Refrigeration unit and refrigeration system for ice rink

Abstract

The present invention discloses a refrigeration unit. By arranging two horizontal barrel pumps to cooperate with four groups of compressors, the refrigerant liquid return speed is faster. Since the volume of a single horizontal barrel pump becomes smaller, the time for the refrigerant to enter the barrel pump and for the pump to start will be significantly shortened, improving the refrigerant circulation speed. The refrigerant pumped to the refrigeration site will be more evenly separated, enhancing the refrigeration efficiency. At the same time, the return of the refrigerant oil in the refrigeration unit is also accelerated. Arranging the existing one horizontal barrel pump into two horizontal barrel pumps has another advantage, that is, it can supply refrigeration for two refrigeration sites simultaneously, with enhanced practicability and good refrigeration effect. The present invention also proposes a refrigeration system for an ice rink, which includes an ice rink and at least one set of the above-mentioned refrigeration unit. The refrigerant discharge port of the refrigeration unit is connected to the refrigerant pipeline inlet of the ice rink, and the refrigerant return port of the refrigeration unit is connected to the refrigerant pipeline outlet of the ice rink to refrigerate the ice rink.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of refrigeration, and particularly to a refrigeration unit and a refrigeration system for an ice rink. Background Art

[0002] In existing refrigeration units, such as ice-making units (i.e., refrigeration units for ice rinks), four compressors share a horizontal barrel pump. The horizontal barrel pump is relatively large in volume. When a single compressor operates, the refrigerant suction rate from the ice rink into the horizontal barrel pump is slow, the time for the refrigerant to enter the tank body is prolonged, and the start-up time of the pump is also correspondingly prolonged. In short, the existing horizontal barrel pump is large in volume, resulting in slow oil return or oil shortage in the unit, leading to low refrigeration efficiency in the ice rink.

[0003] In addition, the overall length of the traditional refrigeration unit is relatively long, which is not convenient for placement and transportation in the machine room; moreover, in traditional refrigeration units, the horizontal barrel pump pipelines, valves, components, etc. are installed and exposed in the machine room, occupying a large area, generating a large amount of noise, and being inconvenient for maintenance and management. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration unit and a refrigeration system for an ice rink to solve the problems of slow oil return or oil shortage in the existing refrigeration unit, which leads to low refrigeration efficiency in the ice rink.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0006] The present invention provides a refrigeration unit, comprising:

[0007] Horizontal barrel pumps, two of which are provided. The refrigerant discharge ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps are both used to connect to the refrigerant pipeline inlet of the refrigeration site, and the refrigerant return ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps are both used to connect to the refrigerant pipeline outlet of the refrigeration site;

[0008] A compressor unit, which includes four compressors. The refrigerant inlets of the four compressors are connected in parallel in every two groups and then connected to the refrigerant outlets of the two horizontal barrel pumps. The refrigerant outlets of the four compressors are connected in parallel in every two groups and then sequentially connected to the refrigerant inlets of the two horizontal barrel pumps through an oil separator, a condenser, and a throttle valve. Among them, in each horizontal barrel pump, the refrigerant return port, the refrigerant outlet, the refrigerant inlet, and the refrigerant discharge port are all interconnected.

[0009] Optionally, the compressor is a screw compressor.

[0010] Optionally, it further includes a heat recovery system connected between the oil separator and the condenser. The heat recovery system includes a heat recovery device. The refrigerant inlet of the heat recovery device is connected to the refrigerant outlet of the oil separator. The refrigerant outlet of the heat recovery device is connected with a first branch and a second branch. One of the first branch and the second branch is connected to the refrigerant inlets of the two horizontal barrel pumps through the throttle valve, and the other of the first branch and the second branch is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the condenser.

[0011] Optionally, the first branch is connected to the refrigerant inlets of the two horizontal barrel pumps through the throttle valve, the refrigerant inlet of the condenser is connected to the second branch, and the refrigerant outlet of the condenser is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the throttle valve.

[0012] Optionally, the condenser is an air-cooled condenser or an evaporative condenser.

[0013] Optionally, two sets of oil separators are provided. The refrigerant outlets of the two sets of oil separators are connected in parallel and then connected to the refrigerant inlet of the heat recovery device.

[0014] Optionally, it further includes an oil separation tank. An oil inlet pipe and a refrigerant outlet pipe are connected between the oil separation tank and each horizontal barrel pump.

