Inventors:
Thomas O. Major - Denver CO
Jack E. Major - Lakewood CO
International Classification:
B01D 5000
Abstract:
A refrigerant purification and recovery apparatus for removing refrigerant from a refrigeration unit and for purifying the refrigerant removed from the refrigeration unit includes a compressor, condenser, a receiver-separator vessel having upper and lower end portions, pressure detection means for generating signals indicative of a pressure in the upper end portion of the receiver-separator vessel, liquid detection means for generating a signal indicative of the presence or absence of liquid in the vessel at a position between the upper and lower end portions, means for venting gas from the upper end portion of the receiver-separator vessel, means for draining liquid from the lower end portion of the receiver-separator vessel, and control-signal means for receiving the pressure indicative and liquid-presence indicative signals and generating a drain signal only when the pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure and the liquid presence indicative signal is indicative of a liquid present, and generating a vent signal only when the pressure indicative signal is indicative of a pressure greater than a predetermined pressure and the liquid presence indicative signal is indicative of no liquid present.