US3331216A

US3331216A - Liquid refrigerant cooled motor feed assurance means

Info

Publication number: US3331216A
Application number: US495438A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond E Rayner
Original assignee: Worthington Corp
Current assignee: Worthington Corp
Priority date: 1965-10-13
Filing date: 1965-10-13
Publication date: 1967-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-18
Also published as: GB1152346A; CH446409A; DE1501174A1; FR1501021A

Description

R. E. RAYNER 3,331,216

LIQUID REFRIGERANT COOLED MOTOR FEED ASSURANCE MEANS 7 July 18, 1967 Filed Oct. 13, 1965 RAYMOND E. RAYNER FIG. 5

United States Patent 3,331,216 LIQUID REFRIGERANT COOLED MOTOR FEED ASSURANCE MEANS Raymond E. Rayner, Colonia, N.J., assignor to Worthmgton Corporation, Harrison, N..l., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 495,438 9 Claims. (Cl. 62-218) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses the use of a compartmentalized hotwell for a compression refrigeration system which utilizes a refrigerant cooled compressor drive motor. Dams are shown in the hotwell to provide solid particle separation and assurance of early and continuous refrigerant flow to the motor.

This invention relates to a refrigeration system. More particularly, the invention relates to a condenser hotwell for a refrigeration system. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a condenser hotwell for a refrigeration system which is used as a liquid refrigerant cooled motor feed assurance means.

Heretofore refrigeration systems using refrigerant to cool the compressor motors thereof encountered many obstacles, such as clogging of the feed lines, excessive pressure drops from the point at which the feed was taken, and permitting harmful foreign matter to enter the motor thereby causing damage or excessive wear to the component thereof.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel liquid refrigerant cooled motor feed assurance means which overcomes the prior art disadvantages; which is simple, reliable and economical; which requires less refrigerant to be stored in the condenser hotwell while insuring that the motor will be selectively fed with liquid refrigerant prior to its passage in the systern; which uses dams, partitions, perforated plates or raised inlets to permit maximum straining or settling of any foreign matter in the liquid refrigerant, while providing sufiicient face area therein to keep any pressure drop to a minimum and prevent clogging; which utilizes sufficient floor area so as to reduce and limit any turbulence in the liquid refrigerant which would otherwise adversely affect the operation of the expansion device; which assures a feed of liquid refrigerant for the motor at all times during normal operation of the refrigeration system.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in the claims; reference being had to the acc-ornpanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. Furthermore, the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a refrigeration system embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective, partially cut-away, of the condenser hotwell embodying the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a plan View, partly broken away, of the condenser hotwell embodying the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the novel liquid refrigerant cooled motor feed ice assurance means is incorporated in a refrigeration system, designated generally as 10.

Refrigeration system 10 is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURE 1 and includes, a compressor 12 having a suction inlet 14 connected by conduit 16 to the discharge 18 of an evaporator 20, for receiving and compressing vaporous refrigerant and forwarding the same through outlet 22 which connects to conduit 24 to pass the refrigerant to inlet 26 of condenser 28. In condenser 28 the refrigerant vapors are condensed in the usual manner and passed to hotwell 30 from which a portion of the liquid refrigerant will be delivered in line 32 to cool motor 34 used to power compressor 12. Motor 34 will exhaust the refrigerant in line 36 int-o evaporator 20. The last of the liquid refrigerant in hotwell 30 will pass through an expansion device which meters the liquid refrigerant therefrom, from which it will enter line 38 and pass into the inlet 40 of evaporator 20. In evaporator 20 the refrigerant will be evaporated and returned to the gaseous state from which it will be Withdrawn through line 16 for delivery to compressor 12 whereby the cycle will be continuously repeated.

Hotwell 30 includes a collection chamber 42 designed to receive a supply of saturated or slightly subcooled liquid refrigerant normally at condenser pressure directly from the condenser 28 through holes 44 in shell plate 46 of condenser 28, which holes are positioned directly above the collection chamber 42. This is made possible by having casing 48 of hotwell 30 connected directly to shell plate 46 in such a manner as to position holes 44 in super position to collection chamber 42. Adjacent collection chamber 42 is a feed chamber 50 which includes a motor feed chamber 52 and an evaporator feed chamber 54.

Darn 56 separates collection chamber 42 and feed chamber 50 so that the collection chamber is substantially smaller than the feed chamber, being approximately to /3 the area thereof. A partition 58 extends the length of feed chamber 50 to separate motor feed chamber 52 and evaporator feed chamber 54 so that the area of motor feed chamber 52 is between A to /3 the size of evaporator feed chamber 54.

The inlet 60 of line 32 extends a short distance above the bottom 62 of casing 48. Likewise the side walls 64 of sump 66 extend a short distance above bottom 62.

