Patent ID: 6539735
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: F25B

Abstract:
A refrigeration system having a fluid flow path for a refrigerant, comprising:a compressor in the fluid path having a suction side for receiving low pressure refrigerant and a discharge side for discharging high pressure refrigerant; a condenser in the fluid path connected to the discharge side of the compressor for receiving the high pressure refrigerant from the compressor and condensing the high pressure refrigerant to produce a high pressure liquid refrigerant; an expansion device in the fluid path connected to the condenser for receiving the high pressure liquid refrigerant from the condenser and expanding the high pressure liquid refrigerant to produce a low pressure liquid refrigerant; an evaporator in the fluid path connected to the expansion device for receiving the low pressure liquid refrigerant from the expansion device and evaporating the low pressure liquid refrigerant to produce a low pressure gaseous refrigerant that is delivered to the suction side of the compressor; an expansion tank connected to the fluid path at the suction side of the compressor for adding refrigerant to and removing refrigerant from the fluid path at the suction side of the compressor; a valve fluidly connecting the expansion tank to the suction side of the compressor; a valve control operatively connected to the valve and being operable to open the valve to provide fluid communication between the expansion tank and the fluid path at the suction side of the compressor, and further being operable to close the valve to retain refrigerant within the expansion tank; and an expansion device fluidly connecting the expansion tank to the suction side of the compressor.