Arrangement for producing cold by means of a refrigeration circuit

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for generating cold by means of an arrangement comprising a refrigeration circuit (100). A rotating refrigeration circuit (100) is provided in which a refrigerant is circulated. The centrifugal force acting on the refrigerant generates a density gradient in the refrigerant, thereby creating a temperature gradient in the refrigerant.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement for generating refrigerant for a refrigeration cycle.

[0002] Compression refrigeration technology generates cold by evaporating a refrigerant at low temperature and pressure, and heat by condensing it at high temperature and pressure using a compressor and an expansion valve. The largest components are the heat exchangers. The compressor is the most complex part, as it performs the compression process.

[0003] In such a refrigeration cycle, the compressor supplies internal energy E and entropy S to the refrigerant.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of providing a refrigeration circuit with high functionality.

[0005] The features of the independent claims are provided to solve this problem. Advantageous embodiments and expedient further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] The invention relates to a method for generating cold by means of an arrangement comprising a refrigeration cycle. A rotating refrigeration cycle is present in which a refrigerant is circulated. The centrifugal force acting on the refrigerant creates a density gradient within the refrigerant, resulting in a temperature gradient within the refrigerant.

[0007] The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

[0008] In the arrangement according to the invention, the enthalpy H is increased by accelerating the inert refrigerant at constant volume, while the entropy S remains constant. This is achieved by a rotating motion of the refrigeration cycle. The process according to the invention can be described as "isomolecular" because the total number of moles of the accelerated particles remains constant even when the particles are no longer uniformly distributed within the volume. This new "isomolecular" process leads to particularly simple and efficient machines for generating cold and heat and / or mechanical energy.

[0009] Accelerating a liquid or gaseous refrigerant in a rotating motion creates a gradient for the physical quantities density, pressure, and temperature due to the inertia of the particles. This results in the formation of a thermal double layer, which is utilized for the new refrigeration cycle. This new refrigeration cycle can generate high cooling capacity at low rotational speeds, thus minimizing the need for seals, bearings, and a protective housing. For a fixed temperature difference, this translates to the lowest possible internal thermal resistance of the source, which can be achieved primarily through a phase change of the refrigerant between liquid and gaseous states.

[0010] For a physical explanation of the operating principle of the refrigeration cycle according to the invention: A density gradient is linked to a temperature gradient in a centrifuge. The transition from liquid to gaseous state represents a rapid change (jump) in density. The escaping vapor bubbles cool the liquid refrigerant. Due to centrifugal force, a high additional pressure is generated in the liquid refrigerant. However, the vapor bubbles can only form and rise if the pressure in the vapor bubble is higher than the pressure in the refrigerant. This means that only the fast-moving, hot particles of the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution can form vapor bubbles and escape at high pressure. This results in more efficient cooling of the refrigerant.

[0011] In the case of a gaseous refrigerant, only the density gradient caused by centrifugal force is used to generate cold.

[0012] According to a geometrically advantageous embodiment, the refrigeration circuit is designed in a hollow cylindrical shape and is rotated by means of a drive about an axis of rotation that runs in the axial direction in the cavity of the refrigeration circuit.

[0013] Due to the rotation around the axis of rotation, the refrigerant is forced outwards by centrifugal force.

[0014] Adapted to this, the refrigeration cycle is divided into at least one evaporator and at least one condenser, with the evaporator being located further away from the axis of rotation around which the refrigeration cycle rotates than the condenser.

[0015] Due to the centrifugal force, the liquid components of the refrigerant collect in the evaporator, while the evaporated components of the refrigerant collect in the condenser.

[0016] The refrigeration cycle according to the invention utilizes the surprising fact that, during rotation, the escaping vapor from the liquid refrigerant is hotter than the liquid refrigerant and is under high pressure.

[0017] The temperature gradient generated in this way can be used for generating cold or heat.

[0018] The cooling circuit according to the invention operates efficiently because no energy or entropy S is consumed by the compressor. The cooling circuit, together with the refrigerant circulating in the evaporator and condenser, forms a thermal resonator. The faster the refrigerant circulates, the more energy the thermal resonator can absorb and release. Several methods exist to increase the refrigerant circulation speed, such as the use of nozzles, valves, and pumps, thereby increasing the performance of the arrangement according to the invention.

[0019] According to a first embodiment of the invention, the refrigeration circuit has a coil arrangement that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry, wherein the refrigerant flows in an outer and an inner coil. The outer coil forms the evaporator and the inner coil the condenser. The coils forming the evaporator and the condenser are each connected at their upper and lower ends via a coil segment, so that they form a closed refrigeration circuit.

