Cooling system with vertical alignment
A cooling system uses P-traps to address the oil return issues that result from a vertical separation between the compressor and the high side heat exchanger. Generally, the vertical piping that carries the refrigerant from the compressor to the high side heat exchanger includes P-traps installed at various heights to capture oil in the refrigerant and to prevent that oil from flowing back to the compressor. T-connections are coupled to the P-traps to allow the oil to drain out of the P-traps. The oil may then be collected and returned to the compressor.
1. A system comprising:
a high side heat exchanger configured to remove heat from a refrigerant;
a flash tank configured to store the refrigerant;
a first low side heat exchanger configured to use the refrigerant to cool a space proximate the first low side heat exchanger;
a second low side heat exchanger configured to use the refrigerant to cool a space proximate the second low side heat exchanger;
a first compressor configured to compress refrigerant from the first low side heat exchanger;
a second compressor configured to compress refrigerant from the second low side heat exchanger and the first compressor, the high side heat exchanger positioned vertically above the second compressor;
piping configured to direct refrigerant from the second compressor to the high side heat exchanger, the piping comprising:
a first P-trap positioned vertically above the second compressor and vertically below the high side heat exchanger; and
a second P-trap positioned vertically above the first P-trap and vertically below the high side heat exchanger;
a receiver;
a first valve configured to control a flow of refrigerant and oil from the first P-trap to the receiver; and
a second valve configured to control a flow of refrigerant and oil from the second P-trap to the receiver.
2. The system of claim 1 , the receiver configured to direct refrigerant to the second compressor.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a temperature of refrigerant received at the second compressor, the first valve opens when the temperature falls below a threshold.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a discharge pressure of the second compressor, the first and second valves open when the discharge pressure falls below a threshold.
5. The system of claim 1 , the first and second valves configured to open once per day.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a level of oil in the receiver, the first and second valves open when the level falls below a threshold.
7. The system of claim 1 , the receiver configured to direct refrigerant to the flash tank.
8. A method comprising:
removing, by a high side heat exchanger, heat from a refrigerant;
storing, by a flash tank, the refrigerant;
using, by a first low side heat exchanger, the refrigerant to cool a space proximate the first low side heat exchanger;
using, by a second low side heat exchanger, the refrigerant to cool a space proximate the second low side heat exchanger;
compressing, by a first compressor, refrigerant from the first low side heat exchanger;
compressing, by a second compressor, refrigerant from the second low side heat exchanger and the first compressor, the high side heat exchanger positioned vertically above the second compressor;
directing, by piping, refrigerant from the second compressor to the high side heat exchanger, the piping comprising:
a first P-trap positioned vertically above the second compressor and vertically below the high side heat exchanger; and
a second P-trap positioned vertically above the first P-trap and vertically below the high side heat exchanger;
controlling, by a first valve, a flow of refrigerant and oil from the first P-trap to a receiver; and
controlling, by a second valve, a flow of refrigerant and oil from the second P-trap to the receiver.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising directing, by the receiver, refrigerant to the second compressor.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
detecting, by a sensor, a temperature of refrigerant received at the second compressor; and
opening the first valve when the temperature falls below a threshold.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
detecting, by a sensor, a discharge pressure of the second compressor; and
opening the first and second valves when the discharge pressure falls below a threshold.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising opening the first and second valves once per day.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
detecting, by a sensor, a level of oil in the receiver; and
opening the first and second valves when the level falls below a threshold.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising directing, by the receiver, refrigerant to the flash tank.
15. A system comprising:
a low side heat exchanger configured to use a refrigerant to cool a space proximate the low side heat exchanger;
a compressor configured to compress refrigerant from the low side heat exchanger;
a high side heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the refrigerant from the compressor, the high side heat exchanger positioned vertically above the compressor;
piping configured to direct refrigerant from the compressor to the high side heat exchanger, the piping comprising:
a first P-trap positioned vertically above the compressor and vertically below the high side heat exchanger; and
a second P-trap positioned vertically above the first P-trap and vertically below the high side heat exchanger;
a receiver;
a first valve configured to control a flow of refrigerant and oil from the first P-trap to the receiver; and
a second valve configured to control a flow of refrigerant and oil from the second P-trap to the receiver.
16. The system of claim 15 , the receiver configured to direct refrigerant to the compressor.
17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a temperature of refrigerant received at the compressor, the first valve opens when the temperature falls below a threshold.
18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a discharge pressure of the compressor, the first and second valves open when the discharge pressure falls below a threshold.
19. The system of claim 15 , the first and second valves configured to open once per day.
20. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a level of oil in the receiver, the first and second valves open when the level falls below a threshold.