REVERSE CYCLE DEFROST REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
A refrigeration system in which a refrigerant is circulatable, the refrigeration system including an indoor coil assembly with an indoor coil and a suction header subassembly connected with indoor coil circuits of the indoor coil. The suction header subassembly includes a hollow suction header body defining a suction header bore therein and one or more extended spigots defining an extended spigot bore therein for directing the refrigerant into a selected one of the indoor coil circuits when operating in a defrost mode. The extended spigot includes an open inner end that is located in the suction header bore to receive a portion of the refrigerant flowing therethrough when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/467,916, filed on Mar. 7, 2017, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a reverse cycle defrost refrigeration system with a coil assembly including a header subassembly with one or more extended spigots for increasing flow of the refrigerant in one or more selected coil circuits.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs is well known in the art, an indoor coil in a vapor compression refrigeration system typically is required to be defrosted from time to time. Various devices and methods in this regard are known. Many of the known defrosting methods, e.g., electric defrost and off-cycle defrost, have certain disadvantages.
Reverse cycle defrost methods, in which the flow of the refrigerant through the system is at least partially reversed, provides certain advantages. However, in the prior art, certain elements fundamental to the refrigeration system involve certain disadvantages.
As is well known in the art, a suction header subassembly 20 is formed for use with an indoor coil that includes a number of indoor coil circuits including tubes through which the refrigerant flows (not shown in
As can be seen in
In the typical indoor coil assembly, the indoor coil circuits are in fluid communication respectively with the suction header bore 24 via hollow spigots 28. When the refrigeration system in which the indoor coil is included is operating in a refrigeration mode, the refrigerant flows through the indoor coil circuits and exits therefrom, via the spigots 28, into the suction header bore 24, and subsequently further exits therefrom, as schematically represented by arrow “A” in
In the refrigeration mode, the refrigerant flows into the indoor coil circuits of the indoor coil at respective inlet ends of the indoor coil circuits, and then flows from the indoor coil circuits at respective outlet ends thereof into the bore 24 of the suction header body 22 via respective spigot bores 29 of the spigots 28 (
When the refrigeration system operates in a defrost mode, the refrigerant is directed through the suction header bore 24 in the direction indicated by arrow “B” in
Each spigot 28 has a connection portion engaged with the body 22, via which the refrigerant may flow from the tube to the suction header bore 24, and vice versa. For clarity of illustration, the connection portions of the spigots 28, at which the respective bores 29 of the spigots 28 are in fluid communication with the suction header bore 24, are respectively identified in
In the prior art, when operating the refrigeration system during the defrost mode, it may be found that one or more of the indoor coil circuits defrosts at a slower rate than others. Because of this, the refrigeration system may remain in the defrost mode for a relatively long time, in order to defrost the entire indoor coil. However, prolonged operation in the defrost mode may have various undesirable consequences.
As is well known in the art, there may be various reasons for an indoor coil circuit being relatively slow to defrost. One possible reason appears to be that the flow of the warm refrigerant into the indoor coil circuit is less than the flow thereof through the other indoor coil circuits.
The one or more indoor coil circuits that are relatively slow to defrost may be physically located below the other indoor coil circuits.
For example, where the lowermost indoor coil circuit is relatively slow to defrost, it may be that this is ultimately due to a relatively lower static pressure at the lowermost connection portion 26E. Those skilled in the art would appreciate that, when in the defrost mode, the refrigerant in the respective spigots 28 at the connection portions 26A-26E thereof is subjected to predominantly static pressure, because the spigots 28 do not extend into the bore 24 at the connection portions 26A-26E. It is also believed that such static pressure is greatest at the connection portion 26A, and is lowest at the connection portion 26E, based on differences in rates of flow of the refrigerant into the respective tubes, when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode.
Accordingly, in these circumstances, relatively more of the refrigerant flows through the connection portions 26A-26D into the tubes connected therewith via the respective spigots than through the connection portion 26E.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that, where the lowermost indoor coil circuit is the slowest to defrost, this may be due to a relatively slower rate of flow of the warm refrigerant into the lowermost indoor coil circuit. It is believed that the relatively slower flow rate of the refrigerant into the lowermost connection portion 26E, when operating in defrost mode, may be at least partially due to the relatively lower static pressure of the refrigerant at the connection portion 26E.
