Refrigeration system

Abstract

The embodiment of the present application provides a refrigeration system, which comprises a liquid storage assembly, an outdoor unit, a pipeline assembly and an indoor unit. The liquid storage assembly has a first liquid storage cavity and a second liquid storage cavity which are independent of each other. The outdoor unit is connected between the first liquid storage cavity and the second liquid storage cavity, and is used for cooling a first cold carrier in the second liquid storage cavity to a first temperature and then delivering the first cold carrier into the first liquid storage cavity. The pipeline assembly comprises an input pipeline and an output pipeline. The input pipeline is connected to the first liquid storage cavity, and the output pipeline is connected to the second liquid storage cavity. The indoor unit is connected between the input pipeline and the output pipeline. The refrigeration system has the advantages of high refrigeration energy efficiency and strong expandability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the technical field of refrigeration equipment, and more specifically, relates to a refrigeration system. Background Technology

[0002] A multi-split refrigeration system is an air conditioning system that consists of a single outdoor refrigeration unit connected to multiple indoor terminal units via pipes. Its principle is to compress and condense the refrigerant into a high-pressure liquid through components such as the compressor and condenser in the outdoor unit, and then deliver it to the evaporator in the indoor unit after the pressure is reduced by the throttling device. The indoor environment is cooled by the heat absorbed by the evaporation of the refrigerant. The vaporized refrigerant returns to the outdoor unit through the return pipe to complete the cycle.

[0003] However, because the refrigerant in the outdoor unit needs to be directly delivered to each indoor unit, the refrigerant circulation pipeline is too long, which reduces the cooling efficiency of the refrigerant. In addition, the space that can be used to store refrigerant in the outdoor unit is limited, and the connection between the indoor unit and the circulation pipeline is relatively complicated, resulting in poor expandability of the indoor unit. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a refrigeration system that solves the defects of low refrigeration efficiency and poor scalability of multi-unit refrigeration systems in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a refrigeration system, comprising: The liquid storage assembly has a first liquid storage chamber and a second liquid storage chamber that are independent of each other. The first liquid storage chamber stores a first refrigerant at a first temperature, and the second liquid storage chamber stores the first refrigerant at a second temperature, which is greater than the first temperature. An outdoor unit is connected between the first liquid storage chamber and the second liquid storage chamber, and is used to cool the first refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber to a first temperature and then deliver it to the first liquid storage chamber; The piping assembly includes an input pipe and an output pipe, wherein the input pipe is connected to the first liquid storage chamber and the output pipe is connected to the second liquid storage chamber; At least one indoor unit, the indoor unit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first input terminal being connected to the input pipe and the first output terminal being connected to the output pipe, the indoor unit being used to exchange heat between the first refrigerant entering its interior and the external environment.

[0006] In some embodiments, the liquid storage assembly includes a first liquid storage tank and a second liquid storage tank, wherein the first liquid storage tank forms a first liquid storage cavity inside the first liquid storage tank and the second liquid storage tank forms a second liquid storage cavity inside the second liquid storage tank.

[0007] In some embodiments, the liquid storage assembly includes a liquid storage tank and a partition disposed within the liquid storage tank, the partition dividing the interior of the liquid storage tank into a first liquid storage chamber and a second liquid storage chamber that are independent of each other.

[0008] In some embodiments, the inner walls of both the first liquid storage chamber and the second liquid storage chamber are provided with a heat insulation structure.

[0009] In some embodiments, the number of indoor units is multiple, and the piping assembly further includes: Multiple first branch pipes are connected in parallel to the input pipe, and the end of each first branch pipe away from the input pipe is connected to the first input terminal of each indoor unit. Multiple second branch pipes are connected in parallel to the output pipe, and the end of each second branch pipe facing away from the output pipe is connected to the first output terminal of each indoor unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, each of the first branch pipes is provided with a throttle valve.

[0011] In some embodiments, the piping assembly further includes: A first circulation pump is installed on the input pipeline to deliver the first refrigerant in the first liquid storage chamber to the input pipeline; A second circulation pump is connected between the second liquid storage chamber and the outdoor unit, and is used to transport the first refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber to the outdoor unit.

