Refrigeration – Refrigeration producer – With lubricant handling means
Patent
1996-02-22
1997-11-11
Wayner, William E.
Refrigeration
Refrigeration producer
With lubricant handling means
62510, 417228, F25B 110, F25B 4302
Patent
active
056851685
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus having a plurality of compressors and particularly relates to controls of lubricating oil.
There has been a conventional air conditioner as a refrigerating apparatus having a refrigerating circuit in which two compressors are connected in parallel with each other, as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette No.4-222353. In this air conditioner, an oil equalizing pipe is connected between casings of both the compressors, and the pressure loss of a suction pipe of the first compressor is set larger than that of the second compressor so that the first compressor forms a low-pressure dome.
When both the compressors are operated, lubricating oil flows from the second compressor to the first compressor through the oil equalizing pipe so that an amount of lubricating oil is approximately equalized between both the compressors thereby preventing lack in lubricating oil.
In the above-mentioned air conditioner, differential pressure is forcedly generated between both the compressors. The differential pressure results from a difference in pressure loss between the suction pipes of the compressors.
In the above forced differential pressure manner, however, the pressure loss is positively charged so that a COP (coefficient of performance) is reduced.
Further, since the suction pipes of the compressors are mounted at the site of installation, it is impossible to precisely generate differential pressure between both the compressors. In detail, the generated differential pressure is too large or too small, so that the oil equalization function of equalizing an amount of lubricating oil cannot sufficiently be displayed thereby causing lack in lubricating oil.
This invention has been made in view of the foregoing problems and has its object of securely equalizing an amount of lubricating oil while enhancing a COP.
In order to attain the above object, this invention takes measures of providing a compression mechanism with an oil discharge mechanism.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a measure taken in the invention according to claim 1 first premises a refrigerating apparatus comprising a compression mechanism (21), a thermal-source-side heat exchanger (24), an expansion mechanism (25) and a used-side heat exchanger (32).
Further, the compression mechanism (21) is so composed that a plurality of compressors (2a, 2b, . . . ) are connected in parallel with one another.
In addition, each of the compressors (2a, 2b, . . . ) is provided with an oil discharge mechanism (40) for discharging, when lubricating oil stored in a casing of the compressor exceeds a set amount, the excess of lubricating oil.
In a measure taken in the invention according to claim 2, as shown in FIG. 7, there is provided a plurality of thermal source units (2A, 2B, . . . ) which each have at least a compression mechanism (21) and a thermal-source-side heat exchanger (24) and are connected in parallel with one another. Further, there is provided a user unit (3A) which has at least a used-side heat exchanger (32) and is connected to the respective thermal source units (2A, 2B, . . . ). Furthermore, the measure premises a refrigerating apparatus in which refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (21) is condensed by one of the heat exchangers (24, 32), is expanded by the expansion mechanism (25) and is then evaporated by the other heat exchanger (24, 32).
In addition, each of the compression mechanisms (21, 21, . . . ) is provided with an oil discharge mechanism (40) for discharging, when lubricating oil stored in the compression mechanism (21) exceeds a set amount, the excess of lubricating oil.
A measure taken in the invention according to claim 3 is so composed that in the invention of claim 2, each of the compression mechanisms (21, 21, . . . ) has a single compressor (2a) provided with the oil discharge mechanism (40).
As shown in FIG. 8, a measure taken in the invention according to claim 4 is so composed that in the invention of claim 2, the compression mechanism (
REFERENCES:
patent: 3581519 (1971-06-01), Garrett, Jr. et al.
patent: 5586450 (1996-12-01), Tollar et al.
Brackett Jr. Tim L.
Daikin Industries Ltd.
Ferguson Jr. Gerald J.
Wayner William E.
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