[0015] Optionally, the refrigerant discharge ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps are both connected with refrigerant discharge pipelines. The two refrigerant discharge pipelines are connected in parallel and used to connect to the refrigerant pipeline inlet of the refrigeration site. A pump is provided on any one of the refrigerant discharge pipelines.

[0016] Optionally, the refrigerant return ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps are both connected with refrigerant return pipelines. The two refrigerant return pipelines are connected in parallel and used to connect to the refrigerant pipeline outlet of the refrigeration site.

[0017] Optionally, the refrigeration site is a cold storage or an ice rink.

[0018] The present invention also provides a refrigeration system for an ice rink, including an ice rink and at least one set of refrigeration units as described in any one of the above. Wherein, the refrigerant discharge port of any one set of refrigeration units is connected to the refrigerant pipeline inlet of the ice rink, and the refrigerant return port of any one set of refrigeration units is connected to the refrigerant pipeline outlet of the ice rink.

[0019] The present invention has achieved the following technical effects compared with the prior art:

[0020] The refrigeration unit proposed by the present invention has a novel and reasonable structural layout. By setting two horizontal barrel pumps to cooperate with four groups of compressors, the refrigerant return speed is faster than that in the prior art where a single horizontal barrel pump cooperates with four groups of compressors. Since the refrigerant inhaled by the compressor from the refrigeration site is distributed into two horizontal barrel pumps according to the number of operating compressors, the volume of a single barrel pump is small, the time for the refrigerant to enter the barrel pump will be significantly shortened, and the pump startup time will also be significantly shortened, improving the refrigerant circulation speed. The refrigerant pumped to refrigeration sites such as skating rinks will be more evenly distributed, enhancing the refrigeration efficiency of the refrigeration site, and at the same time increasing the oil return rate of the refrigerating oil in the refrigeration unit. Dividing the existing single horizontal barrel pump into two horizontal barrel pumps has another advantage, that is, it can supply refrigeration to two refrigeration sites simultaneously, enhancing practicality and having a good refrigeration effect, and is suitable for refrigeration in cold storages or ice rinks (skating rinks), etc.

[0021] The refrigeration unit proposed by the present invention integrates horizontal barrel pumps and related components such as pipelines and valves into a refrigeration unit, achieving modular layout, saving space. The modular refrigeration unit can be used as a whole unit or divided into two parts, which can be disassembled and assembled. The overall volume of the refrigeration unit is small, which is not only convenient for transportation and assembly, but also can be used in combination with one or more sets of refrigeration units according to the evaporation area, facilitating intelligent management.

[0022] In some technical solutions disclosed by the present invention, an oil separation tank is configured in the refrigeration unit to ensure more rapid, smooth and stable oil return of the refrigeration unit.

[0023] In some technical solutions disclosed by the present invention, a heat recovery system is also added. It can not only help cool the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor, enabling the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant liquid to quickly return to the horizontal barrel pump, promoting the cooling and reuse of the refrigerant, but also utilize the waste heat of the refrigerant in the refrigeration unit to convert cold water into hot water for free use by the user side, achieving resource recovery and utilization while being more energy-saving and environmentally friendly.

[0024] The ice rink refrigeration system proposed by the present invention is specifically a skating rink refrigeration system, which includes an ice rink and at least one set of the above-mentioned refrigeration unit. Among them, the refrigerant discharge port of the refrigeration unit is connected to the refrigeration pipeline inlet of the ice rink, and the refrigerant return port of the refrigeration unit is connected to the refrigeration pipeline outlet of the ice rink to refrigerate the ice rink. This ice rink refrigeration system has all the characteristics of the above-mentioned refrigeration unit and will not be elaborated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 It is the structural schematic diagram of the refrigeration unit disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention (the black arrows in the figure indicate the flow direction of the refrigerant).

[0027] Among them, the reference numerals are:

[0028] 1. Horizontal barrel pump; 2. Refrigeration pipeline inlet; 3. Refrigeration pipeline outlet; 4. Compressor; 5. Oil separator; 6. Condenser; 7. Heat recovery system; 7-1. First branch; 7-2. Second branch; 8. Throttle valve; 9. Oil separation tank; 10. Pump; 11. Ice rink. Detailed implementation manners

[0029] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, rather than all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration unit to solve the problem that the existing refrigeration unit has slow oil return of the unit, resulting in low refrigeration efficiency of the ice rink.

