A liquid cooler with multiple sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of liquid coolers, and discloses a liquid cooler with multiple sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units, comprising a liquid storage tank, a pump, an electric three-way valve A, an electric three-way valve B, a compressor unit A, a compressor unit B, a one-way valve A, a one-way valve B, a regulating valve A, a regulating valve B and a load. The compressor unit A comprises a compressor A, a condenser A, a throttling element A, a heat exchanger A, a radiator A and a fan A, and the compressor unit B comprises a compressor B, a condenser B, a throttling element B, a heat exchanger B, a radiator B and a fan B. The invention is characterized in that an inlet end of the liquid storage tank is connected to an outlet of the load, an outlet end of the liquid storage tank is connected to an inlet of a pump, an outlet of the pump is connected in parallel to the respective inlets of the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B, outlets of the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B respectively form two branches, and a first channel outlet of the electric three-way valve A is connected to an inlet of the radiator A.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of liquid coolers, and in particular to a liquid cooler with multiple sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of electronic equipment and high-end equipment, especially the rapid development of some high-power radars, lasers, precision factories, medical places and environmental control equipment in the production process, the requirements for liquid coolers (also known as liquid cooling sources, liquid coolers, etc.) are getting higher and higher. At present, liquid coolers mainly use compressor refrigeration to cool the coolant to the required temperature. At the same time, the coolant with a certain pressure and flow is transported to the cooled object through the liquid supply circulation system for heat exchange to achieve temperature control. In this process, the heat at the cooled end will continue to pass through the work of the liquid cooler, and the heat will eventually be released to the atmosphere, river water or seawater, etc. The liquid cooler consumes a lot of electricity, so people will continue to study new methods to reduce energy consumption to achieve efficient and energy-saving operation of the liquid cooler.

[0003] For example, a liquid cooler that combines forced air cooling (or natural cooling) and compressor refrigeration has appeared on the market. In winter, the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is used to remove heat through forced air cooling; in summer, compressor refrigeration is used to achieve this; in transitional seasons, when forced air cooling cannot meet the requirements, compressor refrigeration is used to achieve this. For a single small system, it is still a relatively economical approach because the control is relatively independent. However, when the volume of the system gradually increases, such as when the cooling capacity reaches 100 kW to 5000 kW, we have to consider external factors such as size, weight, transportation, power supply and control, so two or more sets of compressor refrigeration units appear to be combined to complete the combination. But sometimes a simple combination is difficult to complete in a limited space, or even impossible to achieve. This requires the perfect integration of structure and control between units under a unified framework. If the original liquid supply system is not streamlined, the liquid supply circuit will become extremely complicated; if the forced air cooling and compressor refrigeration units are not divided again and optimized, effective complementarity and intercommunication cannot be achieved.

[0004] At the same time, the temperature tolerance requirements of some current liquid coolers are also becoming wider and wider. For example, they need to respond quickly under a wide range of environments and alternating conditions from -40℃ to 60℃ to achieve adaptive energy-saving adjustment. Especially when the ambient temperature changes from -7℃ to 25℃, there will be a dilemma that forced air cooling cannot meet the liquid supply temperature requirements (such as 20℃), and compressor refrigeration is not economical. In other words, energy-saving operation cannot be further achieved. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems existing in the prior art and to propose a liquid cooler with multiple sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] A liquid cooler with multiple sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units, including a liquid storage tank, a pump, an electric three-way valve A, an electric three-way valve B, a compressor unit A, a compressor unit B, a check valve A, a check valve B, a regulating valve A, a regulating valve B and a load, wherein the compressor unit A has a compressor A, a condenser A, a throttling element A, a heat exchanger A, a radiator A and a fan A, and the compressor unit B has a compressor B, a condenser B, a throttling element B, a heat exchanger B, a radiator B and a fan B. The inlet end of the liquid storage tank is connected to the outlet of the load, the outlet end of the liquid storage tank is connected to the inlet of the pump, the outlet of the pump is connected in parallel to the respective inlets of the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B, the outlets of the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B form two branches respectively, and the electric The first channel outlet of the electric three-way valve A is connected to the inlet of the radiator A, the outlet of the radiator A is connected to the inlet of the check valve A, the second channel outlet of the electric three-way valve A is connected to the second channel inlet of the heat exchanger A, the second channel outlet of the heat exchanger A is connected to the inlet of the regulating valve A, the outlet of the regulating valve A is connected to the load inlet after merging with the outlet of the check valve A, the first channel outlet of the electric three-way valve B is connected to the inlet of the radiator B, the outlet of the radiator B is connected to the inlet of the check valve B, the second channel outlet of the electric three-way valve B is connected to the second channel inlet of the heat exchanger B, the second channel outlet of the heat exchanger B is connected to the inlet of the regulating valve B, the outlet of the regulating valve B is connected to the load inlet after merging with the outlet of the check valve B.

