U.S. patent application number 09/999619 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-01 for accumulator with inlet port comprising a deflector.
Invention is credited to Schroeder, Fred G., Zeng, Zhongping.
Application Number | 20030079496 09/999619 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25546537 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030079496 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schroeder, Fred G. ; et
al. |
May 1, 2003 |
ACCUMULATOR WITH INLET PORT COMPRISING A DEFLECTOR
Abstract
An accumulator with an inlet port comprising a deflector for use
in an air conditioning or refrigeration system, and a method for
use thereof are disclosed. In operation, the accumulator is
provided between the evaporator and compressor of an air
conditioning or refrigeration system. Vaporized refrigerant is
conveyed from the evaporator into the accumulator through an inlet
port having a deflector. The deflector deflects the refrigerant
from the inlet port in a spray pattern to reduce the velocity of
the refrigerant thereby avoiding turbulence in the accumulator. In
another embodiment, a vapor conduit inside the accumulator for
conveying refrigerant to an outlet port has an open vapor inlet end
with chamfered cut edges pointing away from the inlet port to avoid
liquid from splashing into the vapor conduit.
Inventors: |
Schroeder, Fred G.; (Grosse
lle, MI) ; Zeng, Zhongping; (Haslett, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60611
US
|
Family ID: |
25546537 |
Appl. No.: |
09/999619 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/503 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 45/06 20130101;
F25B 2500/01 20130101; F25B 43/006 20130101; F25B 2400/03
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/503 |
International
Class: |
F25B 043/00 |
Claims
1. An inlet port for an air conditioning or refrigeration system
accumulator comprising: a conduit for conveying refrigerant, said
conduit having an upper end and a lower end; and a deflector formed
at the lower end of said conduit, said deflector having a generally
planar deflection surface.
2. The inlet port of claim 1, wherein the deflection surface is
spaced apart from the lower end of the conduit.
3. The inlet port of claim 1 wherein the deflector is formed
integrally with the conduit.
4. The inlet port of claim 1, wherein refrigerant conveyed through
the conduit strikes the deflector and is deflected in an arc.
5. The inlet port of clam 4, wherein the arc is from about 45 to
180 degrees.
6. The inlet port of claim 1, wherein the deflector has a
deflection angle from about 45 to 90 degrees.
7. An accumulator for an air conditioning or refrigeration system
comprising: a housing having a chamber formed by a sidewall, a
bottom wall, and a cover; an inlet port extending through said
housing for conveying refrigerant, said inlet port comprising a
deflector, wherein refrigerant flowing through the inlet port
strikes the deflector and is deflected in an arc; an outlet port
extending through said housing; and a vapor conduit linked to said
outlet port, said vapor conduit having a vapor inlet positioned
inside the chamber for conveying refrigerant in the accumulator to
the outlet port.
8. The accumulator of claim 7, wherein the housing is cylindrical
and the low pressure inlet and outlet ports extend through two
corresponding openings in the cover.
9. The accumulator of claim 7, wherein the deflector has a
deflection angle ranging from about 45 to 90 degrees.
10. The accumulator of claim 7, wherein the arc is from about 45 to
180 degrees.
11. The accumulator of claim 7, wherein the deflector further
comprises a generally planar deflecting surface which is
square.
12. The accumulator of claim 7, wherein the deflector deflects the
refrigerant toward the sidewall and away from the vapor inlet.
13. The accumulator of claim 7 wherein the vapor inlet has a
chamfered edge pointing away from the inlet port.
14. The accumulator of claim 7, wherein the deflector comprises a
metal, said metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum,
copper and stainless steel.
15. An accumulator for an air conditioning or refrigeration system
comprising: a housing having a chamber formed by a sidewall, a
bottom wall, and a cover; an inlet port extending through said
housing for conveying refrigerant; an outlet port extending through
said housing for discharging refrigerant from the accumulator; and
a vapor conduit inside the chamber for conveying refrigerant in the
accumulator to the outlet port, said conduit having a vapor inlet
with a chamfered edge pointing away from the inlet port.
