Method and apparatus for providing additive fluids to refrigerant circuit
A refrigerant additive supply device can include an outer rigid container, an inner flexible bag positioned in the outer rigid container and defining a space therebetween where the inner flexible bag contains an additive without a refrigerant, a valve in fluid communication with the inner flexible bag, an actuator operably coupled to the valve, and a propellant sealed within the space, where the inner flexible bag has a device pressure that allows flow of the additive into a refrigerant circuit when the actuator is depressed. Other embodiments are disclosed.
1. A method of providing additive to a refrigerant circuit, the method comprising:
connecting a pre-pressurized supply device to the refrigerant circuit at a portion of the refrigerant circuit where a circuit pressure is less than a supply device pressure that is a positive pressure above ambient pressure, the pre-pressurized supply device having (1) an outer container with an inner bag therein, (2) a valve interconnected with the inner bag, and (3) a volume of pressurized gas within an interior area of the pre-pressurized supply device that is pre-pressurized to the supply device pressure, the inner bag being pre-filled with a refrigerant system additive through the valve; and
actuating the valve of the pre-pressurized supply device to allow the volume of pressurized gas within the interior area of the pre-pressurized supply device to force the refrigerant system additive to flow from the inner bag, through the valve, and into the refrigerant circuit, wherein the refrigerant system additive is not pre-mixed with refrigerant prior to the refrigerant system additive exiting the inner bag and entering the refrigerant circuit, such that a performance of the refrigerant circuit is maintained at a satisfactory level.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising evacuating the refrigerant circuit prior to actuating the valve.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising connecting the pre-pressurized supply device to a vacuum line and actuating the valve during operation of the refrigerant circuit.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, or other propellant gas.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a fluid conveying channel with first and second ends, wherein the first end is connected to the pre-pressurized supply device and the second end is connected to the refrigerant circuit.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, or other propellant gas.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of fluid and powder.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of compressor lubricant, leak detection dye, leak stop material, and refrigerant performance enhancer.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inner bag is an accordion-shaped container.
10. A method of providing additive to a refrigerant circuit, the method comprising:
positioning an inner bag in contact with one end of a valve within an outer container, the outer container having an opening to an exterior of the outer container;
engaging a portion of the valve with a rim of the opening of the outer container to form a supply device comprising at least the inner bag, the valve, and the outer container;
pressurizing an interior of the supply device to a supply device pressure, the supply device pressure being a positive pressure;
filling the inner bag with a refrigerant system additive through the valve of the supply device;
connecting the supply device to the refrigerant circuit at a portion of the refrigerant circuit where a circuit pressure is less than the supply device pressure; and
actuating the valve of the supply device to allow the supply device pressure to cause the refrigerant system additive to flow from within the inner bag and into the refrigerant circuit, wherein the refrigerant system additive is not pre-mixed with refrigerant prior to the refrigerant system additive exiting the inner bag and entering the refrigerant circuit, such that a performance of the refrigerant circuit is maintained at a satisfactory level.
11. The method of providing additive to a refrigerant circuit of claim 10 , the method comprising pressurizing the interior of the supply device to the supply device pressure using an under-the-cup gassing process to increase pressure within the outer container.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of fluid and powder.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of compressor lubricant, leak detection dye, leak stop material, and refrigerant performance enhancer.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inner bag is an accordion-shaped container.
15. A method of providing additive to a refrigerant circuit, the method comprising:
positioning an inner bag in fluid communication with a valve within an outer container;
engaging a portion of the valve with a rim of an opening of the outer container to form a supply device comprising the inner bag, the valve, and the outer container;
pressurizing an interior of the supply device to a supply device pressure, the supply device pressure being a positive pressure;
filling the inner bag with a refrigerant system additive through the valve of the supply device;
connecting the supply device to the refrigerant circuit at a portion of the refrigerant circuit where a circuit pressure is less than the supply device pressure; and
actuating the valve of the supply device to allow the supply device pressure to cause the refrigerant system additive to flow from within the inner bag, through the valve, and into the refrigerant circuit, wherein the refrigerant system additive is not pre-mixed with refrigerant prior to the refrigerant system additive exiting the inner bag and entering the refrigerant circuit, such that a performance of the refrigerant circuit is maintained at a satisfactory level.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the inner bag is an accordion-shaped container.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of fluid and powder.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the inner bag is an accordion-shaped container.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of compressor lubricant, leak detection dye, leak stop material, and refrigerant performance enhancer.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the inner bag is an accordion-shaped container.