Patent ID: 6244055
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: B60H,F25B

Abstract:
A method for recovering and recycling refrigerant from an air conditioning unit, the method comprising steps of:providing a source of contaminated refrigerant for conversion to purified refrigerant;introducing the contaminated refrigerant into a lower region of a combined oil separator and heat exchanger for separating volatile components from oil, wherein the combined oil separator and heat exchanger comprises a canister having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a substantially cylindrical side wall, the canister including:high pressure region comprising heat exchange coils and having high pressure inlet for providing purified refrigerant vapor and high pressure outlet for removing purified refrigerant liquid; andlow pressure region having low pressure inlet for introducing contaminated refrigerant proximate the heat exchange coils, low pressure outlet through the top wall for removal of refrigerant vapor, and condensed oil outlet for removal of condensed oil;feeding separated volatile component to a dryer for removal of moisture, and to a compressor for compressing refrigerant from the dryer to provide purified refrigerant; andfeeding the purified refrigerant from the compressor to the high pressure inlet in the combined oil separator and heat exchanger to provide a condensed refrigerant.