Abstract:
The refrigerant charge adequacy of an air conditioning system is determined by the sensing of two temperatures in the system, one being at a midpoint in a condenser coil and the other being the temperature in the liquid line of the condenser discharge, with the difference then being indicative of the degree of subcooling, which, in turn, may be indicative of refrigerant charge condition. The method is refined by measuring a third temperature at the compressor discharge, with the three temperature values then being used to calculate a pair of residual values which provide an indication of whether the two temperature approach is useful in determining charge adequacy under the existing conditions and if not, whether the system is overcharged or undercharged.
Abstract:
A braze-free connector for joining a pair of flow lines in leak tight manner. The connector has a tubular body with entranceways at each end face of the body that converge inwardly and open into the central passage of the body. A flow line is inserted into the body through each entranceway so that the lines meet in abutting contact at about the midsection of the body. A collapsible metal ferrule surrounds each of the lines and is at least partially housed within each entranceway. Members having internal threads that are mated with external threads on the body are arranged to advance the ferrules into the entranceway whereupon the ferrules are forces radially into metal to metal sealing contact with the tubes by the converging wall surfaces of the entranceways.
Abstract:
A transcritical refrigeration system includes a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion device, and an evaporator. Refrigerant is circulated though the closed circuit system. Preferably, carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant. A fan moves outdoor air that exchanges heat with the refrigerant across the evaporator. The speed of the fan is regulated to regulate the evaporator pressure and to adapt the evaporator to different environmental conditions to achieve the optimal coefficient of performance. During high ambient conditions, the fan speed is decreased, decreasing the refrigerant mass flowrate in the system. The energy exchange per unit mass of the refrigerant in the gas cooler increases and the work of the fan decreases, increasing the coefficient of performance of the system. During low ambient conditions, the mass flowrate of the system is low and there is more heat transfer thermal resistance on the refrigerant side at the evaporator. The speed of the fan is lowered to decrease the work of the fan. Therefore, the coefficient of performance increases.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the sufficiency of refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system by the use of only two temperature measurements. The temperature of the liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser coil is sensed and the temperature of the condenser coil itself is sensed and the difference between these two measurements is calculated to provide an indication of the adequacy of refrigerant charge in the system. This process is refined by steps taken to eliminate measurements during transient operations and by filtering signals to eliminate undesirable noise. A permitted threshold of deviation is calculated by using probability theory.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the sufficiency of the refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system by use of temperature measurements. The temperature of the liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser coil and the outdoor temperature are sensed and representative electrical signals are generated. The electrical signals are converted to digital values that are than compared to predetermined optimal values to determine whether the system is properly charged with refrigerant. An appropriate LED is lighted to indicate that the system is undercharged, overcharged or properly charged. For non-TXV/EXV systems a third parameter i.e. the return air wet bulb temperature is also sensed and a representative digital value thereof is included in the comparison with the predetermined known values to determine if the charge is proper.
Abstract:
A braze-free connector suitable for use in a refrigeration system that includes a connector body having a circular opening passing therethrough. The opening has a converging section that tapers downwardly from the entrance to the opening toward the back of the opening. A ferrule is slidably mounted upon a refrigerant tube which is inserted into the opening to place a tapered collapsible section of the ferrule in contact with the tapered section of the opening. The non-collapsible section of the ferrule is keyed to a nut which in turn is mated with a male thread formed on the connector body whereby the collapsible section of the ferrule is forced into engagement with the refrigerant tube. A pressure sensitive sealant is pre-coated upon at least the collapsible section of the ferrule which is activated as the ferrule is forced into engagement with the refrigerant tube.
Abstract:
A braze-free connector suitable for use in a refrigeration system that includes a connector body having a circular opening passing therethrough. The opening has a converging section that tapers downwardly from the entrance to the opening toward the back of the opening. A ferrule is slidably mounted upon a refrigerant tube which is inserted into the opening to place a tapered collapsible section of the ferrule in contact with the tapered section of the opening. The non-collapsible section of the ferrule is keyed to a nut which in turn is mated with a male thread formed on the connector body whereby the collapsible section of the ferrule is forced into engagement with the refrigerant tube. A pressure sensitive sealant is pre-coated upon at least the collapsible section of the ferrule which is activated as the ferrule is forced into engagement with the refrigerant tube.
Abstract:
An air conditioning system includes a plurality of sensors for sensing temperature and/or pressure conditions of the system which collectively indicate the actual refrigerant charge level in the system. This level is then compared with optimum level values that are stored in memory, and the difference between the two is used to indicate whether the system is properly charged. If not, the difference is applied to open a charge valve or a purge valve to automatically install additional refrigerant or to remove refrigerant so as to establish an optimum volume of refrigerant in the system.
Abstract:
In a residential furnace having a layered insulation material on the inner walls of the heat exchanger compartment, the inner aluminum foil layer has a plurality of holes formed therein in order to allow for the outer layer to absorb the sound within the heat exchanger compartment and thereby reduce the noise emanating from the furnace. Both the density and size of the holes are optimized to maximize the sound absorption performance over the particular frequency ranges that are characteristic of the furnace.
Abstract:
A braze-free connector for attaching a flow line to an operating unit of a flow system. The connector has a central passage into which the flow line is inserted through a tapered entranceway. The entranceway opens into a radially expanded cavity that surrounds a section of the flow line. The cavity is filled with a pressure activated adhesive. A ferrule is mounted in the entranceway and is rotatably mounted upon a threaded nut which mates with a male thread on the connector body. As the nut is advanced, the ferrule moves axially into the cavity to activate the adhesive, and at the same time, is forced radially into tight sealing contact with the flow line.