[0020] It is advantageous that the coil forming the evaporator is thermally connected to another coil carrying a fluid and forming a cold-side heat exchanger. The coil forming the condenser is thermally connected to another coil carrying a fluid and forming a hot-side heat exchanger.

[0021] The coils of the evaporator and condenser form a closed refrigeration circuit in which the refrigerant circulates. Heat can be added to the refrigeration circuit via the coil forming the cold-side heat exchanger. Heat can be removed via the coil forming the hot-side heat exchanger.

[0022] The rotation of the refrigeration cycle heats the vapor in the condenser and discharges liquid refrigerant in the evaporator. The generated cooling or heating can be extracted from the refrigeration cycle via the hot-side or cold-side heat exchanger, respectively. Water is preferably used as the fluid in the hot-side and cold-side heat exchangers, where it is cooled or heated by the refrigeration cycle.

[0023] According to a further variant of the invention, the refrigeration cycle has a rotationally symmetrical arrangement of several refrigeration cycle elements arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction and thus in the direction of rotation, each with an evaporator and a condenser, which are connected to each other via a cold-side heat exchanger and a hot-side heat exchanger.

[0024] In this refrigeration cycle, the individual, preferably identical, refrigeration cycle elements form a multiphase arrangement, wherein in each individual refrigeration cycle element the fluid, in particular water, guided in the hot-side heat exchanger or cold-side heat exchanger is heated or cooled.

[0025] The refrigeration circuit elements form a series arrangement, whereby the fluid of the hot-side heat exchanger or cold-side heat exchanger is thermally coupled to each refrigeration circuit element, so that the fluid is heated or cooled by a certain stage at each thermally conductive contact with a refrigeration circuit element.

[0026] According to a structurally advantageous embodiment, each evaporator and each condenser has two tubes extending axially in the refrigeration circuit, in which the refrigerant is carried. One tube of each condenser and evaporator is connected at both longitudinal ends to a tube segment.

[0027] Thus, each refrigeration circuit element has an evaporator and a condenser, which form a closed refrigeration circuit in which the refrigerant circulates.

[0028] Furthermore, it is advantageous for the pipes to each run inside a jacket pipe in which the fluid of the cold-side heat exchanger and hot-side heat exchanger is guided.

[0029] This ensures particularly good thermal contact between the fluid and the refrigerant.

[0030] In the simplest case, the refrigeration cycle forms a hollow cylindrical arrangement in the shape of a circular cylinder, with the axis of rotation coinciding with the symmetry of the circular cylinder.

[0031] According to an advantageous further development, the refrigeration cycle has a conical shape, i.e., it widens towards the top or bottom. This generates an outward-acting force in addition to the centrifugal force, resulting in a further improved formation of a density gradient of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle.

[0032] Alternatively or additionally, the axis of symmetry of the refrigeration cycle can be slightly inclined to the axis of rotation. This can also further improve the formation of the refrigerant's density gradient.

[0033] According to a further advantageous embodiment, a pressure wave circulating in the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle is generated, which is synchronous with the circulation time of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle.

[0034] A particularly efficient method is to select two different rotational speeds for the closed refrigeration cycle. Evaporation occurs at low speed and low pressure, while condensation takes place at high speed and high pressure. The change in rotational speed is advantageously resonant, meaning it occurs synchronously with the same time it takes the refrigerant to complete one revolution. This creates a circular pressure wave in the refrigerant, which is limited by the refrigerant's flow velocity.

[0035] Another particularly efficient method is the generation of an acoustic pressure wave within the closed refrigeration circuit. The pressure wave can be generated by a harmonic change in rotational speed or via a built-in resonator. Evaporation and condensation occur synchronously with the circulating pressure wave. The pressure wave travels at the speed of sound within the closed refrigeration circuit, which is significantly higher than the maximum flow velocity of the refrigerant. The thermal alternating current generated by the pressure wave transfers high cooling capacities from a small volume.

[0036] The cooling circuit according to the invention is capable of converting a portion of the supplied heat into mechanical rotational energy when the supplied gaseous heat undergoes a phase change from gaseous to liquid during rotation. This can occur, for example, through the conversion of the moisture in the intake air. The energy of the phase change increases the internal pressure and can be converted, for example, via an impeller into mechanical rotational energy or electrical energy. The internal phase change of the supplied heat reduces the entropy of the rotating system and thus enables its conversion into rotating mechanical and / or electrical energy. In a stationary system, symmetry breaking in the gaseous medium is not possible due to the second law of thermodynamics.