16. The accumulator of claim 15, wherein the inlet port comprises a
deflector wherein refrigerant conveyed through the inlet port
strikes the deflector and deflects the refrigerant in an arc.
17. The accumulator of claim 15 wherein the deflector has a
deflection angle ranging from about 45 to 90 degrees.
18. The accumulator of claim 15 wherein the arc is from about 45 to
180 degrees.
19. A method of operating an air conditioning or refrigeration
system comprising: conveying a refrigerant from a compressor to a
condenser; conveying the refrigerant from the condenser to an
expansion device; conveying the refrigerant from the expansion
device to an evaporator; conveying the refrigerant from the
evaporator to an inlet port of an accumulator; deflecting
refrigerant conveyed through the inlet port in an arc and in the
accumulator; conveying refrigerant in the accumulator through a
vapor conduit inside the accumulator to an outlet port; and
discharging refrigerant through the outlet port to the
compressor.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the inlet port further
comprises a deflector having a planar deflecting surface.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the refrigerant is deflected in
an arc from about 45 to 180 degrees.
22. The method of claim 19, wherein the vapor conduit has an inlet,
said vapor inlet having a chamfered edge pointing in a direction
opposite the inlet port.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an accumulator for use in an air
conditioning or refrigeration system and to a method for use
thereof. In particular, this invention relates to an accumulator
with an inlet port having a deflector. The accumulator of the
present invention may be used with a variety of refrigerants
including r134a and carbon dioxide, despite the higher operating
pressures inherent in a system using carbon dioxide as the
refrigerant.
[0002] A basic refrigeration or air conditioning system has a
compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator.
These components are generally serially connected via conduit or
piping and are well known in the art. During operation of the
system, the compressor acts on relatively cool gaseous refrigerant
to raise the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant. From the
compressor, the high temperature, high pressure gaseous refrigerant
flows into the condenser where it is cooled and exits the condenser
as a high pressure liquid refrigerant. The high pressure liquid
refrigerant then flows to an expansion device, which controls the
amount of refrigerant entering into the evaporator. The expansion
device lowers the pressure of the liquid refrigerant before
allowing the refrigerant to flow into the evaporator. In the
evaporator, the low pressure, low temperature refrigerant absorbs
heat from the surrounding area and exits the evaporator as a
saturated vapor having essentially the same pressure as when it
entered the evaporator. The suction of the compressor then draws
the gaseous refrigerant back to the compressor where the cycle
begins again.
[0003] In a typical air conditioning or refrigeration system, it is
necessary to prevent liquid from passing from the evaporator into
the compressor in order to avoid damage to the compressor. When
liquid refrigerant enters a compressor, it is known as slugging.
Slugging reduces the overall efficiency of the compressor and can
also damage the compressor. It is well known in the art to mount a
suction line or low pressure side accumulator between the
evaporator and compressor. Such suction line accumulators act to
separate the liquid and gaseous phases of the refrigerant flowing
from the evaporator. The refrigerant from the evaporator enters the
accumulator through an inlet port at a relatively high velocity.
The liquid phase of the refrigerant will settle to the bottom of
the accumulator while the gaseous phase will rise to the top of the
accumulator and will be suctioned out of the accumulator by the
compressor.
[0004] In order to achieve sufficient separation of the gaseous and
liquid phases of the refrigerant, it is necessary to reduce the
turbulence of the liquid in the accumulator. Several systems and
methods have been employed in the past in an effort to reduce the
turbulence in accumulators. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,609,990 to
Bottum discloses bending the lower portion of the inlet port
slightly towards the interior wall of the accumulator so that the
liquid and gas flows out of the inlet tube at a downward angle in a
direction tangential to the accumulator wall. U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,643,466, 3,837,177, and 5,167,128 all to Bottum disclose an inlet
port with a portion of one wall deformed inwardly into the port to
form a scoop for directing the flow of liquid and gaseous
refrigerant entering the accumulator toward the interior wall of
the accumulator. U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,058 discloses the use of a
domed shaped deflector below the inlet port to effectively separate
the liquid and gaseous phases of the refrigerant and reduce
turbulence.
