Refrigerant liquid-gas separator having an integrated check valve
First Claim
1. A refrigerant system, comprising:
- a liquid-gas separator device including;
a refrigeration section configured to couple to a refrigeration loop, the refrigeration section comprising;
a refrigerant inlet configured to receive refrigerant from the refrigeration loop;
a refrigerant outlet configured to release substantially vapor refrigerant to the refrigeration loop;
a cavity coupled to the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet, the cavity configured to substantially separate liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant; and
a planar divider extending from at least one wall of the cavity into the cavity, the divider at least partially defining an inlet sub-cavity coupled to the refrigerant inlet and an outlet sub-cavity coupled to the refrigerant outlet, wherein the divider defines a flow path between the inlet sub-cavity and the outlet sub-cavity over or under the divider; and
electronics thermally coupled to refrigerant in the refrigeration section, such that heat from the electronics is transferred to the refrigerant in the refrigeration section during use of the refrigerant system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An HVAC system includes a refrigerant liquid-gas separator. The liquid-gas separator is thermally coupled to electronics to transfer heat away from the electronics, and assist in vaporizing liquid refrigerant. The liquid-gas separator device includes a refrigeration section configured to couple to a refrigeration loop, and electronics thermally coupled to the refrigeration section. The refrigeration section includes: (a) a refrigerant inlet configured to receive refrigerant from the refrigeration loop; (b) a refrigerant outlet configured to release vapor refrigerant to the refrigeration loop; and (c) a cavity coupled to the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet, the cavity configured to separate liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant. During use of the HVAC system, heat from the electronics board is transferred to the refrigerant. The liquid-gas separator includes a check valve configured to inhibit flow of refrigerant into the liquid-gas separator device via the refrigerant outlet.
269 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A refrigerant system, comprising:
a liquid-gas separator device including; a refrigeration section configured to couple to a refrigeration loop, the refrigeration section comprising; a refrigerant inlet configured to receive refrigerant from the refrigeration loop; a refrigerant outlet configured to release substantially vapor refrigerant to the refrigeration loop; a cavity coupled to the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet, the cavity configured to substantially separate liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant; and a planar divider extending from at least one wall of the cavity into the cavity, the divider at least partially defining an inlet sub-cavity coupled to the refrigerant inlet and an outlet sub-cavity coupled to the refrigerant outlet, wherein the divider defines a flow path between the inlet sub-cavity and the outlet sub-cavity over or under the divider; and electronics thermally coupled to refrigerant in the refrigeration section, such that heat from the electronics is transferred to the refrigerant in the refrigeration section during use of the refrigerant system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A refrigerant system, comprising:
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means for receiving refrigerant via a refrigerant inlet of a liquid-gas separator device; means for separating, with in a refrigerant cavity of the liquid-gas separator device, vapor components of the refrigerant from the liquid components of the refrigerant wherein the means for separating comprises a planar divider extending from at least one wall of the cavity into the cavity, the divider at least partially defining an inlet sub-cavity coupled to the refrigerant inlet and an outlet sub-cavity coupled to an refrigerant outlet, wherein the divider defines a flow path between the inlet sub-cavity and the outlet sub-cavity over or under the divider; means for transferring heat generated by the one or more electronic components to the refrigerant while the refrigerant is within the liquid-gas separator device; means for releasing the vapor components via the refrigerant outlet of the liquid-gas separator device; and means for inhibiting release of the liquid components via the refrigerant outlet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification