Device and method for recovery of refrigerant
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The recovery of refrigerant from sealed heat transfer systems poses a risk of hazardous refrigerant leaks into the environment due to the flammability and toxicity of substances like propane, isobutane, and ammonia, which existing methods fail to adequately prevent.
Innovation Solution
A device with a refrigerant conduit and gasket system that creates a sealed-off space with a higher gas pressure than the refrigerant, using nitrogen gas and suction to prevent leaks, allowing safe recovery by guiding refrigerant flow through a conduit and outlet while maintaining a sealed environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suction-based recovery methods are used, then refrigerant can be recovered from heat transfer systems, but there is a risk of hazardous refrigerant leaks into the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sealed-off space filled with inert gas (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) as an intermediary barrier between the refrigerant and the environment. This intermediate chamber prevents direct contact between leaked refrigerant and the external environment, allowing safe containment and controlled venting of refrigerant through the inert gas medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert atmosphere within the sealed-off space by filling it with nitrogen gas or carbon dioxide. This inert environment prevents flammable refrigerants from igniting and eliminates the harmful effects of toxic refrigerant leaks, as the inert gas displaces oxygen and contains any potential refrigerant escapes.
2Reliability
If a sealed-off space with higher gas pressure is used to prevent leaks, then environmental safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device into multiple sealed compartments using resilient gaskets, creating distinct sealed-off spaces. The first resilient gasket creates a first sealed-off space, while the second resilient gasket creates a second sealed-off space. This segmentation allows independent pressure control and leak containment in each compartment, improving reliability while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where the first sealed-off space is contained within the second sealed-off space. The first resilient gasket forms an inner seal, and the second resilient gasket forms an outer seal, creating a nested configuration. This nesting approach allows multiple levels of protection with a compact design, improving leak prevention without excessive complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively reduces the risk of refrigerant leaks into the environment by maintaining a sealed and pressurized space, ensuring safe recovery and minimizing environmental contamination during the refrigerant recovery process.
Implementation Method 1
The sealed-off space may be provided with a safe gas at a higher pressure than the pressure of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
The sealed-off space may also be provided with suction and a lower gas pressure than the pressure of the refrigerant, so that a possible leak of refrigerant into the sealed-off space could be removed by means of the suction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7b
AI summary
Herein is disclosed a device (1, 101) for recovery of refrigerant from a sealed heat transfer system, the device (1, 101) comprising a refrigerant conduit (16, 116) formed in the device (1, 101) for guiding a flow of refrigerant from the heat transfer system to a refrigerant outlet (17, 117) of the device (1, 101), a refrigerant inlet (12, 112) to the refrigerant conduit (16, 116), the refrigerant inlet (12, 112) being provided in a surface (6) of the device (1, 101), a tool (27, 35) for providing an opening between an opening area of a part (5, 33) of the heat transfer system and the refrigerant inlet (12, 112), a driver (28, 128) to drive a movement of the tool (27, 35) in order to provide the opening in the opening area, wherein the device (1, 101) further comprises a first gas conduit (19, 119) formed in the device (1, 101) for guiding a flow of gas between a first internal gas opening (14, 114) being provided in a surface (6) of the device (1, 101) and a first external gas opening (20, 120) of the device (1, 101), and an outer, resilient gasket (10, 110) arranged to provide a sealed-off space (40) enclosing a surface of the device (1, 101), a surface of the part (5, 33) of the heat transfer system and the first internal gas opening (14, 114) when the device (1, 101) is mounted to the part (5, 33) of the heat transfer system.