[0012] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit includes: A refrigeration component has a second output terminal and a second input terminal. The refrigeration component contains a second refrigerant. The refrigeration component is used to drive the second refrigerant to flow from the second input terminal to the second output terminal and to cool the second refrigerant to a third temperature. The third temperature is equal to or less than the first temperature. The heat exchanger has a first heat exchange pipe and a second heat exchange pipe; the first heat exchange pipe is connected between the first liquid storage chamber and the second liquid storage chamber, and the second heat exchange pipe is connected between the second output end and the second input end of the refrigeration component; the first refrigerant flowing into the first heat exchange pipe can exchange heat with the second refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchange pipe, so as to use the second refrigerant at the third temperature to cool the first refrigerant at the second temperature to the first temperature.

[0013] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger is a plate evaporator.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first refrigerant comprises a propylene glycol solution and / or a potassium acetate solution.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the refrigeration system provided in this application are as follows: Compared with the prior art, the refrigeration system provided in this application, by setting up a liquid storage component, can store a first refrigerant at different temperatures in the first liquid storage chamber and the second liquid storage chamber respectively. The low-temperature first refrigerant can directly enter each indoor unit to participate in heat exchange, shortening the length of the circulating flow pipeline of the first refrigerant and improving the cooling efficiency of the first refrigerant in each indoor unit. After heat exchange in each indoor unit, the first refrigerant can flow back to the second liquid storage chamber, be cooled by the outdoor unit, and then flow back to the first liquid storage chamber. The liquid storage component can be set independently of the outdoor unit, and the storage capacity of the first refrigerant is not limited by the size of the outdoor unit. Moreover, in the event of a failure of the outdoor unit, the low-temperature first refrigerant located in the first liquid storage tank can still maintain the cooling function for a certain period of time. In addition, the indoor units are directly connected in parallel between the input and output pipelines, which is simple in structure, easy to maintain, and improves the scalability of the entire refrigeration system. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the refrigeration system in an exemplary embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection relationship between the first liquid storage tank, the second liquid storage tank, and the indoor unit in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the liquid storage assembly in an exemplary embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the liquid storage assembly in another exemplary embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cooling component in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0018] The following are the labeling elements in the figure: 100-Liquid storage assembly; 101-First liquid storage chamber; 102-Second liquid storage chamber; 110-First liquid storage tank; 120-Second liquid storage tank; 130-Liquid storage container; 140-Baffle; 150-Insulation structure; 200-Outdoor unit; 210-Refrigeration assembly; 211-First chassis; 212-Compressor; 213-Condenser; 214-Return pipe; 215-Drier filter; 220-Heat exchanger; 300-Pipeline assembly; 310-Input pipe; 320-Output pipe; 330-First branch pipe; 340-Second branch pipe; 350-Throttle valve; 360-First circulation pump; 370-Second circulation pump; 400-Indoor unit. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0020] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0021] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0022] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0023] Reference Figure 1This application provides a refrigeration system including a liquid storage assembly 100, an outdoor unit 200, a piping assembly 300, and an indoor unit 400. The liquid storage assembly 100 has two independent liquid storage chambers 101 and 102. The first liquid storage chamber 101 stores a first refrigerant at a first temperature, and the second liquid storage chamber 102 stores a first refrigerant at a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature. The outdoor unit 200 is connected between the first liquid storage chamber 101 and the second liquid storage chamber 102, and is used to cool the first refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber 102 to the first temperature before delivering it to the first liquid storage chamber 101. The piping assembly 300 includes an input pipe 310 and an output pipe 320. The input pipe 310 is connected to the first liquid storage chamber 101, and the output pipe 320 is connected to the second liquid storage chamber 102. The indoor unit 400 has a first input terminal and a first output terminal. The first input terminal is connected to the input pipe 310, and the first output terminal is connected to the output pipe 320. The indoor unit 400 is used to exchange heat between the first refrigerant entering its interior and the external environment.

[0024] The liquid receiver assembly 100 refers to a container device for storing refrigerant, which can be implemented as a split liquid receiver tank or an integrated liquid receiver tank 130 with a partition 140. Its function is to achieve physical isolation of refrigerants at different temperatures and avoid heat mixing losses. The outdoor unit 200 refers to a refrigeration device with heat exchange function, which can be implemented as a refrigeration assembly 210 including a compressor 212 and a condenser 213. Its function is to maintain the temperature gradient of the refrigerant. The piping assembly 300 refers to the piping system connecting the various functional modules, which can be made of metal or polymer materials. Its function is to establish a physical channel for refrigerant circulation.

