US 12,222,143 B2
Vapor compression system and method for vapor oil recovery
Anthony S. Molavi, Mooresville, NC (US); Scott T. McDonough, Charlotte, NC (US); and William T. Slay, Chickamauga, GA (US)
Assigned to CARRIER CORPORATION, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
Filed by Carrier Corporation, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
Filed on Mar. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/301,263.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/006,761, filed on Apr. 8, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0318042 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. F25B 43/02 (2006.01); F25B 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 43/02 (2013.01) [F25B 13/00 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vapor compression system, comprising:
a compressor having a suction port and a discharge port configured to circulate a working fluid through a flow circuit;
a first heat exchanger operably coupled to the compressor discharge port;
a second heat exchanger operably coupled to the compressor suction port;
a heat recovery heat exchanger operably coupled to the second heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger, wherein the heat recovery heat exchanger has a first portion for receiving a first phase and a second portion for receiving a second phase, and the heat recovery heat exchanger is configured to:
receive the working fluid in the first phase from the first heat exchanger,
receive the working fluid in the second phase from the second heat exchanger, and
exchange heat between the working fluid in the first phase and the second phase;
an orifice and a bypass valve positioned between the heat recovery heat exchanger discharge and the second heat exchanger and defining a first flow path and a second flow path, wherein the heat recovery heat exchanger is located between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in the flow circuit; and
a controller in communication with the bypass valve and the compressor, the controller being configured to:
determine when the compressor is operating below a predetermined operating load capacity;
open the bypass valve allowing the working fluid in the first phase to flow from the first portion of the heat recovery heat exchanger through the first flow path via the orifice and the second flow path via the bypass valve, to the second heat exchanger, when a compressor load is equal to or less than the predetermined operating load capacity; and
close the bypass valve allowing the working fluid in the first phase to flow from the first portion of the heat recovery heat exchanger through the first flow path via the orifice to the second heat exchanger, when the compressor load is greater than the predetermined operating load capacity.