Patent ID: 12259166

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Identical or functionally identical components are marked with the same reference symbols. In addition, not all identical or functionally identical components are provided with a reference numeral in the figures.

FIG.1shows a refrigeration cycle3of a refrigerant, having a refrigerant compressor designed as a refrigerating machine2, an oil separator4having a device1for measuring a liquid level of a medium at a high temperature, two heat exchangers6,7, and an expansion element8. A refrigerant coming from the refrigerating machine2, in particular refrigerant compressor, is first routed to the oil separator4, the oil separator4separating the medium, in particular oil, from the refrigerant in order to avoid oil carry-over.

As indicated inFIG.1, the medium can be supplied to the refrigerating machine2via a line9. The oil separator4discharges the refrigerant with reduced oil carry-over, preferably via a refrigerant outlet, and the refrigerant is routed from there to a first heat exchanger6and cooled and/or liquefied by heat dissipation. The refrigerant is then routed via an expansion element8to the second heat exchanger7, with the heat being able to be absorbed by the refrigerant in the second heat exchanger7. The refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle3is preferably CO2.

FIGS.2and3show an exemplary application of the device1for measuring a liquid level of a medium at a high temperature in a container5. In the example according toFIG.2—analogously toFIG.1—the container5is formed by the oil separator4. InFIG.3the container5is formed by the refrigerating machine2, wherein the container5can be an oil sump of the refrigerating machine2, for example.

FIGS.4-7show in detail the device1for measuring a liquid level of a medium at a high temperature according toFIGS.2and3, where it can be seen that the device1comprises a measuring unit10and a connecting feature30.

As can be seen inFIGS.5to7, the measuring unit10comprises a measurement chamber15and a measuring instrument20which is configured to determine the liquid level in the measurement chamber15. The measuring instrument20can determine the liquid level in the measurement chamber15using one or more measuring principles. Possible measurement principles are, for example and not exclusively, acoustic, for example by means of ultrasound, optical, in particular by measuring the transit time of a light beam, or other measurement techniques, for example by means of a floater. At this point it should be noted that the measuring instrument20will be described below as a float-based measuring instrument20, but the exemplary embodiments are not limited to the float-based measuring instrument20.

The measuring instrument20can have a floater22which is arranged in the measurement chamber15so as to be rotatable about a float axis24. The floater22may comprise a magnet (not shown) with an electronic sensor (not shown) being capable of sensing the magnetic field of the magnet. The liquid level of the medium in the measurement chamber15specifies the position of the floater22in the float axis24, with the electronic sensor detecting the position of the floater22in the float axis24using the magnetic field and enabling the liquid level to be determined.

The measuring unit10can comprise a housing, referred to as a whole, made up of several housing parts11,12,13, wherein the housing parts11,12,13can on the one hand enclose the measurement chamber15, and on the other hand can be used to fasten the measuring unit10to the connecting device30.

According toFIG.4, the connecting feature30comprises an attachment adapter35, at least two connecting lines40and a connection adapter45. The connecting feature30serves to arrange the measuring unit10at a distance from the container5in an axis X and transfers the medium from the container5into the measurement chamber15and depending on a fill level M of the medium—seeFIG.5—in the container5, the liquid level in the measurement chamber15is raised or lowered.

According to the exemplary embodiments illustrated inFIGS.2to7, the connecting feature30has six connecting lines40, which can be arranged parallel to the axis X and symmetrically about the axis X. At this point it should be noted that the number of connecting lines40can be selected as desired, but at least two connecting lines40must be provided, which can be arranged in such a way that one of the at least two connecting lines40can raise or lower the liquid level in the measurement chamber15, and the second of the at least two connecting lines40is arranged in such a way that the measurement chamber15can be aerated or vented. If there are more than two connecting lines40, more than one of the more than two connecting lines40can be utilized for raising and/or lowering the liquid level in the measurement chamber15. Depending on the fill level in the measurement chamber15, however, this number can vary.

The connecting feature30is arranged along axis X, with the attachment adapter35and the connection adapter45being arranged on opposite sides of the axis X. The axis X is preferably aligned horizontally. In other words, the axis X is preferably oriented perpendicular to the force vector of gravity.

The attachment adapter35is arranged on the side of the connecting feature30facing the container5and is set up to connect the device1to the container5. The attachment adapter35can preferably be designed as a cylindrical plug and have a connecting means36that can bring about a pressure-tight connection to the container5. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the connecting means36is formed by a thread which can be screwed into a corresponding attachment piece52on the container5or connected therewith by screws.