[0025] Reference Figure 2 Indoor unit 400 refers to a terminal heat exchange device, such as a refrigeration device like an air conditioner or refrigerator. There can be one or more indoor units 400. When multiple indoor units 400 are installed, they can be connected in parallel between the input pipe 310 and the output pipe 320.

[0026] Specifically, the first liquid storage chamber 101 stores low-temperature refrigerant and is delivered to each indoor unit 400 through the input pipe 310. After absorbing heat in the indoor unit 400, the refrigerant's temperature rises, and it returns to the second liquid storage chamber 102 through the output pipe 320. The outdoor unit 200 cools the refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber 102 to its initial temperature through heat exchange and then sends it back to the first liquid storage chamber 101, forming a closed loop. During this process, the first refrigerant circulates only between the liquid storage chamber 100 and each indoor unit 400, effectively shortening the refrigerant circulation path. This solves the energy efficiency degradation problem caused by long-distance refrigerant circulation and also enhances the expandability of the indoor units 400. The independent first and second liquid storage chambers allow for the independent storage of refrigerants at different temperatures, avoiding energy loss caused by direct mixing of two refrigerants at different temperatures and improving the cooling efficiency of the refrigeration system.

[0027] Refer to 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the liquid storage assembly 100 may include a first liquid storage tank 110 and a second liquid storage tank 120, wherein a first liquid storage cavity 101 is formed inside the first liquid storage tank 110 and a second liquid storage cavity 102 is formed inside the second liquid storage tank 120.

[0028] The first storage tank 110 and the second storage tank 120 are two independent, sealed containers, specifically made of stainless steel or engineering plastics, used to separately contain refrigerants at different temperatures. Physical separation ensures independent storage of the two refrigerants, preventing heat loss due to temperature mixing. The first storage chamber 101 and the second storage chamber 102 are the spaces inside the storage tanks used to contain the liquid, specifically formed directly by the tank structure. The chambers are not interconnected, thus ensuring temperature isolation between the low-temperature and high-temperature refrigerants and maintaining heat exchange efficiency.

[0029] Specifically, the first storage tank 110 stores a first refrigerant at a first temperature, and the second storage tank 120 stores the first refrigerant at a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature. The outdoor unit 200 connects the two storage tanks via pipelines, cooling the high-temperature refrigerant in the second storage tank 120 to the first temperature before transferring it to the first storage tank 110. Since the two storage tanks are independently configured, their capacities can be adjusted individually as needed, for example, by increasing the number or volume of storage tanks to expand the storage capacity. Furthermore, the pipeline connections between the storage tanks can be maintained independently, preventing system downtime due to a single storage tank failure.

[0030] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problems of limited liquid storage space and complex pipeline connection in the prior art. It improves the refrigerant storage capacity by using an independent liquid storage tank and reduces the difficulty of pipeline layout when expanding multiple indoor units, thereby improving the system's operational stability and maintainability.

[0031] Reference Figure 4 In some embodiments, the liquid storage assembly 100 may include a liquid storage tank 130 and a partition 140 disposed within the liquid storage tank 130, the partition 140 dividing the interior of the liquid storage tank 130 into a first liquid storage chamber 101 and a second liquid storage chamber 102 that are independent of each other.

[0032] The storage tank 130 is a closed container for holding the refrigerant, which can be made of metal or polymer composite materials, such as stainless steel or polyethylene, and can withstand the chemical corrosion and temperature changes of the refrigerant. The partition 140 is a physical dividing structure inside the storage tank 130, which can be installed by welding or bolting, such as vertically or horizontally arranged steel plates, dividing the internal space of the storage tank 130 into two independent areas. The insulation structure 150 is a heat insulation layer covering the inner wall of the storage chamber, which can be made of polyurethane foam or rock wool, used to reduce heat exchange between the refrigerant and the external environment.

[0033] Specifically, the liquid storage tank 130 forms two independent liquid storage chambers through an internal partition 140. The first liquid storage chamber 101 stores low-temperature refrigerant, and the second liquid storage chamber 102 stores high-temperature refrigerant after heat exchange with the indoor unit 400. The partition 140 forms a sealed connection with the inner wall of the liquid storage tank 130 to prevent liquid mixing between the two chambers. The refrigerant is transported from the first liquid storage chamber 101 to the indoor unit 400 through the inlet pipe 310, and after absorbing heat and heating up, it returns to the second liquid storage chamber 102 through the outlet pipe 320. The outdoor unit 200 cools the high-temperature refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber 102 through the heat exchanger 220 and then transports it back to the first liquid storage chamber 101, forming a cycle.

