Importance

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Abstract

A refrigerant reservoir (23') and heat exchanger unit (25) for a refrigerated counter (11) and method of reducing compressor load and lowering energy consumption of the refrigerated counter system is described. The refrigerant reservoir (23') and heat exchanger unit (25) comprises a reservoir having a heat exchanger section provided with a cooling coil (26) to cool liquid refrigerant from a condenser (14) as it enters into the reservoir (23'). The reservoir is secured in a cooled area of a refrigerated counter (11). The outlet (31) of the reservoir feeds an expansion valve (29) where the pressure of the liquid refrigerant is lowered to further cool the liquid refrigerant. The expansion valve (29) has an outlet (28) which is connected to the inlet (17) of the cooling coil (26) whereby the cool refrigerant liquid in a feedback path, cools refrigerant entering the reservoir. The outlet (30) of the cooling coil (26) is connected to refrigerating coils (20') of a plurality of evaporators (20) which are associated with other refrigerated counters (11) as well as the one in which the unit is secured. The evaporator (20) cools the refrigerated counter (11) and thereby the reservoir (23') to sub-cool the refrigerant liquid therein and together with the heat exchanger (25) achieves an increase in load capacity, a pressure reduction at the inlet of the expansion valve (29) and a load reduction on associated compressors (12) to provide an energy reduction.

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