Abstract:
A standard refrigeration pressure regulating valve (136) limits the minimum temperature produced by a refrigeration process, which uses a refrigerant mixture including at least two components whose normal boiling points differ by at least 50 DEG C. Limiting the lowest temperature prevents freezout of the refrigerant.
Abstract:
Refrigerants containing HCFC's are replaced with new blends by using R-236fa and R-125, or R-125 with R-245fa, or R-236ea, or R-134a with R-236fa in place of HCFC's. No hardware or oil composition changes are required to maintain temperatures, pressures and capacity substantially unchanged in a refrigeration system.
Abstract:
Refrigerants containing R-22 are replaced with new blends by using R-125, or R-125 with R-124, or R-218, or R-218 with R-124, in place of R-22. No hardware or oil composition changes are required to maintain temperatures, pressures and capacity substantially unchanged in a refrigeration system.
Abstract:
Refrigerants containing R-22 are replaced with new blends by using R-125, or R-125 with R-124, or R-218, or R-218 with R-124, in place of R-22. No hardware or oil composition changes are required to maintain temperatures, pressures and capacity substantially unchanged in a refrigeration system.
Abstract:
A microminiature laminated heat exchanger for use in a cryogenic probe, and a method of manufacture. The heat exchanger has high and low pressure flow patterns (46, 48) etched into oxygen free copper sheets (42), with the flow patterns being tortuous paths promoting turbulent flow. The sheets (42) containing the flow patterns are bonded into a laminated assembly in the shape of a cylinder (28), with a high pressure inlet and a low pressure outlet in a first end, and a high pressure outlet and a low pressure inlet in a second end. The high pressure flow path lies alongside the low pressure flow path, with flow in the two paths being in opposite directions, to accomplish counterflow heat exchange. Substantial portions of the flow paths are either parallel to, or transverse to, the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger, with the resuulting heat flow being essentially radial or axial, respectively.
Abstract:
A miniature mixed gas refrigeration system and method is disclosed. A selected gas mixture is compressed to less than 420 psia for safety reasons. The compressed gas mixture is passed through a primary heat exchanger (140) and a primary/secondary heat exchanger (240) to precool the gas mixture. The secondary side of the primary/secondary heat exchanger is cooled by a secondary Joule-Thomson refrigeration system (200). Flow restrictions in the primary side of the primary/secondary heat exchanger (240) can solidify and trap liquid contaminants. The gas mixture exiting the primary outlet of the primary/secondary heat exchanger (240) passes to a primary expansion element (150) to expand isenthalpically to a to 183K or below to cool a heat transfer element. Return gas through the primary heat exchanger (140) precools the incoming high pressure gas mixture. A distal primary heat exchanger (160) can be added between the primary/secondary heat exchanger (240) and the primary expansion element (150).
Abstract:
A method and device is disclosed for removing residual oil and other contaminants from the refrigerant stream flowing to low-temperature stages of a cryogenic refrigerator. A stream of vapor and liquid refrigerant coming from an air-cooled condenser is injected into a cyclone chamber (32) through the inlet tube (34). While the liquid drains down a conical section (36) and out through a liquid line (38), the vapor phase moves up into a packing of metal platelets (42) which is cooled by a returning stream of cold vapor passing through a tube (48) wrapped around the column. A portion of the vapor condenses on the platelets and is maintained in equilibrium with the vapor. Since high-molecular-weight contaminants are more soluble in the liquid phase, they are carried down the column with the drops of condensate and are swept out with the liquid fraction through the liquid line (38).