Refrigeration unit with dynamic air cooling and working elements of the unit.

Abstract

A refrigeration unit with dynamic air cooling, characterized in that it consists of a centrifugal compressor (1) with an electric drive (2), the outlet of which is connected to a working element (5), the outlet of which is connected to the inlet of a turbine (7) with a radial axis, connected to an electrical energy generator (6), the outlet of which is directed to a wall-pipe heat exchanger (8) which is further connected to a pump (9) for the process fluid, and in that, in the arrangement between the centrifugal compressor (1) and the working element (5), there is an air-air type pipe-wall exchanger (3) to which a fan (4) is connected. The working element (5) of the unit has a cylindrical hollow profile with a helical recess (5.1) having a substantially elliptical shape.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The subject of the invention is a refrigeration unit for technical fluids, such as water, in domestic and industrial cooling and air conditioning systems, as well as for a wide range of technological processes, from cooling nuclear reactors to aquaculture under artificial conditions. The subject of the invention is also the working elements of the unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Cooling systems for process fluids are known which use the working principle of vapor compression, the principle of absorption and are based on natural heat exchange with the surroundings.

[0003] In the case of systems that use the working principle of vapor compression, the drawback involves the use of an intermediate working fluid, which implies artificial refrigerants (chlorofluorocarbons) that cause the greenhouse effect. In the case of absorption systems, the disadvantages include large geometric dimensions, high metal consumption and low cooling capacity.

[0004] On the other hand, natural heat exchange, or so-called "free cooling," has a low capacity, generates thermal energy emissions, and requires the device to be placed in the atmosphere under conditions of low temperature and a large supply of water.

[0005] In the background art, from Czech utility model No. CZ30873U1 there is known a cooling device, a dynamic air refrigeration unit with an electric centrifugal compressor, the outlet pipe of which is connected to an inlet pipe of a special profile channel, from which a flow of cooling air with high kinetic energy is directed to the inlet of a radial axial turbine with a generator.

[0006] This prototype device has the disadvantage that the airflow behind the centrifugal compressor is sent directly to the inlet pipe of the working element, which reduces the cooling capacity by supplying air to the working element at a higher temperature than the ambient temperature. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks and develop a comfortable, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient device for cooling process fluids without the use of artificial refrigerants, which can provide greater energy efficiency and reliability without the emission of greenhouse gases.

[0008] Disclosure of the Invention The invention is a refrigeration unit with dynamic air cooling consisting of a centrifugal compressor with electric drive, the outlet of which is connected to a working element having a cylindrical hollow profile with a substantially elliptical helical recess, the outlet of which is connected to the inlet of a turbine with a radial axis connected to an electric energy generator. The outlet of the turbine is directed to a wall-pipe heat exchanger, which is further connected to a process fluid pump. The essence of the invention lies in the presence, in the arrangement between the centrifugal compressor and the working element, of a pipe-wall exchanger to which a fan is connected.

[0009] Preferably, the inverter is connected to a generator which is a turbine having a radial axis.

[0010] Preferably, the above mentioned inverter is connected to the electric drive of the centrifugal compressor.

[0011] The subject of the invention also consists in a working element of a refrigeration unit, characterized in that it has a circular inlet, behind which: There is a cylindrical segment having a length substantially shorter than the diameter of the clearance of its opening, behind the segment there is a protrusion, the walls of which are convex towards the outside and have a semicircular shape, the diameter of the protrusion is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical segment, behind the protrusion there is substantially the longest segment, the inner wall of which has a recess shaped like an ellipse and which is formed so as to extend spirally along its longitudinal section, the cross section of the recess is not uniform along this part of the working element, the size of this cross section increases and decreases fluidly, behind the segment there is an outlet having walls of an oblique shape, the larger diameter is placed at the end of the working element and the recess is reduced to the area of ​​the outlet.

[0012] A refrigeration unit with dynamic air cooling is a cogeneration element in which cooling involves the generation of mechanical energy, which is then converted into electrical energy. The electrical energy can serve as the energy recovered to power the device according to the invention itself, making it possible to partially limit the intake of electrical energy from outside the system. In contrast to known units in which heat is released into the atmosphere, in the unit according to the invention there is no release of heat into the atmosphere, but the thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy. Such an energy utilization brings about very large economic benefits and is almost neutral with respect to the environment. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] Embodiments of the invention are presented in the drawings.

