A liquid subcooling cycle system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a cold liquid circulating system, including cold liquid storage device, circulating pump, ice ball manufacturing area, ice ball buffer area and refrigerating unit, ice ball manufacturing area and ice ball buffer area are in parallel setting, and the cold liquid export of cold liquid storage device is equipped with circulating pump, and ice ball manufacturing area is connected in circulation with cold liquid storage device, circulating pump three, and ice ball buffer area is connected in circulation with cold liquid storage device, circulating pump three, and be equipped with the coil in cold liquid storage device, and the both ends of coil are connected refrigerating unit respectively. This cold liquid circulating system is developed to express post office distributed type quick ice ball machine, and realizes soaking type ice making through providing cold liquid, can effectively improve ice making efficiency, satisfies the application demand of express post office distributed type, intermittent type, quick ice making, makes quick ice ball machine better in express post office large -scale popularization and use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of cold chain logistics technology, and in particular to a refrigerant circulation system that can be used in distributed rapid freezing ice ball machines in express delivery stations. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of fresh food e-commerce and cold chain logistics, express delivery stations are increasingly required to provide suitable refrigerant protection for cold chain parcels in different temperature zones. However, in practice, it has been found that traditional preservation methods suffer from problems such as limited refrigerant adaptability, low refrigerant freezing efficiency, and high energy consumption. The low refrigerant freezing efficiency is mainly manifested in the fact that traditional ice-making equipment generally uses large ice plates, which require several hours to fill, making it difficult to adapt to the characteristics of express delivery stations, such as high randomness, small batches, and fast turnover. In response, invention application No. 201810176944.2 proposed a plate ice machine with a single-plate evaporator and its operating method. Although the plate ice machine adopts an optimized evaporator design, practical use has shown that it still requires a long ice-making cycle, and the de-icing process is complex, making it difficult to promote and use in express delivery stations. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a refrigerant circulation system. This system provides refrigerant to achieve immersion ice making, which can effectively improve ice making efficiency and enable the rapid freezing ice ball machine to be widely used in express delivery stations.

[0004] The technical solution of this utility model is as follows: a coolant circulation system, comprising a coolant storage device, a circulation pump, an ice puck manufacturing area, an ice puck buffer area, and a refrigeration unit. The ice puck manufacturing area and the ice puck buffer area are arranged in parallel. The coolant outlet of the coolant storage device is equipped with a circulation pump. The ice puck manufacturing area, the coolant storage device, and the circulation pump are cyclically connected. The ice puck buffer area, the coolant storage device, and the circulation pump are also cyclically connected. The coolant storage device contains a coil, with both ends of the coil connected to the refrigeration unit. The coolant is food-grade, and the coolant in the coolant storage device is an ultra-low temperature coolant (generally required to reach below -40℃). In this system, the coolant in the coolant storage device is kept at the required low temperature through circulation by the refrigeration unit. The coolant storage device supplies coolant to the ice puck manufacturing area or the ice puck buffer area via the circulation pump, and the coolant can be recovered after use. In the ice puck manufacturing area, the use of a coolant immersion method can effectively improve heat exchange efficiency and shorten the ice puck freezing time. After the ice puck is formed in the ice puck manufacturing area, it is sent to the ice puck buffer area for storage and use.

[0005] The coolant circulation system also includes an ice puck recovery area, which is connected in a loop with the coolant storage device and the circulation pump. The ice puck manufacturing area, ice puck buffer area and ice puck recovery area are set up in parallel to provide corresponding storage space for different stages of the ice puck. The transfer method of the ice puck between these three spaces is the same as that of existing ice-making equipment.

[0006] A first electric ball valve is installed on the pipeline connecting the ice puck manufacturing area to the circulation pump; a second electric ball valve is installed on the pipeline connecting the ice puck buffer area to the circulation pump; and a third electric ball valve is installed on the pipeline connecting the ice puck manufacturing area to the coolant storage device. The supply or recovery of coolant to different areas is controlled by opening and closing these electric ball valves.

[0007] The ice ball manufacturing area is mounted on a rotating shaft, which is connected to an external motor. The motor drives the entire ice ball manufacturing area to rotate slowly and continuously (typically at 5-10 rpm), causing the ice ball to roll continuously in the coolant, achieving uniform heat exchange and rapid freezing. Tests have shown that this method can increase the freezing speed by more than 30% compared to traditional static ice making.

