Refrigeration apparatus and method for venting thereof

Abstract

A refrigeration apparatus and a method for bleeding thereof are provided. The refrigeration apparatus comprises a compressor comprising a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet; a condenser downstream of the compressor outlet; a first valve downstream of the condenser; and at least one flow path downstream of the first valve, each of the at least one flow path comprising a flow regulating valve to control the flow of refrigerant into the at least one flow path; wherein the first valve and the flow regulating valve are normally closed valves, and wherein the refrigeration system further comprises a bleed flow path connected between the first valve and the flow regulating valve, thereby allowing fluid to escape between the first valve and the flow regulating valve when the first valve and the flow regulating valve are closed. Embodiments according to the present invention effectively bleed fluid in a closed circuit, preventing the creation of high pressure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigeration, and more specifically, to an on-board refrigeration device and a method for discharging therefrom. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional refrigerated trucks or refrigerated trailers consist of a refrigerated box and a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system typically includes a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. The evaporator, for example, is located in the refrigerated box to provide cooling. The aforementioned refrigeration system is connected in series in a closed refrigerant circuit via refrigerant lines, based on a known refrigerant vapor compression cycle. The compressor of the refrigeration system can be driven by the vehicle's engine, while some electrical components of the refrigeration system, such as various solenoid valves, can also be powered from the vehicle's electrical system or from mains power.

[0003] When multiple different cooling environments are required, a vehicle can be equipped with multiple refrigerated compartments. In an onboard refrigeration system with multiple refrigerated compartments, multiple flow paths are provided to cool each compartment. Each flow path is equipped with a flow regulating valve to adjust the temperature of each compartment, thereby providing different cooling environments. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve or at least alleviate the problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] According to one aspect, a refrigeration device is provided, comprising:

[0006] The compressor includes a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;

[0007] The condenser downstream of the compressor outlet;

[0008] The first valve downstream of the condenser; and

[0009] At least one flow path downstream of the first valve, each of the at least one flow path including a flow regulating valve to control the refrigerant flow rate into the at least one flow path;

[0010] Wherein, the first valve and the flow regulating valve are normally closed valves, and wherein the refrigeration system further includes a venting path connected between the first valve and the flow regulating valve, thereby allowing fluid to be discharged between the first valve and the flow regulating valve when the first valve and the flow regulating valve are closed.

[0011] Optionally, in an embodiment of the refrigeration device, the first end of the venting flow path is connected between the first valve and the flow regulating valve, and the second end of the venting flow path is connected between the compressor outlet and the first valve, such as between the compressor outlet and the condenser, between the condenser and the first valve, or on the condenser.

[0012] Optionally, in an embodiment of the refrigeration device, a second valve is provided in the discharge path, which only allows fluid to flow from the first end of the discharge path to the second end of the discharge path, for example, the second valve is a check valve.

[0013] Optionally, in an embodiment of the refrigeration device, the first valve is a normally closed solenoid valve when power is off, and / or the flow regulating valve is a normally closed solenoid valve when power is off, wherein the flow regulating valve regulates the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow regulating valve by controlling the duty cycle.

[0014] Optionally, in an embodiment of the refrigeration device, the at least one flow path includes multiple flow paths connected in parallel between the first valve and the compressor inlet, each flow path further including a throttling device downstream of the flow regulating valve, such as an expansion valve and an evaporator, wherein the throttling device and evaporator of each flow path are disposed in a corresponding chamber.

[0015] Optionally, in an embodiment of the refrigeration device, the refrigeration device is a vehicle-mounted refrigeration device, the chamber is a vehicle-mounted cold box, and the compressor, the condenser, the venting path, the first valve, and the second valve are located in the refrigeration unit housing. The first valve and the flow regulating valve are powered by the vehicle electrical system or by an external power source.

[0016] Optionally, in an embodiment of the refrigeration device, the refrigeration device includes a flammable refrigerant.

[0017] According to another aspect, a venting method for a refrigeration apparatus according to an embodiment is provided, the method comprising: allowing fluid to be discharged between the first valve and the flow regulating valve through a venting path when the first valve and the flow regulating valve are closed.

[0018] Optionally, the method further includes channeling fluid between the first valve and the flow regulating valve to the space between the compressor outlet and the first valve, such as to the space between the compressor outlet and the condenser, to the space between the condenser and the first valve, or to the condenser.

[0019] Optionally, the method further includes providing a one-way valve on the discharge path.

