Discharging refrigerant from a refrigeration system by means of a capillary tube

摘要

A method of discharging refrigerant from a refrigeration system 1 and charging the system 1 with refrigerant by means of capillary tube assemblies 9, 19 connected to the system 1 is disclosed. When discharging the system 1, the rate of flow of gaseous refrigerant through a capillary tube 13 of the assembly 9 may be controlled to reduce an operating pressure of the refrigerant to a safe level before the refrigerant is released into the surrounding area. When charging the system 1, the rate of flow of liquid refrigerant through a capillary tube 20 of the assembly 19 may be controlled to allow the liquid refrigerant to boil off into a gaseous form within the system 1. When discharging the system 1, the capillary tube 13 may be connected to a high pressure region of the refrigeration system 1, for example the outlet side of a compressor 2 for the system 1. When charging the system 1, the capillary tube 20 may be connected to a low pressure region of the refrigeration system 1, for example the pipe work associated with an evaporator 8 of the system 1.