Non-intrusive refrigerant charge indicator
Abstract
A non-intrusive refrigerant charge level indicator includes a structure for measuring at least one temperature at an outside surface of a two-phase refrigerant line section. The measured temperature can be used to determine the refrigerant charge status of an HVAC system, and can be converted to a pressure of the refrigerant in the line section and compared to a recommended pressure range to determine whether the system is under-charged, properly charged or over-charged. A non-intrusive method for assessing the refrigerant charge level in a system containing a refrigerant fluid includes the step of measuring a temperature at least one outside surface of a two-phase region of a refrigerant containing refrigerant line, wherein the temperature measured can be converted to a refrigerant pressure within the line section.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1175280
- Patent Number(s):
- 6868678
- Application Number:
- 10/106,556
- Assignee:
- Ut-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01F - MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
Citation Formats
Mei, Viung C., Chen, Fang C., and Kweller, Esher. Non-intrusive refrigerant charge indicator. United States: N. p., 2005.
Web.
Mei, Viung C., Chen, Fang C., & Kweller, Esher. Non-intrusive refrigerant charge indicator. United States.
Mei, Viung C., Chen, Fang C., and Kweller, Esher. Tue .
"Non-intrusive refrigerant charge indicator". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1175280.
@article{osti_1175280,
title = {Non-intrusive refrigerant charge indicator},
author = {Mei, Viung C. and Chen, Fang C. and Kweller, Esher},
abstractNote = {A non-intrusive refrigerant charge level indicator includes a structure for measuring at least one temperature at an outside surface of a two-phase refrigerant line section. The measured temperature can be used to determine the refrigerant charge status of an HVAC system, and can be converted to a pressure of the refrigerant in the line section and compared to a recommended pressure range to determine whether the system is under-charged, properly charged or over-charged. A non-intrusive method for assessing the refrigerant charge level in a system containing a refrigerant fluid includes the step of measuring a temperature at least one outside surface of a two-phase region of a refrigerant containing refrigerant line, wherein the temperature measured can be converted to a refrigerant pressure within the line section.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 EST 2005},
month = {Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 EST 2005}
}