Means for trapping oil lost during startup of refrigerant compressors

摘要

This invention relates to a compression refrigeration system having means for removing some of the oil refrigerant foam which is formed in a crankcase at startup. The removal of foam with entrained oil from the crankcase is to reduce the amount of oil pumped with the refrigerant through condenser and evaporator and at the same time rapidly return oil to the crankcase during startup. In one embodiment of the invention, oil refrigerant foam goes from the crankcase to a foam trap where the foam collapses, the oil drains back to the crankcase, and the refrigerant vapor is drawn to an intake of the compressor. In another embodiment, oil refrigerant foam passes to a suction accumulator where the foam collapses, refrigerant vapor is drawn to an intake of the compressor and the vapor carries droplets of separated oil to a point where they drain back to the crankcase.