Refrigerant handling system with air purge and system clearing capabilities

摘要

A refrigerant handling system that includes an air purge chamber and a refrigerant pump for directing refrigerant into the air purge chamber so that the refrigerant collects in liquid phase at a lower portion of the chamber while air and other non-condensibles collect in a vapor space at the upper portion of the chamber over the refrigerant. A purge valve is connected to the upper portion of the chamber for automatically or manually purging air and other non-condensibles from the chamber. A refrigerant outlet is positioned at the lower portion of the chamber for drawing liquid phase refrigerant from the chamber. A minimum level of liquid phase refrigerant is maintained in the lower portion of the chamber at the outlet isolating the outlet from the vapor space, and preventing removal of air and other non-condensibles from the chamber through the outlet.