Vapor compression system

• US 6,393,851 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: XDX Global LLC
• Original Assignee: XDx Incorporated
• Inventors: Wightman, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/661,543
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 62/202,217,117,225 236/92 B,228
• US Class Current: 62/225
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2341/0683 the sensor is disposed in the suction line and influenced by the temperature or the pressure of the suction gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/075 with parallel compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/22 Refrigeration systems for supermarkets
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/01 Geometry problems, e.g. for reducing size
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/335 via diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/02 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/006 the refrigerant containing more than one component F25B9/004 takes precedence

Abstract

A vapor compression system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The compressor increases the pressure and temperature of a heat transfer fluid. The condenser is connected with the compressor for liquefying the heat transfer fluid. The expansion valve is connected with the condenser and includes an expansion device for expanding the heat transfer fluid, and an internal sensor for detecting conditions within the heat transfer fluid. The evaporator is connected with the expansion valve for transferring heat from ambient surroundings to the heat transfer fluid.

Claims

1. A vapor compression system comprising:

a compressor;

a condenser connected with the compressor through a discharge line;

an evaporator connected with the compressor through a suction line;

an expansion valve connected with the evaporator through a saturated vapor line and connected with the condenser through a liquid line, the expansion valve comprising;

an expansion device; and

an internal sensor for detecting conditions within a heat transfer fluid, wherein the suction line is connected with a bypass line, and wherein the bypass line flows through the expansion valve.

2. The vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein the suction line is adjacent to the expansion valve, and wherein a portion of the internal sensor is connected with the suction line.

3. The vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein the bypass line is adjacent the internal sensor.

4. The vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein the expansion valve further comprises a housing, and wherein the housing surrounds at least a portion of the expansion device and the internal sensor.

5. The vapor compression system of claim 4, wherein the housing encloses both the expansion device and the internal sensor.

6. The vapor compression system of claim 1, wherein the internal sensor varies the rate in which the heat transfer fluid is volumetrically expanded through the expansion device in response to conditions in the suction line.