Apparatus and method for recovering and regenerating a refrigerant from an a/c plant

• Main Author: SANHAJI RAHHALI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.04.2015
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; WEAPONS

An apparatus (230) for recovering refrigerant from an air conditioning system (200) comprises an evaporator (232) arranged to receive the refrigerant from the air conditioning system (200) and to separate it from impurities in it present, obtaining purified refrigerant, a compressor (233) for circulating the purified refrigerant, a condenser (236), and a storage container (60) arranged to contain the condensed refrigerant. The storage container (60) defines a storage chamber (61) arranged to contain a liquid phase of the refrigerant (25) and a gaseous phase (26) comprising a vapour component of the refrigerant (26a) and an air component (26b). The apparatus (230) is also comprised of measuring means (110) configured to measure operating parameters of the refrigerant present in the storage chamber, purge means (125) arranged at a purge opening (62) configured to purge the gaseous phase (26) present in the storage chamber (61) responsive to the operating parameters (61), and at least one first separation chamber (64) connected to the storage container (60). A selective passage means (115) is arranged at said opening between the storage chamber and the first separation chamber (64) to separate the gaseous phase (26) into the vapour component of refrigerant (26a) and into the air component (26b), in such a way that through the selective passage means (115) only the air component (26b) and a reduced amount of vapour component (26a) move in the first separation chamber (64).