[0034] Through the above technical solution, this application can achieve partitioned storage of refrigerant at a lower cost, reduce equipment footprint, and simplify piping connections. The integrated structure of the partition 140 and the liquid storage tank 130 improves system reliability and facilitates adjustment of the liquid storage chamber volume ratio according to actual needs. For example, by replacing the partition 140 with different sizes, it can adapt to the expansion needs of indoor units 400 of different sizes.

[0035] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 The inner walls of both the first liquid storage chamber 101 and the second liquid storage chamber 102 can be provided with a heat insulation structure 150.

[0036] Among them, the thermal insulation structure 150 refers to the heat insulation layer attached to the inner wall of the liquid storage cavity to reduce heat transfer. Specifically, it can be achieved by using polyurethane foam, rock wool or vacuum insulation board. By blocking the heat exchange path between the inside of the liquid storage cavity and the external environment, it prevents the first and second refrigerants from generating unexpected temperature fluctuations due to external temperature interference during storage.

[0037] Specifically, during the operation of the liquid storage assembly 100, the first liquid storage chamber 101 needs to maintain the first refrigerant at a first temperature, and the second liquid storage chamber 102 needs to maintain the first refrigerant at a second temperature. Since the inner wall of the liquid storage chamber is covered by an insulation structure 150, when the external ambient temperature is higher or lower than the internal temperature of the liquid storage chamber, the insulation structure 150 can inhibit heat transfer through the chamber wall. For example, in a high-temperature environment, the temperature of the first refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber 102 may rise due to the intrusion of external heat. At this time, the insulation structure 150, with its low thermal conductivity, blocks external heat, preventing the temperature of the refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber 102 from deviating from the preset second temperature, thereby reducing the additional energy consumption of the outdoor unit 200 during subsequent cooling.

[0038] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, there are multiple indoor unit units 400, and the piping assembly 300 further includes multiple first branch pipes 330, which are connected in parallel to the input pipe 310, and the end of each first branch pipe 330 away from the input pipe 310 is connected to the first input terminal of each indoor unit 400; multiple second branch pipes 340, which are connected in parallel to the output pipe 320, and the end of each second branch pipe 340 away from the output pipe 320 is connected to the first output terminal of each indoor unit 400.

[0039] The first branch pipe 330 refers to a branch channel that branches off from the input pipe 310 and connects to the input end of a single indoor unit 400. It can be implemented using copper pipe or aluminum-plastic composite pipe, and through parallel connection, each indoor unit 400 independently obtains low-temperature refrigerant from the first liquid storage chamber 101. The second branch pipe 340 refers to a branch channel that branches off from the output pipe 320 and connects to the output end of a single indoor unit 400. It can be implemented using pipe of the same material as the first branch pipe 330, and through parallel connection, each indoor unit 400 independently returns the heated refrigerant to the second liquid storage chamber 102.

[0040] Specifically, after the low-temperature refrigerant is drawn from the first liquid storage chamber 101 by the input pipe 310, it is delivered to the first input terminal of each indoor unit 400 through multiple parallel first branch pipes 330. The heat exchange process inside each indoor unit 400 raises the temperature of the refrigerant, which then converges to the output pipe 320 through the corresponding second branch pipe 340 and finally returns to the second liquid storage chamber 102. Since each branch pipe is independently connected and arranged in parallel, adding a new indoor unit 400 only requires adding corresponding branch pipes to the input pipe 310 and the output pipe 320 to complete the expansion.

[0041] By setting parallel branch pipes on the input pipe 310 and the output pipe 320, the refrigerant delivery paths of each indoor unit 400 are made independent, avoiding the system pressure imbalance caused by series connection. This also allows the number of indoor units 400 to be flexibly increased or decreased according to needs, while reducing the complexity of pipe connection and facilitating maintenance and modification.

[0042] In some embodiments, each of the first branch pipes 330 may be equipped with a throttle valve 350.

[0043] The first branch pipe 330 refers to the parallel branch pipe connecting the input pipe 310 and the first input terminal of the indoor unit 400, used to divert the low-temperature refrigerant in the first liquid storage chamber 101 to multiple indoor units 400. The throttle valve 350 is a control device used to regulate the fluid flow rate, which can be implemented by a manual regulating valve or an electric proportional valve, controlling the refrigerant flow rate by changing the valve opening.

