Apparatus and method for evaporator defrosting
Abstract
An apparatus and method for warm-liquid defrosting of the evaporator of a refrigeration system. The apparatus includes a first refrigerant expansion device that selectively expands refrigerant for cooling the evaporator, a second refrigerant expansion device that selectively expands the refrigerant after the refrigerant has passed through the evaporator, and a defrosting control for the first refrigerant expansion device and second refrigerant expansion device to selectively defrost the evaporator by causing warm refrigerant to flow through the evaporator. The apparatus is alternately embodied with a first refrigerant bypass and/or a second refrigerant bypass for selectively directing refrigerant to respectively bypass the first refrigerant expansion device and the second refrigerant expansion device, and with the defrosting control connected to the first refrigerant bypass and/or the second refrigerant bypass to selectively activate and deactivate the bypasses depending upon the current cycle of the refrigeration system. The apparatus alternately includes an accumulator for accumulating liquid and/or gaseous refrigerant that is then pumped either to a refrigerant receiver or the first refrigerant expansion device for enhanced evaporator defrosting capability. The inventive method of defrosting an evaporator in a refrigeration system includes the steps of compressing refrigerant in a compressor and cooling the refrigerant in themore »
- Inventors:
-
- Oak Ridge, TN
- Knoxville, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 873803
- Patent Number(s):
- 6250090
- Assignee:
- Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, TN)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-96OR22464
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- apparatus; method; evaporator; defrosting; warm-liquid; refrigeration; refrigerant; expansion; device; selectively; expands; cooling; passed; control; defrost; causing; warm; flow; alternately; embodied; bypass; directing; respectively; connected; activate; deactivate; bypasses; depending; current; cycle; accumulator; accumulating; liquid; gaseous; pumped; receiver; enhanced; capability; inventive; steps; compressing; compressor; condenser; substantially; form; passing; expanding; passes; expansion device; liquid form; inventive method; gaseous refrigerant; selectively directing; selectively activate; selectively direct; /62/
Citation Formats
Mei, Viung C, Chen, Fang C, and Domitrovic, Ronald E. Apparatus and method for evaporator defrosting. United States: N. p., 2001.
Web.
Mei, Viung C, Chen, Fang C, & Domitrovic, Ronald E. Apparatus and method for evaporator defrosting. United States.
Mei, Viung C, Chen, Fang C, and Domitrovic, Ronald E. Mon .
"Apparatus and method for evaporator defrosting". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/873803.
@article{osti_873803,
title = {Apparatus and method for evaporator defrosting},
author = {Mei, Viung C and Chen, Fang C and Domitrovic, Ronald E},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method for warm-liquid defrosting of the evaporator of a refrigeration system. The apparatus includes a first refrigerant expansion device that selectively expands refrigerant for cooling the evaporator, a second refrigerant expansion device that selectively expands the refrigerant after the refrigerant has passed through the evaporator, and a defrosting control for the first refrigerant expansion device and second refrigerant expansion device to selectively defrost the evaporator by causing warm refrigerant to flow through the evaporator. The apparatus is alternately embodied with a first refrigerant bypass and/or a second refrigerant bypass for selectively directing refrigerant to respectively bypass the first refrigerant expansion device and the second refrigerant expansion device, and with the defrosting control connected to the first refrigerant bypass and/or the second refrigerant bypass to selectively activate and deactivate the bypasses depending upon the current cycle of the refrigeration system. The apparatus alternately includes an accumulator for accumulating liquid and/or gaseous refrigerant that is then pumped either to a refrigerant receiver or the first refrigerant expansion device for enhanced evaporator defrosting capability. The inventive method of defrosting an evaporator in a refrigeration system includes the steps of compressing refrigerant in a compressor and cooling the refrigerant in the condenser such that the refrigerant is substantially in liquid form, passing the refrigerant substantially in liquid form through the evaporator, and expanding the refrigerant with a refrigerant expansion device after the refrigerant substantially passes through the evaporator.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001}
}