US1898277A

US1898277A - Liquid refrigerant control means for refrigerating systems

Info

Publication number: US1898277A
Application number: US486574A
Authority: US
Inventors: Seggern Ernest A Von; Seggern Henry E Von
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-10-06
Filing date: 1930-10-06
Publication date: 1933-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1950-02-21

Description

Feb-k 1933. E. A. VON SEGGERN ET'AL 1,898,277

LIQUID REFRIGERANT CONTRQLMEANS FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Filed Oct. 6, 1950 INVENTORS ERNESTA- v0 SEGGER/V BYHENRYE. va/v SEGGERN AT'i'O NEY Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES rA'rE r orrlca ERNEST A. von sneemm, or Los memes, Aim HENRY r. Von SEGGERN, or

ns'oonmno, CALIFORNIA LIQUID REFRIGERANT CONTROL MEANS FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Application filed October 6, 1930. I Serial No. 486,574.

Our present invention relates to meanscontrolling the liquid refrigerant in refrlgerating systems when desiring to sterilize the evaporator. Y e

In certain kinds of liquid. refrigeration, the liquids are cooled by allowing the same to flow over the evaporator of the system, particularly in systems where the evaporator isarranged in the form of an expansion coil. For sanitary reasons, it becomes necessary to sterilize the evaporator frequently. This is usually accomplished by directing a spray of steam from a. boiler against the evaporator. In order that the steam may quickly heat the evaporator to the required temperature for sterilizing the coil, it is absolutely necessary that the liquid refrigerant be first removed from the evaporator. If this is not done, sufficient heat must be supplied to the evaporator that the pressure therein (in am monia systems) rises. to a pressure of over nine hundred pounds per square inch in order to raise the temperature of the evaporator coils to a sterilizing temperature of about two hundred twelve degrees. In practice, the liquid refrigerant is first pumped from the evaporator by closingthe expansion valve and operating the'compress'or until the liquid has boiled out of the evaporator, after which the evaporatormay be easily heated by steam.

Our present invention and in refrigerating systems dispens'es'with the necessity of pumping the liqnidrefrigerant from the evaporator or the creation of such pressures. 4 f o "An important object of our inventionis to provide means for removing or receiving the liquid refrigerant from the evaporator soon after the compressor has been stopped and keeping it out of the evaporator during the sterilization process and until the compressor is started again, and for normally retaining the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator as long as the compressor is in operation;

Another important object of our invention is to provide such means which, in certain forms, is entirely automatic' in its action and requires no atte'fition whatsoever. I

A further object is to provide a novel and simple means for storingth'e liquid refrigimprovements erant, normally containedin the evaporator, during sterilization of the evaporator.

A still further object of our invention is to provide simple means for maintaining the temperature of the liquid refrigerant storage chamber at the desired temperature whereby the liquid refrigerant is normally forced into i the evaporator, and to provide such temperature maintaining means which cooperate with the evaporator of the system and forms a pr'e-cooling means therefor.

Another object of this invention is to provide liquid refrigerant control means of the class 'mentioned which is simple and economical of construction, installation, and operation, and which will not readilydeterio rate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, we have provided av refrigeration system having certain novel 7 features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as willbe hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing I and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which; I

. The figure; of the drawing is a fragmentary and diagrammatic elevational View. of a refrigerating system embodying our invention.

'Dhe refrigerating system illustrated in the drawingis one form of cooling apparatus for cooling such product as milk, and which, it is necessary, to-sterilize frequently; In this apparatus the milk is discharged into a distributor-l from a tank 2 or other sourceof supply. From the distributor 1, the milk is. directed. downwardly, by gravity if desired, over a'pre-cooling coil and then over a final, c-ooling'coil. The pre;cooling coil 3 is positioned immediately below the distributorand "immediately above the final cooling coil 4.

From the coil 4, the cooled milk drops into tor 7 which is also connected at its bottom end by a conductor 8 to the lower portion of the evaporator. The upper end of the ,ac-

'cumulator 7 is connected by a conductor 9 to the suction end of the compressor 10. The

discharge-end or high pressure side of the compressor is connected to a receiver 11 in which the compressed refrigerant is liquefied. The receiver is also connected by a conductor 12 to the lower portion of the evaporator and of the accumulator through the conductor 8. In the conductor 12 is interposed an expansion valve 13 which, in this instance, is a hand controlled valve.

