Combination phase separator and drier for a refrigeration appliance

Abstract

A device is provided for a refrigeration system that separates liquid and vapor phases of the refrigerant while also drying the liquid phase to remove water. The phase separator and drier are provided integrally as part of the same device. The device can be used with e.g., dual evaporator refrigeration systems and both single and multi-component refrigerants. Improved efficiencies in space and plumbing so as to reduce costs can be achieved.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dual evaporator refrigeration appliance, comprising:
 a refrigerant for circulation within a refrigeration system of the appliance;   a compressor for providing a pressurized flow of the refrigerant;   a condenser configured to receive and cool the flow of pressurized refrigerant provided by the compressor;   a first reducing device configured to receive the flow of refrigerant from the condenser and configured for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant stream;   a phase separating and drying device configured for receipt of the refrigerant stream provided by the first reducing device, the phase separating and drying device comprising
 a chamber having a top, middle, and a bottom along a vertical direction; 
 an inflow line in fluid communication with the first reducing device, the inflow line having at least one opening positioned for releasing refrigerant into the chamber; 
 a vapor outflow line positioned near the top of the chamber and configured for receiving vapor refrigerant from the chamber; 
 a liquid outflow line positioned near the bottom of the chamber and configured for receiving liquid refrigerant from the chamber; 
 a drying element configured to remove water from liquid refrigerant provided by the inflow line; 
   a first evaporator configured to receive and evaporate refrigerant provided by the vapor outflow line of the phase separating and drying device; and   a second evaporator configured to receive and evaporate refrigerant provided by the liquid outflow line of the phase separating and drying device.   
     
     
         2 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the drying element comprises a desiccant. 
     
     
         3 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 2 , further comprising a filter positioned in the chamber and configured for filtering liquid refrigerant provided to the liquid outflow. 
     
     
         4 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the filter comprises a screen. 
     
     
         5 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 4 , further comprising a perforated metal element positioned over the desiccant, wherein the filter is located below the desiccant so that liquid refrigerant flows through the perforated metal element, desiccant, and then the filter before exiting the chamber through the liquid outflow line. 
     
     
         6 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a second reducing device configured to receive vapor refrigerant from the vapor outflow line of the phase separating and drying device, wherein the first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the second reducing device. 
     
     
         7 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a junction for combining vaporized refrigerant from the first evaporator and the second evaporator into a combined refrigerant stream for delivery to the compressor. 
     
     
         8 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising a heat exchanger configured for exchanging heat between the combined refrigerant stream and refrigerant supplied to the phase separating and drying device from the condenser. 
     
     
         9 . A dual evaporator refrigeration appliance, comprising:
 a zeotropic refrigerant for circulation within a refrigeration system of the appliance;   a compressor for providing a pressurized flow of the refrigerant;   a condenser configured to receive and cool the flow of pressurized refrigerant, the condenser comprising a phase separating and drying device for separating the flow of pressurized refrigerant into a first refrigerant stream and a second refrigerant stream, wherein the phase separating and drying device comprises
 a chamber having a top and a bottom along a vertical direction; 
 an inflow line in receipt of the flow of refrigerant, the inflow line having at least one opening positioned for releasing the refrigerant into the chamber; 
 a vapor outflow line positioned near the top of the chamber and configured for receiving vapor refrigerant from the chamber and providing such refrigerant to the first refrigerant stream; 
 a liquid outflow line positioned near the bottom of the chamber and configured for receiving liquid refrigerant from the chamber and providing such refrigerant to the second refrigerant stream; 
 a drying element configured to remove water from liquid refrigerant provided by the inflow line; 
   a first expansion device in receipt of the first refrigerant stream from the condenser and configured for reducing the pressure of the first refrigerant stream; and   a second expansion device in receipt of the second refrigerant stream from the condenser and configured for reducing the pressure of the second refrigerant stream;   a first evaporator configured to receive and evaporate at least a portion of the first refrigerant stream; and   a second evaporator configured to receive and evaporate at least a portion of the second refrigerant stream.   
     
     
         10 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a junction that joins the first refrigerant stream from the first evaporator and the second refrigerant stream from the second expansion device into a combined refrigerant stream; and   wherein the second evaporator is configured to receive and evaporate at least a portion of the combined refrigerant stream and provide an inlet refrigerant flow to the compressor.   
     
     
         11 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second expansion devices are in thermal communication with the inlet refrigerant stream to the compressor so as to cool the first refrigerant stream and the second refrigerant stream. 
     
     
         12 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the first expansion device and the second expansion device each comprise a capillary tube. 
     
     
         13 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the pressure of the first refrigerant stream is substantially equal to the pressure of the second refrigerant stream. 
     
     
         14 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the zeotropic refrigerant comprises two or more refrigerants selected from a group consisting of an R-134a refrigerant, an R-245fa refrigerant, an R-245ca refrigerant, an R-1234yf refrigerant, an R-600a refrigerant, pentane, butane, and propane. 
     
     
         15 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the drying element comprises a desiccant. 
     
     
         16 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 15 , further comprising a filter positioned in the chamber and configured for filtering liquid refrigerant provided to the liquid outflow. 
     
     
         17 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the filter comprises a screen. 
     
     
         18 . The dual evaporator refrigeration appliance of  claim 17 , further comprising a perforated metal element positioned above the desiccant, wherein the filter is located below the desiccant so that liquid refrigerant flows through the perforated metal element, the desiccant, and then the filter before exiting the chamber through the liquid outflow line. 
     
     
         19 . A dual evaporator refrigeration appliance, comprising:
 a refrigerant for circulation within a refrigeration system of the appliance;   a phase separating and drying device configured for receipt of a stream of the refrigerant that includes liquid refrigerant and a vapor refrigerant, the phase separating and drying device comprising
 a chamber having a top, middle, and a bottom along a vertical direction; 
 an inflow line for receipt of the stream of refrigerant, the inflow line having at least one opening positioned for releasing the stream of refrigerant into the chamber; 
 a vapor outflow line positioned near the top of the chamber and configured for receiving vapor refrigerant from the chamber; 
 a liquid outflow line positioned near the bottom of the chamber and configured for receiving liquid refrigerant from the chamber; and 
 a drying element configured to remove water from liquid refrigerant provided by the inflow line.