Overfeed systems force excess liquid, either mechanically or by gas pressure, through organized-flow evaporators, separate it from the vapor, and return it to the evaporators.
TERMINOLOGY:
Low-pressure receiver. Sometimes referred to as an accumulator, this vessel acts as the separator for the mixture of vapor and liquid returning from the evaporators. A constant refrigerant level is usually maintained by conventional devices.
Pumping unit. One or more mechanical pumps, or gas-operated liquid circulators are arranged to pump overfeed liquid to the evaporators. The pumping unit is located below the low-pressure receiver.
Wet returns. These are connections between the evaporator outlets and low-pressure receiver through which the mixture of vapor and liquid overfeed is drawn.
Liquid feeds. These are connections between the pumping unit outlet and evaporator inlets.
Flow control regulators. These devises regulate overfeed flow into the evaporators. They may be needle valves, fixed orifices, calibrated manual regulating valves, or automatic valves designed to provide a fixed liquid rate.