The expansion device 68 as shown operates responsive to the level of liquid refrigerant collected in evaporator feed chamber 54 and serves to maintain a seal between the high pressure and low pressure side of refrigeration system 10. The particular expansion device shown is a float controlled valve 70 which meters the passage of liquid refrigerant from evaporator feed chamber 54 and sump 66 into line 33 for passage to evaporator 20. Valve 70 has a seat 72 which will normally prevent the passage of refrigerant into line 38. A stem 74 extends from seat 72 and has the end thereof remote from seat 72 in slidable engagement with rod 76 whereby on movement of rod 76 the stem 74 and the connected seat 72 will be raised and lowered responsive to the liquid level of the refrigerant in chamber 54. This is accomplished by having one end of rod 76 connected to a float 78, while the other end thereof is pivotably connected against one of the walls 64 of sump 66, as at 80. By suitably positioning float 78 seat 72 may be opened or closed responsive to predetermined levels of the liquid refrigerant in chamber 54. If desired the opening of seat 72 may be substantially delayed to provide for a sufiicient supply of liquid refrigerant to be continuously delivered to motor 34 from feed chamber 52.

However in the present embodiment darn 56 is formed with a different height on either side of partition 58 so that the top 82 adjacent chamber 54 is substantially at 3 the same level as top 84 of partition 58. The top 86 of dam 56 adjacent chamber 52 is substantially lower for purposes more fully described hereinafter.

A cover plate 88 extends from top 86 of dam 56 the full length and width of motor feed chamber 52. Cover plate 88 is formed with a plurality of perforations as at 90, the individual cross-sectional area of which is substantially smaller than the cross sectional area of inlet 60 of line 32.

The liquid refrigerant from condenser 28 will pass through holes 44 as it condenses to be collected in collection chamber 42 at substantially condenser pressure and a saturated or slightly subcooled temperature. As the amount of the liquid refrigerant in chamber 42 increases it will shortly reach the height of top 86 and cover plate 88 so that it will begin to pass over cover plate 88. Perforations 90 in cover plate 88 will permit the liquid refrigerant to enter motor feed chamber 52.

Collection chamber 42 will permit initial settling of foreign matter in the liquid refrigerant. Any foreign matter not settled therein, if larger than the cross-sectional area of perforations 90 will be caught on cover plate 88. Additionally, a secondary settling action is afforded by raising the inlet 60 above the bottom 62 of casing 48. These combined features act to settle and strain out any foreign matter in the liquid refrigerant. The utilization of the cover plate 88 whose face area is many times that of the cross-sectional area of inlet 60 will permit the passage of the liquid refrigerant at a minimum pressure drop while preventing both clogging and passage of harmful foreign matter which might damage the motor 34.

As the height of liquid refrigerant in collection chamber 42 reaches top 82, the liquid refrigerant will also begin to enter evaporator feed chamber 54 where secondary straining and settling will be accomplished by the raised sides 64 of sump 66, prior to permitting the passage of liquid refrigerant from chamber 54 and sump 66 in line 38 to evaporator 20. Thereafter liquid refrigerant will be delivered to collection chamber 42 from condenser 28, the amount delivered being dependent upon the operating conditions of the system. However, regardless of the capacity at which system operates collection chamber 42 will continuously permit the liquid refrigerant to be delivered to motor chamber 52 whether or not liquid refrigerant is being delivered to evaporator feed chamber 54. In this way adequate cooling of motor 34 is insured by providing a full feed of liquid refrigerant at all times during normal operation, regardless of the loads on refrigeration system 10.

Additionally the total quantity of refrigerant in system 10 need not be excessive, while still permitting suflicient area in evaporator feed chamber so as to reduce turbulence and its detrimental effects on float 78 and valve 70.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, arrangement of parts and operating conditions which have been hereindescribed and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hot well for a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected by conduit means into a closed refrigeration loop, the compressor driven by a motor, the hotwell comprising:

(a) a casing having a chamber formed therein in communication with the condenser to receive liquid refrigerant therefrom;

(b) dam means dividing the chamber into a collecting chamber, a motor feed chamber and an evaporator feed chamber;

(c) conduit means connected between the motor and the motor feed chamber;

(d) means including a float valve disposed in the evaporator feed chamber to meter the liquid refrigerant passing into the evaporator; and

(e) the section of the dam means bordering the motor feed chamber having a height which is less than the height of the section bordering the evaporator feed chamber whereby straining of the refrigerant in the 5 collecting chamber and early continuous refrigerant flow to the motor will be assured.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein:

(a) the evaporator feed chamber of larger area than either the collection chamber is or the motor feed chamber to permit maximum straining of the liquid refrigerant and to provide minimum turbulence of the liquid refrigerant therein.

