APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING REFRIGERANT CHARGE LEVEL
First Claim
1. A method of non-invasively determining a charge level (mtotal) of a refrigerant in a vapor-compression cycle system comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator, a discharge line fluidically connecting the compressor to the condenser, a liquid line fluidically connecting the condenser to the expansion device, a distribution line fluidically connecting the expansion device to the evaporator, and a suction line fluidically connecting the evaporator to the compressor, the method comprising:
- monitoring the system while operating the system to ascertain that the system is operating at approximately steady-state;
determining the superheat (Tsh) and the subcooling (Tsc) of the system at the suction line and at the liquid line, respectively; and
calculating the refrigerant charge level (mtotal) based on the determined subcooling (Tsc) the determined superheat (Tsh), and rated operating conditions of the system including rated refrigerant charge level (mtotal,rated), rated liquid line subcooling (Tsc,rated) and rated suction line superheat (Tsh,rated).
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining a charge level of a refrigerant in a vapor-compression cycle system. The method and apparatus monitor the system while the system is operated to ascertain that the system is operating at approximately steady-state. The superheat and the subcooling of the system are then determined at the suction line and at the liquid line, respectively, and the refrigerant charge level is calculated based on the determined subcooling, the determined superheat, and rated operating conditions of the system, including rated refrigerant charge level, rated liquid line subcooling, and rated suction line superheat.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of non-invasively determining a charge level (mtotal) of a refrigerant in a vapor-compression cycle system comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator, a discharge line fluidically connecting the compressor to the condenser, a liquid line fluidically connecting the condenser to the expansion device, a distribution line fluidically connecting the expansion device to the evaporator, and a suction line fluidically connecting the evaporator to the compressor, the method comprising:
-
monitoring the system while operating the system to ascertain that the system is operating at approximately steady-state; determining the superheat (Tsh) and the subcooling (Tsc) of the system at the suction line and at the liquid line, respectively; and calculating the refrigerant charge level (mtotal) based on the determined subcooling (Tsc) the determined superheat (Tsh), and rated operating conditions of the system including rated refrigerant charge level (mtotal,rated), rated liquid line subcooling (Tsc,rated) and rated suction line superheat (Tsh,rated). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for non-invasively determining a charge level (mtotal) of a refrigerant in a vapor-compression cycle system comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator, a discharge line fluidically connecting the compressor to the condenser, a liquid line fluidically connecting the condenser to the expansion device, a distribution line fluidically connecting the expansion device to the evaporator, and a suction line fluidically connecting the evaporator to the compressor, the apparatus comprising:
-
means for monitoring the system while operating the system to ascertain that the system is operating at approximately steady-state; means for determining the superheat (Tsh) and the subcooling (Tsc) of the system at the suction line and at the liquid line, respectively; and means for calculating the refrigerant charge level (mtotal) based on the determined subcooling (Tsc) the determined superheat (Tsh), and rated operating conditions of the system including rated refrigerant charge level (mtotal,rated) rated liquid line subcooling (Tsc,rated) and rated suction line superheat (Tsh,rated). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification