Refrigeration system and a separator therefor

• US 6,015,453 A
• Filed: 11/02/1998
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Bean Technologies AB (John Bean Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Frigoscandia Equipment AB (FMC Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohlsson, H.ang.kan, Haugen, Ketil, Persson, Per-Oskar
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/184,084
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 96/195, 96/197, 96/209, 62/503, 62/509, 210/512
• US Class Current: 96/195
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2341/0011 Ejectors with the cooled primary flow at reduced or low pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2341/0012 Ejectors with the cooled primary flow at high pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/02 Centrifugal separation of gas, liquid or oil
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/16 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/23 Separators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/18 Optimization, e.g. high integration of refrigeration components
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/025 by controlling speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/2513 Expansion valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/04 Refrigerant level
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2117 of an evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21172 at the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21173 at the outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/00 Fluid-circulation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/315 actuated by floats

Abstract

A refrigeration system comprises a compressor, a condenser, a receiver and an evaporator, each having an inlet and an outlet, and a separator having an inlet and a first and second outlet, connected to each other conventionally. The separator is positioned laterally of the evaporator and closer thereto than to the compressor. A controller ensures overfeed of the evaporator by regulating the feed rate of liquid refrigerant from the receiver such that the separator is feeding the evaporator with liquid refrigerant in proportion to demand and safeguarding the desired overfeed. The separator comprises a cylindrical container having two outlets and an inlet for separating the vapor and liquid components of a refrigerant. The inlet is directed tangentially into the cylindrical container. A foraminous partition is positioned inside the container and extends downwardly of the inlet and inwardly of the inner surface of the container for delimiting the central space and the peripheral space of the container from each other.

Claims

1. A separator comprising a substantially cylindrical container having top and bottom outlets and an inlet thereinbetween for separating the vapor and liquid components of a refrigerant received from an evaporator in a refrigeration system, to said top and bottom outlets, respectively, said inlet being directed tangentially into the cylindrical container,

wherein a foraminous, substantially cylindrical partition having a smaller width than the container, is positioned inside the container and extends downwardly of said inlet and inwardly of the inner surface of said container for delimiting a central space and a peripheral space of the container from each other;

and wherein said inlet discharges into the central space.

2. A separator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the foraminous, substantially cylindrical partition also extends above said inlet.

3. A separator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the partition comprises a net.

4. A separator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the foraminous partition comprises apertures having a size of 0.2-5.0 mm.

5. A separator in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a vortex limiter above the bottom outlet of the container.

6. A separator in accordance with claim 5, wherein the a vortex limiter is adjacent the bottom outlet of the container.

7. A separator comprising a substantially cylindrical container having top and bottom outlets and an inlet thereinbetween for separating the vapor and liquid components of a refrigerant received from an evaporator in a refrigeration system, to said top and bottom outlets, respectively, said inlet being directed tangentially into the cylindrical container,

wherein a foraminous, substantially cylindrical partition having a smaller width than the container, is positioned inside the container and extends downwardly of said inlet and inwardly of the inner surface of said container for delimiting a central space and a peripheral space of the container from each other;

further comprising a vortex limiter above the bottom outlet of the container;

wherein the vortex limiter comprises at least one axially and radially extending foraminous partition.