[0037] The conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy can also occur through the resonant excitation of pressure waves in refrigerants, which generates resonant vibrations in the refrigeration cycle. These vibrations are dampened by decelerating the drive. Usable electrical energy is generated during deceleration.

[0038] The invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1: Block diagram of a refrigeration circuit according to the prior art. Figure 2: Block diagram of a refrigeration circuit according to the invention. Figure 3: Coil arrangement of the refrigeration circuit according to the invention. Figure 2 Figure 4: Sectional view of the coil arrangement according to Figure 3 Figure 5: Refrigeration machine with the refrigeration cycle according to Figure 3 Figure 6: Block diagram of a multiphase refrigeration circuit. Figure 7: Constructive embodiment of the multiphase refrigeration circuit according to Figure 6Figure 8: Schematic representation of a section of the multiphase refrigeration cycle unfolded in a plane according to Figure 7 a) Side view b) Top view Figure 9: Variant of the embodiment according to Figure 7 Figure 10: Further embodiment of the refrigeration cycle according to the invention. Figure 11: Operating principle of a heat pipe. Figure 12: Further embodiment of the refrigeration cycle according to the invention.

[0039] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a process for generating cold and heat known from the prior art. The process consists of the evaporator 1, the compressor 2, the condenser 3, and the reducing valve 4. Heat is supplied to the evaporator 1 and removed from the condenser 3. The compressor 2 increases the entropy S and reduces the efficiency.

[0040] Figure 2Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the refrigeration cycle 100 according to the invention, in which an isomolar process for generating heat and cold is carried out. The rotation of the refrigeration cycle 100 increases the enthalpy H of the refrigerant, while the entropy S of the refrigerant remains constant. The components of the refrigeration cycle 100 are set into rotation about an axis of rotation 5 by means of a drive. The axis of rotation 5 is parallel to the direction of gravity. The refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle 100 can in principle be gaseous, but in the following case it is liquid.

[0041] How Figure 2As shown, the refrigeration circuit 100 consists of an evaporator 1 and a condenser 3, which rotates around the axis of rotation 5. The evaporator 1 is located further away from the axis of rotation 5 than the condenser 3 is from the common axis of rotation 5. The compressor 2 is omitted in this arrangement. The pressure-reducing valve 4 serves to build up pressure. The external supply and discharge of heat is advantageously achieved via a rotary feedthrough 13.

[0042] The operation of the refrigeration cycle 100 is as follows: Initially, the refrigeration cycle is emptied by a vacuum pump and filled to approximately one-third capacity with refrigerant. The system is then set in motion. Due to its high density, the liquid components of the refrigerant collect in evaporator 1. Due to its low density, the vaporized components of the refrigerant collect in condenser 3. The rotating refrigerant travels from point 6 to point 7 through evaporator 1. The vapor travels from point 7 to point 8 and condenses in condenser 3. The liquid condensate travels from point 9 to point 6, thus completing the refrigerant cycle.

[0043] The refrigeration circuit 100 according to the invention in the Figure 2 It takes advantage of the surprising fact that during rotation, the escaping vapor from the liquid refrigerant is hotter than the liquid refrigerant and is under high pressure.

[0044] The Figures 3 to 5demonstrate a constructive implementation of the refrigeration cycle 100 according to Figure 2 The order according to the Figures 3 and 4 It comprises four concentric coils that rotate around the axis of rotation 5. The coils replicate the natural intrinsic motion (eigenmode) of a rotating liquid or gas guided within the coils.

[0045] The outer coil of the arrangement of Figures 3 and 4 The outer coil forms the evaporator 1, the inner coil the condenser 3 of the refrigeration circuit 100. The free ends of the condenser 3 and the evaporator 1, which are exposed at the top and bottom of the coil assembly, are connected via coil segments (not shown) that form the transitions 6 → 9 and 7 → 8 in Figure 2 This creates a closed refrigeration cycle 100 in which the refrigerant circulates.

[0046] The coils of the coil assembly are made of a thermally conductive material.

[0047] The coil forming the evaporator 1 is connected to another coil in thermally conductive contact. This forms a cold-side heat exchanger 10, in which a fluid, in this case water, is guided.

[0048] Another coil is in thermally conductive contact with the coil forming capacitor 3. This forms a hot-side heat exchanger 11, in which a fluid, i.e., water, is also circulated.

[0049] Figure 5 shows a refrigeration machine 12, in which the refrigeration circuit 100 with the four coils of the Figures 3 and 4 is integrated.

