A defrosting system utilizing waste heat from condenser of refrigeration system

Abstract

The present invention discloses a defrosting system utilizing waste heat from a condenser of a refrigeration system, comprising a condenser, a plurality of fans being provided on the condenser, and an evaporation end of a loop heat pipe being provided at an outlet of the fan. The evaporation end of the loop heat pipe allows a liquid medium to absorb heat generated by the condenser and turn into gas. The gas flows through a coil heat exchanger to transfer heat to brine and then turns into liquid. The liquid flows to a liquid supply tray, which distributes the liquid to the evaporation end to complete a heat collection cycle. The brine in the coil heat exchanger absorbs heat and is then transported to a sprayer through a pipeline via a spray pump, and then sprayed onto the frosted evaporator. In order to ensure uniform spraying, the sprayer has three angles of 0°, 15° and 30° to meet the defrosting requirements. Water formed by the frost on the evaporator fins absorbing heat and melting falls into a liquid storage tank together with the sprayed brine, and then flows back to the coil heat exchanger through a return pipe connected to the liquid storage tank to continue circulating.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of defrosting of evaporators in refrigeration systems, and in particular to a method of defrosting by utilizing waste heat from condensers in refrigeration systems. Background Art

[0002] With the rise of productivity and improvements in people's quality of life, people's demands for food storage and freshness are becoming increasingly stringent, and cold storage is one of the most common methods of food storage. The cold storage industry has grown rapidly in recent years, continuously meeting the diverse needs of people in production and daily life. However, during equipment operation, moisture in the air gradually adheres to the surface of the evaporator, initially forming a thin layer of frost that gradually accumulates into a thick layer. The thermal resistance generated by this layer can seriously affect the evaporator's operating efficiency. To compensate for the energy dissipated by this thermal resistance, the operating power of the refrigeration equipment must be increased, resulting in wasted energy.

[0003] Therefore, defrosting is essential for efficient and energy-efficient refrigeration system operation. Existing defrosting methods include hot water defrosting, manual defrosting, hot air defrosting, and electric heating defrosting. Manual defrosting is labor-intensive, resulting in incomplete defrosting and limitations. Hot air defrosting takes a long time, affects the temperature of the cold storage compartment, and has a complex operation procedure. Electric heating defrosting consumes a lot of power. Hot water defrosting is highly efficient, simple to operate, and minimizes cold storage temperature fluctuations, but requires an external water heater. During refrigeration system operation, heat generated by the condenser is directly discharged to the outside environment, resulting in wasted energy. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a defrosting system that utilizes waste heat from the condenser of a refrigeration system. This system utilizes the heat generated by the condenser as a defrosting energy source, resulting in a simple structure and reduced energy consumption during the evaporator defrosting process.

[0005] A defrosting system utilizing waste heat from a condenser of a refrigeration system, comprising a condenser waste heat circulation system and a spray defrost circulation system; the condenser waste heat circulation system comprises a condenser, the condenser being provided with a plurality of fans for outputting heat, a loop heat pipe evaporation end being provided at the outlet of the fans, the evaporation end of the loop heat pipe being used for a working medium to absorb heat and change from liquid to vapor and then flow out through a steam chamber, the vapor generated in the steam chamber entering a coil heat exchanger through a pipeline to transfer heat and then change back to liquid, and then being transmitted through a liquid pipeline to a liquid supply plate at the center of the fan outlet for distribution to the evaporation end of the loop heat pipe, the circulation power of which is derived from the capillary force generated by the liquid wick in the loop heat pipe;

[0006] The spray defrost circulation system includes a liquid tank placed in the cold storage, the liquid tank is installed directly below the evaporator, the sprayer is installed on the liquid tank and the motor that drives the sprayer is installed on the outer wall of the liquid tank, and the motor is used to control the rotation angle of the sprayer. After the melt water on the evaporator and the light salt water sprayed by the sprayer flow into the liquid tank together, they flow into the coil heat exchanger through the pipeline under the action of gravity to complete a defrost cycle.

