Refrigeration unit and tank container having the same

Abstract

The utility model discloses a refrigerating unit and tank container with it, including heat exchange coil, cooling circuit, with the precooling circuit of cooling circuit parallel connection, refrigeration circuit, and be provided with the coolant in cooling circuit and precooling circuit, refrigeration circuit exchanges heat with cooling circuit through evaporimeter, exchanges heat with precooling circuit through condenser, the entrance of precooling circuit is led out from cooling circuit, and the coolant passes through second circulating pump, exchanges heat with refrigeration circuit in condenser, and the backflow from the export of precooling circuit to cooling circuit. The utility model discloses a precooling circuit is set up, and the airflow of entering condenser is precooling, and the heat dissipation efficiency is effectively promoted, avoids the condensing pressure overpressure compressor safety threshold, compressor frequent shutdown problem caused by the heat dissipation capacity of conventional air -cooled condenser under high temperature environment sudden drop, and need not increase the volume of condenser, need not water source, and the applicability and stability of refrigerating unit under the extreme high temperature scene have been greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of refrigeration technology, specifically, to a refrigeration unit and a tank container having the same. Background Technology

[0002] In mobile cold chain equipment, when tank containers operate in areas with direct sunlight on sea decks during summer or in extreme high-temperature environments such as deserts and the equator, the heat dissipation efficiency of conventional air-cooled condensers drops significantly. This can easily lead to condensing pressure exceeding the compressor's safety threshold, causing frequent high-pressure protection shutdowns of the compressor. Consequently, temperature control for goods such as pharmaceuticals and chemicals may fail, posing a risk of high-temperature shutdowns. Furthermore, due to the space limitation of ISO20 container type installation height ≤800mm, existing technologies that increase condenser volume to improve heat dissipation are not applicable. While spray cooling can assist in heat dissipation, mobile containers lack a stable water source, and this method consumes a large amount of water and accelerates equipment corrosion, making it difficult to implement in practice.

[0003] Therefore, how to use effective technical means to solve the existing deficiencies and shortcomings is the direction that those engaged in this industry urgently want to improve. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to address the above-mentioned problems by providing a refrigeration unit and a tank container having the same.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is as follows: a refrigeration unit, the refrigeration unit includes a heat exchange coil, a cooling circuit connecting the inlet and outlet of the heat exchange coil, a precooling circuit connecting the inlet and outlet of the heat exchange coil and connected in parallel with the cooling circuit, and a refrigeration circuit; both the cooling circuit and the precooling circuit are provided with a refrigerant. The refrigeration circuit exchanges heat with the cooling circuit through the evaporator, and the refrigeration circuit exchanges heat with the precooling circuit through the condenser; The inlet of the precooling circuit is led out from the cooling circuit. The refrigerant passes through the second circulation pump and exchanges heat with the refrigeration circuit in the condenser, and then flows back to the cooling circuit from the outlet of the precooling circuit.

[0006] As an improvement of this utility model embodiment: in the cooling circuit, the refrigerant flows out from the outlet of the heat exchange coil, passes through the first circulation pump, exchanges heat with the refrigeration circuit in the evaporator, and flows back to the heat exchange coil.

[0007] As an improvement of this utility model embodiment: the refrigeration circuit includes a condenser, a compressor and an evaporator connected in sequence; the condenser includes a first finned coil, a second finned coil and a water receiving tray, wherein the first finned coil is connected in series to the refrigeration circuit and the second finned coil is connected in series to the precooling circuit; the water receiving tray is disposed below the condenser.

[0008] As an improvement of this utility model embodiment: a three-way valve is provided at the connection between the cooling circuit and the precooling circuit, and the three-way valve connects the heat exchange coil outlet, the cooling circuit inlet and the precooling circuit inlet.

[0009] As an improvement of this utility model embodiment: a shut-off valve is provided at the outlet of the heat exchange coil.

[0010] As an improvement of this utility model embodiment: in the cooling circuit, a check valve is provided between the evaporator and the inlet of the heat exchange coil.

[0011] As an improvement of this utility model embodiment: a pressure sensor is provided at the outlet of the condenser.

[0012] As an improvement of this utility model embodiment: a temperature sensor is also provided on the condenser.

