Abstrict A compression device for use in a HVAC&R system that includes
a compressor for compressing vaporized refrigerant having a compressor
inlet and compressor outlet for directing compressed refrigerant
downstream along a first conduit to a condenser. An accumulator
is provided for preventing liquid refrigerant from reaching the
compressor. The accumulator has an accumulator inlet for receiving
refrigerant along a second conduit from an upstream evaporator and
an accumulator outlet in fluid communication with the compressor
inlet for receiving vaporized refrigerant therein. The accumulator
and compressor are integrally connected thereto so that the accumulator
and compressor may be installed into a refrigerant recycling system
by connecting the compressor outlet with the first conduit and connecting
the accumulator inlet with the second conduit. A desiccant is disposed
inside the accumulator between the accumulator inlet and outlet
for removing moisture from the refrigerant.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A compression device for use in a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning
and refrigeration system having a refrigerant flowing through the
system, the compression device comprising: a compressor to compress
refrigerant vapor having a compressor shell, the compressor having
a compressor inlet to receive refrigerant vapor and a compressor
outlet to transmit compressed refrigerant vapor from the compressor;
an accumulator to remove liquid from the refrigerant flow and provide
refrigerant vapor to the compressor, the accumulator having an accumulator
inlet to receive refrigerant and an accumulator outlet in fluid
communication with the compressor inlet to transmit refrigerant
vapor to the compressor, the accumulator having a shell that is
integral with and in contact with the compressor shell to form a
single unit for the compression device; and a desiccant disposed
inside the accumulator between the accumulator inlet and outlet
for removing moisture from the refrigerant.
2. The compression device of claim 1 wherein the compressor is
of a rotary type.
3. The compression device of claim 1 wherein the compressor is
of a swing link type.
4. The compression device of claim 1 wherein the accumulator outlet
is integral with the compressor inlet.
5. A compression device for use in a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning
and refrigeration system having a refrigerant flowing through the
system, the compression device comprising: a compressor to compress
refrigerant vapor having a compressor shell, the compressor having
a compressor inlet to receive refrigerant vapor and a compressor
outlet to transmit compressed refrigerant vapor from the compressor;
an accumulator to remove liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant
flow and provide refrigerant vapor to the compressor, the accumulator
having an accumulator inlet to receive refrigerant and an accumulator
outlet in fluid communication with the compressor inlet to transmit
refrigerant vapor to the compressor, the accumulator having an outlet
which is integral with the compressor inlet; the accumulator and
the compressor being integrally combined, acting as a single unit;
and a desiccant disposed inside the accumulator between the accumulator
inlet and outlet for removing moisture from the refrigerant.
6. The compression device of claim 5 wherein the accumulator shell
is integral with the compressor shell to form a single casing for
the compression device.
7. The compression device of claim 1 further comprising a screen
adjacent the accumulator inlet to prevent particulate matter from
entering the accumulator outlet.
8. The compression device of claim 1 further comprising a baffle
adjacent the accumulator inlet to prevent particulate matter from
entering the accumulator outlet.
9. The compression device of claim 1 further comprising a screen
and a baffle adjacent the accumulator inlet to prevent particulate
matter from entering the accumulator outlet.
10. The compression device of claim 1 wherein the desiccant is
disposed between the accumulator inlet and a screen to prevent particulate
matter from entering the accumulator outlet.
11. A compression device for use in a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning
and refrigeration system having a refrigerant flowing through the
system, the compression device comprising: a compressor to compress
refrigerant vapor having a compressor shell, the compressor having
a compressor inlet to receive refrigerant vapor and a compressor
outlet to transmit compressed refrigerant vapor from the compressor;
an accumulator to remove liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant
flow and provide refrigerant vapor to the compressor, the accumulator
having an accumulator inlet to receive refrigerant and an accumulator
outlet in fluid communication with the compressor inlet to transmit
refrigerant vapor to the compressor, the accumulator having an outlet
which forms an integral connection with the compressor inlet, the
integral connection being disposed within the accumulators the accumulator
and the compressor being integrally combined, acting as a single
unit; and a desiccant disposed inside the accumulator between the
accumulator inlet and outlet for removing moisture from the refrigerant.