[0007] Preferably, the coil heat exchanger comprises a spiral coil and a barrel in which the spiral coil is arranged, the spiral coil is made of copper, one end of the spiral coil is connected to the liquid pipeline of the loop heat pipe, and the other end of the spiral coil is connected to the gas pipeline of the loop heat pipe;

[0008] The interior of the barrel is filled with light salt water with a concentration of % to %. The light salt water inside the barrel is the working medium in the spray defrost circulation system.

[0009] Preferably, the sprayer is composed of a sprayer nozzle and a nozzle mounting pipe. The sprayer has three working states: the angles of the side wall to the vertical line are 0°, 15° and 30°. The different working state settings are completed by a power device. The number of the sprayer nozzles is determined by the formula: Decide;

[0010] Where l is the length of the nozzle pipe, m; L is the spray distance, m; θ is the spray angle, degrees.

[0011] Preferably, the fan is provided with an evaporation end arranged in a cross shape, the evaporation end is connected to the liquid supply disk in the center of the fan to be supplied with liquid, and the evaporation end is provided with reinforcing ribs distributed in a ring shape.

[0012] Preferably, the phase change working fluid used in the circulation pipeline is anhydrous ethanol.

[0013] Preferably, the working fluid in the spray defrost circulation system is light salt water with a concentration of 5% to 8%. The salt water concentration needs to be monitored in real time and the salt needs to be replenished in time.

[0014] Preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the liquid absorbent core is gear-shaped, which is determined by two parameters ε1 and ε2, wherein the value range of ε1 is 0.2-0.3, and the value range of ε2 is 0.2-0.5;

[0015]

[0016] h: is the tooth height of the wick, r: is the radius of the wick, w: is the distance between the teeth of the wick.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] (1) The present invention uses a condenser waste heat circulation system to collect waste heat generated by the condenser of the refrigeration system as a heat source for the defrost system. In previous defrosting methods, the heat generated by the condenser is directly discharged to the outside and wasted.

[0019] (2) The present invention relies on two circulation systems, namely, the condenser waste heat collection circulation system and the spray defrost circulation system, to achieve the purpose of defrosting. The working fluids used in the two circulation systems are anhydrous ethanol and light salt water, which are not only easy to produce but also have low production costs.

[0020] (3) The present invention has a simple structure and low production cost. The device is green and environmentally friendly in operation and does not pollute the environment. It can be flexibly installed according to the actual working environment without being restricted by site and space. The entire device has high efficiency, simple structure, easy assembly and reliable operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can derive other drawings based on these drawings without inventive effort.

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the connection relationship of a defrosting system utilizing waste heat from a condenser of a refrigeration system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of a condenser waste heat circulation system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a sprinkler in different working conditions provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the installation of the evaporation end of the loop heat pipe at the fan outlet in the condenser waste heat circulation system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 A schematic structural diagram of a coil heat exchanger provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 A schematic structural diagram of a liquid absorbent core provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 A schematic structural diagram of a sprayer provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the layout of the nozzles provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Description of reference numerals:

[0031] 1-condenser, 2-fan, 5-spray pump, 6-coil heat exchanger, 14-sprayer, 15-liquid storage tank, 16-evaporator, 17-cold storage, 18-motor, 19-evaporation end, 22-liquid supply tray, 24-fins, 33-barrel, 36-spiral coil, 37-outer wall of pipeline, 38-steam chamber, 39-liquid wick, 40-liquid channel of liquid wick, 41-sprayer nozzle, 42-nozzle installation pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] like Figures 1 to 8 As shown, a refrigeration system condenser waste heat defrosting system includes a condenser waste heat circulation system and a spray defrost circulation system; the condenser waste heat circulation system includes a condenser 1, and the condenser 1 is provided with a plurality of fans 2 for outputting heat. The outlet of the fans 2 is provided with a loop heat pipe evaporation end, and the evaporation end 19 is used for the working medium to absorb heat. After absorbing heat, the working medium changes from liquid to vapor and flows out through the steam chamber 38. The vapor generated in the steam chamber 38 enters the coil heat exchanger 6 through a pipeline to transfer heat and then changes back to liquid. It is then transmitted to the liquid supply disk 22 through the liquid pipeline and distributed to the loop heat pipe evaporation end. The circulation power comes from the capillary force generated by the liquid absorption core 39 in the loop heat pipe evaporation end.

