IP Library Granted Patent US 7,690,219
Granted Patent B2
US 7,690,219 · App. 11/624,023 · Granted Apr 6, 2010

Vapor compression refrigerating systems and modules which comprise a heat exchanger disposed within a gas-liquid separator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,690,219
App. No.
11/624,023
Granted
Apr 6, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A module, such as a module configured to be used in a refrigeration system, includes a gas-liquid separator which is configured to receive a first refrigerant, to separate the first refrigerant into a gas portion of the first refrigerant and a liquid portion of the first refrigerant, and to transmit the gas portion of the first refrigerant. The module also includes a heat exchanger which is configured to receive a second refrigerant and to exchange heat between the second refrigerant and the gas portion of the first refrigerant and/or the liquid portion of the first refrigerant. Moreover, the heat exchanger is disposed within the gas-liquid separator.

Claims (21)

1. A vapor compression refrigerating system comprising:

a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;

a radiator in fluid communication with the compressor, wherein the radiator is configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and to reduce a temperature of the refrigerant;

a module in fluid communication with each of the radiator and the compressor, wherein the module is configured to receive the refrigerant from the radiator;

a first pressure-reducing mechanism in fluid communication with the module, wherein the first pressure-reducing mechanism is configured to receive the refrigerant from the module and to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant; and

an evaporator in fluid communication with each of the first pressure-reducing mechanism and the module, wherein the evaporator is configured to receive the refrigerant from the first pressure-reducing mechanism and to evaporate the refrigerant, and the module is further configured to receive the refrigerant from the evaporator, wherein the module comprises:

a gas-liquid separator which is configured to receive the refrigerant from the evaporator, to separate the refrigerant into a gas portion of the refrigerant and a liquid portion of the refrigerant, and to transmit the gas portion of the refrigerant to the compressor; and

a heat exchanger which is configured to receive the refrigerant from the radiator and to exchange heat between the refrigerant received from the radiator and at least one of the gas portion of the refrigerant and the liquid portion of the refrigerant, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed within the gas-liquid separator,

wherein a portion of a refrigerant passage extending between the radiator and the first pressure-reducing mechanism passes through an inside of the module.

2. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 1 , wherein the gas-liquid separator has a refrigerant storing space formed therein, and the portion of the refrigerant passage which passes through the inside of the module passes through the refrigerant storing space.

3. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 2 , wherein the liquid portion of the refrigerant is stored in the refrigerant storing space, and the portion of the refrigerant passage which passes through the refrigerant storing space contacts the liquid portion of the refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storing space.

4. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the refrigerant passage which passes through the inside of the module comprises a substantially W-shaped tube.

5. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the refrigerant passage which passes through the inside of the module comprises a substantially U-shaped tube.

6. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the refrigerant passage which passes through the inside of the module comprises a substantially flat tube having a plurality of holes formed therein, wherein the plurality of holes are disposed in parallel to each other.

7. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim claim 1 , wherein the portion of the refrigerant passage which passes through the inside of the module comprises a tube, and the heat exchanger comprises fins provided on the tube.

8. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 7 , wherein the tube comprises a low-fin tube.

9. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 1 , wherein the module further comprises a plurality of refrigerant inlets and a plurality of refrigerant outlets formed therethrough, and each of the plurality of refrigerant inlets and the plurality of refrigerant outlets are formed through a same surface of the module.

10. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 1 , further comprising a second pressure-reducing mechanism in fluid communication with each of the radiator and the module, wherein the second pressure-reducing mechanism is configured to receive the refrigerant from radiator, to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant, and to transmit the refrigerant to the module, wherein the second pressure-reducing mechanism is integral with the module.

11. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant comprises carbon dioxide.

12. The vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger which is configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant received from the radiator and each of the gas portion of the refrigerant and the liquid portion of the refrigerant.

13. An air conditioning system for a vehicle, comprising the vapor compression refrigerating system of claim 1 .

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 22, 2022
From: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
To: SANDEN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061296/0529 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS IN PATENT NOS. 6129293, 7574813, 8238525, 8083454, D545888, D467946, D573242, D487173, AND REMOVE 8750534 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047208 FRAME 0635. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Apr 27, 2020
From: SANDEN CORPORATION
To: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053545/0524 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 038489 FRAME: 0677. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 9, 2018
From: SANDEN CORPORATION
To: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047208/0635 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 21, 2016
From: SANDEN CORPORATION
To: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038489/0677 →