Heating and refrigeration systems using refrigerant mass flow

Abstract

Vapor compression heat exchange systems are disclosed that are designed to allow for optimal mass flow of refrigerant there through. The systems of the present invention do not employ conventional refrigerant metering devices, such as capillary tubes and expansion valves, which restrict mass flow, but rather incorporate an openly fixed orifice in-line with the conduits connecting the condenser to the evaporator, thereby maintaining the pressure differential between the high pressure condenser side and low pressure evaporator side of the system during operation. Provision of the fixed orifice allows for optimal refrigerant mass flow as measured by cooler compressor temperatures, cooler compressor discharge temperatures, increased heat of rejection, increased heat of absorption, and improved heating and cooling efficiency. The present invention may employ any conventional refrigerant, including the newer HFC refrigerants, such as R-410A.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A vapor compression heat exchange system comprising: 
 a. a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser;    b. a charge of refrigerant;    c. a series of conduits in communication with said compressor, said condenser, and said evaporator, wherein said conduits are adapted for carrying said refrigerant through said compressor, said condenser, and said evaporator of said heat exchange system;    d. said series of conduits including at least one conduit connecting said condenser and evaporator and through which said refrigerant is carried from said condenser to said evaporator, said at least one conduit having an internal diameter; and    e. a fixedly open orifice disposed in line with said at least one conduit connecting said condenser and evaporator, thereby defining an evaporator side and a condenser side of said system, said orifice having an internal diameter smaller than the diameter of said at least one conduit for creating a pressure differential between said condenser side and said evaporator side of said system during operation.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupler secured to said at least one conduit, said coupler having an inner channel in communication with said at least one conduit, and wherein said open orifice is disposed within said inner channel of said coupler.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchange system of  claim 2 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein said orifice is disposed within said at least one conduit.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchange system of  claim 4 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein said system is designed to heat air or liquid in a confined space.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein said system is designed to cool air or liquid in a confined space.  
     
     
         8 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant is selected from the group of hydrofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         9 . The heat exchange system of  claim 8 , further comprising a coupler secured to said at least one conduit, said coupler having an inner channel in communication with said at least one conduit, and wherein said open orifice is disposed within said inner channel of said coupler.  
     
     
         10 . The heat exchange system of  claim 9 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         11 . The heat exchange system of  claim 8 , wherein said orifice is disposed within said at least one conduit.  
     
     
         12 . The heat exchange system of  claim 11 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         13 . The heat exchange system of  claim 9 , wherein said system is designed to heat air or liquid in a confined space.  
     
     
         14 . The heat exchange system of  claim 9 , wherein said system is designed to cool air or liquid in a confined space.  
     
     
         15 . The heat exchange system of  claim 11 , wherein said system is designed to heat air or liquid in a confined space.  
     
     
         16 . The heat exchange system of  claim 11 , wherein said system is designed to cool air or liquid in a confined space  
     
     
         17 . The heat exchange system of  claim 8 , wherein said refrigerant is a hydrofluorocarbon.  
     
     
         18 . The heat exchange system of  claim 17 , further comprising a coupler secured to said at least one conduit, said coupler having an inner channel in communication with said at least one conduit, and wherein said open orifice is disposed within said inner channel of said coupler.  
     
     
         19 . The heat exchange system of  claim 17 , wherein said orifice is disposed within said at least one conduit.  
     
     
         20 . The heat exchange system of  claim 17 , wherein said hydrofluorocarbon is R-410A.  
     
     
         21 . The heat exchange system of  claim 8 , further including a non-synthetic lubricating oil within said compressor.  
     
     
         22 . The heat exchange system of  claim 22 , wherein said refrigerant is a hydrofluorocarbon.  
     
     
         23 . The heat exchange system of  claim 18 , wherein said lubricating oil is mineral oil.  
     
     
         20 . The heat exchange system of  claim 18 , wherein said hydrofluorocarbon is R-410A.  
     
     
         21 . The heat exchange system of  claim 20 , wherein said lubricating oil is mineral oil.  
     
     
         22 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant is R-22.  
     
     
         23 . The heat exchange system of  claim 22 , further comprising a coupler secured to said at least one conduit, said coupler having an inner channel in communication with said at least one conduit, and wherein said open orifice is disposed within said inner channel of said coupler.  
     
     
         24 . The heat exchange system of  claim 23 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         25 . The heat exchange system of  claim 22 , wherein said orifice is disposed within said at least one conduit.  
     