To the lower portion of the evaporator and the accumulator, and preferably to the conductor 8, which is connected with such portions of the evaporator and the accumula-v tor, is connected the lower portion of a drum or receptacle 14, by means of a conductor 15. Between the conductor 15 and the receptacle 14 is interposed a trap 16. The conductor 15 and the trap 16 are so positioned with respect to the lower portion of the evaporator that all liquid refrigerant in the latter and in the accumulator is adapted to flow by gravity into the conductor 15 and the trap 16 and from the latter into the receptacle 14'which will be herein known as the liquid refrigerant storage chamber. The liquid refrigerant is received and stored'in the receptacle 14 when the pressure in the evaporator 4 exceeds the pressure in the receptacle 14.

The receptacle 14 or liquid refrigerant storage chamberis enclosed by a casing 17 which forms a water jacket therefor. This Water jacket is continually supplied with water through a conductor 18 which extends from a pump 19 to the upper end of the water jacket. The upper end of the water jacket is also connected by a conductor '20 to the lower portion of the pre-cooling coil 3. Thus it will be seen that the pipes or conductors are so connected to the jacket that the cooling liquid in the jacket will not be siphoned therefrom. The upper portion of the coil 3 may be connected by a conductor 21 to a cooler, not shown. The water from such a cooler may be the source of water for the pump'19. The water passed through the water j acket 17 is at a temperature less than room temperature so that when the compressor is stopped and the evaporator 4 heated to room temperature, the pressure in the evaporator will be greater than that in the liquid refrigerant storage chamber 14 and force the liquid refrigerant into the storage chamber.

The operating principle of our invention in the refrigerating system is the direct relation which exists between the vapor pressure of arefrigerating fluid and its temperature. When the compressor is in operation and a quantity of liquid is in the evaporator, there is a flow of vapor through the suction line 9 to the compressor and a flow of liquid refrigerant from the receiver 11 through the expansion valve 13 to the evaporator, replenishin the li uid refrigerant therein which bolls off during the process of refrigerating. During normal operation of the system, there is no liquid refrigerant inthe receptacle 14, the vapor pressure therein being the same as that in the accumulator. The temperature of the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator must, for normal operation, be less than that of the cooling water in the water jacket 17. If, during normal operation, any liquid refrigerant passes the receptacle 14, it will vaporize and attempt to produce a vapor pressure in this receptacle which corresponds to the temperature of the water in'the water jacket, forcing any liquid refrigerant from the receptacle 14 through the trap 16 into the conductor 15 and into the evaporator and accumulator.

' When the compressor is stopped, the valve 13 is closed manually. Since the evaporator and the suction line 9 are exposed to room temperature, the liquid in the evaporator will boil until the pressure in the accumulator and suction line will correspond to such higher temperature. Due to the water trapped in the jacket 17 the liquid refrigerant storage chamber 14 will still be at the same temperature as when the machine was in operation, and since the cooling water is assumed to have a temperature lower than that of ordinary room temperature, the vapor pressure in the chamber is now less than that in the evaporator, accumulator, or suction line, the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator is forced into the storage chamber, which is of a size sufiicient to hold substantially all of the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator and accumulator. The liquid refrigerant will remain in the chamber 14 as long as the vapor pressure therein is less than in the evaporator, accumulator, or suction line. The evaporator or coil 4 may then be sterilized with steam without creating excessive pressures in the system.

When the compressor is again started, the pressure in the evaporator, accumulator and suction line is reduced, and, when this pressure falls below that normally maintained in the storage chamber, the liquid refriger- I ant is forced from the storage chamber back into the evaporator, and the system is again ready for normal operation, and after the valve 13.is reopened.

Our liquid refrigerant control means herein disclosed may be used with a refrigerating system employing an automatic float-type expansion valve, provided a shutoff is opened and closed in the liquid line from the receiver when the compressor is started and shut down. The hand controlled expansion valve may be set for normal op struction, combination and arrangement, nor

to the particular application, but desire to include in the scope of ourinvention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims. Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is. 4 1. In a refrigeration system, an evaporator adapted to contain liquid refrigerant, means for receiving the evaporated refrigerant from the upper portion of the evaporator and for compressing and supplying the same to the lower portion of the evaporator, a liquid refrigerant storage chamber communicating with the lower portion of the evaporator and adapted to receive the liquid refrigerant therefrom when the pressure in the evaporator becomes excessive, awater;

jacket surrounding said chamber, means for supplying cooling water tothe jacket, and a pro-cooling means inassociation with the evaporator and connected to and adapted to receive the water from the jacket. I

2. .In a refrigeration systemfan evaporator adapted to contain ,liquid refrigerant, means for receiving evaporated refrigerant fromthe upper portion of the evaporator and for com+ pressingthe same, a receiver for receiving the liquefied refrigerant from the last mentioned means and connected to the lower portion of the evaporator, a valve interposed in the connection between the receiver and the evaporator, a liquid refrigerant storage chamber communicating with the Power portion of the/evaporator and adapted to receive the liquid refrigerant therefrom when the pressure in the evaporator becomes excessive,

*a water jacket surrounding said chamber,

means for supplying cooling water to the jacket, and a pre-cooling means in association with the evaporator and connected to and adaptedto receive the water from the acket.

