초록 ▼

A refrigerant storage reservoir, connected by valves to the high and low pressure lines of a refrigeration system, and controlled by a microprocessor based system that monitors temperatures and pressures, provides a means of regulating the overall amount of refrigerant charge in a heating or cooling

A refrigerant storage reservoir, connected by valves to the high and low pressure lines of a refrigeration system, and controlled by a microprocessor based system that monitors temperatures and pressures, provides a means of regulating the overall amount of refrigerant charge in a heating or cooling system to optimize economy or performance during operation. Reference temperature and pressure data profiles, permanently stored in memory, are compared with actual data collected while the refrigeration system is operating. If a reduction of refrigerant charge is indicated, a valve on the high pressure side of the refrigeration system is opened to allow excess refrigerant to flow into the storage reservoir. If an increase in refrigerant charge is indicated, a valve on the low pressure side of the refrigeration system is opened to allow refrigerant to flow from the reservoir into the operating loop of the refrigeration system. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the microprocessor based system stores temperature and pressure data collected during refrigeration system operation in a local Non-Volatile-Memory (NVM) and uses this self collected data to develop custom temperature and pressure data profiles that reflect the actual installed refrigeration system.

대표청구항 ▼

[That which is claimed:] [1.]a compressor that receives low pressure refrigerant and generates high pressure refrigerant;a condenser that receives the high pressure refrigerant from the compressor and condenses the refrigerant to produce a liquid refrigerant;an evaporator that receives the liquid re

[That which is claimed:] [1.]a compressor that receives low pressure refrigerant and generates high pressure refrigerant;a condenser that receives the high pressure refrigerant from the compressor and condenses the refrigerant to produce a liquid refrigerant;an evaporator that receives the liquid refrigerant from the condenser and evaporates the liquid refrigerant to produce a low pressure refrigerant that is delivered to the compressor; anda reservoir system that selectively adds refrigerant to the low pressure refrigerant and removes refrigerant from the high pressure refrigerant to change the refrigerant charge to obtain a desired operational characteristic, wherein the reservoir system includes locally collected temperature and pressure data to which the temperature and pressure data from the temperature and pressure sensors is compared in determining whether to add or remove refrigerant.