[0020] According to embodiments of the present invention, fluid in a closed pipeline is effectively released to prevent the generation of high pressure. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The disclosure of this invention will become more readily understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that these drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention. Furthermore, similar numbers in the drawings are used to denote similar components, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a truck carrying a refrigeration device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a refrigeration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown; and

[0024] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a refrigeration device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] First refer to Figure 1 This illustration shows a non-limiting embodiment of a vehicle 40 including a refrigeration system. The vehicle may include a front end 401 having a driver's cab, engine, generator, and other equipment. The vehicle 40 also includes a frame 402 supported by multiple wheels, on which a refrigeration unit housing 10, a first cold box 20, and a second cold box 30 are arranged. The first cold box 20 defines a first chamber therein for storing items, and similarly, the second cold box 30 defines a second chamber therein for storing items. For example, the first and second chambers may provide different refrigeration environments to meet different refrigeration needs. It should be understood that in alternative embodiments, the vehicle may include only one cold box or two or more cold boxes, such as three, four, etc.

[0026] Continue to refer to Figure 2A refrigeration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below. The refrigeration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a compressor 11, the compressor 11 including a compressor inlet 112 and a compressor outlet 111, the compressor 11 being driven by a vehicle engine; a condenser 12 downstream of the compressor outlet 111; a first valve 13 downstream of the condenser 12; and at least one flow path downstream of the first valve 13. Each of the at least one flow path includes a flow regulating valve (also referred to as a liquid valve) to regulate the flow rate of refrigerant fluid entering each flow path. In the illustrated embodiment, the at least one flow path includes two flow paths connected in parallel between the first valve 13 and the compressor inlet 112, namely a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path includes a first flow regulating valve 21 and the second flow path includes a second flow regulating valve 31. In an alternative embodiment, the at least one flow path may include only one flow path, or may include three or more flow paths connected in parallel. When the refrigeration system is used in a vehicle, the flow regulating valves 21 and 31 can be used to control the refrigerant flow rate into each flow path to regulate the cooling capacity provided by each flow path, i.e., the temperature in each chamber. In some embodiments, at least one flow path may further include a throttling device and an evaporator downstream of the flow regulating valves 21, 31, the throttling device being, for example, an expansion valve. In the illustrated embodiment, the first flow path includes a first throttling device 22 and a first evaporator 23, while the second flow path includes a second throttling device 32 and a second evaporator 33. In refrigeration devices applied to, for example... Figure 1In the vehicle shown, the throttling devices and evaporators of each flow path can be arranged in the corresponding cold box. For example, the first expansion valve 22 and the first evaporator 23 of the first flow path can be arranged in the first cold box 20, and the second expansion valve 32 and the second evaporator 33 of the second flow path can be arranged in the second cold box 30. The first valve 13 and the flow regulating valves 21, 31 of each flow path can be, for example, normally closed valves. That is, these valves are in the closed state under normal circumstances when no power is applied or no external force is applied, and they will only open when subjected to electrical excitation or external force. When the first valve 13 and the flow regulating valves 21, 31 are all in the closed state, if refrigerant remains in the closed pipeline between the first valve 13 and the flow regulating valves 21, 31, since this refrigerant is basically liquid refrigerant discharged from the condenser outlet, when the ambient temperature changes, this liquid refrigerant may thermally expand due to the change in ambient temperature, thereby generating high pressure in the closed pipeline and putting pressure on the pipeline, or even causing the pipeline to rupture. To avoid this situation, an allowable discharge path 15 is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. This path 15 is connected between the first valve 13 and the flow control valves 21, 31, thereby allowing fluid to be discharged from the closed conduit between the first valve 13 and the flow control valves 21, 31 when the first valve 13 and the flow control valves 21, 31 are closed (e.g., due to an unexpected power outage). In the case of a refrigeration system used in a vehicle, the first valve 13 and the flow control valves 21, 31 of each flow path may be powered, for example, by the vehicle's electrical system or by an external power source, such as mains power. The first valve 13 and the flow control valves 21, 31 of each flow path may be configured as normally closed valves for safety reasons. When a flammable refrigerant is selected as the refrigerant in the refrigeration system, it is not desirable for the flammable refrigerant to remain in the flow path when the first valve 13 and the flow regulating valves 21 and 31 of each flow path are closed due to the vehicle power supply being cut off (such as when the engine is turned off). This is because if flammable refrigerant is present in each flow path, it may leak into the closed cold box chamber, resulting in a closed flammable environment in the cold box chamber and causing safety hazards.

[0027] exist Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the first end 151 of the venting flow path 15 is connected between the first valve 13 and the flow regulating valves 21, 31, and the second end 152 of the venting flow path 15 is connected between the condenser 12 and the first valve 13. In an alternative embodiment, the second end 152 of the venting flow path 15 can be connected to any location between the compressor outlet 111 and the first valve 13, for example... Figure 3As shown, it is connected between the compressor outlet 111 and the condenser 12, or directly to the condenser 12. It should be understood that in other embodiments, the second end 152 of the vent line 15 may be connected to any suitable location for receiving liquid refrigerant, for example, the refrigeration system may have a different structure than illustrated and the vent line 15 may lead to other suitable locations within the refrigeration system, or in other embodiments, the second end 152 of the vent line 15 may be conceived to be connected to a liquid storage container for storing liquid refrigerant, etc.