[0031] Another purpose of the present invention is also to provide a refrigeration system for an ice rink having the above refrigeration unit.

[0032] To make the above objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific implementation manners.

[0033] Embodiment 1

[0034] As Figure 1As shown in the figure, this embodiment provides a refrigeration unit, which includes a horizontal barrel pump 1, a compressor unit, an oil separator 5, and a condenser 6. There are two horizontal barrel pumps 1. The refrigerant discharge ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps 1 are both used to connect to the refrigerant pipeline inlet 2 of the refrigeration site, so as to discharge the cooled refrigerant into the refrigerant pipeline of the refrigeration site to achieve refrigeration of the refrigeration site; the refrigerant return ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps 1 are both used to connect to the refrigerant pipeline outlet 3 of the refrigeration site. During the refrigerant refrigeration process, heat will be absorbed from the refrigeration site, and the refrigerant after absorbing heat will flow back into the horizontal barrel pump 1 through the refrigerant return port. The compressor unit includes four compressors 4. The refrigerant inlets of the four compressors 4 are connected in parallel and then connected to the refrigerant outlets of the two horizontal barrel pumps 1. The refrigerant outlets of the four compressors 4 are connected in parallel and then sequentially connected to the refrigerant inlets of the two horizontal barrel pumps 1 through the oil separator 5, the condenser 6, and the throttle valve 8; among them, in each horizontal barrel pump 1, the refluxed refrigerant flows from the refrigerant return port to the refrigerant outlet to transport the refrigerant that has absorbed heat and refluxed to the compressor 4, and then passes through the oil separator 5 to filter out the refrigeration oil, is cooled by the condenser 6, and then returns to the horizontal barrel pump 1 through the throttle valve 8. The refrigerant after cooling and temperature reduction flows from the refrigerant inlet to the refrigerant discharge port and is transported into the refrigerant pipeline of the refrigeration site to achieve cycle refrigeration.

[0035] In this embodiment, a heat recovery system 7 is further included, which is connected between the oil separator 5 and the condenser 6. The heat recovery system 7 includes a heat recovery device. The refrigerant inlet of the heat recovery device is connected to the refrigerant outlet of the oil separator 5. The refrigerant outlet of the heat recovery device is connected with a first branch 7-1 and a second branch 7-2. One of the first branch 7-1 and the second branch 7-2 is directly connected to the refrigerant inlets of the two horizontal barrel pumps 1 through the throttle valve 8, and the other of the first branch 7-1 and the second branch 7-2 is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the condenser 6. As a preferred method, the above-mentioned first branch 7-1 is directly connected to the refrigerant inlets of the two horizontal barrel pumps 1 through the throttle valve 8, and the refrigerant inlet of the condenser 6 is connected to the second branch 7-2, and the refrigerant outlet of the condenser 6 converges with the first branch 7-1 and then returns to the two horizontal barrel pumps 1 through the throttle valve 8. The heat recovery device can perform full heat recovery or semi-heat recovery. If full heat recovery is performed, the refrigerant after heat exchange in the heat recovery device directly returns to the horizontal pump 1 through the above-mentioned first branch 7-1. If semi-heat recovery is performed, the refrigerant processed in the heat recovery device first enters the condenser 6 through the second branch 7-2, is condensed and cooled by the condenser 6, and then converges with the refrigerant in the first branch 7-1 and returns to the horizontal pump 1 together through the throttle valve 8. Among them, the condenser 6 is an air-cooled condenser or an evaporative condenser.

[0036] In this embodiment, there are two oil separators 5. The refrigerant outlets of the two oil separators 5 are connected in parallel and then connected to the refrigerant inlet of the heat recovery device. Correspondingly, the refrigerant inlets of the two oil separators 5 are also connected in parallel and then connected to the aggregated pipeline formed by connecting the refrigerant outlets of the four compressors 4 in parallel, as Figure 1 shown.

[0037] In this embodiment, there is also an oil separation tank 9, and the oil separation tank 9 is connected to two horizontal barrel pumps 1.

[0038] In this embodiment, refrigerant discharge pipelines are connected to the refrigerant discharge ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps 1. After the two refrigerant discharge pipelines are connected in parallel, they are used to connect to the refrigerant pipeline inlet 2 of the refrigeration site. A pump 10 is provided on any one of the refrigerant discharge pipelines, as Figure 1 shown.