[0013] As an improvement of this utility model embodiment: the condenser is also provided with a fan.

[0014] To achieve one of the above-mentioned objectives, this utility model provides a tank container, which includes a container body, a tank body disposed within the container body, and a refrigeration unit as described above. The heat exchange coils of the refrigeration unit are wound around the tank body, and the cooling circuit, refrigeration circuit, and precooling circuit are disposed between the container body and the tank body.

[0015] The advantages of the refrigeration unit and the tank container with it provided by this utility model are as follows: This utility model pre-cools the airflow entering the condenser by setting a pre-cooling circuit, which effectively improves the heat dissipation efficiency and avoids the problem of condensing pressure exceeding the compressor safety threshold and frequent compressor shutdown caused by the sudden drop in heat dissipation capacity of conventional air-cooled condensers in high-temperature environments. This ensures stable temperature control for goods such as pharmaceuticals and chemicals, and does not require increasing the condenser volume, overcoming the problem that traditional enlarged condensers cannot be installed. This utility model does not require a water source, solving the problem of high water consumption and accelerated equipment corrosion when using spray cooling in mobile containers, and greatly improving the applicability and stability of the refrigeration unit in extreme high-temperature scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration unit described in this utility model. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration unit described in this utility model. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the condenser described in this utility model; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the working mode of the refrigeration unit described in this utility model. Figure 1 ; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the working mode of the refrigeration unit described in this utility model. Figure 2 ; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the working mode of the refrigeration unit described in this utility model. Figure 3 ; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the working mode of the refrigeration unit described in this utility model. Figure 4 .

[0017] Wherein: 1-box body, 2-tank body, 3-cooling circuit, 4-refrigeration circuit, 5-precooling circuit; 31-First circulation pump, 32-Evaporator, 33-Stop valve, 34-Check valve, 41-Condenser, 42-Compressor, 43-Throttle valve, 44-Pressure sensor, 51-Second circulation pump, 52-Three-way valve; 311-Expansion tank, 411-Temperature sensor, 412-Fan, 413-First finned coil, 414-Second finned coil, 415-Water receiving tray. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, methodological, or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are included within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0019] The scope of embodiments described herein includes the entire scope of the claims and all available equivalents thereof. Throughout this document, the terms “first,” “second,” etc., are used only to distinguish one element from another without requiring or implying any actual relationship or order between the elements. Indeed, a first element can also be referred to as a second element, and vice versa. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” or any other variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a structure, apparatus, or device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a structure, apparatus, or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase “comprising one…” does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the structure, apparatus, or device that includes said element.

[0020] This utility model provides a refrigeration unit and a tank container having the same, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the refrigeration unit includes: a heat exchange coil, a cooling circuit 3 connecting the inlet and outlet of the heat exchange coil, a pre-cooling circuit 5 connecting the inlet and outlet of the heat exchange coil and connected in parallel with the cooling circuit 3, and a refrigeration circuit 4; both the cooling circuit 3 and the pre-cooling circuit 5 are provided with a refrigerant, which can be ethylene glycol; the outlet end of the heat exchange coil is connected to an expansion tank 311 for discharging the refrigerant; the refrigeration circuit 4 exchanges heat with the cooling circuit 3 through an evaporator 32, and the refrigeration circuit 4 exchanges heat with the pre-cooling circuit 5 through a condenser 41, where the evaporator can be a plate heat exchanger; the inlet of the pre-cooling circuit 5 is led out from the cooling circuit 3, and the refrigerant passes through a second circulation pump 51, exchanges heat with the refrigeration circuit 4 in the condenser 41, and flows back to the cooling circuit 3 from the outlet of the pre-cooling circuit 5.

[0021] In this embodiment, in the cooling circuit 3, the refrigerant flows out from the outlet of the heat exchange coil, passes through the first circulation pump 31, exchanges heat with the refrigeration circuit 4 in the evaporator 32, and then flows back to the heat exchange coil. Here, a shut-off valve 33 is provided at the outlet of the heat exchange coil, and a check valve 34 is provided between the evaporator 32 and the inlet of the heat exchange coil. It can be understood that the shut-off valve can control the flow of refrigerant at the outlet of the heat exchange coil by opening or closing, which facilitates cutting off the refrigerant passage during maintenance or when it is necessary to stop the operation of this part of the circuit. The check valve can prevent the refrigerant from flowing back between the evaporator and the inlet of the heat exchange coil, ensuring that the refrigerant can only flow from the evaporator to the heat exchange coil in a preset direction.