[0008] Preferably, the regulating valve A and the regulating valve B are used to adjust the branch flow resistance.

[0009] Preferably, the condenser A, condenser B, radiator A and radiator B are air-cooled fin-tube heat exchangers or micro-channel heat exchangers, the condenser A and condenser B contain refrigerant, the radiator A and radiator B contain coolant, the condenser A and radiator A form a combination in external structure and share fan A; the condenser B and radiator B also form a combination in external structure and share fan B.

[0010] Preferably, when the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B are of switch type, the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B are both one-inlet and two-outlet.

[0011] Preferably, the compressor unit A and the compressor unit B serve as two basic units.

[0012] Preferably, the heat exchanger A and the heat exchanger B are plate heat exchangers, shell and tube heat exchangers or sleeve and tube heat exchangers.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a liquid cooler with multiple sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0014] 1. The present invention divides the ambient temperature into three sections: the low temperature section is coupled and bypassed, the medium temperature section works in a compound manner, and the high temperature section works in a graded manner. Each section switching is provided with a tolerance to ensure reliable operation under all working conditions.

[0015] 2. The present invention ingeniously utilizes two electric three-way valves to connect two sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units in series and combine them into different channels, thereby achieving complementary communication to the greatest extent.

[0016] 3. The system of the present invention is simple, easy to implement modular design, and low in cost.

[0017] 4. The present invention saves space and provides a way for compact design.

[0018] 5. The present invention can be expanded in pairs, making it easy to realize the networking of large-scale cold liquid equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the system principle of the present invention.

[0020] In the figure: 1-liquid storage tank, 2-pump, 3-electric three-way valve A, 4-compressor unit A, 5-check valve A, 6-regulating valve A, 7-electric three-way valve B, 8-compressor unit B, 9-check valve B, 10-regulating valve B, 11-load, 4.1-fan A, 4.2-radiator A, 4.3-condenser A, 4.4-throttling element A, 4.5-heat exchanger A, 4.6-compressor A, 8.1-fan B, 8.2-radiator B, 8.3-condenser B, 8.4-throttling element B, 8.5-heat exchanger B, 8.6-compressor B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments.

[0022] Reference Figure 1A liquid cooler with multiple sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units, including a liquid storage tank, a pump, an electric three-way valve A, an electric three-way valve B, a compressor unit A, a compressor unit B, a check valve A, a check valve B, a regulating valve A, a regulating valve B and a load. The compressor unit A includes a compressor A, a condenser A, a throttling element A, a heat exchanger A, a radiator A and a fan A. The compressor unit B includes a compressor B, a condenser B, a throttling element B, a heat exchanger B, a radiator B and a fan B. The inlet end of the liquid storage tank is connected to the outlet of the load, the outlet end of the liquid storage tank is connected to the inlet end of the pump, the outlet end of the pump is connected in parallel to the respective inlets of the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B, and the outlets of the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B form two separate lines. The first channel outlet of the electric three-way valve A is connected to the inlet of the radiator A, the outlet of the radiator A is connected to the inlet of the check valve A, the second channel outlet of the electric three-way valve A is connected to the second channel inlet of the heat exchanger A, the second channel outlet of the heat exchanger A is connected to the inlet of the regulating valve A, the outlet of the regulating valve A is connected to the load inlet after merging with the outlet of the check valve A, the first channel outlet of the electric three-way valve B is connected to the inlet of the radiator B, the outlet of the radiator B is connected to the inlet of the check valve B, the second channel outlet of the electric three-way valve B is connected to the second channel inlet of the heat exchanger B, the second channel outlet of the heat exchanger B is connected to the inlet of the regulating valve B, the outlet of the regulating valve B is connected to the load inlet after merging with the outlet of the check valve B.

[0023] The regulating valve A and regulating valve B are used to adjust the branch flow resistance so that the total flow resistance remains equivalent when the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B are switched, without affecting the liquid supply flow.