Furthermore, the attachment adapter35has a plurality of passage openings38, which can have receptacles37on the side facing away from the container5, in each of which a connecting line40is inserted and connected in a pressure-tight manner.

The connecting lines40are preferably thin-walled tubes made of a thermally conductive, preferably metallic, material and have a length L not shown in the figures and an inner diameter d not shown in the figures, the ratio L/d being ≥10, preferably ≥20, so that wave movements from the container in the direction of the measurement chamber15are dampened. The respective connecting line40is preferably free-standing and even more preferably aligned horizontally in order to be particularly easy to be cooled by convection. The length L of the connecting lines40can be dimensioned depending on the cooling requirement.

The connection adapter45has a passage opening48for each connecting line40. On the side facing the attachment adapter35, receptacles47can be formed in the respective through-holes48, in which a connecting line40is arranged or connected in a pressure-tight manner.

According to developments that are not shown, the connecting feature30can be designed in one piece or in several pieces. For example, the attachment adapter35, the connecting lines40and/or the connection adapter45can be designed as an integral component, for example produced by 3D printing.

The measuring unit10can be rotated about the axis X with respect to the connecting feature30, which ensures that the measurement chamber15can be arranged in a vertical orientation independently of the installation situation of the attachment adapter35at the container5. The inlet16, the outlet17and the axis x can lie in a common plane preferably with the gravity vector. The rotatability of the measuring unit10relative to the connecting feature30about the axis X can be implemented by a rotary joint, which can be formed from interacting planar surfaces of the measuring unit10and the connection adapter45.

Furthermore, it can be seen fromFIGS.5and6that a collection chamber25is arranged between the connecting lines40and the measurement chamber15, which collection chamber25connects the at least two connecting lines40with one another. The collection chamber25is fluidically connected between the connecting lines40and the measurement chamber15.

The collection chamber25can be designed as a collection channel26arranged about the axis X, which can preferably be arranged completely and even more preferably annularly about the axis X and coaxially thereto. The collection chamber25is connected to the measurement chamber15via an inlet16and an outlet17, the inlet16and the outlet17opening into the collection chamber25on diametrical sides of the axis X. The collection channel26can preferably be arranged about the axis X at a distance.

The collection chamber25can be formed in the manner of a puncture on one of the corresponding planar surfaces of the measuring unit10and/or the connection adapter45, and is preferably enclosed by the measuring unit10or the housing part11of the measuring unit10and by the connection adapter45. Furthermore, as can be seen inFIGS.5-7, seals can be provided in the area of the planar surfaces in order to make the connection between the connecting feature30and the measuring unit10pressure-tight.

The connection adapter45can be held tensioned by the flange-shaped housing part12against the housing part11by means of connection means, as a result of which the measuring unit10can be fastened to the connecting feature30. The rotary joint formed between the connecting feature30and the measuring unit10can also be fixed by the fastening.

Furthermore, optical accessibility of the measurement chamber15can be provided by a viewing window19or sight glass, whereby the liquid level of the medium in the measurement chamber15can be seen by the user for control purposes.

FIG.7shows a development of the device1according toFIGS.1-6, in which case, in addition to the previously described exemplary embodiments, the device1has a lance60through which medium can be refilled through the device1into the container5. The device1can thus be a fill level management system and on the one hand monitor a liquid level in the container5and on the other hand cause the medium to be refilled in the container5if the liquid level falls below a predetermined level. For this purpose, the device1can have corresponding actuators, by means of which the medium can be introduced into the container5through the lance60in a controlled manner.

As can be seen from the detailed representation according toFIG.7, the lance60protrudes along the axis X from the attachment adapter35in a free-standing manner into the container5. This means that any impact on the measuring accuracy of the measuring instrument20in the measurement chamber15can be excluded when medium is added through the device1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1device2refrigerant compressor3refrigeration cycle4oil separator5container6heat exchanger7expansion element8line10measuring unit11housing part12housing part13housing part14fastener15measurement chamber16inlet17outlet19sight glass20measuring instrument22floater25collection chamber26collection channel30connecting feature35attachment adapter36fastener37recess38passage opening40connecting lines45connection adapter48passage opening51wall52attachment piece60lanceX axis