[0008] Temperature probes are installed in the ice puck manufacturing area to monitor the temperature of the refrigerant in the ice puck manufacturing area in real time. Once the temperature exceeds the set temperature (generally -40°C), the refrigerant storage device supplies new refrigerant to keep the temperature of the refrigerant in the ice puck manufacturing area below the set temperature.

[0009] In the coolant storage device, the coil is a copper coil made of ACR copper tubing.

[0010] In the coolant storage device, refrigerant is stored in the coil, and the refrigerant exchanges heat with the coolant in the coolant storage device through the coil.

[0011] Along the refrigerant delivery direction, the refrigeration unit includes a first compressor, an evaporator-condenser, a gas-liquid separator, a second compressor, an oil separator, an air-cooled condenser, and a dryer filter connected in sequence. The outlet end of the dryer filter is connected to the evaporator-condenser. The low-temperature refrigerant outlet end of the evaporator-condenser is connected to the inlet end of the coil. The inlet end of the coil is also connected to the dryer filter. The outlet end of the coil is connected to the first compressor. The refrigerant completes the thermodynamic processes of compression, condensation, throttling, and evaporation in the refrigeration unit. This process typically starts simultaneously with the supply of refrigerant from the coolant storage device to the ice hockey production area. Specifically: the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas from the coil first enters the first compressor, where it is compressed into a high-temperature, high-pressure gas. It then enters the evaporator-condenser to release heat, and some of the refrigerant is condensed into a liquid. The gas-liquid mixture flowing from the evaporator-condenser enters the gas-liquid separator. The resulting liquid refrigerant can be directly returned to the coil for cooling, while the resulting medium-temperature, medium-pressure gas enters the second compressor for a second compression, becoming an even higher-temperature, higher-pressure gas. Subsequently, the high-temperature, high-pressure gas from the second compressor passes sequentially through an oil separator (used to separate and recover compressor lubricating oil) and an air-cooled condenser. In the air-cooled condenser, the refrigerant releases a large amount of heat to the ambient air, completely evaporating the refrigerant. The refrigerant condenses into a high-temperature, high-pressure liquid. Afterward, the liquid refrigerant flows through a dryer filter to remove any moisture and impurities it may contain. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant exiting the dryer filter splits into two paths. One path is throttled by a solenoid valve and a thermostatic expansion valve, reducing its pressure and temperature to a gas-liquid two-phase state. It then enters the evaporator side of the evaporator-condenser, absorbing heat from the high-temperature gas discharged from the first compressor and evaporating, thus achieving efficient cooling of the first-stage exhaust gas. (Simultaneously, an auxiliary path can be set up in parallel with the main path, where the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is throttled by another solenoid valve and another thermostatic expansion valve, reducing its pressure and temperature to a gas-liquid two-phase state, and then entering the evaporator side of the evaporator-condenser as a supplement to the main path.) The other path of high-pressure liquid refrigerant exiting the dryer filter, after passing through a solenoid valve and a thermostatic expansion valve, directly enters the coil, which is immersed in a coolant storage device, serving as the final evaporator. In the coolant storage device, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant exchanges heat efficiently with the coolant through the coil wall, absorbing heat from the coolant and evaporating completely, thereby achieving the purpose of cooling the coolant.

[0012] Along the direction of refrigerant delivery, the refrigerant delivery pipeline uses ACR copper tubing.

[0013] A pressure relief circuit is also provided between the outlet end of the coil and the first compressor. The pressure relief circuit is equipped with a pressure relief valve and an expansion tank. When the system pressure rises abnormally, some refrigerant is temporarily stored in the expansion tank by opening the pressure relief valve. This effectively prevents system overpressure, ensures safe operation, and further guarantees the safety and stability of system operation, meeting the requirements of rapid ice ball preparation scenarios with stringent requirements for cooling speed and temperature.

[0014] The pipeline connecting the dryer filter and the evaporator / condenser is equipped with a solenoid valve and a thermal expansion valve, and the pipeline connecting the evaporator / condenser and the coil inlet is also equipped with a solenoid valve and a thermal expansion valve.