[0034] The spray defrost circulation system includes a liquid tank 15 placed in a cold storage 17, the liquid tank 15 is installed directly below the evaporator 16, the sprayer 14 is installed on the liquid tank 15 and the motor 18 that drives the sprayer 14 is installed on the outer wall of the liquid tank 15, and the motor 18 is used to control the rotation angle of the sprayer 14. After the melt water on the evaporator 16 and the light salt water sprayed by the sprayer 14 flow into the liquid tank 15 together, they flow into the coil heat exchanger 6 through the pipeline under the action of gravity to complete a defrost cycle.

[0035] The coil heat exchanger 6 includes a spiral coil 36 and a barrel 33 in which the spiral coil 36 is installed. The spiral coil 36 is made of copper. One end of the spiral coil 36 is connected to the liquid pipeline of the waste heat circulation system, and the other end of the spiral coil 36 is connected to the gas pipeline of the waste heat circulation system.

[0036] The interior of the barrel 33 is filled with light salt water with a concentration of 5% to 8%. The light salt water inside the barrel 33 is connected to the spray defrost circulation system. The salt water concentration needs to be detected in real time and the salt is replenished in time.

[0037] The sprayer 14 is composed of a sprayer nozzle 41 and a nozzle mounting pipe 42. The sprayer 14 has three working states: 0°, 15° and 30°. The different working state settings are completed by a power device. The number of the sprayer nozzles 41 is determined by the formula: Decide;

[0038] Where l is the length of the nozzle pipe, m; L is the spray distance, m; θ is the spray angle, degrees.

[0039] The fan 2 is installed with the evaporation end of the loop heat pipe and an annular fin 24. The liquid supply tray 22 evenly distributes the liquid to the evaporation end of the loop heat pipe. The fin 24 can improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0040] The phase change working medium used in the circulation pipeline is anhydrous ethanol.

[0041] The working fluid in the spray defrost circulation system is salt water with a concentration of 5% to 8%. It is necessary to monitor the salt water concentration in real time and replenish the salt in time.

[0042] The cross-sectional shape of the liquid absorbent core 39 is gear-shaped, which is determined by two parameters ε1 and ε2, wherein the value range of ε1 is 0.2-0.3 and the value range of ε2 is 0.2-0.5;

[0043] and

[0044] h: is the tooth height of the wick, r: is the radius of the wick, w: is the distance between the teeth of the wick.

[0045] The cross-sectional diagram of the evaporation end of the loop heat pipe is as follows: Figure 6 As shown, they are the outer wall 37 of the evaporation end of the loop heat pipe, the steam chamber 38, the liquid wick 39 and the liquid channel 40 of the liquid wick.

[0046] In the present invention, the evaporation end of the loop heat pipe is installed at the outlet of the condenser fan to recover the heat of the hot air. The evaporation end of the loop heat pipe allows the liquid medium to absorb the heat generated by the condenser and turn into vapor. The vapor flows through the coil heat exchanger and transfers the heat to the salt water. After that, the vapor turns into liquid. The liquid flows to the liquid supply plate, which distributes the liquid to the evaporation end of the loop heat pipe, thus completing a heat collection cycle. The circulation power comes from the capillary force generated by the liquid absorption core of the evaporation end of the loop heat pipe. In the spray defrost cycle system, the salt water in the coil heat exchanger absorbs heat and is then transported to the sprayer through the pipeline by the spray pump 5. It is then sprayed onto the frosted evaporator. In order to spray evenly, the sprayer has three angles of 0°, 15°, and 30° to meet the defrosting requirements. The frost on the evaporator fins absorbs heat and melts to form water. Together with the sprayed salt water, it falls into the liquid storage tank and then flows back to the coil heat exchanger through the return pipe connected to the liquid storage tank to continue the cycle.

