Membrane technology to remove non-condensable gases from refrigeration systems

摘要

An apparatus and method are described for refrigeration employing a condenser, an evaporator, and a compressor, wherein a condenser vent is provided for exhausting accumulated mixtures of non- condensable gas, such as air, and refrigerant gas, wherein accumulated non-condensable gas mixed with refrigerant gas from the condenser vent is provided to a membrane separator comprising at least two chambers separated by a selective membrane, said chambers being a high pressure chamber to which the non-condensable gas mixed with refrigerant gas is supplied, and a low pressure chamber into which the refrigerant gas is selectively permeated through said selective membrane for reintroduction and reuse in the refrigeration cycle, and on said high pressure chamber of said membrane separator, a vent is provided to exhaust non-condensable gas- rich raffinate gas.