[0015] The working principle of the aforementioned coolant circulation system is as follows: During the ice ball preparation startup phase, the coolant from the coolant storage device is pumped into the ice ball manufacturing area by a circulation pump. In the ice ball manufacturing area, it exchanges heat with the ice ball, causing it to freeze rapidly. When the coolant in the ice ball manufacturing area reaches a set amount, the coolant storage device stops supplying coolant to the ice ball manufacturing area and instead supplies coolant to the ice ball buffer area, providing a continuous low-temperature insulation environment for the already manufactured ice ball, keeping it solid and preventing it from melting. After the ice ball manufacturing area is completed, the coolant in the ice ball manufacturing area is recycled back to the coolant storage device. The coolant in the coolant storage device is circulated and cooled by a refrigeration unit to ensure it is maintained at an ultra-low temperature of -40°C.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, this utility model has the following advantages:

[0017] This refrigerant circulation system was developed for distributed rapid freezing ice ball machines in express delivery stations. By providing refrigerant for immersion ice making, it effectively improves ice-making efficiency and meets the application needs of distributed, intermittent, and rapid ice making in express delivery stations, enabling the rapid freezing ice ball machine to be more widely used in these stations. Simultaneously, by combining refrigerant immersion ice making with the rotating ice-making mode in the ice ball manufacturing area, the ice balls continuously roll in the refrigerant, achieving uniform heat exchange and rapid freezing. Tests have shown that compared to traditional static ice making, this method can increase freezing speed by more than 30%.

[0018] In this refrigerant circulation system, the refrigeration unit continuously circulates and cools the refrigerant in the refrigerant storage device, effectively maintaining the refrigerant at an ultra-low temperature of -40°C. This provides excellent cooling conditions for the ice puck manufacturing and buffer areas. Simultaneously, the refrigeration unit employs a highly efficient refrigeration cycle combining two-stage compression and cascade heat exchange, significantly reducing the compressor's compression ratio and improving the system's operating efficiency and reliability under ultra-low temperature conditions. This enables rapid cooling to ultra-low temperatures and provides stable and efficient cooling capacity to the refrigerant. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling liquid circulation system.

[0020] In the above figures, the components indicated by the reference numerals are as follows: 1 is the coolant storage device, 2 is the circulating pump, 3 is the ice puck manufacturing area, 4 is the ice puck buffer area, 5 is the ice puck recycling area, 6 is the first electric ball valve, 7 is the second electric ball valve, 8 is the third electric ball valve, 9 is the fourth electric ball valve, 10 is the first compressor, 11 is the evaporator-condenser, 12 is the gas-liquid separator, 13 is the second compressor, 14 is the oil separator, 15 is the air-cooled condenser, 16 is the dryer filter, 17 is the coil, 18 is the inlet end of the coil, 19 is the outlet end of the coil, 20 is the pressure relief valve, 21 is the expansion tank, 22 is the solenoid valve, and 23 is the thermal expansion valve. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0022] Example

[0023] This embodiment describes a coolant circulation system, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the system includes a coolant storage device 1, a circulation pump 2, an ice puck manufacturing area 3, an ice puck buffer area 4, an ice puck recovery area 5, and a refrigeration unit. The ice puck manufacturing area, ice puck buffer area, and ice puck recovery area are arranged in parallel to provide corresponding storage space for different stages of ice puck development. The coolant outlet of the coolant storage device is equipped with a circulation pump. The ice puck manufacturing area, coolant storage device, and circulation pump are cyclically connected. The ice puck buffer area, ice puck recovery area, and ice puck recovery area are cyclically connected. The coolant storage device contains a coil, with both ends of the coil connected to the refrigeration unit. The coolant is food-grade, and the coolant in the coolant storage device is an ultra-low temperature coolant (generally required to reach below -40℃). In this system, the refrigerant in the refrigerant storage device is kept at the required low temperature through circulation by the refrigeration unit. The refrigerant storage device supplies refrigerant to the puck-making area or the puck-bucket buffer area via a circulation pump, and the refrigerant can be recycled after use. In the puck-making area, the use of refrigerant immersion effectively improves heat exchange efficiency and shortens the puck-freezing time. After the pucks are formed in the puck-making area, they are sent to the puck-bucket buffer area for storage and later use. The transfer method of the pucks between the puck-making area, the puck-bucket buffer area, and the puck-bucket recycling area is the same as that of existing ice-making equipment.

