Low refrigerant volume condenser for hydrocarbon refrigerant and ice making machine using same
AssigneeManitowoc Foodservice Companies, Inc.
InventorCharles E. Schlosser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ice making machine using hydrocarbon (HC), and particularly propane, as the refrigerant is disclosed. The ice making machine has components which have been modified in size, type and operation to accommodate the use of HCs, and particularly propane, in the ice making machine refrigerant system. Also disclosed is a low volume condenser especially designed for HCs, and in particular propane, to minimize the volume of flammable/explosive HC in the ice making machine refrigerant system.
Claims15
An ice making machine comprising:
- a coolant/refrigerant system comprising:
- a coolant/refrigerant;
- a compressor;
- a condenser comprised of first and second headers and micro channels disposed therebetween, the condenser having a plurality of internal baffles in the first and second headers such that the coolant/refrigerant makes between about three (3) and about eight (8) passes between the first and second headers;
- an evaporator;
- an expansion device;
- a hot gas valve for directing hot gases from the compressor to the evaporator;
- and
- interconnecting lines therefore, wherein the coolant/refrigerant comprises a flammable hydrocarbon and the condenser has a total internal volume of between about 100 ml to about 250 ml, based upon the volume of the first and second headers and the micro channels disposed therebetween.
An ice making machine comprising:
- a compressor for compressing a gas coolant/refrigerant comprised of flammable hydrocarbon;
- and
- a condenser for condensing the compressed flammable hydrocarbon refrigerant, said condenser comprising:
- first and second headers;
- an inlet port for receiving heated vaporous flammable hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant from said compressor;
- an outlet port for discharging condensed liquid flammable hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant, said inlet port and said outlet port disposed in said first header;
- and
- micro channels disposed between said inlet port and said outlet port and between said first and second header, wherein said first and second headers each has at least one internal baffle for reversibly directing the flow of the flammable hydrocarbon through said micro channels, and wherein said condenser has an internal volume of between about 100 to about 250 ml, based upon the volume of the first and second headers and micro channels disposed therebetween.
A condenser for use in an ice making machine for condensing a compressed hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant, said condenser comprising:
- first and second headers;
- an inlet port for receiving heated vaporous flammable hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant from said compressor;
- an outlet port for discharging condensed liquid flammable hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant, said inlet port and outlet port disposed in said first header;
- and
- micro channels disposed between said inlet port and said outlet port and between said first and second headers, wherein said first and second headers each has at least one internal baffle for reversibly directing the flow of the flammable hydrocarbon through said micro channels, and wherein said condenser has an internal volume in said first and second header and said micro channels between from about 100 ml to about 250 ml.
A method of substantially preventing or suppressing fire or explosion of flammable hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant in the event of leakage of said flammable hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant from a condenser, said method comprising;
- filling a condenser with said flammable hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant, said condenser comprising:
- first and second headers;
- an inlet port for receiving heated vaporous hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant from said compressor;
- an outlet port for discharging condensed liquid hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant, said inlet port and said outlet port disposed in said first header;
- and
- micro channels disposed between said inlet port and said outlet port and between said first and second headers, wherein said first and second headers each has at least one internal baffle for reversibly directing the flow of the flammable hydrocarbon through said micro channels, and wherein said condenser has an internal volume in said first and second header and said micro channels between from about 100 ml to about 250 ml.
A method of maintaining the ice making capacity while simultaneously reducing the energy use of an ice making machine, said method comprising:
- using a condenser comprising:
- first and second headers;
- an inlet port for receiving heated vaporous flammable hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant from said compressor;
- an outlet port for discharging condensed liquid flammable hydrocarbon coolant/refrigerant, said inlet port and said outlet port disposed in said first header;
- and
- micro channels disposed between said inlet port and said outlet port and between said first and second headers, wherein said first and second headers each has at least one internal baffle for reversibly directing the flow of the flammable hydrocarbon through said micro channels, and wherein said condenser has an internal volume in said first and second header and said micro channels between from about 100 ml to about 250 ml.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.