[0014] [Figure 1] A layout of the arrangement of devices in the form of a unit with dynamic air cooling is presented. [Diagram 2] A longitudinal section of the working element of the unit is presented. [Diagram 3] A cross-sectional view of the working elements of the unit is presented. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THEINVENTION The refrigeration unit with dynamic air cooling in the embodiment consists of a centrifugal compressor 1 with an electric drive 2. The outlet pipe of the centrifugal compressor 1 is connected to the inlet pipe of a pipe-plate heat exchanger 3, which is connected to a fan 4. The exchanger 3 is an air-to-air type exchanger. The outlet pipe of the pipe-plate heat exchanger 3 is connected to the inlet pipe of a working element 5. The working element 5 is connected to the inlet pipe of a turbine 7 with a radial axis, which is connected to a generator of electrical energy 6. The outlet pipe of the turbine 7 is directed to a pipe-plate heat exchanger 8, which is connected to a pump 9. The exchanger 8 constitutes an air-to-water type exchanger. The generator 6 is further connected to an inverter 10. The frequency conversion of the generated electrical energy and synchronization with the frequency of the mains occurs in the inverter 10.

[0016] In an embodiment, the device operates in such a way that an electric centrifugal compressor 1, powered by an electric drive 2, draws in ambient air and generates an air flow directed into the inlet pipe of a pipe-plate heat exchanger 3, the temperature of the air flow being equal to the temperature of the atmosphere. The air flow is then led into the inlet pipe of the working element 5. In the working element 5, which constitutes a channel with a special profile, which will be described in the next part, a part of the internal energy of the air is converted into the kinetic energy of the air flow, resulting in its cooling. The parameters of the centrifugal compressor 1 are selected based on the requirements for the technical characteristics of the unit with dynamic air cooling. The profile of the working element 5 is calculated and designed based on the requirements for the technical characteristics of the unit with dynamic air cooling and on the basis of the developed mathematical model of the gas dynamic process. The cooled air flow with high kinetic energy is subsequently led into a turbine 7 with a radial shaft connected to an electric generator 6. On the rotor of the radial shaft turbine 7 with generator 6, the kinetic energy of the cooled air flow is converted into the mechanical work of the shaft rotation, leading to a decrease in the air speed and the generation of electrical energy. A radial-axis turbine 7 with an electric generator 6 is selected based on the requirements for the technical properties of the refrigeration unit with dynamic air cooling. Behind the turbine 7, a low-speed air flow, which is being cooled, is directed into a pipe-plate heat exchanger 8, where it circulates while the process fluid to be cooled is moved by a pump 9. The electric energy generated in the generator 6 passes through an inverter 10, where it is frequency converted and synchronized with the mains, whereby it is transferred to the electric mains, providing a high energy efficiency of the device.

[0017] The working element 5 is shown in Figures 2 and 3. The shape of the working element 5 allows the flow of air through its interior, setting it in a rotational motion similar to a tornado effect. In this element, the internal (thermal) energy of the air is converted into kinetic energy of the flowing air, increasing its speed and decreasing its temperature.

[0018] The working element 5 has a circular inlet 5.1, adjusted to the outlet of the pipe-plate heat exchanger 3. Behind the inlet there is a cylindrical segment 5.2, the length of which is substantially less than the diameter of the clearance of its opening. Behind the segment 5.2 there is a protrusion 5.3, the wall of which is convex towards the outside and has a semicircular shape. The diameter of the protrusion 5.3 is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical segment 5.2. Behind the protrusion 5.3 there is a substantially longest segment 5.4, which sets the air in a vortex motion with turbulence. The segment 5.4 is shaped such that its outer wall has a recess 5.5, the shape of which resembles an ellipse, which extends obliquely (spiral) along its longitudinal section. The recess 5.5 resembles the rifled barrel of a gun. The cross section of the recess 5.5 is not uniform along this part of the working element 5. The size of this cross section increases and decreases fluidly. The working element 5 ends with an outlet 5.6, the wall of which has an oblique (conical) shape, the larger diameter of which is placed at the end of the element. The outlet 5.6 of the working element is directed towards the turbine 7. In the present example, the working element 5 has six recesses 5.5 uniformly distributed along its inner periphery.

