Refrigerant flow rate control based on liquid level in simple vapor compression refrigeration cycles
First Claim
1. A refrigeration system comprising:
- a compressor, a condenser, a phase separator, a pulse width modulated solenoid valve, and an evaporator all connected in a closed series loop;
a liquid level switch disposed in said phase separator; and
a controller for controlling the duty cycle of said pulse width modulated solenoid valve, said controller having an input connected to said liquid level switch.
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Abstract
Pulse width modulation is used to control the flow rate through a solenoid expansion valve in a refrigeration system using a simple vapor compression cycle. The refrigeration cycle includes a phase separator which receives two phase refrigerant from the condenser and supplies liquid refrigerant to the pulse width modulated solenoid valve. A liquid level sensor is disposed in the phase separator, and a controller for controlling the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated solenoid valve is provided to receive input from the liquid level sensor. The liquid level sensor can be of the type which provides a continuously variable signal as a function of liquid level, or it can be a liquid level switch which controls valve duty cycle on the basis of whether the phase separator liquid level is above or below a set level. Alternatively, two liquid level switches can be provided.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A refrigeration system comprising:
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a compressor, a condenser, a phase separator, a pulse width modulated solenoid valve, and an evaporator all connected in a closed series loop; a liquid level switch disposed in said phase separator; and a controller for controlling the duty cycle of said pulse width modulated solenoid valve, said controller having an input connected to said liquid level switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of controlling refrigerant flow rate in a refrigeration system having a phase separator and a pulse width modulated solenoid valve, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing the liquid level in said phase separator with a liquid level switch; and adjusting the duty cycle of said pulse width modulated solenoid valve based on the liquid level in said phase separator.
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Specification