The indoor coil circuit that is relatively slower to defrost is not necessarily the lowermost circuit, and there may be different reasons for such slow rate of defrost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONFor the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a refrigeration system that overcomes or mitigates one or more of the disadvantages or defects of the prior art. Such disadvantages or defects are not necessarily included in those described above.
In its broad aspect, the invention provides a refrigeration system in which a refrigerant is circulatable, the refrigeration system including an indoor coil assembly. The indoor coil assembly includes an indoor coil and a suction header subassembly connected with indoor coil circuits of the indoor coil at outlet ends of the indoor coil circuits. The suction header subassembly includes a hollow suction header body defining a suction header bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable in a first direction when the refrigeration system operates in the refrigeration mode, and through which the refrigerant flows in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, when the refrigeration system operates in the defrost mode. The suction header subassembly also includes a number of elongate spigots, each spigot defining a spigot bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable, the spigots being formed for connecting the tube bores of the respective indoor coil circuits in fluid communication with the suction header bore via the respective spigot bores. The spigots include one or more extended spigots that each include a main body portion and an inner end portion thereof located in the suction header bore. The main body portion is connected to a selected one of the indoor coil circuits and the inner end portion includes an open inner end in fluid communication with an extended spigot bore of the extended spigot. The inner end portion is positioned to locate the open inner end facing opposite to the second direction, for receiving therein a portion of the refrigerant flowing in the second direction through the suction header bore. The portion of the refrigerant is directed via the open inner end through the extended spigot bore into the selected one of the indoor coil circuits for defrosting the selected one of the indoor coil circuits, when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode.
In another of its aspects the invention provides a header subassembly connected with a number of coil circuits of a tube fin coil in a refrigeration system at respective second ends of the respective coil circuits of the tube fin coil. Each coil circuit includes a tube defining a tube bore therein through which a refrigerant is flowable. Each coil circuit extends between a first end thereof, at which the refrigerant flows into each coil circuit respectively when the refrigeration system is operating in a refrigeration mode, and the second end thereof, via which the refrigerant exits each coil circuit respectively when the refrigeration system is operating in the refrigeration mode. The refrigerant flows through each coil circuit from the second end to the first end thereof when the refrigeration system is operating in a defrost mode. The header subassembly includes a hollow header body defining a header bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable in a first direction when the refrigeration system operates in the refrigeration mode, and through which the refrigerant flows in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, when the refrigeration system operates in the defrost mode. The header subassembly also includes a number of elongate spigots. Each spigot defines a spigot bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable. The spigots are formed for connecting the tube bores of the respective indoor coil circuits in fluid communication with the header bore via the respective spigot bores. The spigots include one or more extended spigots, each including a main body portion and an inner end portion thereof located in the header bores. The main body portion is connected to a selected one of the indoor coil circuits and the inner end portion includes an open inner end in fluid communication with an extended spigot bore of the extended spigot. The inner end portion is positioned to locate the open inner end facing opposite to the second direction, for receiving a portion of the refrigerant flowing in the second direction through the header bore in the open inner end. The portion of the refrigerant is directed via the open inner end through the extended spigot bore into the selected one of the indoor coil circuits for defrosting the selected one of the indoor coil circuits, when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode.
The invention will be better understood with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
In the attached drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding elements throughout. To simplify the description, the reference numerals used in
In the refrigeration system 130, a refrigerant (not shown) is circulatable in a first direction (indicated by arrows “F1”-“F4” in
Those skilled in the art would appreciate that the refrigeration system 130 includes a number of additional elements. For example, as can be seen in
-
- a compressor E-1;
- an outdoor coil assembly E-2;
- a receiver E-3;
- a reversing valve V-1; and
- an expansion valve V-4.
Those skilled in the art would be aware of the manner in which these elements cooperate when the refrigeration system is operating in the refrigeration mode and in the defrost mode. Accordingly, further discussion of these elements is unnecessary.
When the refrigeration system is operating in the refrigeration mode, the refrigerant flows into the respective indoor coil circuits at the inlet ends 145 thereof, and exits the respective indoor coil circuits at the outlet ends 147 thereof. The refrigerant flows through each of the indoor coil circuits “C” from the outlet end 147 thereof to the inlet end 145 thereof of the indoor coil circuit when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode. (It will be understood that an inlet side distributor assembly that is connected to the inlet ends 145 is omitted from
Each of the tubes 136 preferably includes at least first and second parts 142, 144 extending between the first and second sides 138, 140 of the indoor coil 134 and at least a connecting loop 146 at the second side 140 that connects the first and second parts 142, 144 so that they are in fluid communication with each other.
