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US 8,011,196 B2Granted
Refrigerant control of a heat-recovery chiller
AssigneeTrane International Inc.
InventorsAlan Hv Eber, Steven J. Pitts, Brian T. Sullivan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chiller includes a main condenser that has a refrigerant condensate sump with an internal weir or standpipe that maintains at least a minimum liquid seal between the outlets of the main condenser and a heat-recovery condenser. The main condenser is used for normal cooling operation, and the heat-recovery condenser is for supplying an external process with heat that would otherwise be wasted. In addition to providing a liquid seal, the sump and weir combination provides a reliable source of liquid refrigerant to cool the chiller's compressor motor and creates a trap for collecting foreign particles that might exit either of the chiller's two condensers.
Claims22
A refrigerant system for handling liquid and gaseous refrigerant, comprising:
- a compressor that defines a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;
- a main condenser connected in fluid communication with the compressor outlet;
- an evaporator connected in fluid communication with the compressor inlet;
- a main expansion device connected in fluid communication with the main condenser and the evaporator such that the main expansion device is downstream of the main condenser and upstream of the evaporator;
- a second condenser connected in bypass flow relationship with the main condenser;
- a condensate sump connected to receive the refrigerant from at least one of the main condenser and the second condenser, the condensate sump is also connected to release the refrigerant to the main expansion device;
- a weir disposed within the condensate sump to help maintain a minimum level of liquid refrigerant therein;
- and
- a drain tube connecting the second condenser in fluid communication with the condensate sump such that the drain tube, the weir and the condensate sump provide a gas trap between the main condenser and the second condenser.
6 more elements
A refrigerant system for handling liquid and gaseous refrigerant, comprising:
- a compressor that defines a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;
- a main condenser connected in fluid communication with the compressor outlet;
- an evaporator connected in fluid communication with the compressor inlet;
- a main expansion device connected in fluid communication with the main condenser and the evaporator such that the main expansion device is downstream of the main condenser and upstream of the evaporator;
- a second condenser connected in bypass flow relationship with the main condenser, wherein the second condenser is higher than the main condenser;
- a condensate sump connected to receive the refrigerant from at least one of the main condenser and the second condenser, the condensate sump is also connected to release the refrigerant to the main expansion device;
- a weir disposed within the condensate sump to help maintain a minimum level of liquid refrigerant therein;
- a drain tube connected to a lower portion of the second condenser, the drain tube connects the second condenser in fluid communication with the condensate sump such that the drain tube, the weir and the condensate sump provide a gas trap between the main condenser and the second condenser, wherein the gas trap provides a variable liquid head between the main condenser and the second condenser, and the second condenser is selectively operable in an active mode and an inactive mode such that the variable liquid head is greater in the active mode than in the inactive mode;
- and
- a refrigerant feed pipe connected to an upper portion of the second condenser, the refrigerant feed pipe connects the main condenser in fluid communication with the second condenser, wherein the refrigerant feed pipe is of a greater diameter than that of the drain tube.
7 more elements
A refrigerant system for handling liquid and gaseous refrigerant, comprising:
- a compressor that defines a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, wherein the compressor is driven by a motor;
- a main condenser connected in fluid communication with the compressor outlet;
- an evaporator connected in fluid communication with the compressor inlet;
- a main expansion device connected in fluid communication with the main condenser and the evaporator such that the main expansion device is downstream of the main condenser and upstream of the evaporator;
- a second condenser connected in bypass flow relationship with the main condenser, wherein the second condenser is higher than the main condenser;
- a condensate sump connected to receive the refrigerant from at least one of the main condenser and the second condenser, the condensate sump is also connected to release the refrigerant to the main expansion device;
- a weir disposed within the condensate sump to help maintain a minimum level of liquid refrigerant therein;
- a drain tube connected to a lower portion of the second condenser, the drain tube connects the second condenser in fluid communication with the condensate sump such that the drain tube, the weir and the condensate sump provide a gas trap between the main condenser and the second condenser, wherein the gas trap provides a variable liquid head between the main condenser and the second condenser, and the second condenser is selectively operable in an active mode and an inactive mode such that the variable liquid head is greater in the active mode than in the inactive mode;
- a refrigerant feed pipe connected to an upper portion of the second condenser, the refrigerant feed pipe connects the main condenser in fluid communication with the second condenser, wherein the refrigerant feed pipe is of a greater diameter than that of the drain tube;
- a liquid cooling line that connects the motor in fluid communication with the condensate sump;
- an intermediate expansion device connected in fluid communication with the condensate sump;
- and
- an economizer defining an economizer inlet connected in fluid communication with the intermediate expansion device and an economizer outlet connected in fluid communication with the main expansion device, and
- a line connecting the economizer in fluid communication with the compressor.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.