Flash tank eliminator

Abstract

A flash tank for use in a vapor compression system includes a flash tank housing, an inlet, a vapor outlet, a liquid outlet, and an eliminator. The eliminator is fluidically positioned between the inlet and the vapor outlet. The eliminator includes either a plurality of blades or a piccolo tube connected to the vapor outlet.

1 . A flash tank for use in a vapor compression system, the flash tank comprising:
 a flash tank housing;   an inlet;   a vapor outlet;   a liquid outlet; and   an eliminator fluidically positioned between the inlet and the vapor outlet, wherein the eliminator comprises a plurality of blades.   
     
     
         2 . The flash tank of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a condenser fluidically connected to the inlet;   a compressor fluidically connected to the vapor outlet; and   an evaporator fluidically connected to the liquid outlet.   
     
     
         3 . The flash tank of  claim 2 , wherein the compressor is fluidically connected to the flash tank via a first passage, fluidically connected to the evaporator via a second passage, and connected to the condenser via a third passage. 
     
     
         4 . The flash tank of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a piccolo tube connected to the inlet.   
     
     
         5 . The flash tank of  claim 1 , wherein the flash tank housing has a top and a bottom, wherein the inlet and the vapor outlet are each positioned at the top, and wherein the liquid outlet is positioned at the bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The flash tank of  claim 5 , wherein the inlet and the liquid outlet are positioned on a first side of the eliminator and the vapor outlet is positioned on a second side of the eliminator. 
     
     
         7 . The flash tank of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades are substantially vertically aligned between a top support and a bottom support. 
     
     
         8 . The flash tank of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of blades has at least one bend such that a flow path between the blades has at least one turn. 
     
     
         9 . The flash tank of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of blades has at least two bends such that a flow path between the blades has at least two turns. 
     
     
         10 . The flash tank of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades are spaced such that there is no straight line flow path from the inlet to the vapor outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The flash tank of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades are arranged in a single linear row. 
     
     
         12 . The flash tank of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades are arranged in at least a first linear row and a second linear angled with respect to the first linear row. 
     
     
         13 . A flash tank for use in a vapor compression system, the flash tank comprising:
 a flash tank housing;   an inlet;   a vapor outlet;   a liquid outlet; and   an eliminator fluidically positioned between the inlet and the vapor outlet, wherein the eliminator comprises a first piccolo tube connected to the vapor outlet.   
     
     
         14 . The flash tank of  claim 13 , and further comprising:
 a second piccolo tube connected to the inlet.   
     
     
         15 . The flash tank of  claim 14 , wherein the flash tank housing has a top and a bottom, wherein the first and second piccolo tubes are each positioned at the top, and wherein the liquid outlet is positioned at the bottom. 
     
     
         16 . The flash tank of  claim 14 , and further comprising:
 a fitting rigidly connected to the first and second piccolo tubes, wherein the inlet is a fitting inlet, wherein the vapor outlet is a fitting outlet, and wherein the fitting has a fitting interface for connecting to the flash tank housing.   
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a vapor compression system, the method comprising:
 flowing refrigerant from a condenser to a flash tank;   separating liquid refrigerant from vapor refrigerant via an eliminator that comprises a plurality of blades;   flowing vapor refrigerant from the eliminator through a vapor outlet, to a compressor; and   flowing liquid refrigerant from the eliminator, through a liquid outlet, to an evaporator.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , and further comprising:
 flowing refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor; and   flowing refrigerant from the compressor to the condenser.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid refrigerant adheres to the plurality of blades as it passes through channels between the plurality of blades and subsequently flows down the plurality of blades to collect at a bottom of the flash tank. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , and further comprising:
 cooling the refrigerant in the condenser via coolant of an aircraft power electronics cooling system; and   cooling coolant of an aircraft integrated cooling system via refrigerant in the evaporator.