[0028] In some embodiments, a second valve 14 may be provided on the discharge flow path 15. The second valve 14 only allows fluid to flow from the first end 151 of the discharge flow path 15 to the second end 152 of the discharge flow path 15, as indicated by arrow R. In some embodiments, the second valve 14 may be a check valve. In some embodiments, the first valve 13 and the flow regulating valves 21, 31 on each flow path may be normally closed solenoid valves when power is off. In some embodiments, the flow regulating valves 21, 31 regulate the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow regulating valves 21, 31 by controlling the duty cycle. For example, if it is desired to achieve 50% flow rate within a certain time, the flow regulating valve may be open for 50% of the total time and remain closed for the other 50% of the total time.

[0029] In some embodiments, the compressor 11, condenser 12, vent circuit 15, and first valve 13 may be located within the refrigeration unit housing 10. In some embodiments, flow regulating valves 21 and 31 may also be located within the refrigeration unit housing 10, leading to two flow paths to each cold box; alternatively, such as… Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, flow control valves 21 and 31 can be respectively installed in their respective cold boxes. Components in the refrigeration unit, particularly the first valve 13 and flow control valves 21 and 31, can be powered by the vehicle's electrical system or by mains power, regardless of whether it is a fuel-powered or electric vehicle. For example, when the vehicle is stopped, the first valve 13 and flow control valves 21 and 31 will automatically close due to power failure, forming a closed pipeline. The liquid fluid within this closed pipeline may expand due to changes in ambient temperature, generating high pressure and potentially causing pipeline rupture. In embodiments of the present invention, the high-pressure fluid is released through the venting path 15, thereby preventing the above situation. When using a one-way valve 14, since it is a purely mechanical component, no modification to the original system's control logic is required. Furthermore, there are no electrical components on the venting path 15, allowing it to operate normally even in the event of a power failure. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention require only simple modifications to existing devices. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention require only modifications to the refrigeration unit 10 without any modifications to the cold boxes 20 and 30, and will not affect the existing design of the cold box section. It should be understood that although the embodiments are described only for in-vehicle refrigeration systems, the refrigeration system according to the present invention is not limited to in-vehicle applications and can also be applied to other scenarios.

[0030] According to another aspect of the present invention, a venting method for a refrigeration apparatus according to an embodiment is provided, the method comprising: allowing fluid between the first valve 13 and the flow regulating valves 21, 22 to be discharged through a venting flow path when the first valve 13 and the flow regulating valves 21, 22 are de-energized and closed. In some embodiments, the method further comprises directing the fluid between the first valve 13 and the flow regulating valves 21, 22 to a point between the compressor outlet 111 and the first valve 13, such as between the compressor outlet 111 and the condenser 12, between the condenser 12 and the first valve 13, or to the condenser 12. In some embodiments, a one-way valve 14 may be provided on the venting flow path 15.

[0031] The specific embodiments described above are merely for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention, wherein the various components are clearly shown or described to make the principles of the present invention easier to understand. Various modifications or variations can be readily made to the present invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that all such modifications or variations should be included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigeration device, characterized in that, include: The compressor includes a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet; The condenser downstream of the compressor outlet; The first valve downstream of the condenser; as well as Multiple flow paths downstream of the first valve, the multiple flow paths being connected in parallel between the first valve and the compressor inlet, each flow path including: a flow regulating valve for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant entering each flow path, a throttling device downstream of the flow regulating valve, and an evaporator; Wherein, the first valve and the flow regulating valve are normally closed valves, and the refrigeration device further includes a venting flow path, the first end of the venting flow path being connected between the first valve and the flow regulating valve, the second end of the venting flow path being connected between the compressor outlet and the first valve, and a second valve being provided on the venting flow path, the second valve only allowing fluid to flow from the first end of the venting flow path to the second end of the venting flow path, thereby allowing fluid to be discharged between the first valve and the flow regulating valve when the first valve and the flow regulating valve are closed.

2. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second end of the venting path is connected between the compressor outlet and the condenser, between the condenser and the first valve, or on the condenser.

3. The refrigeration device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second valve is a check valve.

4. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first valve is a solenoid valve that is normally closed when power is off, and / or the flow regulating valve is a solenoid valve that is normally closed when power is off. The flow regulating valve regulates the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow regulating valve by controlling the duty cycle.

5. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each flow path has a throttling device and an evaporator installed in its corresponding chamber, and the throttling device is an expansion valve.

6. The refrigeration device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The refrigeration device is a vehicle-mounted refrigeration device, the chamber is a vehicle-mounted cold box, and the compressor, the condenser, the venting path, the first valve and the second valve are located in the refrigeration unit housing. The first valve and the flow regulating valve are powered by the vehicle electrical system or by an external power source.

7. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigeration device includes a flammable refrigerant.

8. A method for venting a refrigeration device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The method includes: when the first valve and the flow regulating valve are closed, allowing fluid to be discharged between the first valve and the flow regulating valve through a venting path.

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