[0039] In this embodiment, as Figure 1 shown, refrigerant return pipelines are connected to the refrigerant return ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps 1. After the two refrigerant return pipelines are connected in parallel, they are used to connect to the refrigerant pipeline outlet 3 of the refrigeration site.

[0040] In this embodiment, the compressor 4 is preferably a screw compressor.

[0041] In this embodiment, the aforementioned refrigeration site can be a cold storage or an ice rink, etc. When the refrigeration unit is used for a cold storage, it can be called a "cold storage unit". When the refrigeration unit is used for an ice rink, such as a skating rink, it can be called an "ice making unit" or a "refrigeration unit".

[0042] Taking the refrigeration of a skating rink as an example, the working principle of the above-mentioned refrigeration unit in this embodiment will be specifically described below.

[0043] The modular refrigeration unit includes a compressor 4, an oil separator 5, horizontal barrel pumps 1, an oil separation tank 9, and a heat recovery system 7. The compressor 4 sucks in the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant gas in the horizontal barrel pump 1, and after compression, it becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas. After passing through the oil separator 5, since the oil separator 5 filters out most of the refrigeration oil, the refrigeration oil returns to the compressor 4, and the refrigerant passes through the heat recovery system 7. The heat recovery system 7 can perform total heat recovery and partial heat recovery. For total heat recovery, the formed liquid refrigerant directly returns to the horizontal barrel pump 1. If it is partial heat recovery, the discharged refrigerant is discharged into the condenser 6, and after being condensed by the condenser 6, it forms a liquid refrigerant, and then returns to the horizontal barrel pump 1 through the throttle valve 8. After the refrigerant in the horizontal barrel pump 1 is mixed with the refrigerant returning from the condenser 6, the refrigerant liquid is transported by the pump 10 through the refrigerant pipeline inlet 2 into the refrigerant pipeline of the ice rink 11. Due to the heat absorption and evaporation characteristics of the refrigerant, the refrigerant gas or gas-liquid mixture in the ice rink 11 returns to the horizontal barrel pump 1 through the refrigerant pipeline outlet 3, and then the refrigerant gas or gas-liquid mixture is sucked in by the compressor 4, and so on in a cycle.

[0044] Refrigerant and refrigeration oil are added to the refrigeration unit. The starting times of the operation pumps of each compressor are different, so the capacities of the refrigerant and oil returning to the horizontal barrel pump are also different, which determines that the cooling capacity at the evaporation end is also different. In this embodiment, the starting time of the pump can be controlled according to the number of compressor starts and the float level gauges in the two horizontal barrel pumps, so as to increase the refrigerant circulation times. The opening times of the pump are controlled according to the temperature changes throughout the year, reducing the filling amounts of the refrigerant and refrigeration oil (lubricating oil). At the same time, it can better ensure that the refrigerant and refrigeration oil in the refrigeration system can flow back into the system unit.

[0045] Thus, it can be seen that the refrigeration unit of this embodiment has the following characteristics:

[0046] 1. Two horizontal barrel pumps are set. When a single compressor operates, the volume of a single horizontal barrel pump becomes smaller, and the suction rate of the refrigerant in the horizontal barrel pump from the ice rink is accelerated. Since the refrigerant inhaled by the compressor from the skating rink will be distributed into the two horizontal barrel pumps according to the number of compressor starts, with a small volume of a single barrel pump, the time for the refrigerant to enter the barrel pump will be significantly shortened, and the starting time of the pump will also be significantly shortened, improving the refrigerant circulation speed in the skating rink. The refrigerant pumped by the pump to the central pipeline of the skating rink will also be more evenly distributed, increasing the refrigeration efficiency of the skating rink. At the same time, the oil return rate of the refrigeration oil in the refrigeration unit is improved. Arranging the existing one horizontal barrel pump into two horizontal barrel pumps has another advantage, that is, it can supply refrigeration for two skating rinks simultaneously.

[0047] 2. An oil - liquid separation tank is added to ensure smoother oil return of the refrigeration unit.

[0048] 3. A heat recovery system is added to realize the heat recovery function, that is, using the waste heat of the refrigerant in the unit to convert cold water into hot water for free use by customers, which is energy - saving and environmentally friendly.