Preferably, the indoor coil assembly 134 also includes a suction header subassembly 148 that is connected with the indoor coil circuits “C” at the outlet ends 147 thereof. In one embodiment, the suction header subassembly 148 preferably includes a hollow suction header body 150 defining a suction header bore 152 therein through which the refrigerant is flowable in a first direction when the refrigeration system 130 operates in the refrigeration mode, and through which the refrigerant flows in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, when the refrigeration system 130 operates in the defrost mode. The direction of flow of the refrigerant in the first and second directions is schematically indicated by arrows “F” and “S” respectively in
Those skilled in the art would appreciate that the suction header body 150 may have any suitable configuration. For instance, as can be seen in
As will be described, it is preferred that the spigots 154 include one or more extended spigots 154L. Preferably, the extended spigot 154L includes a main body portion 180 and an inner end portion 182 thereof located in the suction header bore 152 (
An embodiment of the extended spigot 154L of the invention is illustrated in
As can be seen in
Those skilled in the art would appreciate that the extended spigot 154L, and in particular the inner end portion 182, may have any suitable configuration. In one embodiment, the open inner end 184 of the extended spigot 154L preferably is defined by an end portion axis “X” (
The portion of the refrigerant that is captured in the open inner end 184 (represented by arrow “D” in
As can be seen, for example, in
Preferably, the extended spigot 154L includes the extended spigot bore 101 extending between the open inner end 184 of the inner end portion 182 and the outer part 106 of the main body portion 180, through which the portion of the refrigerant is flowable to the tube bore 137 of the tube of the selected indoor coil circuit “C1” (
It will be understood that the spigots may include more than one extended spigot. It will also be understood that the one or more indoor coil circuits with insufficient refrigerant flow therethrough when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode may be located at any position in the indoor coil.
It will be understood that the open inner end 184 may be positioned in any suitable location inside the suction header bore 152. In one embodiment, the open inner end 184 preferably is substantially centered in the suction header bore 152.
As noted above, the extended spigot 154L may be provided in various forms. The embodiment of the extended spigot 154L illustrated in
It has been found that the extended spigot 154L has increased the flow rate of the refrigerant through the selected indoor coil circuit “C1”, when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the increased flow rate of the refrigerant is due to the location of the open inner end 184, i.e., positioning the open inner end 184 in the suction header bore 152 facing opposite to the direction of flow of the refrigerant to receive the portion of the refrigerant therein, when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode. Such location and orientation of the open inner end results in the refrigerant at the open inner end being subjected to an increased dynamic pressure, which causes the flow of the refrigerant through the extended spigot to be increased.
As can be seen in
It will be understood that the extended spigot may be provided in any suitable form. Due to variations in indoor coil design, the extended spigot may be provided in a variety of configurations. For instance, an alternative embodiment of the extended spigot 254L is illustrated in
The alternative embodiment illustrated in
It will be understood that the extended spigot 254L preferably is hollow throughout, to define an extended spigot bore therein. As can be seen in
It will be understood that certain elements are omitted from the drawings, for clarity. For example, in
Those skilled in the art would appreciate that, as noted above, there may be a number of reasons for an uneven defrost pattern in the indoor coil resulting from different rates of defrost in the respective indoor coil circuits. However, it is believed that the main cause (or at least one of the main causes) of the uneven defrost pattern in the prior art is the different flow rates of the refrigerant through the spigots (and ultimately through the respective indoor coil circuits) in the defrost mode. A deficiency in the flow of the refrigerant may be due to various causes.
In the foregoing description, the lowermost spigot was flow-deficient. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that, depending on the configuration of the suction header and related elements, the lowermost spigot is not necessarily flow-deficient. Accordingly, the foregoing description is exemplary, and one or more similarly flow-deficient spigots may be connected with the suction header body at any point in the suction header body. The extended spigot may be installed to correct a slower rate of refrigerant flow at any location on the suction header body accordingly.
