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Accumulator integration with heat exchanger header

Accumulator integration with heat exchanger header description/claims

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of earlier filed Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/663,911 filed Mar. 18, 2005. Further, copending application docket 05-258-WO, entitled HIGH SIDE PRESSURE REGULATION FOR TRANSCRITICAL VAPOR COMPRESSION SYSTEM and filed on even date herewith, and the aforesaid Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/663,911 disclose prior art and inventive cooler systems. The disclosure of said application is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth at length.

In many refrigeration applications space is a limited resource. Any reduction in space requirements for the refrigeration system application can improve the overall design of the system—either by reducing the overall size or by utilizing the space that becomes available for other purposes, such as increased heat exchanger area. Thus, a consolidated component design can reduce system cost and increase system performance.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art vapor compression system having a compressor 1, a gas cooler 2, an expansion device 3, and an evaporator 4. In evaporator 4, refrigerant passes through a series of heat exchanger tubes 5 in a heat exchange relationship with air being cooled as desired. Refrigerants typically enters tubes 5 through a header 6 and exits tubes 5 into a header 7. Refrigerant collected in header 7 then flows to an accumulator 8 where liquid phase refrigerant and oil separate from vapor phase refrigerant, and vapor is drawn back to compressor 1.

While the system illustrated in FIG. 1 is functional, as set forth above, a functional system which occupies less space is desirable.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide such a system.

Other objects and advantages will appear herein.

A refrigeration system is provided which includes a compressor for driving a refrigerant along a flow path in at least a first mode of system operation; a first heat exchanger along the flow path downstream of the compressor in the first mode; a second heat exchanger along the flow path upstream of the compressor in the first mode; and an expansion device in the flow path downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the second heat exchanger in the first mode, wherein the second heat exchanger includes a combined header and accumulator for collecting liquid and vapor refrigerant. The combined header and accumulator serves to conserve space which is particularly advantageous, for example in transcritical vapor compression systems.

A method is also provided for operating a refrigeration system in accordance with the present invention, which method comprises operating a compressor to drive a refrigerant along a flow path, sequentially, to a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, a second heat exchanger, a combined header and accumulator, and back to the compressor, wherein flow is directly from the second heat exchanger to the combined header and accumulator, and wherein flow is directly from the combined header and accumulator to the compressor.

A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention follows, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a prior art vapor compression system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a system having a combined accumulator and header according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment of the combined accumulator and header according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a further alternative embodiment of the combined accumulator and header in accordance with the present invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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