[0005] While the above accumulators are suitable for their intended
purpose, it is believed that there is a demand in the industry for
an accumulator with an improved inlet port, which can separate the
liquid, and gaseous phases of the refrigerant entering the
accumulator while at the same time reduce turbulence. It is further
believed that there is a demand for an accumulator with an improved
inlet port which is less costly to manufacture, but yet provides a
high level of efficiency.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In a preferred embodiment, an inlet port for an air
conditioning or refrigeration system accumulator comprises a
conduit for conveying refrigerant, the conduit having an upper end
and a lower end, and a deflector formed at the lower end of the
conduit, the deflector having a planar deflecting surface.
[0007] In another embodiment, an accumulator for an air
conditioning or refrigeration system comprises a housing having a
chamber formed by a sidewall, a bottom wall, and a cover, an inlet
port for conveying refrigerant, the inlet port comprising a
deflector, wherein refrigerant flowing through the inlet port
strikes the deflector and is deflected in an arc, an outlet port,
and a vapor conduit having a vapor inlet positioned inside the
chamber for conveying refrigerant in the accumulator to the outlet
port.
[0008] In another aspect, an accumulator for an air conditioning or
refrigeration system comprises a housing having a chamber formed by
a sidewall, a bottom wall, and a cover, an inlet port for conveying
refrigerant, an outlet port for discharging refrigerant from the
accumulator, and a vapor conduit inside the chamber for conveying
refrigerant in the accumulator to the outlet port, the conduit
having a vapor inlet with chamfered edges pointing away from the
inlet port.
[0009] In yet another aspect, a method of operating an air
conditioning or refrigeration system is provided. First, the
refrigerant is conveyed from a compressor to a condenser. Next, the
refrigerant is conveyed from the condenser to an expansion device.
Then, the refrigerant is conveyed from the expansion device to an
evaporator. Next, the refrigerant is conveyed from the evaporator
to an inlet port of an accumulator. Then, the refrigerant conveyed
through the inlet port is deflected into an arc into the
accumulator. Next, the refrigerant in the accumulator is conveyed
through a vapor conduit inside the accumulator to an outlet port.
Finally, the refrigerant is discharged through the outlet port to
the compressor.
[0010] The present invention provides significant advantages over
the prior art by providing cost-efficient systems and methods to
further reduce turbulence of liquid inside an accumulator.
[0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention
will be apparent upon reviewing the following detailed description
and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic of one embodiment of an air
conditioning system using an accumulator of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a front cut-away view of one embodiment of the
accumulator of the present invention having an inlet port
deflector.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top cut-away view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view of one embodiment of
an inlet port deflector.
[0016] FIGS. 5A-D shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the
various stages of an inlet port deflector as it is
manufactured.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of
operating an air conditioning or refrigeration system using an
accumulator of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic of an air conditioning system
incorporating the accumulator and inlet port of the present
invention. In general, high pressure, high temperature refrigerant
exits a compressor 1 and flows into a condenser 3. The high
temperature liquid refrigerant exits the condenser and flows into
an expansion device 5 and subsequently into an evaporator 7. Low
pressure refrigerant exits the evaporator 7 and enters the
accumulator 9 where the liquid and gaseous phases of the
refrigerant are separated. Gaseous refrigerant is then suctioned
out of the accumulator 9 and flows back to the compressor 1. It
also should be understood that the accumulator of the present
invention may contain an internal heat exchanger and be
incorporated into both the high pressure and low pressure sides of
the system. A detailed discussion of such an accumulator is
provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/752,419, filed Dec.
29, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the accumulator 10 includes a
housing 14, with sidewalls 18, a bottom wall 22, and a cover 24,
forming a chamber 26. The sidewalls 18 and the bottom wall 22 are
preferably integrally formed to form the lower portion of the
accumulator 10. The cover 24 is separately formed from the housing
and forms the upper portion of the accumulator 10. While the
accumulator shown in the figures is cylindrical in shape, the
accumulator of the present invention may have any shape, including
square, rectangular or ellipsoidal. The accumulator is preferably
stainless steel, but also may be aluminum, copper, or any other
suitable material.
