Accumulator Integration with Heat Exchanger Header

Abstract

A refrigeration system includes a compressor for driving a refrigerant along a flow path in at least a first mode of system operation; a first heat exchanger along the flow path downstream of the compressor in the first mode; a second heat exchanger along the flow path upstream of the compressor in the first mode; and an expansion device in the flow path downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the second heat exchanger in the first mode, wherein the second heat exchanger includes a combined header and accumulator for collecting liquid and vapor refrigerant.

1 . A refrigeration system comprising:
 a compressor for driving a refrigerant along a flow path in at least a first mode of system operation;   a first heat exchanger along the flow path downstream of the compressor in the first mode;   a second heat exchanger along the flow path upstream of the compressor in the first mode; and   an expansion device in the flow path downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the second heat exchanger in the first mode,   wherein the second heat exchanger includes a combined header and accumulator for collecting liquid and vapor refrigerant.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the combined header and accumulator comprises a chamber communicated with refrigerant flow paths of the second heat exchanger for receiving two phase refrigerant flow and defining therein a lower liquid refrigerant zone and an upper vapor refrigerant zone. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the lower liquid refrigerant zone is defined below a lower most flow port between the second heat exchanger and the combined header and accumulator. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the lower most flow port is positioned high enough above the lower liquid refrigerant zone that the lower liquid refrigerant zone does not extend beyond the evaporator. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein tubes of the second heat exchanger flow directly into the combined header and accumulator. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a vapor flow line is connected directly from the combined header and accumulator to the compressor. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a conduit communicated with the upper vapor refrigerant zone for conveying vapor refrigerant to the compressor. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the conduit extends upwardly through the liquid refrigerant zone into the vapor refrigerant zone, and is also communicated with the liquid refrigerant zone. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the conduit is communicated with the liquid refrigerant zone through a pin-hole to allow oil to return to the compressor. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the refrigerant comprises, a transcritical vapor system refrigerant and wherein   the first and second heat exchangers are refrigerant-air heat exchangers.   
   
   
       11 . A beverage cooling device comprising the system of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       12 . A method for operating a refrigeration system comprising operating a compressor to drive a refrigerant along a flow path, sequentially, to a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, a second heat exchanger, a combined header and accumulator, and back to the compressor, wherein flow is directly from the second heat exchanger to the combined header and accumulator, and wherein flow is directly from the combined header and accumulator to the compressor. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a flow tube, wherein operation of the compressor creates two-phase refrigerant in the flow tube, and wherein the two-phase refrigerant flows directly to the combined header and accumulator. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the refrigerant is a transcritical vapor system refrigerant. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the refrigerant is CO 2 . 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the combined header and accumulator defines a lower liquid refrigerant zone and an upper vapor refrigerant zone, and wherein flow of refrigerant into the combined header and accumulator causes separation of the refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant in the lower liquid refrigerant zone and vapor refrigerant in the upper vapor refrigerant zone.