[0044] Specifically, the low-temperature refrigerant in the input pipe 310 is delivered to each indoor unit 400 via multiple parallel first branch pipes 330. Each first branch pipe 330 is equipped with a throttle valve 350, which independently adjusts the refrigerant flow rate of its corresponding branch. When some indoor units 400 are under high load, the opening of their corresponding throttle valve 350 increases to increase the flow rate; when some indoor units 400 are under low load, the opening of the throttle valve 350 decreases to reduce the flow rate. This achieves dynamic flow balance among the indoor units 400, avoiding uneven refrigerant distribution due to differences in pipe resistance. Furthermore, when adding a new indoor unit 400, only the opening of the corresponding branch's throttle valve 350 needs to be adjusted, without changing the overall piping layout, thus enhancing system scalability.

[0045] In some embodiments, the piping assembly 300 further includes a first circulation pump 360 and a second circulation pump 370. The first circulation pump 360 is disposed on the input pipe 310 to deliver the first refrigerant in the first liquid storage chamber 101 to the input pipe 310. The second circulation pump 370 is connected between the second liquid storage chamber 102 and the outdoor unit 200 to deliver the first refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber 102 to the outdoor unit 200.

[0046] The first circulation pump 360 refers to the power unit installed in the input pipeline 310, which can be a centrifugal pump or a gear pump. Its function is to mechanically drive the low-temperature first refrigerant to continuously flow from the first liquid storage chamber 101 to the indoor unit 400, ensuring the flow rate and pressure required for heat exchange. The second circulation pump 370 refers to the power unit connected between the outlet of the second liquid storage chamber 102 and the inlet of the outdoor unit 200, which can be a magnetic pump or a canned motor pump. Its function is to actively transport the first refrigerant, whose temperature has increased after heat exchange, from the second liquid storage chamber 102 to the outdoor unit 200 for cooling circulation.

[0047] Specifically, the first circulation pump 360 pressurizes and delivers the first refrigerant at a first temperature in the first storage chamber 101 to the first input terminal of each indoor unit 400 through the input pipe 310. After the refrigerant completes heat exchange with the environment in the indoor unit 400, the refrigerant with increased temperature enters the output pipe 320 through the first output terminal and flows back to the second storage chamber 102. At this time, the second circulation pump 370 extracts the heated refrigerant in the second storage chamber 102 and delivers it to the outdoor unit 200 for cooling. The cooled refrigerant then returns to the first storage chamber 101 to form a closed-loop cycle. Thus, the two sets of circulation pumps independently control the supply path of the low-temperature refrigerant and the recovery path of the high-temperature refrigerant, avoiding flow fluctuations caused by insufficient pressure in a single pump.

[0048] The above technical solution achieves independent pressure control of the refrigerant in the supply and return paths, solves the problem of flow attenuation caused by long-distance circulation, and enables the indoor unit to maintain stable heat exchange efficiency even when expanded to 400. At the same time, the separation of the supply and return power sources avoids the risk of overload of a single pump.

[0049] In some instances, the outdoor unit 200 may include a refrigeration assembly 210 and a heat exchanger 220. The refrigeration assembly 210 has a second output terminal and a second input terminal, and the refrigeration assembly 210 contains a second refrigerant. The refrigeration assembly 210 is used to drive the second refrigerant to flow from the second input terminal to the second output terminal and to cool the second refrigerant to a third temperature, which is equal to or less than the first temperature.

[0050] The heat exchanger 220 has a first heat exchange pipe and a second heat exchange pipe. The first heat exchange pipe is connected between the first liquid storage chamber 101 and the second liquid storage chamber 102. The second heat exchange pipe is connected between the second output end and the second input end of the refrigeration assembly 210. The first refrigerant flowing into the first heat exchange pipe can exchange heat with the second refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchange pipe, so as to use the second refrigerant at the third temperature to cool the first refrigerant at the second temperature to the first temperature.

[0051] Reference Figure 5The refrigeration assembly 210 may include a first housing 211 and a compressor 212, a condenser 213, a flow valve (not shown), a return pipe 214, and a dryer filter 215 disposed within the first housing 211. The compressor 212, condenser 213, flow valve, return pipe 214, and dryer filter 215 are connected in sequence to form a refrigeration cycle. The compressor 212 is used to compress the second refrigerant vapor to increase its pressure and temperature. The condenser 213 is used to condense the high-pressure, high-temperature second refrigerant vapor into a high-pressure liquid state. The flow valve is used to regulate the flow rate of the liquid second refrigerant to control the refrigeration effect. The return pipe 214 returns the low-temperature, low-pressure second refrigerant vapor to the compressor 212 for recirculation. The dryer filter 215 is disposed in the refrigeration cycle to remove moisture and impurities from the system and prevent ice blockage and corrosion.

