초록 ▼

Oil is returned from the evaporator to the oil sump in a refrigeration chiller by directing the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture found in the chiller evaporator into heat exchange contact with relatively hotter system lubricant as such lubricant flows from the oil sump to the location of its use

Oil is returned from the evaporator to the oil sump in a refrigeration chiller by directing the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture found in the chiller evaporator into heat exchange contact with relatively hotter system lubricant as such lubricant flows from the oil sump to the location of its use in the chiller's compressor. The oil flowing from the sump to the compressor rejects sufficient heat to the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture to induce the percolation thereof, such percolation being sufficiently energetic to cause slugs of the lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture to be delivered from the location of heat exchange into the chiller's lubricant sump thereby effecting the return of oil from the evaporator for re-use in the compressor.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A refrigeration chiller comprising:a compressor;a condenser;an expansion device;an evaporator, said compressor, said condenser, said expansion device and said evaporator being connected to form a refrigeration circuit;a lubricant sump;a first line through which lubricant

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A refrigeration chiller comprising:a compressor;a condenser;an expansion device;an evaporator, said compressor, said condenser, said expansion device and said evaporator being connected to form a refrigeration circuit;a lubricant sump;a first line through which lubricant is delivered from said sump to a location in said compressor;apparatus for causing the movement of lubricant from said sump through said first line; anda second line, said second line being in flow communication with a location in said evaporator to which lubricant migrates during chiller operation, said migrated lubricant mixing with liquid refrigerant in said evaporator to form a lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture, said second line and said first line being disposed in a heat exchange relationship such that lubricant flowing through said first line rejects heat to lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture in said second line in sufficient quantity to induce the flow of at least a portion of said lubricant-liquid refrigerant mixture through said second line and to said sump in the absence of a pressure differential between said evaporator and said lubricant sump.