Alternative arrangements may be provided to address the deficiency of refrigerant flow in the flow-deficient spigot. For example, as illustrated in
For instance, in
Another alternative embodiment of the extended spigot 454L of the invention is illustrated in
Another alternative embodiment of the extended spigot 554L is illustrated in
As can be seen in
Embodiments of the extended spigot of the invention may be used to increase the flow of the refrigerant in a coil circuit when the refrigeration system is operating in either the refrigeration mode or the defrost mode. Further alternative arrangements may be used to address deficiencies of refrigerant flow in variously positioned tubes in the indoor coil. For instance, as can be seen in
An alternative embodiment of the outlet end distributor subassembly 696 is illustrated in
The invention also includes a method of defrosting the indoor coil in the refrigeration system 130. In one embodiment, the method preferably includes providing the hollow suction header body 150 defining the suction header bore 152 therein through which the refrigerant is flowable in a first direction when the refrigeration system operates in the refrigeration mode, and through which the refrigerant flows in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, when the refrigeration system operates in the defrost mode. Also, a number of elongate spigots are provided, each spigot defining a spigot bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable. The spigots are formed for connecting the tube bores of the respective indoor coil circuits in fluid communication with the suction header bore via the respective spigot bores. In addition, one or more extended spigots are provided. The extended spigot includes the main body portion and the inner end portion thereof, the inner end portion being at least partially located in the suction header bore. The main body portion is connected to the selected one of the indoor coil circuits. The inner end portion includes the open inner end in fluid communication with the extended spigot bore of the extended spigot. The inner end portion is positioned to locate the open inner end so that it is facing opposite to the second direction (
It will be appreciated that the invention has many applications other than in connection with hot gas defrost, as described above. The extended spigot may be used in any tube fin coil (e.g., whether the tube fin coil is utilized as an evaporator or as a condenser when the refrigeration system is operating in the refrigeration mode), to increase the flow of the refrigerant through one or more selected coil circuits.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention can take many forms, and that such forms are within the scope of the invention as claimed. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
Claims
1. A refrigeration system in which a refrigerant is circulatable, the refrigeration system comprising:
- an indoor coil assembly comprising: an indoor coil comprising a plurality of tubes defining respective tube bores therein through which the refrigerant is flowable, the tubes being arranged in a plurality of indoor coil circuits respectively, each said indoor coil circuit extending between an inlet end thereof, at which the refrigerant flows into each said indoor coil circuit respectively when the refrigeration system is operating in a refrigeration mode, and an outlet end thereof, via which the refrigerant exits each said indoor coil circuit respectively when the refrigeration system is operating in the refrigeration mode, the refrigerant flowing through each said indoor coil circuit from the outlet end to the inlet end thereof when the refrigeration system is operating in a defrost mode; a suction header subassembly connected with the indoor coil circuits at the outlet ends thereof, the suction header subassembly comprising: a hollow suction header body defining a suction header bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable in a first direction when the refrigeration system operates in the refrigeration mode, and through which the refrigerant flows in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, when the refrigeration system operates in the defrost mode; a plurality of elongate spigots, each said spigot defining a spigot bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable, the spigots being formed for connecting the tube bores of the respective indoor coil circuits in fluid communication with the suction header bore via the respective spigot bores; and the spigots comprising at least one extended spigot comprising a main body portion and an inner end portion thereof located in the suction header bore, the main body portion being connected to a selected one of the indoor coil circuits and the inner end portion comprising an open inner end in fluid communication with an extended spigot bore of said at least one extended spigot, the inner end portion being positioned to locate the open inner end facing opposite to the second direction, for receiving therein a portion of the refrigerant flowing in the second direction through the suction header bore, said portion of the refrigerant being directed via the open inner end through the extended spigot bore into the selected one of the indoor coil circuits for defrosting the selected one of the indoor coil circuits, when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode.
2. The refrigeration system according to claim 1 in which:
- the open inner end of said at least one extended spigot is defined by an end portion axis; and
- the inner end portion is positioned in the suction header bore to locate the end portion axis substantially parallel with the second direction, for receiving the portion of the refrigerant in the open inner end of said at least one extended spigot when the refrigerant is flowing in the second direction.
3. The refrigeration system according to claim 1 in which:
- the inner end portion extends between the open inner end thereof and an outer end thereof;
- the inner end portion comprises an inner end portion bore extending between the open inner end and the outer end; and
- the main body portion extends between an outer part, at which a main body portion bore of the main body portion is in fluid communication with the tube bore of the tube of said selected one of the indoor coil circuits, and an inner part, at which the main body portion is connected with the outer end of the inner end portion and the main portion bore is in fluid communication with the inner end portion bore of the inner end portion.
