Refrigerant reverse cycle balancing receiver and a refrigeration system using the same

Abstract

A refrigerant reverse cycle balancing receiver includes an outer housing with a volume formed therein. A refrigerant pipeline extends through the volume for connection with a refrigerant line of a refrigeration system. The refrigerant pipeline is provided with a refrigerant relief port within the outer housing for allowing excess refrigerant to back up and fill the volume of the receiver when required in use.

1 . A refrigerant reverse cycle balancing receiver including;
 an outer housing with a volume formed therein; and   a refrigerant pipeline extending through the volume for connection with a refrigerant line of a refrigeration system; wherein   the refrigerant pipeline is provided with a refrigerant relief port within the outer housing for allowing excess refrigerant to back up and fill the volume of the receiver when required in use.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerant reverse cycle balancing receiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant relief port is configured or controlled so that when a refrigeration system to which the receiver is connected in use is in a cooling mode, the refrigerant is pumped directly through the pipeline and enters an evaporator heat exchanger, and when the refrigeration system is in a heating mode, the refrigerant can relieve through the relief port into the volume of the receiver as required to reduce or prevent refrigerant pressure build up in a condenser heat exchanger. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerant reverse cycle balancing receiver according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the refrigerant pipeline consists of two inner conduits, which enter into the outer housing at opposite sides thereof and have different diameters, wherein the smaller diameter conduit enters into the larger one a short distance, thus forming the refrigerant relief port therebetween. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerant reverse cycle balancing receiver according to  claim 3 , wherein the smaller diameter conduit enters into the receiver a short distance and at the bottom of the circumference of the housing, close to the housing wall, to allow the receiver to be mounted either vertically or horizontally. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerant reverse cycle balancing receiver according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the refrigerant pipeline is a single conduit, and the refrigerant relief port is provided as an aperture in the single conduit. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigerant reverse cycle balancing receiver according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the refrigerant pipeline consists of a first “L” shaped conduit and a second reversed “L” shaped conduit, and wherein, the horizontal part of one conduit enters into the horizontal part of the other conduit so that the refrigerant relief port is formed therebetween. 
   
   
       7 . A refrigeration system including a compressor, a four way reversing valve, a condenser, a refrigerant reverse cycle balancing receiver according to  claim 1 , an expansion device, and an evaporator. 
   
   
       8 . The refrigeration system according to  claim 7 , wherein either the condenser or the evaporator is a refrigerant to air heat exchanger and the other is a refrigerant to liquid heat exchanger.