초록 ▼

Methods and apparatus for cleaning refrigeration equipment by flushing all refrigerant paths with high pressure refrigerant, following an initial evacuation to prevent air contamination of the refrigerant. Highly effective leak tests may be simultaneously performed. A pump down procedure at the term

Methods and apparatus for cleaning refrigeration equipment by flushing all refrigerant paths with high pressure refrigerant, following an initial evacuation to prevent air contamination of the refrigerant. Highly effective leak tests may be simultaneously performed. A pump down procedure at the termination of the cleaning process returns all refrigerant to a first tank of the cleaning apparatus, and a contaminant removal procedure removes contaminants from the refrigerant in a second tank.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of cleaning refrigeration apparatus after manufacture thereof and before charging the apparatus with a refrigerant, with the refrigeration apparatus including suction and hot gas lines suitable for connection to a refrigerant compressor following the cleaning of the refrigeration apparatus,

A method of cleaning refrigeration apparatus after manufacture thereof and before charging the apparatus with a refrigerant, with the refrigeration apparatus including suction and hot gas lines suitable for connection to a refrigerant compressor following the cleaning of the refrigeration apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing cleaning apparatus having vacuum and refrigerant circuits, with the refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, a first tank having an input and an output, with the first tank containing a supply of high pressure liquid refrigerant, and a second tank having an input and an output, connecting the refrigeration apparatus in the vacuum circuit of the cleaning apparatus, evacuating the refrigeration apparatus to a predetermined pressure to remove air therefrom, connecting both the hot gas line and the suction line of the refrigeration apparatus in the refrigerant circuit of the cleaning apparatus such that the refrigeration apparatus is connected between the first and second tanks, with the output of the first tank being connected to the hot gas line and with the suction line being connected to the input of the second tank, operating the compressor of the cleaning apparatus to force high pressure liquid refrigerant from the first tank through the refrigeration apparatus to the second tank, to remove contaminants from the refrigeration apparatus via the high pressure liquid refrigerant, separating contaminants from the refrigerant in the second tank, vaporizing the refrigerant in the second tank, returning vaporized refrigerant from the second tank to the compressor to continue the operating step, repeating the steps of operating, separating, vaporizing, and returning for a predetermined period of time selected to assure cleansing of the refrigeration apparatus being cleaned, and recovering any refrigerant remaining in the refrigeration apparatus at the end of the predetermined period of time by transferring refrigerant from the refrigeration apparatus to the cleaning apparatus.