Back to results
US 5,689,966 AGranted
Method and apparatus for desuperheating refrigerant
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsJames A. Zess, M. Kevin Drost, Charles J. Call
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus and method for de-superheating a primary refrigerant leaving a compressor wherein a secondary refrigerant is used between the primary refrigerant to be de-superheated. Reject heat is advantageously used for heat reclaim.
Claims15
An apparatus for de-superheating a primary refrigerant exiting a compressor, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first heat exchanger placed between the compressor and a condenser, said first heat exchanger having a primary side for receiving the superheated primary refrigerant, and a secondary side for receiving an intermediate refrigerant in a liquid state, wherein said superheated primary refrigerant is de-superheated while said intermediate refrigerant is evaporated, wherein a pressure of said intermediate refrigerant is substantially matched to a pressure of said primary refrigerant;
- and
- (b) a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger, for receiving said evaporated intermediate refrigerant and exchange heat to a heat sink fluid thereby condensing the evaporated intermediate refrigerant.
A method for de-superheating a primary refrigerant exiting a compressor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a first heat exchanger between the compressor and a condenser, said first heat exchanger having a primary side for receiving the superheated primary refrigerant, and a secondary side for receiving an intermediate refrigerant in a liquid state, therein de-superheating said superheated refrigerant and evaporating said intermediate refrigerant, wherein a pressure of said intermediate refrigerant is substantially matched to a pressure of said primary refrigerant;
- and
- (b) flowing the evaporated intermediate refrigerant to a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger, and exchanging heat to a heat sink fluid and condensing the evaporated intermediate refrigerant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.