[0019] The dynamic air cooling on which the present invention is based is based on the principles of physics such as the first law of thermodynamics, the mechanics of continuous media, Bernoulli's principle, the use of the process of adiabatic air expansion, the phenomenon of abnormal increase in draft in the process of exhausting gas by pulsed activated flow, and the use of the Joule-Thomson effect.

[0020] A unique mathematical model of the dynamic air cooling process was developed based on general theoretical studies. The mathematical model made it possible to carry out the calculations necessary to build a dynamic air cooling generator.

[0021] The cooling process occurs through the partial conversion of the airflow's internal thermal energy into kinetic energy.

[0022] The transformation proceeds based on stream and vertex processes controlled by the structure of the work elements.

[0023] The angular and radial air velocities in the working element are calculated based on the parameter S (Gupta, A. Turbulent flows [Text] / A. Gupta, D. Lilly, N. Sayred. - M.: Mir, 1987. - 588 p.), which is a dimensionless coefficient,

[0024]

number

[0025] where p is the density of the air flow, V is the radial velocity, and W is the axial air flow rate. The work elements are developed based on a mathematical model with validation of all parameters on virtual and physical models and adjustment of these parameters as required to produce the desired results.

[0026] Thermophysical parameters of one of the embodiments of the present invention obtained by mathematical modeling and visualization, verified in a CFD software suite, show that when the air temperature at the input of the channel of the work element 5 is 323 K or +50° C., the air temperature at the output of the channel of the work element 5 is about 253 K or −20° C. In that case, the air flow rate increases from 40 m / s to 375 m / s.

[0027] The theory of the process, as well as information on mathematical modeling and design calculations, are presented in the following publications: 1.Abramowicz, GNApplied gas dynamics.O 2 h.Part 1:handbook instructions for technical schools.-5th edition, revised and expanded. / GNA Bramowicz.-M.:Nauka,1991.-600p. 2. Maake, V., Eckert, G.-I, Koshpen J.-L. Guidebook on cooling[Text]-M.: Moscow University Publishing House, 1998.-1142p. 3.Baklastov,ANProcesses and industrial installations for exchanging heat and mass.-M.:Energoizdat,2006.

[0028] Industrial Applicability Refrigeration units with dynamic air cooling can be mass produced and can have different power according to the needs of the user. This unit is available in cooling technology.

Claims

1. A refrigeration unit with dynamic air cooling, comprising a centrifugal compressor (1) with an electric drive (2), a work element (5) providing dynamic air cooling, a turbine (7), an electric energy generator (6), an air-water type heat exchanger (8) and a pump (9) for a process fluid, further comprising an air-air type heat exchanger (3) connected to a fan (4), the outlet of said centrifugal compressor (1) being connected to said air-air type heat exchanger (3) and the outlet of said air-air type heat exchanger (3) being connected to a work element (5), connected to the inlet of said turbine (7), which is connected to said electric energy generator (6), and said outlet of said turbine (7) is directed to said air-water type heat exchanger (8) further connected to said pump (9) for said process fluid, said working element (5) having a cylindrical hollow profile including a helical recess (5.5) having a substantially elliptical shape, and configured to provide air cooling by converting the internal thermal energy of an air flow into kinetic energy.

2. 2. A unit according to claim 1, further comprising an inverter (10) connected to the generator (6) of the turbine (7) and configured to provide mains frequency conversion and synchronization.

3. A unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the inverter (10) is connected to the electric drive (2) of the centrifugal compressor (1).

4. A working element of a refrigeration unit, comprising a centrifugal air compressor, said working element (5) having a circular inlet (5.1), behind which there is a cylindrical segment (5.2) having a length substantially less than the diameter of the clearance of its opening, behind which there is a protrusion (5.3) whose wall is convex towards the outside and has a semicircular shape, the diameter of said protrusion (5.3) being greater than the diameter of said cylindrical segment (5.2), behind which there is a recess (5.5) whose inner wall has a shape similar to an ellipse, along its longitudinal section A working element, characterized in that it has a substantially longest segment (5.4) formed to extend in a spiral, the cross section of said recess (5.5) is not uniform along this part of the working element (5), but the size of this cross section increases and decreases fluidly, and behind said segment (5.4) there is an outlet (5.6) with walls of oblique shape, the larger diameter being located at the end of the working element (5), whereby in the working element (5) the internal thermal energy of the air is converted into kinetic energy of the flowing air, as a result of which its speed increases and its temperature decreases.

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