[0022] In this embodiment, the refrigeration circuit 4 includes a condenser 41, a compressor 42, and an evaporator 32 connected in sequence; as shown Figure 3 As shown, the condenser 41 includes a first finned coil 413, a second finned coil 414, and a water collection tray 415. The first finned coil 413 is connected in series to the refrigeration circuit 4, and the second finned coil 414 is connected in series to the precooling circuit 5. The water collection tray is located below the condenser 41. Preferably, a pressure sensor 44 is installed at the outlet of the condenser 41, and a temperature sensor 411 and a fan 412 are also installed on the condenser 41. It is understood that the pressure sensor can monitor the refrigerant pressure at the condenser outlet, ensuring that the refrigeration system operates within a safe pressure range; the temperature sensor can detect the operating temperature of the condenser, and combined with the fan, can effectively control the condensation efficiency. Based on the detected temperature and pressure, the start / stop and opening degree of the precooling circuit are controlled to ensure stable heat exchange between the refrigeration circuit and the precooling circuit.

[0023] In this embodiment, a three-way valve 52 is provided at the connection between the cooling circuit 3 and the precooling circuit 5. The three-way valve 52 connects the outlet of the heat exchange coil, the inlet of the cooling circuit 3, and the inlet of the precooling circuit 5. It is understood that the three-way valve can flexibly switch pathways, controlling whether the refrigerant flowing from the heat exchange coil outlet enters the cooling circuit or partially enters the precooling circuit according to demand. Furthermore, by adjusting the opening degree, the flow rate into the precooling circuit can be controlled, thereby achieving regulation of the refrigerant flow direction and optimizing the distribution and utilization of cooling capacity.

[0024] This utility model provides a tank container, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the tank container includes a container body 1, a tank body 2 disposed within the container body 1, and a refrigeration unit as described above. The heat exchange coil of the refrigeration unit is wound around the tank body 2, and the cooling circuit 3, the refrigeration circuit 4, and the precooling circuit 5 are disposed between the container body 1 and the tank body 2.

[0025] The refrigeration unit and the tank container with it described in this utility model have three refrigeration modes, and their specific working principles are as follows: Mode 1: Standard Mode When the ambient temperature T < T1, the standard mode is activated. At this time, the cooling circuit 3 and the refrigeration circuit 4 are activated, the three-way valve 52 is switched to connect only the cooling circuit 3, and the precooling circuit 5 is closed. In this mode, the first circulation pump 31 is working, and the second circulation pump 51 is not working. like Figure 4 , Figure 5As shown, the standard operating procedure is as follows: After all the refrigerant in cooling circuit 3 flows out of the heat exchange coil outlet, it enters the first circulation pump 31 for pressurization and then flows into the evaporator 32, where it exchanges heat with the working fluid in refrigeration circuit 4. In refrigeration circuit 4, compressor 42 compresses the working fluid and sends it to evaporator 32. The working fluid absorbs heat from the refrigerant and vaporizes, completing the refrigeration cycle. The cooled refrigerant flows out of evaporator 32, returns to the heat exchange coil inlet via check valve 34, enters the heat exchange coil to cool tank 2, and finally flows out from the heat exchange coil outlet, completing the cycle of cooling circuit 3. It can be understood that in this mode, condenser 41 only exchanges heat with ambient air through the first finned coil 413. Fan 412 operates normally, and pressure sensor 44 and temperature sensor 411 monitor the status of condenser 41 to ensure stable output of cooling capacity from the refrigeration unit.