4. The refrigeration system according to claim 1 in which the open inner end is substantially centered in the suction header bore.
5. The refrigeration system according to claim 2 in which the open inner end is substantially centered in the suction header bore.
6. A suction header subassembly connected with a plurality of indoor coil circuits of an indoor coil in a refrigeration system at respective outlet ends of the indoor coil circuits, each said indoor coil circuit comprising a tube defining a tube bore therein through which a refrigerant is flowable, each said indoor coil circuit extending between an inlet end thereof, at which the refrigerant flows into each said indoor coil circuit respectively when the refrigeration system is operating in a refrigeration mode, and the outlet end thereof, via which the refrigerant exits each said indoor coil circuit respectively when the refrigeration system is operating in the refrigeration mode, the refrigerant flowing through each said indoor coil circuit from the outlet end to the inlet end thereof when the refrigeration system is operating in a defrost mode, the suction header subassembly comprising:
- a hollow suction header body defining a suction header bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable in a first direction when the refrigeration system operates in the refrigeration mode, and through which the refrigerant flows in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, when the refrigeration system operates in the defrost mode;
- a plurality of elongate spigots, each said spigot defining a spigot bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable, the spigots being formed for connecting the tube bores of the respective indoor coil circuits in fluid communication with the suction header bore via the respective spigot bores; and
- the spigots comprising at least one extended spigot comprising a main body portion and an inner end portion thereof located in the suction header bore, the main body portion being connected to a selected one of the indoor coil circuits and the inner end portion comprising an open inner end in fluid communication with an extended spigot bore of said at least one extended spigot, the inner end portion being positioned to locate the open inner end facing opposite to the second direction, for receiving a portion of the refrigerant flowing in the second direction through the suction header bore in the open inner end, said portion of the refrigerant being directed via the open inner end through the extended spigot bore into the selected one of the indoor coil circuits for defrosting the selected one of the indoor coil circuits, when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode.
7. The suction header subassembly according to claim 6 in which:
- the open inner end of said at least one extended spigot is defined by an end portion axis; and
- the inner end portion is positioned in the suction header bore to locate the end portion axis substantially parallel with the second direction, for receiving the portion of the refrigerant in the open end of said at least one extended spigot when the refrigerant is flowing in the second direction.
8. The suction header subassembly according to claim 6 in which:
- the inner end portion extends between the open inner end thereof and an outer end thereof, the inner end portion comprising an inner end portion bore extending between the open inner end and the outer end; and
- the main body portion extends between an outer part, at which a main body portion bore of the main body portion is in fluid communication with the tube bore of the tube of said selected one of the indoor coil circuits, and an inner part, at which the main body portion is connected with the outer end of the inner end portion and the main portion bore is in fluid communication with the inner end portion bore of the inner end portion.
9. The suction header subassembly according to claim 6 in which the open inner end is substantially centered in the suction header bore.
10. The suction header subassembly according to claim 7 in which the open inner end is substantially centered in the suction header bore.
11. An extended spigot for directing a portion of refrigerant flowing in a preselected direction of flow through a suction header bore of a suction header body to a selected one of a plurality of hollow indoor coil circuits to defrost said selected one of the indoor circuits, said selected one of the indoor coil circuits comprising a tube defining a tube bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable, the extended spigot comprising:
- a main body portion extending between inner and outer parts thereof;
- an inner end portion extending between an outer end and an open inner end thereof, the outer end being connected with the main body portion at the inner part thereof;
- the outer part of the main body portion being connected with the selected one of the plurality of the indoor coil circuits; and
- the inner end portion being positioned to locate the open inner end facing opposite to the preselected direction of flow of the refrigerant through the suction header bore, for receiving therein the portion of the refrigerant.
12. The extended spigot according to claim 11 comprising an extended spigot bore extending between the open inner end of the inner end portion and the outer part of the main body portion, through which the portion of the refrigerant is flowable to the tube bore of the tube of the selected one of the indoor coil circuits.
