Multi-evaporator sequencing apparatus and method

Abstract

A refrigerant system includes a condenser and a plurality of evaporators each connected to the condenser. Each of the plurality of evaporators receives fluid from the condenser in a harvest mode, and at least two of the plurality of evaporators are in a harvest mode at different times.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerant system comprising:
 a condenser;   a plurality of evaporators each connected to said condenser, each of said plurality of evaporators receiving refrigerant from said condenser in a harvest mode, at least two of said plurality of evaporators being in a harvest mode at different times.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant system of  claim 1 , further comprising a compressor connected to each of said plurality of evaporators, wherein said compressor receives fluid from one or more of said plurality of evaporators in a freeze mode, and wherein said condenser is connected to said compressor. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant system of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of liquid line valves, wherein each of said plurality of liquid line valves is connected between said condenser and one of said plurality of evaporators. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant system of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of suction line valves, wherein each of said plurality of suction line valves is connected between said compressor and one of said plurality of evaporators. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant system of  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of check valves and a plurality of expansion valves, wherein each of said plurality of check valves is between one of said plurality of expansion valves and one of said plurality of evaporators. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerant system of  claim 4 , wherein each of said plurality of liquid line valves that is between said condenser and said one of said plurality of evaporators is in an open position allowing flow of said refrigerant from said condenser to said one of said plurality of evaporators when said one of said plurality of evaporators is in said harvest mode. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerant system of  claim 6 , wherein each of said plurality of suction line valves that is between said compressor and said one of said plurality of evaporators is in a closed position blocking flow of said refrigerant from said one of said plurality of evaporators to said compressor when said one of said plurality of evaporators is in said harvest mode. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerant system of  claim 4 , wherein each of said plurality of liquid line valves that is between said condenser and said one of said plurality of evaporators is in a closed position blocking flow of said refrigerant from said condenser to said one of said plurality of evaporators when said one of said plurality of evaporators is in said freeze mode. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerant system of  claim 8 , wherein each of said plurality of suction line valves that is between said compressor and one of said plurality of evaporators is in an open position allowing flow of said refrigerant from said one of said plurality of evaporators to said compressor when said one of said plurality of evaporators is in said freeze mode. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant system of  claim 9 , further comprising a controller that moves said plurality of liquid line valves between said open position and said closed position, and wherein said controller moves said plurality of suction line valves between said open position and said closed position. 
     
     
         11 . A method for a refrigerant system comprising:
 providing a condenser and a plurality of evaporators each connected to said condenser, each of said plurality of evaporators receiving refrigerant from said condenser in a harvest mode, and at least two of said plurality of evaporators being in a harvest mode at different times; and   operating a first evaporator of said plurality of evaporators in said harvest mode with said refrigerant flowing through said first evaporator from said condenser while simultaneously operating a second evaporator of said plurality of evaporators in a freeze mode with said refrigerant from said first evaporator flowing through said second evaporator to said compressor.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising moving a first suction line valve of said first evaporator to a closed position and moving a first liquid line valve of said first evaporator to an open position to commence said harvest mode. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising moving a second suction line valve of said second evaporator to an open position and moving a second liquid line valve of said second evaporator to a closed position to commence said freeze mode. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising moving said first suction line valve of said first evaporator to an open position and moving said first liquid line valve of said first evaporator to a closed position to end said harvest mode and commence a freeze mode of said first evaporator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising moving said second suction line valve of said second evaporator to a closed position and moving said second liquid line valve of said second evaporator to an open position to end said freeze mode and commence a harvest mode of said second evaporator.