     
         26 . The heat exchange system of  claim 25 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         27 . A heat pump suitable for heating swimming pools and spas comprising: 
 a. a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser;    b. a charge of refrigerant;    c. a series of conduits in communication with said compressor, said condenser, and said evaporator, wherein said conduits are adapted for carrying said refrigerant through said compressor, said condenser, and said evaporator of said heat exchange system;    d. said series of conduits including at least one conduit connecting said condenser and evaporator and through which said refrigerant is carried from said condenser to said evaporator, said at least one conduit having an internal diameter; and    e. a fixedly open orifice disposed in line with said at least one conduit connecting said condenser and evaporator, thereby defining an evaporator side and a condenser side of said system, said orifice having an internal diameter smaller than the diameter of said at least one conduit for creating a pressure differential between said condenser side and said evaporator side of said system during operation.    
     
     
         28 . The heat pump of  claim 27 , further comprising a coupler secured to said at least one conduit, said coupler having an inner channel in communication with said at least one conduit, and wherein said open orifice is disposed within said inner channel of said coupler.  
     
     
         29 . The heat pump of  claim 28 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         30 . The heat pump of  claim 27 , wherein said orifice is disposed within said at least one conduit.  
     
     
         31 . The heat pump of  claim 30 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         32 . The heat pump of  claim 27 , wherein said refrigerant is selected from the group of hydrofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         33 . The heat pump of  claim 32 , further comprising a coupler secured to said at least one conduit, said coupler having an inner channel in communication with said at least one conduit, and wherein said open orifice is disposed within said inner channel of said coupler.  
     
     
         34 . The heat pump of  claim 33 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         35 . The heat pump of  claim 33 , wherein said orifice is disposed within said at least one conduit.  
     
     
         36 . The heat pump of  claim 35 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         37 . The heat pump of  claim 32 , wherein said refrigerant is R-410A.  
     
     
         38 . The heat pump of  claim 32 , further including a non-synthetic lubricating oil within said compressor.  
     
     
         39 . The heat pump of  claim 37 , further including a mineral oil within said compressor.  
     
     
         40 . The heat pump of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant is R-22.  
     
     
         41 . The heat pump of  claim 40 , further comprising a coupler secured to said at least one conduit, said coupler having an inner channel in communication with said at least one conduit, and wherein said open orifice is disposed within said inner channel of said coupler.  
     
     
         42 . The heat pump of  claim 41 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         43 . The heat pump of  claim 40 , wherein said orifice is disposed within said at least one conduit.  
     
     
         44 . The pump system of  claim 43 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.120 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         45 . A method of modifying a vapor compression heat exchange system to increase mass flow of refrigerant during subsequent operation of said system, said method comprising: 
 a. removing existing refrigerant metering devices from said heat exchange system, said system comprising: 
 i. a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser;  
 ii. a series of conduits in communication with said compressor, said condenser, and said evaporator, wherein said conduits are adapted for carrying said refrigerant through said compressor, said condenser, and said evaporator of said system; and  
 iii. said series of conduits including at least one conduit connecting said condenser and evaporator and through which said refrigerant is carried from said condenser to said evaporator, said at least one conduit having an internal diameter; and  
   b. introducing a fixedly open orifice in line with said at least one conduit connecting said condenser and evaporator, thereby defining an evaporator side and a condenser side of said system, said orifice having an internal diameter smaller than the diameter of said at least one conduit for creating a pressure differential between said condenser side and said evaporator side of said system during operation.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said introducing of said orifice comprises securing a coupler to said at least one conduit, said coupler having an inner channel in communication with said at least one conduit, and wherein said orifice is disposed within said inner channel of said coupler.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.125 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said orifice is disposed within said at least one conduit.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.125 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said refrigerant is replaced with a hydrofluorocarbon.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said refrigerant is R-410A.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said introducing of said orifice comprises securing a coupler to said at least one conduit, said coupler having an inner channel in communication with said at least one conduit, and wherein said orifice is disposed within said inner channel of said coupler.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.125 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said orifice is disposed within said at least one conduit.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.125 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said refrigerant is replaced with a carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said system includes a non-synthetic lubricating oil within said compressor.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein said lubricating oil is mineral oil.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein said refrigerant is R-410A.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said refrigerant is R-410A.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein said introducing of said orifice comprises securing a coupler to said at least one conduit, said coupler having an inner channel in communication with said at least one conduit, and wherein said orifice is disposed within said inner channel of said coupler.  
     
     
         62 . The method of claim  61 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.125 inch to about 0.25 inch.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein said orifice is disposed within said at least one conduit.  
     
     
         64 . The method of claim  63 , wherein said internal diameter of said orifice is from about 0.125 inch to about 0.25 inch.