[0020] The cover 24 has two openings 28 and 32 for receiving a low
pressure inlet port 36 and a low pressure outlet port 40
respectively. The inlet port 36 has an upper end 33 and a lower end
35. The openings 28 and 32 may be circular, elliptical, square,
rectangular, or any other desired shape. The low pressure inlet
port 36 and low pressure outlet port 40 generally correspond in
shape to the openings 28 and 32 in the top of the cover 24. In a
preferred embodiment, the openings 28 and 32 are circular, and the
low pressure inlet port 36 and low pressure outlet port 40 are
cylindrical in shape. The low pressure inlet port 36 and low
pressure outlet port 40 may be formed from aluminum, stainless
steel, copper, or any other suitable material. Preferably, the
inlet and outlet ports are formed from stainless steel.
[0021] A vapor conduit 44 with a vapor inlet end 48 and a vapor
outlet end 52 is positioned inside the housing 14. The vapor outlet
end 52 is connected to the low pressure outlet port 40. The vapor
outlet end 52 may be affixed to the low pressure outlet port 40 by
soldering, brazing, welding, or any other suitable method known in
the art. In other embodiments, the vapor outlet end 52 and the low
pressure outlet port 40 may comprise one piece. Preferably, the
vapor conduit 44 is a stainless steel cylindrical J-shaped tube or
J-tube. However, the vapor conduit 44 may have any other desirable
shape, including linear, and may be formed from any suitable
material such as aluminum or copper. The vapor conduit 44 extends
vertically from the vapor outlet end 52 into the lower portion of
the housing 14 adjacent the bottom wall 22, and is curved at its
lower-most point 56. The J-shaped vapor conduit 44 extends upwardly
from the lower most point 56 to the vapor inlet end 48.
[0022] The J-shaped vapor conduit 44 has one or more openings 60 in
the curved portion of the tube, which allows liquid refrigerant
accumulated in if the bottom of the accumulator to be drawn through
the opening 60 into the J-shaped vapor conduit 44, and out of the
accumulator through the vapor outlet end 52 connected to the low
pressure outlet port 40. In alternative embodiments, oil from a
sump 90 at the bottom of the housing 14 may be drawn into the
J-shaped vapor conduit through the opening 60 where the oil mixes
with the gaseous refrigerant flowing through the tube and out of
the low pressure outlet port 40.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the low pressure inlet port 36
has a deflector 64. A sidewall 63 and a deflecting surface 65 form
the generally L-shaped deflector 64. The inlet port deflector 64,
of which a close-up view is shown in FIG. 4, is formed at the lower
end 35 of the inlet port 36 and extends away from the generally
vertical inlet port 36 towards the sidewall 18. The inlet port
deflector 64 may have a deflection angle .theta., shown in FIG. 5D
ranging from 45 to 90 degrees from the bottom of the port. In a
preferred embodiment, the inlet port deflector 64 has a deflection
angle of about 75 degrees. The deflecting surface 65 is preferably
shaped in the form of a rectangle or square, but may be other
shapes such as circular, elliptical, or any other suitable shape.
The inlet port deflector 64 may be formed integrally from the inlet
port or may be separately formed and affixed to the lower end 35 of
the inlet port by soldering, brazing, welding, or any other
suitable method. In a preferred embodiment, the inlet port 36 and
the deflector 64 are integrally formed.
[0024] If the deflector 64 is formed separately from the inlet
port, the deflector may be aluminum, stainless steel, copper, or
any other suitable material. Preferably, a deflector 64, which is
formed separately from the inlet port, is the same material as the
inlet port. In a preferred embodiment the inlet port 36 and the
deflector 64 are stainless steel.
[0025] FIGS. 5A-D show one method of forming an inlet port
deflector. First, an inlet port 36 is provided. The inlet port is
preferably cylindrical, but may be other shapes. Next, a notched
step 68 is formed into the inlet port 36. The notched step may be
machined or cut. Then, the notched step 68 is flattened as shown at
72. Finally, the flattened notched step is bent to form the
deflector 64 with the correct profile angle .theta. as shown at
76.
