Device with granular material filling

Abstract

A device is provided that includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the device is in fluid communication with the refrigerant circuit via the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the device contains a granular material which can absorb an amount of fluid from the refrigerant, wherein the amount of granular material contained in the device is calculated according to the formula MG=W/WA, where MG is the mass in [g] of the granular material contained in the device, W is the total amount of fluid in [g] that can be absorbed by the granular material, and WA is the amount of fluid that can be absorbed per gram of granular material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a fluid inlet;   a fluid outlet, the device being in fluid communication with a refrigerant circuit via the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; and   a granulate that absorbs an amount of fluid from the refrigerant, the amount of granulate contained in the device being calculated according to the formula:
     MG=W/WA,    
   wherein MG is the mass in [g] of the granulate contained in the device, W is the total amount of fluid in [g] that is absorbable by the granulate, and WA is the amount of fluid that is absorbable per gram of granulate.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of fluid per gram of granulate WA that is absorbable lies within a range of 0.1 to 0.4, within a range of 0.2 to 0.3, or within a range of 0.23 to 0.25. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the granulate contained in the device in proportion to the amount of fluid that is absorbable by the granulate is calculated according to the formula:
     VG/W= 1/( WA/SG ),   wherein VG is the volume of the granulate in [cm 3 ], W is the overall amount of fluid in [g] that is absorbable by the granulate, WA is the amount of fluid that is absorbable per gram of granulate, and SG is the bulk density in [g/cm 3 ].   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the granulate contained in the device in proportion to the amount of fluid that is absorbable by the granulate lies within a range of 4.4 cm 3 /g to 7 cm 3 /g or within a range of 4.7 cm 3 /g to 6.2 cm 3 /g or at approximately 6 cm 3 /g. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid absorbed by the granulate is water. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a collector, wherein the collector is arranged in an area of the device in which a majority of fluid refrigerant transfers to a majority of fluid sub-cooled refrigerant, and wherein the collector holds the granulate. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the granulate is contained in the device and/or a collector by a receiving structure, and wherein the receiving structure prevents the granulate from inadvertently flushing out. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the granulate comprises a binder-free structure. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device and/or a collector comprises a filter for filtering the refrigerant. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the granulate contained in the device and/or in a collector is a binder-free zeolite granulate with a faujasite structure. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is a condenser for condensing a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is an accumulator for storing a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is a combination unit comprising a plurality of aggregates or condensers having an accumulator.