[0052] The second refrigerant is a circulating medium independent of the first refrigerant. Specifically, it can be Freon, an aqueous solution of ethylene glycol, or a calcium chloride solution. Through a closed-loop circulation, it avoids mixing with the first refrigerant, thereby maintaining the stability of the heat exchange process. Heat exchanger 220 refers to the device that realizes the heat transfer between the two refrigerants. Specifically, it can adopt a plate or shell-and-tube structure. By increasing the contact area, the heat exchange efficiency is improved, allowing the heat from the first refrigerant to be rapidly absorbed by the second refrigerant.

[0053] Specifically, the refrigeration assembly 210, driven by the compressor 212, condenses the second refrigerant vapor into a high-pressure liquid in the condenser 213. The liquid then flows through the second heat exchange pipe in the heat exchanger 220 after the flow rate is regulated by a flow valve. Simultaneously, the high-temperature first refrigerant flowing from the second liquid storage chamber 102 enters the first heat exchange pipe of the heat exchanger 220. In the heat exchanger 220, the low-temperature second refrigerant and the high-temperature first refrigerant exchange heat through the pipe walls. The second refrigerant absorbs heat from the first refrigerant and heats up, while the first refrigerant releases heat and cools down to near the third temperature (i.e., the lowest temperature that the refrigeration assembly 210 can provide). The cooled first refrigerant returns to the first liquid storage chamber 101 through the outlet of the heat exchanger 220, ready to participate in the heat exchange cycle again. The heated second refrigerant returns to the compressor 212 through the return pipe 214, starting a new refrigeration cycle.

[0054] The first refrigerant circulates only between the first liquid storage chamber 101, the second liquid storage chamber 102, and the indoor unit 400, without needing to be transported over a long distance through the outdoor unit 200, thus reducing pipeline heat loss. The second refrigerant only needs to exchange heat with the first refrigerant in the second heat exchange pipeline, without needing to enter the indoor unit 400, simplifying the system structure and reducing maintenance costs.

[0055] Compared to existing technologies, this design shortens the circulation paths of the first and second refrigerants, reducing system operating resistance. Simultaneously, the closed-loop circulation of the second refrigerant avoids direct contact with the indoor terminals, allowing for expansion of the indoor unit 400 with only adjustments to the first refrigerant branch piping, eliminating the need to recalculate refrigerant charge. This effectively solves the energy efficiency degradation problem caused by excessively long refrigerant circulation paths in multi-split systems. By separating the heat exchange process from the terminal cooling process, the indoor unit 400 can be flexibly expanded via parallel branch piping, while simultaneously reducing refrigerant consumption. The high-efficiency heat transfer design of the heat exchanger 220 ensures accurate temperature control of both refrigerant circulation systems, preventing system instability due to insufficient heat exchange.

[0056] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 220 may be a plate evaporator.

[0057] Among them, plate evaporators refer to heat exchange devices formed by stacking multiple metal plates to form flow channels. The two refrigerants exchange heat in countercurrent or cocurrent flow through the alternating flow channels formed between the plates. Due to the small gaps between the plates and the large contact area, efficient heat transfer can be achieved under small temperature difference conditions.

[0058] Specifically, the plate evaporator can be arranged inside the outdoor unit 200 or outside the indoor unit 400. Its first heat exchange pipe connects to the first liquid storage chamber 101 and the second liquid storage chamber 102, and its second heat exchange pipe connects to the second output end and the second input end of the refrigeration assembly 210. When the first refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber 102 flows through the first heat exchange pipe, it exchanges heat with the low-temperature second refrigerant from the refrigeration assembly 210 in the second heat exchange pipe. The compact flow channel design of the plate evaporator ensures full contact between the two refrigerants during flow. The low-temperature second refrigerant absorbs heat from the first refrigerant and its temperature rises, while the first refrigerant is cooled to the target temperature and returns to the first liquid storage chamber 101.

[0059] In some embodiments, the first refrigerant includes a propylene glycol solution and / or a potassium acetate solution.

