Patent GB-701772-A (GB)
Title: Absorption refrigeration unit
Inventor: WHITLOW EUGENE PAYNE
IPC: F25B15/06
Filed: 1952-08-15
Abstract: 701,772. Refrigerating. SERVEL, Inc. Aug. 15, 1952, No. 20590/52. Class 29 A vacuum type continuous cycle absorption refrigeration apparatus comprises a frame having a base and spaced upright stanchions, an. absorber and evaporator in a shell mounted on the stanchions, a condenser on top of the shell, a generator on the base at one end and connected to the condenser through a vapour liquid-lift and a separator, a liquid heat exchanger on the base below the shell, and conduits connecting the elements for the gravity flow of refrigerant and absorbent raised by the vapour liquid-lift and providing liquid columns between the shell and the liquid heat exchanger. The frame comprises a base 11 and four upright stanchions 12 braced by ties 18. Brackets 26, 27 on the frame support a liquid heat exchanger 25 and saddles on the stanchions support a shell 20. Strong solution enters a generator 32 which is corrugated in horizontal cross section and enclosed in a casing 34 supplied with steam through a pipe 35, the steam and condensate being discharged respectively through pipes 36, 37. The expelled vapour entrains solution and carries it up a vapour liquid-lift 33 into a separator 23 disposed substantially horizontally and containing a multi-start spiral baffle 86 supported on a central rod 85. The solution is flung outwardly and runs. down the separator to a pipe 46 which carries it to the inner passaegs 47 of the liquid heat exchanger whence it flows by a pipe 48 to a distributer 49 feeding the absorber. Refrigerant vapour leaves the separator by pipe 29 to enter the water-cooled condenser 22 supported on top of the shell 20. Condensed refrigerant flows through U- pipe 42 to the inner chamber 43 of a device 24 having a jacket 44 connected by a pipe 81 to the system and therefore acting as an insulating vacuum jacket. In chamber 43, the refrigerant is flash cooled the vapour entering shell 20 by a pipe 93 and the liquid flowing to the evaporator by an insulated pipe 45. Weak solution is withdrawn from the evaporator-absorber shell 20 by a pipe 50, passes through the liquid heat-exchanger 25 and enters a storage vessel 30 by a pipe 52 for supply to the generator through a pipe 53. Some strong solution is bled off from pipe 48 by a pipe 78 to enter a chamber 76 connected to the shell 20 by a pipe 77 and acting as a subsidiary absorber to withdraw non-condensible gases from the shell. These gases are passed by a pipe 79 to a chamber 80 which is connected to the jacket 44 by the pipe 81 so that the gases ultimately collect in the jacket whence they may be withdrawn periodically by a pump connected to a valve'95. Solution flows from chamber 80 to the vessel 30 through pipes 82, 52. The shell 20 includes a central bank of vertical rows of tubes 55 connected in a series parallel arrangement in a circuit for a secondary coolant e.g. water. Refrigerant from pipe 45 enters troughs 64 whence it is discharged by capillary means to trickle down over the tubes 55 to evaporate thereon and cool the secondary coolant. The evaporator is flanked by banks of vertical rows of pipes 69 through which cooling water flows, weak solution being supplied to their outer surfaces by distributers 49 and trickling down the tubes to absorb the refrigerant before passing to pipe 50 as weak solution. The cooling water first flows through the absorber pipes 69 and then through the condenser 22.