrigerant,
- (b) determining rate of increase in level of refrigerant in said chamber in said step (a), and
- (c) purging non-condensibles from the upper portion of said chamber when said rate of increase is less than a preselected threshold.
A refrigerant handling system that includes:
- a closed chamber for holding refrigerant,
- means for directing refrigerant in liquid phase into said chamber such that the refrigerant collects at a lower portion of said chamber and non-condensibles are trapped in an upper portion of said chamber over the refrigerant,
- means for measuring rate of increase in level of refrigerant in said chamber, and
- means for purging non-condensibles from said upper portion of said chamber when said rate of increase is less than a selected threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.