13. A method of defrosting an indoor coil in a refrigeration system in which a refrigerant is circulatable, the indoor coil comprising a plurality of indoor coil circuits, each said indoor coil circuit comprising a tube defining a tube bore therein through which a refrigerant is flowable, each said indoor coil circuit extending between an inlet end thereof, at which the refrigerant flows into each said indoor coil respectively when the refrigeration system is operating in a refrigeration mode, and an outlet end thereof, via which the refrigerant exits each said indoor coil circuit respectively when the refrigeration system is operating in the refrigeration mode, the refrigerant flowing through each said indoor coil circuit from the outlet end to the inlet end thereof when the refrigeration system is operating in a defrost mode, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a hollow suction header body defining a suction header bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable in a first direction when the refrigeration system operates in the refrigeration mode, and through which the refrigerant flows in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, when the refrigeration system operates in the defrost mode;
- (b) providing a plurality of elongate spigots, each said spigot defining a spigot bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable, the spigots being formed for connecting the tube bores of the respective indoor coil circuits in fluid communication with the suction header bore via the respective spigot bores;
- (c) providing at least one extended spigot comprising a main body portion and an inner end portion thereof located in the suction header bore, the main body portion being connected to a selected one of the indoor coil circuits and the inner end portion comprising an open inner end in fluid communication with an extended spigot bore of said at least one extended spigot, the inner end portion being positioned to locate the open inner end facing opposite to the second direction;
- (d) permitting a portion of the refrigerant flowing in the second direction through the suction header bore to be received in the open inner end; and
- (e) via the extended spigot bore, directing said portion of the refrigerant from the open inner end into the selected one of the indoor coil circuits for defrosting the selected one of the indoor coil circuits, when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode.
14. The method according to claim 13 in which:
- the open inner end of said at least one extended spigot is defined by an end portion axis; and
- the inner end portion is positioned in the suction header bore to locate the end portion axis substantially parallel with the second direction, for receiving the portion of the refrigerant in the open end of said at least one extended spigot when the refrigerant is flowing in the second direction.
15. The method according to claim 13 in which:
- the inner end portion extends between the open inner end thereof and an outer end thereof, the inner end portion comprising an inner end portion bore extending between the open inner end and the outer end; and
- the main body portion extends between an outer part, at which a main body portion bore of the main body portion is in fluid communication with the tube bore of the tube of the selected one of the indoor coil circuits, and an inner part, at which the main body portion is connected with the outer end of the inner end portion and the main portion bore is in fluid communication with the inner end portion bore of the inner end portion.
16. The method according to claim 13 in which the open inner end is substantially centered in the suction header bore.
17. The method according to claim 14 in which the open inner end is substantially centered in the suction header bore.
18. A header subassembly connected with a plurality of coil circuits of a tube fin coil in a refrigeration system at respective second ends of respective coil circuits of the tube fin coil, each said coil circuit comprising a tube defining a tube bore therein through which a refrigerant is flowable, each said coil circuit extending between a first end thereof, at which the refrigerant flows into each said coil circuit respectively when the refrigeration system is operating in a refrigeration mode, and the second end thereof, via which the refrigerant exits each said coil circuit respectively when the refrigeration system is operating in the refrigeration mode, the refrigerant flowing through each said coil circuit from the second end to the first end thereof when the refrigeration system is operating in a defrost mode, the header subassembly comprising:
- a hollow header body defining a header bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable in a first direction when the refrigeration system operates in the refrigeration mode, and through which the refrigerant flows in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, when the refrigeration system operates in the defrost mode;
- a plurality of elongate spigots, each said spigot defining a spigot bore therein through which the refrigerant is flowable, the spigots being formed for connecting the tube bores of the respective indoor coil circuits in fluid communication with the header bore via the respective spigot bores; and
- the spigots comprising at least one extended spigot comprising a main body portion and an inner end portion thereof located in the header bore, the main body portion being connected to a selected one of the indoor coil circuits and the inner end portion comprising an open inner end in fluid communication with an extended spigot bore of said at least one extended spigot, the inner end portion being positioned to locate the open inner end facing opposite to the second direction, for receiving a portion of the refrigerant flowing in the second direction through the header bore in the open inner end, said portion of the refrigerant being directed via the open inner end through the extended spigot bore into the selected one of the indoor coil circuits for defrosting the selected one of the indoor coil circuits, when the refrigeration system is operating in the defrost mode.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 7, 2018
Publication Date: Sep 13, 2018
Inventors: Yonghui XU (Flower Mound, TX), Jacob Aaron CRANE (Longview, TX)
Application Number: 15/914,646