12. The compressor device of claim 11 wherein the integral connection
is a conduit.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an accumulator within
a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R)
system, and more particularly to an accumulator that includes a
desiccant and is integral with the compressor of the HVAC&R
system.
Air-conditioning systems commonly employ an accumulator to ensure
delivery of refrigerant in its vapor state to the compressor to
avoid damaging the compressor. The accumulator delivers refrigerant
vapor by typically employing a tube which extends from the upper
portion of the accumulator to the lower portion, the tube further
extending from the lower portion of the accumulator to a suction
opening to the compressor. A mix of liquid and vapor refrigerant
entering the top portion of the accumulator is directed around the
opening in the tube for circulation within the body of the accumulator.
Liquid refrigerant is separated from vapor refrigerant which is
permitted to flow to the compressor, while the liquid refrigerant
is collected and retained within the accumulator. In certain system
configurations, the accumulator may be housed within the compressor
shell.
To further enhance performance of an air-conditioning system, an
in-line refrigerant filter may be employed to remove impurities
from the refrigerant flow. The in-line filter is typically separately
installed on the low pressure side of the system between the compressor
and the evaporator. The installation of the filter requires a pair
of brazed joints at opposed ends of the filter in order to secure
the filter into the refrigeration lines of the system. In addition,
the in-line filter can also include a desiccant to remove moisture
from the refrigerant flow. Some examples of accumulators and/or
filter arrangements can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5575833 and
5562427 that are directed to an accumulator provided with a desiccant,
and an accumulator housed within a compressor that is provided with
a desiccant, respectively.
While systems formerly using refrigerants such as R-22 typically
did not require inclusion of a desiccant filter to operate at near
peak performance levels, systems using newer refrigerants such as
R-410a often require the desiccant filter for proper operation of
the system. Therefore, existing systems that are incorporating these
newer, more environmentally friendly refrigerants will require the
installation of a separate in-line desiccant filter for optimum
performance. Further, it is common in the HVAC&R industry to
replace any desiccant in the system at the same time as the compressor
is replaced, which replacement process requires the installer to
unbraze and braze four separate connections in the refrigerant line,
two at the compressor and two at the drier.
Therefore, what is needed is an accumulator with a filter and desiccant
that is integral with the compressor assembly that can simplify
the replacement process and work efficiently with newer refrigerants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a compression device for use
in a HVAC&R system having a refrigerant flowing through the
system. The compression device includes a compressor to compress
refrigerant vapor having a compressor shell. The compressor has
a compressor inlet to receive refrigerant vapor and a compressor
outlet to transmit compressed refrigerant vapor from the compressor.
An accumulator removes liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant flow
and provides refrigerant vapor to the compressor. The accumulator
has an accumulator inlet to receive refrigerant and an accumulator
outlet in fluid communication with the compressor inlet to transmit
refrigerant vapor to the compressor. The accumulator has a shell
that is integral with the compressor shell to form a single casing
assembly for the compression device. A desiccant is disposed inside
the accumulator between the accumulator inlet and outlet for removing
moisture from the refrigerant.
One advantage of the present invention is that it simplifies the
installation process of a compressor and desiccant by eliminating
the need for two brazed joints in the system.
