Abstract: A liquid-vapor separator includes a housing, an inlet disposed on the housing and configured to receive a working fluid into the housing, a vapor stream outlet disposed on the housing and configured to release a vapor stream of the working fluid, and a demister disposed in the housing and configured to transfer thermal energy between the working fluid and the vapor stream. In some embodiments, the working fluid absorbs thermal energy and evaporates to provide the vapor stream that includes entrained droplets. At least a portion of the entrained droplets absorbs thermal energy from the working fluid to evaporate when the vapor stream flows through the demister. In some embodiments, the liquid-vapor separator includes a passive demisting portion that demists by obstructing at least a portion of the entrained droplets.

Abstract: A liquid-vapor separator includes a housing, an inlet disposed on the housing and configured to receive a working fluid into the housing, a vapor stream outlet disposed on the housing and configured to release a vapor stream of the working fluid, and a demister disposed in the housing and configured to transfer thermal energy between the working fluid and the vapor stream. In some embodiments, the working fluid absorbs thermal energy and evaporates to provide the vapor stream that includes entrained droplets. At least a portion of the entrained droplets absorbs thermal energy from the working fluid to evaporate when the vapor stream flows through the demister. In some embodiments, the liquid-vapor separator includes a passive demisting portion that demists by obstructing at least a portion of the entrained droplets.

Abstract: Purge systems for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) circuits in chillers can use adsorbent and/or membranes to separate refrigerant from non-condensable gases, allowing the non-condensables to be exhausted while the working fluid can be recovered and returned to the HVACR circuit. The purge systems can include one or more separation chambers including either an adsorbent material or a selectively permeable membrane. The selectively permeable membrane can be solubility-based for its selectivity. Optionally, a pusher pump can be upstream of the separation chambers to pressurize the purge gas through the purge system, including in the separation chamber. The purge system can be controlled using a model correlating pressure differentials in the purge system with purge gas conditions such as non-condensable and working fluid concentrations.