Temperature controlled service hoses for improved refrigerant charge accuracy
A method and charging apparatus for adding refrigerant to refrigerant system are provided. The disclosure includes thermally conditioning the interior of the service hoses of a refrigerant recovery unit used to charge refrigerant. The conditioning may be based on one or more temperature reading(s) and/or based on a function and may be achieved by a heater along the length of the hose, recirculating refrigerant, and/or through a parallel line of heated liquid.
1. A method of adding refrigerant to a refrigerant system, the method comprising:
obtaining a recommended amount of refrigerant for the refrigerant system;
obtaining a first temperature reading;
conditioning an interior temperature of a service hose according to said first reference temperature;
obtaining a second temperature reading and conditioning the interior temperature of the service hose based on the temperature readings differential between the first temperature reading and the second temperature reading; and
charging the refrigerant system with the recommended amount of refrigerant.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said service hose comprise a heater along the length of the hose to condition the temperature.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said service hose include a parallel flow of heated liquid capable of heating the refrigerant flow path.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interior of said service hose include a composition capable of storing heat.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interior of said service hose include a heat conducting material.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said service hose include an insulating material.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conditioning of the interior temperature of the service hose is controlled by a controller and according to received temperature readings.
8. The method of claim 7 , additionally comprising taking one or more additional temperature readings throughout a charging cycle to monitor charging accuracy.
9. A refrigerant recovery unit comprising:
a refrigerant storage tank configured to store a refrigerant;
one or more service hoses configured to facilitate transfer of the refrigerant from the refrigerant storage tank to a refrigerant system;
a first temperature sensor configured to determine a first temperature within the one or more service hoses;
a second temperature sensor configured to determine a second temperature within the refrigerant recovery unit; and
a controller configured calculate a first temperature differential between the first and second temperatures, and using the temperature differential to control a heater used to thermally control the temperature within the one or more service hoses.
10. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 9 , wherein the heater is capable of transmitting heat to at least a portion of the interior of the one or more service hoses.
11. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 9 , further comprising a recirculating circuit that is parallel to a length of one or more of the service hoses to recirculate refrigerant from a connection on or near a coupler on a system interface end of one or both hoses(s) before charging the refrigerant system.
12. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 9 , further comprising a parallel line around a refrigerant flow path inside a service hose with a heated liquid, the parallel line being capable of thermally conditioning the refrigerant flow path.
13. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 9 , wherein an interior of said one or more service hoses include one or more of: a composition capable of storing heat, a heat conducting material, and an insulating material.
14. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 9 , further comprising a third temperature sensor configured to measure a third temperature at the refrigerant system, the third temperature sensor being electronically connected to the controller.
15. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 9 , further comprising a communications port electronically connected to the controller and to a processor that is at least partially controlling a portion of the refrigerant system.
16. The refrigerant recovery unit of claim 15 , wherein the communications port is configured to receive the information about a recommended amount of refrigerant from an input device used by a user.
17. A method of adding refrigerant to a refrigerant system, the method comprising:
obtaining a recommended amount of refrigerant for the refrigerant system;
obtaining a first temperature reading;
conditioning an interior temperature of a service hose according to said first temperature reading; and
charging the refrigerant system with the recommended amount of refrigerant, wherein said service hose is in fluid connection with a recirculating circuit that is parallel to a length of the service hose to recirculate refrigerant from a system interface coupler end of said service hose before charging the refrigerant system.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said service hose comprise a heater along the length of the hose to condition the temperature.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein said service hose includes a parallel flow of heated liquid capable of heating a refrigerant flow path.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein an interior of said service hose includes a composition capable of storing heat.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein an interior of said service hose includes a heat conducting material.