A further advantage of the present invention is that by combining
an accumulator with a desiccant, an inventory parts reduction may
be realized in that a casing for the filter and/or desiccant is
not required.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that the
integrally combined compressor and accumulator/desiccant provide
the advantages of space savings and moisture removal from the refrigerant
without the cost associated with a system which employs a desiccant
external to the compressor assembly.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred
embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art air-conditioning system.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a HVAC&R system of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the HVAC&R
system of the present invention.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout
the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 depicts a conventional air-conditioning system 10. A compressor
12 is connected to a power source (not shown) and compresses refrigerant
vapor when energized by the power source. The substantially compressed
fluid (compressed refrigerant vapor) is transferred or transmitted
via a conduit 14 typically tubing, from compressor 12 to a condenser
16. In the condenser 16 the substantially compressed fluid enters
into a heat exchange relationship with another fluid and at least
partially undergoes a phase change to a high pressure liquid. The
change of the fluid to a liquid is an exothermic transformation
or event, causing the vaporous fluid to give up heat to the other
fluid. The fluid is then transferred or transmitted from condenser
16 via conduit 14 to an expansion device 18. Expansion device 18
may include a valve or series of valves which causes the fluid to
expand, resulting in the lowering of the pressure and temperature
of the fluid. The fluid exits expansion device 18 via conduit 14
primarily as a cool low-pressure liquid, with possibly some vaporous
fluid, and is transported to an evaporator 20. In evaporator 20
the substantially cool low-pressure liquid enters into a heat-exchange
relation with yet another fluid and undergoes a phase change to
be converted to substantially a gas. This phase change of the fluid
from a liquid to a gas is an endothermic transformation which absorbs
heat from the other fluid in contact with evaporator 20. The volume
of fluid entering into contact with evaporator 20 is enhanced or
increased by use of other devices such a blower (not shown). The
gas exiting evaporator 20 may include some liquid that was not converted
in evaporator 20. The fluid is then transferred via conduit 14 to
a filtering device 22 that preferably employs a desiccant (not shown)
to remove any water that may be present in the fluid. The refrigerant
vapor, which may include liquid, from filtering device 22 is transported
via conduit 14 to an accumulator 24. In accumulator 24 any liquid
that is present in the refrigerant is removed and the liquid is
stored until it vaporizes and is re-circulated back into the air-conditioning
system 10. After the liquid is removed, the refrigerant vapor is
drawn into the compressor to be compressed, and the cycle is repeated.
The filter 22 is typically a separate unit, requiring installation
within the air-conditioning system 10 by brazing inlet and outlet
connections 34 36.
In contrast, the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2 incorporates
a compressor 100 and an accumulator 102 into a HVAC&R system
similar to the AC system 10 shown in FIG. 1. Compressor 100 is preferably
a rotary or swing link compressor, however, any compressor that
requires an accumulator and/or a desiccant can be used. Accumulator
102 is integrally connected or attached to the shell or casing of
compressor 100. A conduit 104 extends inside of accumulator 102
and is installed between accumulator outlet 32 and compressor inlet
26 thereby providing a pre-installed connection between accumulator
outlet 32 and compressor inlet 26. Although not shown, accumulator
102 and compressor 100 are connected or attached by a mechanical
fastening means or device, including straps, bolts, screws, brackets,
adhesives, welds or any conventional method of securing components
together.
Accumulator 102 preferably employs a screen 38 and a baffle 40
each preferably adjacent accumulator inlet 30 to prevent particulate
matter and liquid refrigerant from entering accumulator outlet 32
and traveling to compressor 100. A desiccant material 42 is placed
between accumulator inlet 30 and screen 38 to remove any water that
may be present in the refrigerant entering accumulator 102. Any
accumulator configuration that can incorporate desiccant can be
used. Any suitable desiccant material that is compatible with the
refrigerant of the system can be used. By incorporating desiccant
42 and screen 38 within accumulator 102 there is no need for a
separate filter, such as filter 22 from FIG. 1 thereby reducing
the number of system components. Similarly, the number of brazed
joints required to incorporate integrally connected compressor 100
and accumulator 102 is reduced to two, to compressor outlet 28 and
accumulator inlet 30 since the brazed connections for filter inlet
and outlet 34 36 are no longer required.
Referring to FIG. 3 an alternate embodiment of the present invention
is illustrated wherein conduit 104 is contained entirely within
accumulator 202. In this construction, accumulator outlet 32 is
integral with compressor inlet 26 thereby providing conduit 104
further protection from damage using the accumulator housing.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred
embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for
elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention.
In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the invention without
departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended
that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed
as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but
that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the
scope of the appended claims. |