Chiller refrigeration circuit recharging apparatus and method

Abstract

A portable apparatus for recharging liquid refrigerant, such as a glycol/water mixture, in a refrigeration circuit of a chiller system includes a frame, a reservoir containing the liquid refrigerant mounted to the frame, and a recharging circuit mounted to the frame. The recharging circuit is fluidly coupled to the reservoir and is configured to receive the liquid refrigerant from the reservoir. The recharging circuit comprises a filter configured to remove particulate matter from the liquid refrigerant, an air bubble separator configured to remove air bubbles from the liquid refrigerant, a pump, a flow regulating valve, and at least one outlet port configured to be fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit via a hose. The pump is configured to pump the liquid refrigerant from the reservoir through the filter and the air bubble separator, and into the refrigeration circuit via the hose.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable apparatus for recharging liquid refrigerant in a refrigeration circuit of a chiller system, the apparatus comprising:
 a reservoir; and   a recharging circuit fluidly coupled to the reservoir and configured to receive a liquid refrigerant in the reservoir, wherein the recharging circuit comprises a filter configured to remove particulate matter from the liquid refrigerant, an air bubble separator configured to remove air bubbles from the liquid refrigerant, a pump, and at least one outlet port configured to be fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit via a hose;   wherein the pump is configured to pump the liquid refrigerant from the reservoir through the filter and the air bubble separator, and into the refrigeration circuit via the hose.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid refrigerant comprises a mixture of glycol and water. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air bubble separator is located in the recharging circuit downstream from the filter. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the recharging circuit further comprises a flow regulating valve configured to control a flow rate of the liquid refrigerant into the refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame, wherein the reservoir and recharging circuit are mounted to the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising at least a pair of wheels rotatably coupled relative to the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet port comprises a plurality of outlet ports, each outlet port configured to be fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit via a respective hose. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet port comprises at least two outlet ports, each configured to be coupled to a hose having a different respective size. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet port comprises four outlet ports. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises an inlet that is configured to be fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit such that refrigerant from the refrigeration circuit can flow into the reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the recharging circuit is configured to provide the liquid refrigerant to the refrigeration circuit at a flow rate up to about 12 gallons per minute. 
     
     
         12 . A portable apparatus for recharging liquid refrigerant in a refrigeration circuit of a chiller system, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   a reservoir mounted to the frame; and   a recharging circuit mounted to the frame, wherein the recharging circuit is fluidly coupled to the reservoir and configured to receive a liquid refrigerant in the reservoir, and wherein the recharging circuit comprises a filter configured to remove particulate matter from the liquid refrigerant, an air bubble separator configured to remove air bubbles from the liquid refrigerant, a pump, at least one outlet port configured to be fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit via a hose, and a flow regulating valve configured to control a flow rate of the liquid refrigerant into the refrigeration circuit;   wherein the pump is configured to pump the liquid refrigerant from the reservoir through the filter, the air bubble separator, and the flow regulating valve, and into the refrigeration circuit via the hose.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid refrigerant comprises a mixture of glycol and water. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the air bubble separator is located in the recharging circuit downstream from the filter. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising at least a pair of wheels rotatably coupled relative to the frame. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one outlet port comprises a plurality of outlet ports, each outlet port configured to be fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit via a respective hose. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one outlet port comprises at least two outlet ports, each configured to be coupled to a hose having a different respective size. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the reservoir comprises an inlet that is configured to be fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit such that liquid refrigerant from the refrigeration circuit can flow into the reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the recharging circuit is configured to provide the liquid refrigerant to the refrigeration circuit at a flow rate up to about 12 gallons per minute. 
     
     
         20 . A method of recharging liquid refrigerant in a refrigeration circuit of a chiller system, the method comprising:
 filtering liquid refrigerant to remove particulate matter therefrom;   passing the filtered liquid refrigerant through an air bubble separator to remove air bubbles therefrom; and then   recharging the refrigeration circuit of the chiller system with the liquid refrigerant.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the filtering, passing and recharging steps are performed by a portable apparatus that is fluidly coupled to the chiller system at a flow rate up to about 12 gallons per minute.