Vapor compression system and method

A vapor compression system comprising:

• an evaporator;
• a compressor configured to receive a heat transfer fluid from the evaporator and to discharge the a heat transfer fluid at relatively high temperature and pressure;
• a condenser configured to receive the heat transfer fluid from the compressor at an inlet and to discharge the heat transfer fluid in a liquid state;
• a multifunctional valve configured to receive the heat transfer fluid in the liquid state at a first inlet and in the vapor state at a second inlet,
• wherein the multifunctional valve includes a first passageway coupled to the first inlet, the first passageway having a metering valve positioned therein and gated by a first valve, and a second passageway coupled to the second inlet and gated by a second valve, and a common chamber, and
• wherein the first and second passageways terminate at the common chamber;
• a liquid line connected to the condenser and to the first inlet of the multifunctional valve;
• and
• a bifurcated discharge line connected to the compressor and having a first portion connected to the condenser and a second portion connected to the second inlet of the multifunctional valve.

A method for operating a vapor compression system comprising:

• providing a multifunctional valve including a first inlet for receiving a heat transfer fluid in the liquid state, a second inlet for receiving the heat transfer fluid in the gaseous state, a first passageway coupling the first inlet to a common chamber, the first passageway having a metering valve positioned therein and gated by a first valve, and a second passageway coupling the second inlet to the common chamber, the second passageway gated by a second valve;
• compressing the heat transfer fluid to a relatively high temperature and pressure and flowing the heat transfer fluid through a first discharge line to a condenser and through a second discharge line to the second inlet of the multifunctional valve through the first pathway in the multifunctional valve;
• flowing the heat transfer fluid from the condenser through a liquid line to the first inlet of the multifunctional valve,
• wherein the heat transfer fluid undergoes volumetric expansion at the metering valve;
• collecting the heat transfer fluid in the common chamber and flowing the heat transfer fluid through a saturated vapor line to an evaporator,
• wherein the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid in the saturated vapor line and the length of the saturated vapor line between the multifunctional valve and the evaporator is sufficient to vaporize a substantial portion of the heat transfer fluid to form a saturated vapor before the heat transfer fluid enters the evaporator,
• wherein the saturated vapor substantially fills the evaporator, and
• wherein heat is transferred to the saturated vapor from the ambient surroundings;
• and
• returning the saturated vapor to the compressor through a suction line.

A vapor compression system for transferring heat from an ambient atmosphere by flowing a heat transfer fluid comprising:

• a compressor;
• a condenser;
• a discharge line coupling the compressor to the condenser;
• an evaporator;
• a suction line coupling the evaporator to the compressor;
• a multifunctional valve;
• a liquid line coupling the condenser to the multifunctional valve;
• and
• a saturated vapor line coupling the multifunctional valve to the evaporator, wherein the saturated vapor line is characterized by a diameter and by a length, and wherein the diameter and the length is sufficient to substantially convert the heat transfer fluid into a saturated vapor prior to delivery to the evaporator.

A multifunctional valve for generating a substantially saturated vapor comprising:

• an inlet providing fluid ingress to a first expansion chamber;
• an outlet providing fluid egress from a second expansion chamber;
• a passageway interconnecting the first expansion chamber and the second expansion chamber;
• a gate valve positioned in the passageway intermediate to the first expansion chamber and the second expansion chamber;
• and
• an expansion valve positioned in the first expansion chamber passageway adjacent to the inlet.

A multifunctional valve for generating a substantially saturated vapor comprising:

• a valve body housing a common chamber and a passageway connected to the common chamber, the common chamber having an outlet for discharging a substantially saturated vapor;
• an expansion chamber connected to the valve body, the expansion chamber having an inlet at a first end for receiving a liquefied heat transfer fluid and an outlet at a second end coupled to the passageway;
• and
• an expansion valve positioned in the expansion chamber adjacent to the inlet, the expansion valve having a valve assembly protruding into the passageway for regulating the flow of liquefied heat transfer fluid into the expansion chamber.

In a vapor compression system including a compressor receiving a heat transfer fluid through a suction line and connected to a condenser discharging the heat transfer fluid through a liquid line, a system for generating a substantially saturated vapor comprising:

• first means for receiving a heat transfer fluid as a substantially pressurized liquid;
• means for vaporizing at least a portion of the pressurized liquid to form a saturated vapor;
• means for regulating the flow of the heat transfer fluid through means for vaporizing;
• means for collecting the heat transfer fluid;
• a first passage way providing fluid flow from the means for vaporizing to the means for collecting;
• means in the first passageway for terminating the flow of heat transfer fluid therethrough;
• second means for receiving the heat transfer fluid as a high-pressure vapor;
• a second passage way providing fluid flow from the second means to the means for collecting;
• and
• means in the second passageway for terminating the flow of heat transfer fluid therethrough,
• wherein the means for collecting is configured to discharge the heat transfer fluid received through the first passageway as a substantially saturated vapor, and is configured to discharge the heat transfer fluid received through the second passageway as a high pressure vapor.

A system for receiving a heat transfer fluid through either a liquid line or a condenser bypass line and for discharging the heat transfer fluid as either a substantially saturated vapor or as a highly pressurized vapor comprising:

• a first chamber, the first chamber having a first inlet for receiving a liquefied heat transfer fluid;
• a second chamber;
• a first passageway interconnecting the first chamber and the second chamber;
• a second passageway connected to the second chamber for providing the flow of a highly pressurized heat transfer fluid to the second chamber;
• a thermally responsive element configured to regulate the flow of heat transfer fluid through the first chamber;
• a first gating valve operable to terminate the flow of heat transfer fluid through the first passageway;
• a second gating valve operable to terminate the flow of heat transfer fluid through the second passageway;
• and
• an outlet in the second chamber for discharging the heat transfer fluid received from the first chamber as a substantially saturated vapor and discharging the heat transfer fluid received through the second passageway as a high pressure vapor.

A vapor compression system for transferring heat from an ambient atmosphere by flowing a heat transfer fluid comprising:

• a compressor;
• a condenser;
• a discharge line coupling the compressor to the condenser;
• an evaporator;
• a suction line coupling the evaporator to the compressor;
• a multifunctional valve;
• a liquid line coupling the condenser to the multifunctional valve;
• and
• a saturated vapor line coupling the multifunctional valve to the evaporator, wherein the multifunctional valve is positioned in close proximity to the condenser, the saturated vapor line is of relatively great length in relation to the liquid line, the saturated vapor line is characterized by a diameter and by a length, and the diameter and the length is sufficient to substantially convert the heat transfer fluid into a saturated vapor prior to delivery to the evaporator.