[0026] Mode 2: Pre-cooling mode When T1 ≤ ambient temperature T ≤ T2, the pre-cooling mode is activated. At this time, based on the standard mode, the valve of the three-way valve 52 is adjusted so that the three-way valve 52 connects to both the cooling circuit and the pre-cooling circuit, and the pre-cooling circuit 5 is activated, in which both the first circulation pump 31 and the second circulation pump 51 are working; like Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the pre-cooling mode works as follows: Part of the refrigerant return water in the cooling circuit 3 is diverted from the three-way valve 52 into the inlet of the pre-cooling circuit 5. After being pressurized by the second circulation pump 51, it flows into the second finned coil 414 of the condenser 41. At this time, the fan 412 introduces high-temperature air from outside into the condenser 41. The high-temperature air first flows through the second finned coil 414 and exchanges heat with the low-temperature refrigerant inside the coil. The refrigerant absorbs the heat from the high-temperature air, thus pre-cooling the high-temperature air entering the refrigeration unit and reducing the air temperature entering the first finned coil 413. The pre-cooled air then flows through the first finned coil 413 and exchanges heat with the high-temperature, high-pressure working fluid discharged from the compressor 42 in the refrigeration circuit 4. The working fluid releases heat and condenses, further reducing the working fluid condensation temperature.

[0027] After heat exchange, the refrigerant flows back from the outlet of the precooling circuit 5 to the cooling circuit 3, where it merges with the undivided refrigerant and enters the first circulation pump 31. After heat exchange in the evaporator 32, it flows back to the heat exchange coil to cool the tank 2. Understandably, in this mode, the high-temperature air entering the refrigeration unit is pre-treated through the precooling circuit 5, effectively reducing the heat exchange load on the condenser 41, preventing excessively high condensing temperatures, ensuring the refrigeration unit can operate normally, and reducing the risk of alarm shutdown.

[0028] In practice, the opening degree of the three-way valve 52 can be dynamically adjusted according to the ambient temperature T. It is understandable that when the ambient temperature T is close to T1, the opening degree k is small, the flow rate of refrigerant entering the precooling circuit 5 is small, and the precooling intensity is weak; when the ambient temperature T is close to T2, the opening degree k is large, the flow rate of refrigerant entering the precooling circuit 5 increases, and the precooling intensity is enhanced, so as to meet the precooling requirements under different ambient temperatures.

[0029] Mode 3: Enhanced Mode When the ambient temperature T > T2, or the condensing pressure P of the condenser 41 > P1, the enhanced mode is activated. At this time, based on the precooling mode, the valve of the three-way valve 52 is adjusted so that the opening of the three-way valve 52 connecting the precooling circuit 5 is maximized, in which both the first circulation pump 31 and the second circulation pump 51 are working; like Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the working process of the enhanced mode is as follows: the refrigerant in the cooling circuit 3 is diverted into the precooling circuit 5 at the maximum flow rate. When the high-temperature air flows through the second finned coil 414, it fully exchanges heat with the low-temperature refrigerant, absorbs the heat of the high-temperature air to the maximum extent, and achieves enhanced precooling of the high-temperature air entering the refrigeration unit, which greatly reduces the air temperature entering the first finned coil 413.

[0030] Simultaneously, the compressor 42 of the refrigeration circuit 4 starts the liquid injection cooling function, drawing low-temperature and low-pressure liquid working fluid from the low-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit 4 and directly injecting it into the compression chamber of the compressor 42 through the liquid injection pipeline and liquid injection valve. The low-temperature working fluid absorbs the heat generated during the compressor compression process and vaporizes, effectively reducing the exhaust temperature of the compressor 42. Afterward, the high-temperature and high-pressure working fluid after liquid injection cooling enters the first finned coil 413 of the condenser 41 and exchanges heat with the air after enhanced pre-cooling. The working fluid quickly releases heat and condenses, reducing the condensing temperature and condensing pressure.

[0031] In cooling circuit 3, the undiverted refrigerant merges with the refrigerant returning from pre-cooling circuit 5 and is then pumped into evaporator 32 via first circulation pump 31. There, it exchanges heat with the low-temperature working fluid in refrigeration circuit 4. After the refrigerant temperature decreases, it returns to the heat exchange coil to cool tank 2. This mode, through the combined effect of full-flow refrigerant pre-cooling of the high-temperature intake air and compressor liquid-cooling, solves the problem of excessively high condensing temperatures under extreme high-temperature environments, preventing compressor 42 from shutting down due to excessive exhaust temperature or condensing pressure, and ensuring stable operation of the refrigeration unit under harsh conditions.