[0024] Condenser A, condenser B, radiator A and radiator B are air-cooled fin-tube heat exchangers or micro-channel heat exchangers. Condenser A and condenser B contain refrigerant, radiator A and radiator B contain coolant. Condenser A and radiator A form a combination in external structure and share fan A; condenser B and radiator B also form a combination in external structure and share fan B.

[0025] When the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B adopt the switch type, general control can be realized; when the regulating type is adopted, precise proportional control can be further realized. The electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B are both one-inlet and two-outlet.

[0026] Compressor unit A and compressor unit B are two basic units, and their compressor refrigeration work can be refined and expanded as needed.

[0027] Heat exchanger A and heat exchanger B are plate heat exchangers, shell and tube heat exchangers or double-tube heat exchangers.

[0028] According to the ambient temperature, the system is divided into three temperature sections: low temperature, medium temperature and high temperature (such as -40℃~0℃, -7℃~25℃, 18℃~60℃). A temperature tolerance is reserved between sections. In the low temperature section, compressor A and compressor B do not work, and in the high temperature section, radiator A and radiator B do not work. Then, the corresponding three working modes are started according to the load size.

[0029] Low temperature section: when there is no load, both the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B are switched to the second channel; when there is half load, one of the electric three-way valves is switched to the first channel and the corresponding fan is started to achieve bypass; when there is full load, both the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B are switched to the first channel, and both fans A and B are started to work.

[0030] Medium temperature section: when there is no load or the load is very small, the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B are switched to the first channel, and the fans A and B are started to work; when half-loaded, one of the electric three-way valves is switched to the second channel and the corresponding compressor is started to work, thereby realizing the "one set of radiators + one set of compressor units" composite working mode; when fully loaded, the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B are switched to the second channel, and the fans A, B, compressors A and B are all put into work.

[0031] High temperature section: when there is no load, the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B are switched to the second channel, and the fan A, fan B, compressor A and compressor B are stopped; when there is half load, one set of fans and compressors is put into operation; when there is full load, the fan A, fan B, compressor A and compressor B are all put into operation.

[0032] The present invention is further described as follows:

[0033] It is very necessary for a liquid cooler to provide a stable flow and pressure for the load. It is particularly important to check the flow resistance of the coolant in the low temperature section during design, mainly because of the influence of the liquid kinematic viscosity. If it is started at a low temperature of -40℃, the heat exchanger A and heat exchanger B will increase their flow resistance by dozens of times due to their small pipe diameters and exposure to the outdoors, which will have a great negative impact on the start-up of the pump. For this reason, it can be started first according to the following a) liquid supply process steps to reduce the start-up resistance.

[0034] Divide the ambient temperature into three temperature sections: low, medium and high, enter the corresponding working mode, and start the pump.

[0035] When there is no load in the low temperature section: fans A and B stop, and the liquid supply process is:

[0036] a) Liquid storage tank → pump → electric three-way valve A → heat exchanger A → regulating valve A → load → liquid storage tank;

[0037] b) Liquid storage tank → pump → electric three-way valve B → heat exchanger B → regulating valve B → load → liquid storage tank;

[0038] At half load in low temperature section: if fan A is selected to work and fan B is stopped, the liquid supply process is:

[0039] c) Liquid storage tank → pump → electric three-way valve A → radiator A → check valve A → load → liquid storage tank;

[0040] d) Liquid storage tank → pump → electric three-way valve B → heat exchanger B → regulating valve B → load → liquid storage tank;

[0041] When the low temperature section is fully loaded: Fan A and Fan B are working, and the liquid supply process is:

[0042] e) Liquid storage tank → pump → electric three-way valve A → radiator A → check valve A → load → liquid storage tank;

[0043] f) Liquid storage tank → pump → electric three-way valve B → radiator B → check valve B → load → liquid storage tank;

[0044] When there is no load in the medium temperature section: fans A and B are working, compressors A and B are stopped, and the liquid supply process is the same as item c).

[0045] In the medium temperature section, at half load: if fan A, fan B and compressor A are selected to work, and compressor B is stopped, the liquid supply process is:

[0046] g) Liquid storage tank → pump → electric three-way valve A → heat exchanger A → regulating valve A → load → liquid storage tank;

[0047] h) Liquid storage tank → pump → electric three-way valve B → radiator B → check valve B → load → liquid storage tank;

[0048] When the medium temperature section is fully loaded: fan A, fan B, compressor A, and compressor B are working, and the liquid supply process is the same as item a).