[0024] A first electric ball valve 6 is installed on the pipeline connecting the ice puck manufacturing area to the circulation pump; a second electric ball valve 7 is installed on the pipeline connecting the ice puck buffer area to the circulation pump; a third electric ball valve 8 is installed on the pipeline connecting the ice puck manufacturing area to the coolant storage device; and a fourth electric ball valve 9 is installed on the pipeline connecting the ice puck recovery area to the circulation pump. In addition, other electric ball valves can be added as needed to control the supply or recovery of coolant to different areas by opening and closing these valves.

[0025] The ice puck manufacturing area is mounted on a rotating shaft (the specific installation method is the same as the traditional mechanical installation method), and the shaft is connected to an external motor. The motor drives the entire ice puck manufacturing area to rotate slowly and continuously (the speed is generally 5-10 rpm), causing the ice puck to roll continuously in the coolant, achieving uniform heat exchange and rapid freezing. Tests have shown that compared with traditional static ice making, this method can increase the freezing speed by more than 30%.

[0026] Temperature probes are installed in the puck manufacturing area to monitor the refrigerant temperature in real time. If the temperature exceeds the set temperature (typically -40°C), the refrigerant storage unit supplies new refrigerant to maintain the refrigerant temperature below the set temperature in the puck manufacturing area. Correspondingly, temperature probes can also be installed in the puck buffer area and puck recovery area as needed.

[0027] In the refrigerant storage device, coil 17 is a copper coil made of ACR copper tubing. Refrigerant is stored in the coil, and the refrigerant exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the storage device through the coil. Along the refrigerant delivery direction, the refrigeration unit includes a first compressor 10, an evaporator-condenser 11, a gas-liquid separator 12, a second compressor 13, an oil separator 14, an air-cooled condenser 15, and a dryer filter 16 connected in sequence. The outlet end of the dryer filter is connected to the evaporator-condenser 11. The low-temperature refrigerant outlet end of the evaporator-condenser is connected to the inlet end 18 of the coil. The inlet end of the coil is also connected to the dryer filter, and the outlet end 19 of the coil is connected to the first compressor. Along the refrigerant delivery direction, the refrigerant delivery pipeline uses ACR copper tubing. A pressure relief circuit is also provided between the outlet end of the coil and the first compressor, and the pressure relief circuit is equipped with a pressure relief valve 20 and an expansion tank 21. A solenoid valve 22 and a thermal expansion valve 23 are installed on the pipeline connecting the dryer filter and the evaporator-condenser. A solenoid valve 22 and a thermal expansion valve 23 are also installed on the pipeline connecting the evaporator-condenser and the coil inlet. The refrigerant completes the thermodynamic processes of compression, condensation, throttling, and evaporation in the refrigeration unit. This process is generally initiated simultaneously with the supply of refrigerant from the coolant storage device to the ice hockey manufacturing area. Specifically: the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas from the coil first enters the first compressor, where it is compressed into a high-temperature, high-pressure gas. It then enters the evaporator-condenser to release heat, and some of the refrigerant is condensed into a liquid. The gas-liquid mixture flowing from the evaporator-condenser enters the gas-liquid separator. The resulting liquid refrigerant can be directly returned to the coil for cooling, while the resulting medium-temperature, medium-pressure gas enters the second compressor for a second compression, making it a higher-temperature, higher-pressure gas. Subsequently, the high-temperature, high-pressure gas from the second compressor passes sequentially through an oil separator (used to separate and recover compressor lubricating oil) and an air-cooled condenser. In the air-cooled condenser, the refrigerant releases a large amount of heat to the ambient air, completely... The refrigerant condenses into a high-temperature, high-pressure liquid. Afterward, the liquid refrigerant flows through a dryer filter to remove any moisture and impurities it may contain. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant exiting the dryer filter splits into two paths. One path is throttled by a solenoid valve and a thermostatic expansion valve, reducing its pressure and temperature to a gas-liquid two-phase state. It then enters the evaporator side of the evaporator-condenser, absorbing heat from the high-temperature gas discharged from the first compressor and evaporating, thus achieving efficient cooling of the first-stage exhaust gas. (Simultaneously, an auxiliary path can be set up in parallel with the main path, where the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is throttled by another solenoid valve and another thermostatic expansion valve, reducing its pressure and temperature to a gas-liquid two-phase state, and then entering the evaporator side of the evaporator-condenser as a supplement to the main path.) The other path of high-pressure liquid refrigerant exiting the dryer filter, after passing through a solenoid valve and a thermostatic expansion valve, directly enters the coil, which is immersed in a coolant storage device, serving as the final evaporator. In the coolant storage device, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant exchanges heat efficiently with the coolant through the coil wall, absorbing heat from the coolant and evaporating completely, thereby achieving the purpose of cooling the coolant.In addition, when the system pressure rises abnormally, opening the pressure relief valve allows some refrigerant to be temporarily stored in the expansion tank, which can effectively prevent system overpressure, ensure operational safety, and further guarantee the safety and stability of system operation, meeting the requirements of rapid ice ball preparation scenarios with stringent requirements for cooling speed and temperature.

