| 摘要 |
The present invention provides a refrigerant conservation system and method for preventing the release of refrigerant to the atmosphere during high pressure system failure. Refrigerant is delivered from the refrigerant loop of the refrigerant system to an evacuated sealed receiver. The receiver tank may be retrofitted to the existing high pressure safety relief valve of a multiple compressor mechanical refrigeration system. When the pressure in the receiver tank exceeds a predetermined value, a pressure switch denies operating current to at least one of the compressors to prevent their operation and to contain refrigerant within a closed system which would otherwise be discharged into the atmosphere while allowing at least one of the compressors to operate. After a timed delay cycle, the refrigerant conservation system also recharges the contained refrigerant into the system and restarts the disabled compressors. If the system pressure exceeds the safe operating pressure by a substantial amount, another pressure switch denies operating current to all the compressors to shut down the entire system. Then, the system must be manually restarted.
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