[0049] When there is no load in the high temperature section: fan A, fan B, compressor A, and compressor B stop, and the liquid supply process is the same as item a).

[0050] When the high temperature section is half-loaded: if fan A and compressor A are selected to work, and fan B and compressor B are stopped, the liquid supply process is the same as item a).

[0051] When the high temperature section is fully loaded: fan A, fan B, compressor A, and compressor B are working, and the liquid supply process is the same as item a).

[0052] If there is a choice, the usual practice is to start the device with the shortest accumulated working time to balance the working life of each device and realize polling.

[0053] In each state, the control of the specific liquid supply temperature can be implemented according to the specific situation. For example, in the high-temperature section under full load, when the liquid supply temperature drops to the required lower limit, the compressor can be unloaded or shut down or frequency converted or bypassed to control it. These will not be elaborated here.

[0054] Since the medium temperature range (such as -7℃~25℃) is expected to account for more than 40% of the domestic annual temperature, it means that this method will be often used. In the past, if forced air cooling did not work, it would switch to compressor cooling, resulting in increased power consumption. For example, the ambient temperature is 10℃, the liquid supply temperature is 20℃, and the load is 1000 kW. One set of forced air cooling completes 400 kW of heat dissipation, and the other set of compressor cooling completes 600 kW of cooling capacity. If the compressor COP is 5.0, the compressor power consumption is 120 kW. If the total power consumption of the two sets of fans is 100 kW, the total power consumption of the two parts is 220 kW. If two sets of compressors are used, each set completes 500 kW of cooling capacity, then the total power consumption is 300 kW. It can be seen that running the composite mode of "one set of radiators + one set of compressor units" saves about 26.7% of electricity.

[0055] The above description is only a preferred specific implementation manner of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can make equivalent replacements or changes according to the technical scheme and inventive concept of the present invention within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, which should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid cooler with multiple sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units, comprising a liquid storage tank, a pump, an electric three-way valve A, an electric three-way valve B, a compressor unit A, a compressor unit B, a check valve A, a check valve B, a regulating valve A, a regulating valve B and a load, wherein the compressor unit A comprises a compressor A, a condenser A, a throttling element A, a heat exchanger A, a radiator A and a fan A, and the compressor unit B comprises a compressor B, a condenser B, a throttling element B, a heat exchanger B, a radiator B and a fan B, characterized in that: The inlet end of the liquid storage tank is connected to the load outlet, the outlet end of the liquid storage tank is connected to the inlet of the pump, the outlet of the pump is connected in parallel to the respective inlets of the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B, the outlets of the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B respectively form two branches, the first channel outlet of the electric three-way valve A is connected to the inlet of the radiator A, the outlet of the radiator A is connected to the inlet of the check valve A, the second channel outlet of the electric three-way valve A is connected to the second channel inlet of the heat exchanger A, the second channel outlet of the heat exchanger A is connected to the inlet of the regulating valve A, the outlet of the regulating valve A is connected to the load inlet after merging with the outlet of the check valve A, the first channel outlet of the electric three-way valve B is connected to the inlet of the radiator B, the outlet of the radiator B is connected to the inlet of the check valve B, the second channel outlet of the electric three-way valve B is connected to the second channel inlet of the heat exchanger B, the second channel outlet of the heat exchanger B is connected to the inlet of the regulating valve B, and the outlet of the regulating valve B is connected to the load inlet after merging with the outlet of the check valve B; The regulating valve A and regulating valve B are used to adjust the flow resistance of the branch; The condenser A, condenser B, radiator A and radiator B are air-cooled fin-tube heat exchangers or micro-channel heat exchangers. The condenser A and condenser B contain refrigerant, and the radiator A and radiator B contain coolant. The condenser A and radiator A form a combination in the external structure and share a fan A. The condenser B and the radiator B also form a combined body in external structure, and share the fan B; The heat exchanger A and the heat exchanger B are plate heat exchangers, shell and tube heat exchangers or sleeve and tube heat exchangers.

2. A liquid cooler with multiple sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B are of switch type, the electric three-way valve A and the electric three-way valve B both have one inlet and two outlets.

3. A liquid cooler with multiple sets of compressor refrigeration and forced air cooling units according to claim 1, characterized in that: The compressor unit A and the compressor unit B serve as two basic units.

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