3. The combination claimed in claim 2 wherein:

(a) the motor feed chamber is of smaller area than the collection chamber whereby a continuous feed of liquid refrigerant thereto is readily maintained.

4. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein:

(a) the float valve having a raised inlet to serve as a secondary strainer to limit the passage of foreign matter in the liquid refrigerant thereto, and

(b) the motor feed conduit means having a raised inlet to serve as a secondary strainer to limit the passage of foreign matter in the liquid refrigerant thereto.

5. A hotwell for a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected by conduit means into a closed refrigeration loop, the compressor driven by a motor, the hotwell comprising:

(c) conduit means connected between the motor and the motor feed chamber;

(d) a perforated cove-r plate extending over the motor feed chamber to prevent the passage of foreign matter in the liquid refrigerant into the motor feed chamher, the Perforated cover plate having a face area many times larger than the motor feed conduit means to prevent clogging thereof and to limit the pressure drop therethrough to a minimum;

(e) means including a float valve disposed in the evaporator feed chamber to meter the liquid refrigerant passing therefrom into the evaporator; and

(f) the section of the dam means bordering the motor feed chamber having a height which is less than the height of the section bordering the evaporator feed chamber whereby straining of the refrigerant and early continuous refrigerant flow to the motor will be assured.

6. A hotwell for a refrigeration system having a motor driven compressor; a condenser, and an evaporator connected by conduit means into a closed refrigeration loop, the hotwell comprising:

(a) a reservoir container adapted to receive liquid refrigerant from the condenser;

(b) a motor feed container having an outlet connected to a conduit for supplying refrigerant to the motor;

(c) means for allowing flow from the reservoir into the motor feed container when the height of the refrigerant in the reservoir exceeds a predetermined value;

((1) an evaporator feed container having an outlet connected to a conduit for supplying refrigerant to the evaporator and a float controlled valve for controlling the flow into the conduit so as to maintain a liquid seal between the evaporator and the condenser; and

(e) means for allowing flow from either the reservoir or the motor feed container into the evaporator feed container when the level of refrigerant within the motor feed container reaches a predetermined value.

7. The hotwell defined in claim 6 wherein the means 75 for allowing flow into the motor feed container include walls which form dams for allowing fiow into the containers when the refrigerant level behind the dam reaches a prescribed value.

8. The hotwell defined in claim 7 including a perforated cover plate over the motor feed container.

9. A hotwell for a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected by conduit means into a closed refrigeration loop, the compressor driven by a motor, the hotwell comprising:

(a) a casing below the condenser having a chamber therein receiving refrigerant from the condenser;

(b) wall means in the chamber forming,

(1) a reservoir chamber,

(2) a motor feed container having an outlet communicating with the motor for supplying refrigerant thereto, and

(3) an evaporator feed container having an outlet communicating with the evaporator for supplying refrigerant thereto;

(c) the Wall means having an opening at a first level for allowing refrigerant to flow from the reservoir into the motor feed container and second opening at a higher level than the first for allowing refrigerant to flow from the reservoir into the evaporator feed container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,921,445 1/1960 Ashley 62-5 05 3,022,638 2/1962 Caswell 62-505 X 3,122,894 3/1964 Bernhard 62505 X 3,218,825 11/1965 McClure 62-505 MEYER PERLIN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A HOT WELL FOR A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM HAVING A COMPRESSOR, A CONDENSER, AND AN EVAPORATOR CONNECTED BY CONDUIT MEANS INTO A CLOSED REFRIGERATION LOOP, THE COMPRESSOR DRIVEN BY A MOTOR, THE HOTWELL COMPRISING: (A) A CASING HAVING A CHAMBER FORMED THEREIN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONDENSER TO RECEIVE LIQUID REFRIGERANT THEREFROM; (B) DAM MEANS DIVIDING THE CHAMBER INTO A COLLECTING CHAMBER, A MOTOR FEED CHAMBER AND AN EVAPORATOR FEED CHAMBER; (C) CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE MOTOR AND THE MOTOR FEED CHAMBER; (D) MEANS INCLUDING A FLOAT VALVE DISPOSED IN THE EVAPORATOR FEED CHAMBER TO METER THE LIQUID REFRIGERANT PASSING INTO THE EVAPORATOR; AND (E) THE SECTION OF THE DAM MEANS BORDERING THE MOTOR FEED CHAMBER HAVING A HEIGHT WHICH IS LESS THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE SECTION BORDERING THE EVAPORATOR FEED CHAMBER WHEREBY STRAINING OF THE REFRIGERANT IN THE COLLECTING CHAMBER AND EARLY CONTINUOUS REFRIGERANT FLOW TO THE MOTOR WILL BE ASSURED.