[0060] Among them, propylene glycol solution refers to an aqueous solution with propylene glycol as the main component. Specifically, it can be achieved by using an aqueous solution of propylene glycol with a mass concentration between 30% and 50%. It has a low freezing point and stable chemical properties, and can maintain fluidity in low-temperature environments to prevent pipeline freezing.

[0061] Potassium acetate solution refers to an aqueous solution with potassium acetate as the main component. Specifically, it can be achieved by using an aqueous solution of potassium acetate with a mass concentration between 40% and 60%. It has high thermal conductivity and low corrosivity, which can improve heat exchange efficiency and reduce corrosion of metal pipes.

[0062] Propylene glycol solution or potassium acetate solution can be used alone as the primary refrigerant, or they can be mixed in a certain proportion to obtain a lower freezing point and better thermal conductivity. When the primary refrigerant is composed of a mixture of propylene glycol solution and potassium acetate solution, the propylene glycol concentration ranges from 40% to 50%. In this case, the freezing point of the primary refrigerant can be between -10°C and -20°C. Furthermore, potassium acetate can reduce the viscosity of propylene glycol, improve the fluidity of the primary refrigerant, and make it less prone to leakage.

[0063] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A refrigeration system, characterized in that, include: The liquid storage assembly has a first liquid storage chamber and a second liquid storage chamber that are independent of each other. The first liquid storage chamber stores a first refrigerant at a first temperature, and the second liquid storage chamber stores the first refrigerant at a second temperature, which is greater than the first temperature. An outdoor unit is connected between the first liquid storage chamber and the second liquid storage chamber, and is used to cool the first refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber to a first temperature and then deliver it to the first liquid storage chamber; The piping assembly includes an input pipe and an output pipe, wherein the input pipe is connected to the first liquid storage chamber and the output pipe is connected to the second liquid storage chamber; At least one indoor unit, the indoor unit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first input terminal being connected to the input pipe and the first output terminal being connected to the output pipe, the indoor unit being used to exchange heat between the first refrigerant entering its interior and the external environment.

2. The refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid storage assembly includes a first liquid storage tank and a second liquid storage tank, wherein the first liquid storage tank forms a first liquid storage cavity inside the first liquid storage tank, and the second liquid storage tank forms a second liquid storage cavity inside the second liquid storage tank.

3. The refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid storage assembly includes a liquid storage tank and a partition disposed inside the liquid storage tank, the partition dividing the interior of the liquid storage tank into a first liquid storage chamber and a second liquid storage chamber that are independent of each other.

4. The refrigeration system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, Both the first and second liquid storage chambers have heat insulation structures on their inner walls.

5. The refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of indoor units is multiple, and the piping assembly further includes: Multiple first branch pipes are connected in parallel to the input pipe, and the end of each first branch pipe away from the input pipe is connected to the first input terminal of each indoor unit. Multiple second branch pipes are connected in parallel to the output pipe, and the end of each second branch pipe facing away from the output pipe is connected to the first output terminal of each indoor unit.

6. The refrigeration system according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the first branch pipelines is equipped with a throttle valve.

7. The refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The piping assembly also includes: A first circulation pump is installed on the input pipeline to deliver the first refrigerant in the first liquid storage chamber to the input pipeline; A second circulation pump is connected between the second liquid storage chamber and the outdoor unit, and is used to transport the first refrigerant in the second liquid storage chamber to the outdoor unit.

8. The refrigeration system according to any one of claims 1-3 and 5-7, characterized in that, The outdoor unit includes: A refrigeration component has a second output terminal and a second input terminal. The refrigeration component contains a second refrigerant. The refrigeration component is used to drive the second refrigerant to flow from the second input terminal to the second output terminal and to cool the second refrigerant to a third temperature. The third temperature is equal to or less than the first temperature. The heat exchanger has a first heat exchange pipe and a second heat exchange pipe; the first heat exchange pipe is connected between the first liquid storage chamber and the second liquid storage chamber, and the second heat exchange pipe is connected between the second output end and the second input end of the refrigeration component; the first refrigerant flowing into the first heat exchange pipe can exchange heat with the second refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchange pipe, so as to use the second refrigerant at the third temperature to cool the first refrigerant at the second temperature to the first temperature.

9. The refrigeration system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The heat exchanger is a plate evaporator.

10. The refrigeration system according to any one of claims 1-3 and 5-7, characterized in that, The first refrigerant includes a propylene glycol solution and / or a potassium acetate solution.

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