[0026] In operation, low pressure, low temperature refrigerant
flowing from the evaporator at a relatively high velocity enters
the accumulator 10 through the inlet port 36. The refrigerant
strikes the deflecting surface 65 and flows off of the deflector
toward the sidewall 18 of the accumulator and away from the vapor
inlet 48 in an arc or fan-shaped pattern 78 as shown in FIG. 3. In
one embodiment, the arc through which the refrigerant is sprayed is
from about 45 to 180 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the arc is
180 degrees.
[0027] The deflector slows down the velocity of the refrigerant
entering the accumulator while directing the refrigerant flow down
the sidewall 18 of the accumulator housing 14. Any liquid
refrigerant flows down the sidewall 18 in a laminar fashion while
the gaseous refrigerant rises to the upper portion of the
accumulator and flows into the vapor inlet 48 of the J-tube. As a
result, the incoming refrigerant is not directed at a high velocity
against any standing liquid refrigerant, which may be retained in
the lower portion of the housing 14. Undesired turbulence of the
standing liquid is therefore minimized which further prevents
liquid refrigerant from entering the vapor inlet 48.
[0028] The vapor, which flows into the J-tube, passes downwardly
through the vapor conduit 44 reaching its lower-most point 56. The
suction of the gas allows the liquid refrigerant and oil mixture
accumulated in the bottom of the accumulator to be drawn through
the opening 60 into the J-shaped vapor conduit 44, where it is then
sucked upwardly along the J-shaped ha vapor conduit 44 and out of
the accumulator through the vapor outlet end 52 connected to the
low pressure outlet port 40. It is to be understood that the liquid
refrigerant and oil mixture, which is metered into the vapor
conduit 44 through the opening 60, is entrained in the stream of
gaseous refrigerant. It remains entrained in the gas as it passes
from the accumulator and is drawn to the compressor of the system.
The opening 60 allows the liquid refrigerant to be metered into the
compressor at a controlled rate, thereby avoiding large amounts of
liquid refrigerant from entering and damaging the compressor.
[0029] The present invention has system efficiency, cost, and
complexity improvements over the prior art. The design limits the
turbulence of the refrigerant in the accumulator. Further, the
deflector may be integral to the inlet port, which reduces part and
manufacturing costs as well as the complexity of the accumulator.
Additionally, the present invention allows the liquid storage
capacity of the accumulator to be increased by allowing the inlet
of the vapor conduit to be near the top of the accumulator.
[0030] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the vapor inlet
end 48 of the vapor conduit 44 is trimmed with an angled or
chamfered cut 80, with the opening pointing directly away from the
inlet port 36. This, on one hand, serves to block liquid particles
from entering the vapor inlet end 48 of the vapor conduit 44, and
on the other hand, increases the flow area and reduces the pressure
drop in the vapor conduit 44. It also serves to prevent restriction
if the vapor conduit 44 is bottomed against the inside top of the
accumulator 10. Similarly, the chamfered cut is desirable for
functioning because the vapor conduit 44 can be positioned higher
in the housing 14 to allow for greater liquid storage capacity
within the accumulator 10. It is recognized that the chamfered cut
80 may be utilized independently of the inlet port deflector 64, or
in combination thereof.
[0031] A method of operating an air conditioning or refrigeration
system is shown in the flowchart in FIG. 6. First, refrigerant is
conveyed from a compressor into a condenser. Refrigerant from the
condenser is then conveyed to an expansion device. The refrigerant
is then conveyed from the expansion device to an evaporator.
Refrigerant from the evaporator is conveyed to an inlet port of an
accumulator. The accumulator further comprises a housing forming a
chamber, an outlet port, and a vapor conduit inside the chamber.
Refrigerant conveyed through the inlet port is deflected into an
arc such that any liquid refrigerant flows down the sides of the
housing, and any gaseous refrigerant flows into a vapor conduit.
Finally, the refrigerant in the vapor conduit is discharged through
an outlet port and flows back to the compressor.
[0032] While the invention with its several embodiments has been
described in detail, it should be understood that various
modifications may be made to the present invention without
departing from the scope of the invention. The following claims,
including all equivalents define the scope of the invention.
* * * * *