Phase separator for a sealed system

Abstract

A sealed system is provided. The sealed system includes a compressor and a phase separator disposed downstream of the compressor. The phase separator includes a casing that defines a liquid refrigerant collection volume and a gaseous refrigerant collection volume. A refrigerant inlet conduit extends between the compressor and the gaseous refrigerant collection volume, a gaseous refrigerant outlet conduit has an inlet positioned within the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing and a liquid refrigerant outlet conduit has an inlet positioned within the liquid refrigerant collection volume of the casing. A plurality of cooling fins is positioned on an outer surface of the casing. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealed system, comprising:
 a compressor;   a phase separator disposed downstream of the compressor, the phase separator comprising
 a casing having a top portion and a bottom portion, the casing defining a liquid refrigerant collection volume at the bottom portion of the casing and a gaseous refrigerant collection volume at the top portion of the casing, the casing also having an outer surface; 
 a refrigerant inlet conduit extending between the compressor and the gaseous refrigerant collection volume; 
 a gaseous refrigerant outlet conduit having an inlet positioned within the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing; 
 a liquid refrigerant outlet conduit having an inlet positioned within the liquid refrigerant collection volume of the casing; and 
 a plurality of cooling fins positioned on the outer surface of the casing at the top portion of the casing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , further comprising a condenser disposed downstream of the phase separator, the gaseous refrigerant outlet conduit extending between the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing and the condenser. 
     
     
         3 . The sealed system of  claim 2 , further comprising a first expansion device disposed downstream of the condenser such that the condenser is in fluid communication with the first expansion device, the first expansion device configured for reducing a pressure of refrigerant therein. 
     
     
         4 . The sealed system of  claim 3 , further comprising a first evaporator disposed downstream of the first expansion device such that the first expansion device is in fluid communication with the first evaporator. 
     
     
         5 . The sealed system of  claim 3 , further comprising a second expansion device disposed downstream of the phase separator, the liquid refrigerant outlet conduit extending between the liquid refrigerant collection volume of the casing and the second expansion device. 
     
     
         6 . The sealed system of  claim 5 , further comprising a second evaporator disposed downstream of the second expansion device such that the second expansion device is in fluid communication with the second evaporator. 
     
     
         7 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein gaseous refrigerant entering the phase separator from the compressor partially condenses within the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing, the casing positioned and oriented such that liquid refrigerant within the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing flows downwardly into the liquid refrigerant collection volume of the casing. 
     
     
         8 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drying element positioned within the casing and disposed between the gaseous refrigerant collection volume and the liquid refrigerant collection volume. 
     
     
         9 . The sealed system of  claim 8 , wherein the refrigerant inlet conduit extends through the casing at the bottom portion of the casing, the refrigerant inlet conduit also extending through the liquid refrigerant collection volume of the casing and the drying element, an outlet of the refrigerant inlet conduit disposed within the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing. 
     
     
         10 . The sealed system of  claim 8 , wherein the refrigerant inlet conduit is mounted to outer surface of the casing at the bottom portion of the casing and extends through the casing at the top portion of the casing, an outlet of the refrigerant inlet conduit disposed within the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing. 
     
     
         11 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fins of the plurality of cooling fins are positioned opposite the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet that defines a freezer chamber and a fresh food chamber;   a sealed system configured for cooling the freezer chamber and the fresh food chamber, the sealed system comprising
 a compressor; 
 a phase separator disposed downstream of the compressor, the phase separator comprising
 a casing having a top portion and a bottom portion, the casing defining a liquid refrigerant collection volume at the bottom portion of the casing and a gaseous refrigerant collection volume at the top portion of the casing, the casing also having an outer surface; 
 a refrigerant inlet conduit extending between the compressor and the gaseous refrigerant collection volume; 
 a gaseous refrigerant outlet conduit; 
 a liquid refrigerant outlet conduit; 
 a plurality of cooling fins positioned on the outer surface of the casing at the top portion of the casing 
 
 a condenser disposed downstream of the phase separator, the gaseous refrigerant outlet conduit extending between the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing and the condenser; 
 a first expansion device disposed downstream of the condenser such that the condenser is in fluid communication with the first expansion device, the first expansion device configured for reducing a pressure of refrigerant therein; 
 a freezer evaporator positioned adjacent the freezer chamber of the cabinet and disposed downstream of the first expansion device such that the first expansion device is in fluid communication with the freezer evaporator; 
 a second expansion device disposed downstream of the phase separator, the liquid refrigerant outlet conduit extending between the liquid refrigerant collection volume of the casing and the second expansion device; and 
 a fresh food evaporator positioned adjacent the fresh food chamber of the cabinet and disposed downstream of the second expansion device such that the second expansion device is in fluid communication with the fresh food evaporator. 
   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 12 , wherein gaseous refrigerant entering the phase separator from the compressor partially condenses within the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing, the casing positioned and oriented such that liquid refrigerant within the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing flows downwardly into the liquid refrigerant collection volume of the casing. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the phase separator further comprises a drying element positioned within the casing and disposed between the gaseous refrigerant collection volume and the liquid refrigerant collection volume. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the refrigerant inlet conduit extends through the casing at the bottom portion of the casing, the refrigerant inlet conduit also extending through the liquid refrigerant collection volume of the casing and the drying element, an outlet of the refrigerant inlet conduit disposed within the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the refrigerant inlet conduit is mounted to outer surface of the casing at the bottom portion of the casing and extends through the casing at the top portion of the casing, an outlet of the refrigerant inlet conduit disposed within the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the cooling fins of the plurality of cooling fins are positioned opposite the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the casing. 
     
     
         18 . A method for operating a sealed system, comprising:
 operating a compressor of the sealed system to increase a pressure of a refrigerant;   directing compressed refrigerant from the compressor of the sealed system to a phase separator of the sealed system;   partially condensing refrigerant within the phase separator of the sealed system;   collecting liquid refrigerant within a liquid refrigerant collection volume of the phase separator and gaseous refrigerant within a gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the phase separator;   directing liquid refrigerant from the liquid refrigerant collection volume of the phase separator to an expansion device of the sealed system; and   directing gaseous refrigerant from the gaseous refrigerant collection volume of the phase separator to a condenser of the sealed system.