[0047] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned implementation cases. Any changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent application of the present invention should be covered by the scope of the present invention. The protection scope required by this application is as shown in the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A refrigeration system condenser waste heat defrosting system, characterized by: The invention comprises a condenser waste heat circulation system and a spray defrost circulation system; the condenser waste heat circulation system comprises a condenser (1), the condenser (1) is provided with a plurality of fans (2) for outputting heat, a loop heat pipe evaporation end is provided at the outlet of the fan (2), the loop heat pipe comprises a liquid supply plate (22) and four evaporation ends (19) uniformly distributed in a ring-shaped cross, the evaporation end (19) is used for the working medium to absorb heat, after the working medium absorbs heat, it changes from liquid to vapor and flows out through the steam chamber (38), the vapor generated by the steam chamber (38) enters the coil heat exchanger (6) through the pipeline, transfers the heat and then changes back to liquid, and then transmits it to the liquid supply plate (22) at the center of the fan (2) outlet through the liquid pipeline to distribute it to each loop heat pipe evaporation end, and its circulation power comes from the capillary force generated by the liquid absorption core (39) in the loop heat pipe; The spray defrost circulation system comprises a liquid storage tank (15) placed in a cold storage (17), the liquid storage tank (15) being installed directly below the evaporator (16), a sprayer (14) being installed on the liquid storage tank (15), and a motor (18) for driving the sprayer (14) being installed on the outer wall of the liquid storage tank (15), the motor (18) being a power device for controlling the rotation angle of the sprayer (14); after the melt water on the evaporator (16) and the light salt water sprayed by the sprayer (14) flow into the liquid storage tank (15) together, they flow into the coil heat exchanger (6) through a pipeline under the action of gravity to complete a defrost cycle.

2. The refrigeration system condenser waste heat defrosting system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coil heat exchanger (6) comprises a spiral coil (36) and a barrel (33) in which the spiral coil (36) is arranged. The spiral coil (36) is made of copper. One end of the spiral coil (36) is connected to a liquid pipeline of a waste heat circulation system, and the other end of the spiral coil (36) is connected to a gas pipeline of the waste heat circulation system. The interior of the barrel (33) is filled with light salt water with a concentration of 5% to 8%, and the light salt water inside the barrel (33) is the working medium in the spray defrost circulation system.

3. The refrigeration system condenser waste heat defrosting system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sprayer (14) is composed of a sprayer nozzle (41) and a nozzle mounting pipe (42). The sprayer (14) has three working states: 0°, 15° and 30°. The different working state settings are completed by a motor (18). The number of the sprayer nozzles (41) is determined by the formula: Decide; Where l is the length of the nozzle pipe, m; L is the spray distance, m; θ is the spray angle, degrees.

4. The refrigeration system condenser waste heat defrosting system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A loop heat pipe is installed at the outlet of the fan (2), and fins (24) for enhancing heat exchange are installed on the evaporation end thereof, and the fins are distributed in a ring shape.

5. The refrigeration system condenser waste heat defrosting system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The phase change working fluid used in the loop heat pipe is anhydrous ethanol.

6. The refrigeration system condenser waste heat defrosting system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The working medium used in the spray defrost circulation system is light salt water with a concentration of 5% to 8%. The salt water concentration is monitored and the salt is replenished in time.

7. The refrigeration system condenser waste heat defrosting system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-sectional shape of the liquid wick (39) in the evaporation end is gear-shaped, which is determined by two parameters ε1 and ε2, wherein the value range of ε1 is 0.2-0.3, and the value range of ε2 is 0.2-0.5; and h: is the tooth height of the wick, r: is the radius of the wick, w: is the distance between the teeth of the wick.

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