Pressure reducer module with oil separator

Abstract

A pressure reducer module includes an oil separator configured to receive a lubricant and a refrigerant and to separate the lubricant from the refrigerant. The pressure reducer module also includes a pressure reducer connected to and formed integral with the oil separator. The pressure reducer is configured to receive the refrigerant from the oil separator and to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant.

1 . A pressure reducer module comprising: 
 an oil separator configured to receive a lubricant and a refrigerant and to separate the lubricant from the refrigerant; and    a pressure reducer connected to and formed integral with the oil separator, wherein the pressure reducer is configured to receive the refrigerant from the oil separator and to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant.    
   
   
       2 . The pressure reducer module of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first passage coupled to an inside heat exchanger, wherein the oil separator and the pressure reducer are positioned within the first passage, and the first passage is configured to receive the refrigerant and the lubricant from the inside heat exchanger, to transmit the refrigerant and lubricant to the oil separator, and to transmit the refrigerant to the pressure reducer;    a second passage coupled to an evaporator, wherein the second passage is configured to receive the refrigerant from the evaporator after the refrigerant flows from the pressure reducer to the evaporator; and    a lubricant passage connected to the first passage and the second passage, wherein the lubricant passage is configured to introduce the lubricant from the oil separator to the second passage.    
   
   
       3 . The pressure reducer module of  claim 2 , wherein the second passage comprises a second passage inlet coupled to the evaporator and a second passage outlet, wherein the second passage is slanted, such the second passage inlet is positioned above the second passage outlet and the lubricant introduced into the second passage flows toward the second passage outlet.  
   
   
       4 . The pressure reducer module of  claim 2 , further comprising a filter, wherein the first passage comprises a first passage inlet and a first passage outlet, the filter is positioned between the first passage inlet and the first passage outlet, and the filter is configured to substantially prevent foreign matter from passing through the first passage.  
   
   
       5 . The pressure reducer module of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure reducer has a mechanism which determines a degree of pressure reduction based on information concerning a condition of the vapor compression refrigerating system.  
   
   
       6 . The pressure reducer module of  claim 1 , wherein the first passage inlet, the second passage inlet, the first passage outlet, and the second passage outlet are formed in a single block.  
   
   
       7 . The pressure reducer module of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant comprises carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       8 . A vapor compression refrigerating system comprising the pressure reducer module of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       9 . An air conditioning system comprising the vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 8.