# US 5,704,215 A · Internal oil separator for a refrigeration system condenser

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- Number: US 5,704,215 A
- Document ID: US5704215A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/670,833
- Filed: 1996-06-28
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1996-06-28
- Assignees: Carrier Corporation
- Inventors: Richard G. Lord; David L. Waugh; Dennis R. Penge
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704215A

## CPC

- F25B 39/04: Condensers
- F25B 43/02: for separating lubricants from the refrigerant
- F25B 2339/0242: having tubular elements
- F25B 2400/13: Economisers
- F25B 2400/23: Separators
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

An oil separator for a refrigeration system having a screw compressor for pressurizing and circulating refrigerant through the system, an evaporator, a condenser and an oil separator. The oil separator is placed within the housing of the condenser.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigeration system comprising:
a condenser for condensing refrigerant vapor, said condenser having a housing and tubes disposed within a condenser portion of said housing;
an evaporator for evaporating liquid refrigerant to provide cooling;
a compressor for compressing refrigerant vapor received from said evaporator, said compressor lubricated with oil such that said refrigerant vapor contains oil; and
an oil separator for separating said refrigerant from said oil received from said compressor, said oil separator contained within a separator portion of said housing of said condenser said separator portion being separate from said condenser portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said tubes are disposed within a bottom portion of said housing and said oil separator is disposed in a top portion thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said oil separator is semi-circular in cross-section with a substantially flat bottom section facing said tubes of said condenser.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said tubes of said condenser are disposed in a bottom portion of said condenser and wherein said oil separator is semi-circular in cross-section having a substantially flat bottom section facing said tubes of said condenser.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The refrigeration system of claim 4 wherein said substantially flat bottom section forms an angle of approximately 30 degrees with the horizontal.

### Claim 6

A method of refrigeration comprising the steps of:
condensing refrigerant vapor in a condenser having a housing and tubes disposed within a condenser portion of said housing;
evaporating liquid refrigerant in an evaporator to provide cooling;
compressing in a compressor refrigerant vapor received from said evaporator, said compressor lubricated with oil such that said refrigerant vapor contains oil; and
separating said refrigerant and oil received from said compressor, said oil separating occurring within an oil separator contained within a separator portion of said housing of said condenser said separator portion being separate from said condenser portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A refrigeration system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said separator portion includes a refrigerant outlet passing to said condenser portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A method as set forth in claim 6 and including the further step of passing the separated refrigerant from said separator portion to said condenser portion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A refrigeration system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said separator portion extends the length of said housing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

A method of refrigeration as set forth in claim 6 wherein said separating step includes the step of passing the refrigerant along the length of the said housing.