Abstract: A refrigeration system having a primary refrigerant path including a compressor, a condenser, a primary expansion device, and an evaporator connected together to form a closed loop system with a refrigerant circulating therein; and a bypass path coupled to an outlet of the condenser. The bypass path includes a secondary expansion device; and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the primary refrigerant path between the condenser outlet and the primary expansion device inlet to remove heat from the refrigerant discharged from the condenser. The condenser is downsized such that lacks the heat transfer capacity to provide some or all of the required subcooling as provided according to conventional practice, and the heat exchanger provides some or all the required subcooling according to the capacity of the condenser.

Abstract: A heat transfer system usable as an air conditioner, a heat pumpt or the like includes a compressor, a condenser, a main expansion device and an evaporator connected in a closed circuit through which a refrigerant is circulated, and a bypass device in which subcooling is performed rather than in the downstream portion of the condenser, as is conventional.

Abstract: An energy-saving refrigeration system circulates a mixture of R-134a, R-32 and R-125 whose composition is controlled using a vapor separator. A vortex generator is a preferred means to separate the mixture. For high thermal load operation, R-32 stays in the circulating line with increased cooling capacity, and R-134a and R-125 are stored in a storage tank. Conversely, for low thermal load operation, R-134a and R-125 stay in the circulating line with increased EER, and R-32 is stored in a storage tank. Multiple storage tanks can be used to control the composition of each refrigerant independently.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator connected in a closed circuit through which a refrigerant is circulated. A portion of liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser is diverted through a secondary expansion valve and a heat exchanger, which is thermally coupled between compressor and condenser, thereby allowing the superheated refrigerant vapor to be cooled at a temperature at or close to its saturation temperature when it enters the condenser. Hence, a de-superheating process inside the condenser is eliminated, and the condenser operates more efficiently, resulting in increased subcooling and thus increased cooling capacity. Also, the more efficient condenser decreases condenser pressure, a phenomenon which results in the reduction of the compressor work and accordingly increases the efficiency.

Abstract: A variable capacity refrigeration system which does not require a costly inverter compressor and does not exhibit low energy efficiency at high capacity. The system employs a constant speed compressor that operates continuously when the system is energized, irrespective of the heat load, and a refrigerant bypass path including a secondary expansion device, a heat exchanger, and a flow control device which is operable to permit a portion of the refrigerant exiting from the condenser to flow through the bypass path to an inlet of the compressor when the heat load is below a predetermined threshold, whereby the heat exchanger operates as a secondary evaporator, and to prevent refrigerant exiting from the condenser from flowing through the bypass path to the compressor inlet when the heat load is not below the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A variable capacity refrigeration system which does not require a costly inverter compressor and does not exhibit low energy efficiency at high capacity. The system employs a constant speed compressor that operates continuously when the system is energized, irrespective of the heat load, and a refrigerant bypass path including a secondary expansion device, a heat exchanger, and a flow control device which is operable to permit a portion of the refrigerant exiting from the condenser to flow through the bypass path to an inlet of the compressor when the heat load is below a predetermined threshold, whereby the heat exchanger operates as a secondary evaporator, and to prevent refrigerant exiting from the condenser from flowing through the bypass path to the compressor inlet when the heat load is not below the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator connected in a closed circuit through which a refrigerant is circulated. Liquid refrigerant is injected between an outlet of the compressor and an inlet of the condenser using a vacuum generator in which the vacuum is created by the geometry of the device and the dynamic properties of fluid flow therein, thereby allowing the refrigerant to be cooled at a temperature close to its saturation temperature when it enters the condenser without the need for a costly pump having moving parts. The vacuum may be produced by vortex flow of the superheated vapor output of the compressor, by flow of the superheated vapor through the throat of a venturi device, or in any other comparable manner. The refrigeration system may employ a single refrigerant or a mixture of refrigerants such as R-134a, R-32 and R-125.

Abstract: An energy-saving refrigeration system circulates a mixture of R-134a, R-32 and R-125 whose composition is controlled using a vapor separator. A vortex generator is a preferred means to separate the mixture. For high thermal load operation, R-32 stays in the circulating line with increased cooling capacity, and R-134a and R-125 are stored in a storage tank. Conversely, for low thermal load operation, R-134a and R-125 stay in the circulating line with increased EER, and R-32 is stored in a storage tank. Multiple storage tanks can be used to control the composition of each refrigerant independently.