3. In a refrigerating system, an evaporator adapted to contain liquid refrigerant, an

accumulator connected at its upper portion with. the upper portion of the evaporator and j at its lower portion with the lower portion of the evaporator, means for receiving evaporated refrigerant from the accumulator and for compressing the same, the latter means being connectedwith the lower portion of the evaporator, a liquid refrigerant storage chamber communicating with the lower portipns ofthe accumulator and evapsurrounding the chamber, a liquid supply' for the jacket, and means connecting t e jacket to the-pre-cooling coil. c

5. In a refrigerating'system, an evaporator, a pre-cooling coil arranged above the evaporator and adapted for pre-cooling liquid directed over the evaporator, a liquid refrigerant storage chamber communicating with the evaporator and adapted to receive substantially all of theliquid refrigerant contained therein, av liquid cooling jacket surroundin the chamber, a, cooling liquid supply con uctor connected to the upper portion of the jacket, and another conductor connecting the upper portion of the jacket to the lower portion of the pracooling coil. 6. Inarefrigerating system, a pre-cooling coil, an evaporator coil positioned below the former, means for supplying liquid to be cooled 'to the upper portion of the pre=cooling coila (iompressor'connected with the upper portion of the evaporator coil and connected at its pressure side to the lower portion of the eva orator coil, a valve between the pressure side of the compressor/and the, evaporator coil, a liquid refrigerant storage chamber a cooling jacket surrounding the storage chamber, means for su plying a cooling liquid to the jacket, a con uctor connect; ing thejacket to the lower portion of the precooling coil, and atiischarge for the pres-cools ingcoil. T v

7. Ina refrigeration system, a pre-cooler,

'an evaporator ada ted to contain liquid; re-

frigerant, meansfor receiving the evaporated refrigerant from the upper portion ofthe evaporator and for compressing and supplying the same to the lower portionof the evaporator, a liquidrefrigerant storage chamber communicating with the lower portion of the evaporator and adapted to receive the liquid refrigerant therefrom when the pressure in the evaporator becomes excessive, a water jacket surrounding said chamber means connecting said ,water jacket, w th said precooler, and means for supplying cooling water to the jacket.

8. In a refrigeration system, a pre-cooler, an evaporator ada ted to contain'liquid refrigerant, means or receiving evaporated refrigerant fromfthe upper portion of the evaporator and for compressing the same, a receiver for receiving the liquefied refrigerant from the last mentioned means and connected to the lowerportionof the evaporator, a valve interposed in the connection between the receiver and the evaporator, aliquid refrigerant storage chamber com- I municating with the lowerportion of the evaporator and adapted to receive the liquid refrigerant therefrom when the pressure in the evaporator becomes excessive, a water jacket surrounding said chamber means connecting said water .jacket with said precooler, and means for supplying cooling water to the 'acket.

9. In a re rigerating system, a pre-cooler,

an evaporator adapted to contain liquid re-- frigerant, an accumulator connected at its upper portion with the upper portion of the evaporator and at its lower portion with the lower portion of the eva orator, means for receiving evaporated re rigerant from the accumulator and for compressing the same,

the latter means being connected with the lower portion of the evaporator, a liquid refrigerant storage chamber communicating with the lower portions of the accumulator tor, a cooling coil, a liquid refrigerant storage chamber communicating with the evaporator and adapt-ed to receive substantially all of the liquid refrigerant contained therein, a liquid cooling container means associated with said chamber, a liquid supply-for the container means, and means connecting the container means with the cooling coil.

12. In a refrigerating system, an evaporator, a pre-cooling coil, a liquid refrigerant storage chamberv communicating with the evaporator and adapted to receive substantially all of the liquid refrigerant contained therein, a liquid cooling jacket surrounding the chamber, a liquid supply for the jacket, and means connectingthe jacket to the precnoling coil.

13. In a refrigerating system, an evaporator, a pro-cooling coil, a liquid refrigerant storage chamber communicating with the evaporator and adapted to receive substantially all of the liquid refrigerant contained therein, a liquid cooling jacket surrounding the chamber, a cooling liquid supply conductor connected to the upper portion of the jacket, and another conductor connecting the upper portion of the jacket to the lower portion of the pre-cooling coil.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, respectively, at Los Angeles, California, this 29th day of September, 1930, and at Escondido, California, this 25th day of September, 1930.

ERNEST A. VON SEGGERN. HENRY E. vo'N SEGGERN.