[0032] This utility model's refrigeration unit effectively overcomes the limitations of high-temperature environments on cooling performance by flexibly switching between three operating modes. When the ambient temperature T < T1, the standard mode is activated. In this mode, the pre-cooling circuit is closed, the second circulation pump stops running, and the three-way valve only connects to the cooling circuit. The first circulation pump operates to drive the refrigerant to circulate in the cooling circuit, ensuring stable cooling in low-temperature environments. When T1 ≤ ambient temperature T ≤ T2, the pre-cooling mode is activated. The three-way valve dynamically adjusts its opening degree according to the ambient temperature, and part of the refrigerant is diverted to the pre-cooling circuit to pre-cool the airflow before exchanging heat with the working fluid in the refrigeration circuit, reducing reliance on single air cooling and improving heat dissipation efficiency in high-temperature environments. When the ambient temperature T > T2 or the condensing pressure P > P1, the enhanced mode is activated. The three-way valve is fully opened downwards to maximize the flow rate of the refrigerant in the pre-cooling circuit. At the same time, the compressor starts liquid injection cooling, the pre-cooling circuit enhances pre-cooling air intake, and liquid injection cooling reduces the compressor exhaust temperature. Through the synergistic effect of pre-cooling and liquid injection, it adapts to extreme high-temperature or high-condensing-pressure conditions. Understandably, each mode achieves cooling under different environmental conditions through dynamic control of the pre-cooling circuit and the refrigeration circuit.

[0033] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, and are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, their practical application, or technological improvements in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A refrigeration unit, characterized in that, The refrigeration unit includes a heat exchange coil, a cooling circuit (3) connecting the inlet and outlet of the heat exchange coil, a precooling circuit (5) connecting the inlet and outlet of the heat exchange coil and in parallel with the cooling circuit (3), and a refrigeration circuit (4); both the cooling circuit (3) and the precooling circuit (5) are equipped with a refrigerant. The refrigeration circuit (4) exchanges heat with the cooling circuit (3) through the evaporator (32), and the refrigeration circuit (4) exchanges heat with the precooling circuit (5) through the condenser (41); The inlet of the precooling circuit (5) is led out from the cooling circuit (3). The refrigerant passes through the second circulation pump (51) and exchanges heat with the refrigeration circuit (4) in the condenser (41), and flows back to the cooling circuit (3) from the outlet of the precooling circuit (5).

2. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein: In the cooling circuit (3), the refrigerant flows out from the outlet of the heat exchange coil, passes through the first circulation pump (31), exchanges heat with the refrigeration circuit (4) in the evaporator (32), and flows back to the heat exchange coil.

3. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein: The refrigeration circuit (4) includes a condenser (41), a compressor (42) and an evaporator (32) connected in sequence; the condenser (41) includes a first finned coil (413), a second finned coil (414) and a water tray (415), wherein the first finned coil (413) is connected in series to the refrigeration circuit (4), and the second finned coil (414) is connected in series to the precooling circuit (5); the water tray is located below the condenser (41).

4. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: A three-way valve (52) is provided at the connection between the cooling circuit (3) and the precooling circuit (5). The three-way valve (52) connects the outlet of the heat exchange coil, the inlet of the cooling circuit (3) and the inlet of the precooling circuit (5).

5. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: A shut-off valve (33) is installed at the outlet of the heat exchange coil.

6. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the cooling circuit (3), a check valve (34) is provided between the evaporator (32) and the inlet of the heat exchange coil.

7. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: A pressure sensor (44) is installed at the outlet of the condenser (41).

8. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: A temperature sensor (411) is also provided on the condenser (41).

9. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein: A fan (412) is also provided on the condenser (41).

10. A tank container, characterized in that: The tank container includes a container body (1), a tank body (2) disposed within the container body (1), and a refrigeration unit as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the heat exchange coil of the refrigeration unit is wound around the tank body (2), and the cooling circuit (3), the refrigeration circuit (4), and the precooling circuit (5) are disposed between the container body (1) and the tank body (2).

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