Abstract: A vortex generator for accepting high-pressure condensible vapor and separating the condensible vapor into a relatively hot stream of vapor and a relatively cool liquid. The vortex generator includes an inlet at the first end for allowing high pressure vapor to enter, and an outlet at the second end for allowing condensed liquid to exit wherein the outlet communicates with the inlet via a longitudinal chamber. A nozzle located near the inlet having a plurality of equally-spaced tangential inlets along its perimeter for injecting the vapor that is inlet to the vortex generator into the longitudinal chamber as a high-speed vortex vapor stream proximate the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A regenerative type of refrigeration system recirculates a mixture of R-134a, R-32 and R-125 through first and second series condensers. In order to increase the concentration of the high-boiling point R-134a, the liquid output of a liquid-vapor separator receives a super-heated mixture vapor tapped from the output of the compressor. An adjustable valve controls the amount of the super heated mixture vapor which is injected to vary the concentration of R-134a in the recirculation line. Liquified R-134a passes through a secondary expansion valve and a secondary evaporator, reducing to an intermediate pressure, and enters a vortex tube, thus bypassing the main evaporator. Subsequently, the suction pressure of the compressor increases, increasing the EER of the refrigeration system. The recirculating concept is also applicable to a single refrigerant system.

Abstract: The performance of a refrigeration system is often reduced due to insufficient refrigerant charge or due to the use of an inverter compressor. The performance loss is associated with the operating condition, which is not at the optimum, thus yielding less than the maximum EER (energy efficiency ratio). A vortex generator restores the optimum operating condition in the refrigeration system with insufficient refrigerant charge or using an inverter compressor.

Abstract: An improved refrigeration system utilizing one or more vortex tubes. Vortex tubes produce liquid refrigerant from saturated-state vapor refrigerant in a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. The efficiency of a refrigeration system can be improved by placing vortex tubes before and after the evaporator.

Abstract: A vortex generator for accepting high-pressure condensible vapor and separating the condensible vapor into a relatively hot stream of vapor and a relatively cool liquid.

Abstract: A regenerative type of refrigeration system recirculates a mixture of R-134a, R-32 and R-125 through first and second series condensers. In order to increase the concentration of the high-boiling point R-134a, the liquid output of a liquid-vapor separator receives a super-heated mixture vapor tapped from the output of the compressor. An adjustable valve controls the amount of the super heated mixture vapor which is injected to vary the concentration of R-134a in the recirculation line. Liquified R-134a passes through a secondary expansion valve and a secondary evaporator, reducing to an intermediate pressure, and enters a vortex tube, thus bypassing the main evaporator. Subsequently, the suction pressure of the compressor increases, increasing the EER of the refrigeration system. The recirculating concept is also applicable to a single refrigerant system.

Abstract: A refrigeration system utilizing a vortex generator and a diffuser to reduce the pressure differential between the head pressure and suction pressure across a compressor.

Abstract: A drying structure and process has a wet or damp mass to be dried in a container. Hot dry gas is fed into the container to flow over and/or through the mass to be dried, and the vapor-containing gas which is produced by contact with the mass is discharged from the container to the input of a vortex tube. The vortex tube separates the humid vapor into a liquid which may be discharged, and a dried gas which is recirculated back to the container for further drying of the mass.

Abstract: The performance of a refrigeration system is often reduced due to insufficient refrigerant charge or due to the use of an inverter compressor. The performance loss is associated with the operating condition, which is not at the optimum, thus yielding less than the maximum EER (energy efficiency ratio). A vortex generator restores the optimum operating condition in the refrigeration system with insufficient refrigerant charge or using an inverter compressor.

Abstract: A regenerative type of refrigeration system recirculates a mixture of R-134a, R-32 and R-125 through first and second series condensers. A first vortex tube is connected to the inlet of the first condenser and a second vortex tube is connected at the outlet of the first condenser to provide a vapor path from a compressor through the condensers to an expansion device and evaporator. The liquid inlet of a first vortex tube and a liquid outlet of a second vortex tube are connected together to define a closed recirculation path around the first condenser for liquified R-134a.

Abstract: A refrigeration system utilizing a vortex generator and a diffuser to reduce the pressure differential between the head pressure and suction pressure across a compressor.

Abstract: An improved refrigeration system utilizing one or more vortex tubes. Vortex tubes produce liquid refrigerant from saturated-state vapor refrigerant in a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. The efficiency of a refrigeration system can be improved by placing a vortex tube before the evaporator. The efficiency of a refrigeration system may also be improved by placing a vortex tube in the condenser approximately one-quarter of the way from the inlet of the condenser. The efficiency of a refrigeration system may also be improved by placing a vortex tube before the compressor.