[0049] 4. The refrigeration unit adopts a modular structure layout, with high integration, which is convenient for transportation and installation. The modular refrigeration unit is distributed in the upper, middle and lower parts, with a left - right structure. That is, compressors are set in the upper part, horizontal barrel pumps (including auxiliary accessories such as partitions, pipelines, and floats) are set in the middle, and an oil separator, liquid pump, heat recovery system, filter, valves, and refrigeration pipelines are set in the lower part.

[0050] 5. Different refrigerants can be selected for the refrigeration unit.

[0051] Embodiment Two

[0052] This embodiment provides a refrigeration system for an ice rink, which includes an ice rink and at least one set of refrigeration units as described in Embodiment 1. Among them, the refrigerant discharge port of any set of refrigeration units is connected to the inlet 2 of the refrigeration pipeline of the ice rink, and the refrigerant return port of any set of refrigeration units is connected to the outlet 3 of the refrigeration pipeline of the ice rink to refrigerate the ice rink. This refrigeration system for an ice rink has all the characteristics of the above-mentioned refrigeration units and will not be elaborated here.

[0053] It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments, and without departing from the spirit or basic characteristics of the present invention, the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms. Therefore, from any point of view, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the above description. Therefore, all changes falling within the meaning and scope of the equivalent elements of the claims are intended to be included in the present invention, and any reference signs in the claims should not be regarded as limiting the claims involved.

[0054] Specific examples are used in the present invention to elaborate on the principle and implementation manner of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention; at the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation manner and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigeration unit, characterized in that, it includes: Horizontal barrel pumps, there are two horizontal barrel pumps, and the refrigerant discharge ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps are both used to connect with the refrigerant pipeline inlet of the refrigeration site, and the refrigerant return ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps are both used to connect with the refrigerant pipeline outlet of the refrigeration site; Compressor unit, the compressor unit includes four compressors, the four compressors are divided into two groups, each group includes two compressors, the refrigerant inlets of the two compressors in the first group are connected in parallel and then connected to the refrigerant outlet of the first horizontal barrel pump, and the refrigerant inlets of the two compressors in the second group are connected in parallel and then connected to the refrigerant outlet of the second horizontal barrel pump; Oil separators, there are two groups, the refrigerant outlets of the two compressors in the first group are connected in parallel and then connected to the refrigerant inlet of one group of oil separators, and the refrigerant outlets of the two compressors in the second group are connected in parallel and then connected to the refrigerant inlet of the other group of oil separators; Condenser, the refrigerant outlets of the two groups of oil separators are connected in parallel and then connected to the refrigerant inlet of the condenser, the refrigerant outlet of the condenser is connected to the refrigerant inlets of two throttle valves, and the refrigerant inlets of the two horizontal barrel pumps are respectively connected to one throttle valve.

2. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, it further includes a heat recovery system connected between the oil separator and the condenser, the heat recovery system includes a heat recovery device, the refrigerant outlets of the two groups of oil separators are connected in parallel and then connected to the refrigerant inlet of the heat recovery device, the refrigerant outlet of the heat recovery device is connected with a first branch and a second branch, one of the first branch and the second branch is connected to the refrigerant inlets of the two parallel throttle valves, and the other of the first branch and the second branch is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the condenser.

3. The refrigeration unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, the condenser is an air-cooled condenser or an evaporative condenser.

4. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, it further includes an oil separation tank, and an oil inlet pipe and a refrigerant outlet pipe are connected between the oil separation tank and each horizontal barrel pump.

5. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the refrigerant discharge ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps are both connected with refrigerant discharge pipelines, the two refrigerant discharge pipelines are connected in parallel and then used to connect with the refrigerant pipeline inlet of the refrigeration site, and a pump is arranged on any one of the refrigerant discharge pipelines.

6. The refrigeration unit according to claim 5, characterized in that, the refrigerant return ports of the two horizontal barrel pumps are both connected with refrigerant return pipelines, the two refrigerant return pipelines are connected in parallel and then used to connect with the refrigerant pipeline outlet of the refrigeration site.

7. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the refrigeration site is a cold storage or an ice rink.

8. A refrigeration system for an ice rink, characterized in that, It includes an ice rink and at least one set of refrigeration units as described in any one of claims 1 to 7. Among them, the refrigerant discharge port of any one set of the refrigeration units is connected to the inlet of the refrigeration pipeline of the ice rink, and the refrigerant return port of any one set of the refrigeration units is connected to the outlet of the refrigeration pipeline of the ice rink.

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