Patent ID: 6164081
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: F25B

Abstract:
In a refrigeration system comprising in series a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, a method of controlling the refrigeration system by means of the expansion valve, the expansion valve comprising an actuator having one of a diaphragm and a bellows and being arranged to be acted upon by heat supplied by a heating element, comprising the steps of biasing one side of the actuator by refrigerant pressure from the evaporator, biasing the other side of the actuator vapour pressure of a sensor system whose pressure is temperature dependent, determining the temperature of the sensor system by the saturation temperature of the refrigerant and by the heat supplied by the heating element, and measuring one of superheat on the outlet side of a dry evaporator and the liquid level of a flooded evaporator and regulating heat supplied by the heating element in dependence on the measured superheat.