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US 6,474,087 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for the control of economizer circuit flow for optimum performance
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorAlexander Lifson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The economizer flow to the intermediate compression chamber inside a compressor is controlled via a variable restriction. The size of the restriction is selected to optimize unit performance in relation to operating conditions.
Claims11
An economized refrigeration or air conditioning system having:
- a closed fluid circuit serially including a compressor, a discharge line, a condenser, an economizer, a first expansion device, an evaporator, and a suction line leading back to said compressor;
- a branch line connected to said closed fluid circuit intermediate said condenser and said economizer;
- and serially including a second expansion device, said economizer, and expanding into said compressor;
- means for sensing operating conditions in said refrigeration system;
- means for controlling said refrigeration system responsive to sensed operating conditions;
- a variable restriction for controlling the rate of flow from said branch line into said compressor, said variable restriction variable in size in response to sets of said operating conditions;
- and
- said means for controlling said refrigeration system controlling said variable restriction for controlling the rate of flow from said branch line into said compressor.
5 more elements
A method of enhancing economizer cycling efficiency in a refrigeration or air conditioning system having a compressor and a line, supplying economizer flow to the compressor including the steps of:
- sensing a plurality of operating conditions in the refrigeration system;
- controlling economizer flow into the compressor with a variable restriction varying in size in response to sets of operating conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.