[0050] The four rotating coils are mechanically fixed in a drum. The coils forming the cold-side heat exchanger 10 and the hot-side heat exchanger 11 are advantageously connected to the external environment by a rotary feedthrough 13. The connection of the refrigeration circuit 100 from point 7 to point 8 in Figure 2connects the outer coil of the evaporator 1 with the inner coil of the condenser 3.

[0051] A corresponding connection of the refrigeration circuit 100 from point 9 to point 6 in Figure 2 is located on the underside of the refrigeration unit 12 (not shown).

[0052] Figure 6 Figure 1 shows a refrigeration circuit 100 designed as a multiphase refrigeration circuit 100 with several identical refrigeration circuit elements 101 that rotate together around the axis of rotation 5 of the refrigeration circuit 100. All refrigeration circuit elements 101 are connected via cold-side heat exchangers 10 and a hot-side heat exchanger 11.

[0053] Figure 7 shows the structure of the refrigeration cycle 100 with the refrigeration cycle elements 101. Figures 8a, 8b show a section of the refrigeration cycle 100 projected onto a plane.

[0054] Figure 7 shows two concentric pipe arrangements.

[0055] Each pair of the outer tubes 14 forms an evaporator 1 of a refrigeration circuit element 101.

[0056] Each pair of the inner tubes 15 forms a condenser 3 of a refrigeration circuit element 101.

[0057] The water from the cold-side heat exchanger 10 is carried in a pipe 16. The water from the hot-side heat exchanger 11 is carried in a pipe 17 ( Figures 8a, 8b ).

[0058] The pipes 14, 15 of the evaporator 1 and condenser are designed as jacket pipes that surround the pipes 16 and 17 respectively ( Figures 8a, 8b ), which ensures good thermal contact between the fluid and the refrigerant.

[0059] Pipes 14 and 15 are connected via pipe segments 18 ( Figure 8b ), so that each refrigeration cycle forms a closed cycle for the refrigerant.

[0060] Since the cold-side heat exchanger 10 and the hot-side heat exchanger 11 are in contact with all refrigeration circuit elements 101, cooling or heat is generated in each individual refrigeration circuit element 101 in the cold-side heat exchanger 10 or hot-side heat exchanger 11, respectively, thereby increasing the efficiency compared to the arrangement of the Figures 3 to 5 is increased.

[0061] Figure 9 shows a variant of the arrangement according to Figure 7 While the pipes 14, 15 form a circular cylindrical arrangement, the pipes 14, 15 of the refrigeration circuit elements 101 form the arrangement according to Figure 9 a conical arrangement that widens towards its underside. This further improves the formation of the density gradient of the refrigerant in the present refrigeration cycle 100.

[0062] Figure 10 Figure 1 shows a further embodiment of the refrigeration circuit 100 according to the invention. The arrangement according to Figure 10 is cylindrical, whereby Figure 10A cross-sectional view is shown. The arrangement is rotated by means of a drive about the axis of rotation 5, which runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

[0063] The order according to Figure 10 has an outer tube 19 and an inner tube 20, which run in the circumferential direction of the cylinder.

[0064] The inner pipe 20 is located on the outside of a warm heating circuit 21, with these units being thermally connected. The outer pipe 19 is thermally coupled to a cold heating circuit 22 running perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Water is carried in both the warm heating circuit 21 and the cold heating circuit 22.

[0065] The outer pipe 19 and the inner pipe 20 are connected via heat pipes 23, which carry the refrigerant.

[0066] Figure 11Figure 23 illustrates the operating principle of a heat pipe. By supplying heat A at one end I of the heat pipe 23, a liquid medium contained therein evaporates, resulting in vapor transport (IIa) to the other end (III) of the heat pipe 23, where the medium condenses and flows back to the other end (IIb). Heat is then removed B at end III of the heat pipe 23. Thus, end (I) forms an evaporation zone, and end (III) a condensation zone. An adiabatic transport zone lies between them.

[0067] By rotating the arrangement according to Figure 10 and the resulting centrifugal force on the refrigerant causes it to be strongly heated in the heat pipe 23 in the area of ​​the inner pipe 20, whereas a strong cooling occurs in the area of ​​the outer pipe 19.

[0068] This arrangement forms a single-phase rotary heat pump.

[0069] Figure 12shows an extension of this arrangement to a multi-phase rotary heat pump.

[0070] In accordance with the order Figure 12 Both the inner pipe 20 and the outer pipe 19 are divided into four equal sections by insulators 24. Of course, a segmentation into a different number of sections is also possible. Each section contains a hot heating circuit 21 and a cold heating circuit 22, as well as heat pipes 23 that connect the inner pipe 20 and the outer pipe 19.