[0028] The working principle of the aforementioned coolant circulation system is as follows: During the ice ball preparation startup phase, the coolant from the coolant storage device is pumped into the ice ball manufacturing area by a circulation pump. In the ice ball manufacturing area, it exchanges heat with the ice ball, causing it to freeze rapidly. When the coolant in the ice ball manufacturing area reaches a set amount, the coolant storage device stops supplying coolant to the ice ball manufacturing area and instead supplies coolant to the ice ball buffer area, providing a continuous low-temperature insulation environment for the already manufactured ice ball, keeping it solid and preventing it from melting. After the ice ball manufacturing area is completed, the coolant in the ice ball manufacturing area is recycled back to the coolant storage device. The coolant in the coolant storage device is circulated and cooled by a refrigeration unit to ensure it is maintained at an ultra-low temperature of -40°C.

[0029] As described above, the present invention can be well implemented. The above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention. That is, all equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the content of the present invention are covered by the scope of protection claimed by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A coolant circulation system, characterized in that, It includes a coolant storage device, a circulating pump, an ice puck manufacturing area, an ice puck buffer area, and a refrigeration unit. The ice puck manufacturing area and the ice puck buffer area are arranged in parallel. The coolant outlet of the coolant storage device is equipped with a circulating pump. The ice puck manufacturing area, the coolant storage device, and the circulating pump are circulated together. The ice puck buffer area, the coolant storage device, and the circulating pump are circulated together. The coolant storage device is equipped with a coil, and the two ends of the coil are respectively connected to the refrigeration unit.

2. The coolant circulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a puck recycling area, which is circulated with a coolant storage device and a circulation pump. The puck manufacturing area, the puck buffer area and the puck recycling area are set up in parallel.

3. The coolant circulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A first electric ball valve is installed on the pipeline connecting the ice puck manufacturing area to the circulation pump, a second electric ball valve is installed on the pipeline connecting the ice puck buffer area to the circulation pump, and a third electric ball valve is installed on the pipeline connecting the ice puck manufacturing area to the coolant storage device.

4. The coolant circulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice hockey manufacturing area is mounted on a rotating shaft, which is connected to an external motor.

5. The coolant circulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Temperature probes are installed in the ice hockey manufacturing area.

6. The coolant circulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the coolant storage device, the coil is a copper coil made of ACR copper tubing.

7. The coolant circulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the coolant storage device, refrigerant is stored in the coil, and the refrigerant exchanges heat with the coolant in the coolant storage device through the coil. Along the refrigerant delivery direction, the refrigeration unit includes a first compressor, an evaporator-condenser, a gas-liquid separator, a second compressor, an oil separator, an air-cooled condenser, and a dryer filter connected in sequence. The outlet end of the dryer filter is connected to the evaporator-condenser. The low-temperature refrigerant outlet end of the evaporator-condenser is connected to the inlet end of the coil. The inlet end of the coil is also connected to the dryer filter. The outlet end of the coil is connected to the first compressor.

8. The coolant circulation system according to claim 7, characterized in that, Along the direction of refrigerant delivery, the refrigerant delivery pipeline uses ACR copper tubing.

9. The coolant circulation system according to claim 7, characterized in that, A pressure relief circuit is also provided between the outlet end of the coil and the first compressor, and a pressure relief valve and an expansion tank are provided on the pressure relief circuit.

10. The coolant circulation system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The pipeline connecting the dryer filter and the evaporator / condenser is equipped with a solenoid valve and a thermal expansion valve, and the pipeline connecting the evaporator / condenser and the coil inlet is also equipped with a solenoid valve and a thermal expansion valve.

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