[0071] In each section, the rotation of the arrangement causes the refrigerant to be heated in the inner areas of the heat tubes 23 and cooled in the outer areas of the heat tubes 23.

[0072] This multi-stage process increases the efficiency of these heat pipes 23 compared to the single-phase arrangement according to Figure 10 significantly increased. Reference symbol list

[0073] (1) Evaporator (2) Compressor (3) Condenser (4) Reducing valve (5) Rotary shaft (6) Dot (7) Dot (8) Dot (9) Dot (10) Cold-side heat exchanger (11) Hot-side heat exchanger (12) Refrigeration unit (13) Rotary feedthrough (14) Outer pipe (15) Inner pipe (16) Pipeline (17) Pipeline (18) Pipe segment (19) Outer pipe (20) Inner pipe (21) Hot heat circuit (22) Cold heat circuit (23) Heat pipe (24) Insulator (100) Refrigeration circuit (101) Refrigeration circuit element (A) Heat input (B) Heat input (H) Enthalpy (S) Entrophy

Claims

1. Arrangement for generating cold using a refrigeration cycle (100), characterized by the fact that a rotating refrigeration cycle (100) is present in which a refrigerant is guided, whereby a density gradient is generated in the refrigerant by the centrifugal force acting on the refrigerant, resulting in a temperature gradient in the refrigerant.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that a liquid refrigerant is guided in the rotating refrigeration cycle (100), whereby a phase change from liquid to gaseous occurs due to the centrifugal force acting on the refrigerant.

3. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the refrigeration cycle (100) is divided into at least one evaporator (1) and at least one condenser (3), wherein the evaporator (1) is further away from an axis of rotation (5) about which the refrigeration cycle (100) rotates than the condenser (3).

4. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact thatthe refrigeration circuit (100) is designed in a hollow cylindrical shape and is rotated by means of a drive about a rotation axis (5) which runs in the axial direction in the cavity of the refrigeration circuit (100).

5. Arrangement according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized by the fact that the refrigeration circuit (100) has a coil arrangement rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry, wherein the refrigerant flows in an outer and an inner coil, wherein the outer coil forms the evaporator (1) and the inner coil the condenser (3), and wherein the coils forming the evaporator (1) and the condenser (3) are each connected at their upper and lower ends via a coil segment, so that they form a closed refrigeration circuit (100).

6. Arrangement according to claim 5, characterized by the fact thatthe coil forming the evaporator (1) is thermally connected to a further coil carrying a fluid and forming a cold-side heat exchanger (10), and the coil forming the condenser (3) is thermally connected to a further coil carrying a fluid and forming a hot-side heat exchanger (11).

7. Arrangement according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized by the fact that the refrigeration cycle (100) has a rotationally symmetric arrangement of several refrigeration cycle elements (101) arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction and thus in the direction of rotation, each with an evaporator (1) and a condenser (3), which are connected to each other via a cold-side heat exchanger (10) and a hot-side heat exchanger (11).

8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by the fact thatEach evaporator (1) and each condenser (3) has two tubes (14, 15) extending in the axial direction of the refrigeration circuit (100) in which the refrigerant is guided, wherein one tube (14, 15) of a condenser (3) and of an evaporator (1) is connected at both longitudinal ends to a tube segment (18).

9. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the pipes (14, 15) each run inside a jacket pipe in which the fluid of the cold-side heat exchanger (10) or hot-side heat exchanger (11) is guided.

10. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that the axis of rotation (5) of the refrigeration cycle (100) coincides with the axis of symmetry of the refrigeration cycle (100) or is inclined to it.

11. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by the fact that the refrigeration cycle (100) has the form of a circular hollow cylinder or a conical shape.

12. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by the fact that a pressure wave is generated circulating in the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle (100), which is synchronous with the circulation time of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle (100).

13. Arrangement according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that The pressure wave is generated by rotating the refrigeration circuit (100) alternately at two different speeds, or by generating an acoustic pressure wave in the refrigerant using a resonator.

14. Arrangement according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that mechanical or electrical energy is generated by supplying heat to the refrigeration cycle (100).

15. Method for generating cold by means of an arrangement comprising a refrigeration cycle (100), characterized by the fact thata rotating refrigeration cycle (100) is present in which a refrigerant is guided, whereby a density gradient is generated in the refrigerant by the centrifugal force acting on the refrigerant, resulting in a temperature gradient in the refrigerant.

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