Fluid temperature control system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ternary refrigeration apparatuses require high-performance compressors for low-temperature refrigeration, leading to increased size, cost, and manufacturing time due to the unavailability of suitable compressors with sufficient cold tolerance.
Innovation Solution
A fluid temperature control system with a cascade refrigeration configuration, including a high-temperature-side, medium-temperature-side, and low-temperature-side refrigerators, utilizing a cascade condenser and evaporator setup to efficiently cool fluids, and an internal heat exchanger to enhance refrigeration capacity and reduce compressor burden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high-performance compressor with cold tolerance is used in the low-temperature-side refrigerator, then the cooling performance to target temperature is improved, but the apparatus size, manufacturing cost, and construction period increase
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration system is divided into three independent refrigerator units (high-temperature-side, medium-temperature-side, and low-temperature-side), each with its own compressor. This segmentation allows each compressor to be optimized for its specific temperature range, enabling the use of standard compressors rather than requiring a single high-performance compressor with extreme cold tolerance, thus reducing overall apparatus size and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The medium-temperature-side refrigerator acts as an intermediary between the high-temperature-side and low-temperature-side refrigerators. It provides a thermal bridge that allows the low-temperature-side refrigerator to operate more efficiently without requiring an excessively powerful compressor, as the medium-temperature-side unit pre-cools the environment before the low-temperature-side unit applies final cooling.
2Reliability
If a high-performance compressor with cold tolerance is used in the low-temperature-side refrigerator, then the cooling performance to target temperature is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the refrigeration system into three independent units, each compressor can be manufactured using standard components and processes appropriate for its temperature range. This eliminates the need to source expensive, specialized high-performance compressors with extreme cold tolerance, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining reliable cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of multiple compressors to match standard industrial ranges rather than requiring one compressor to operate at extreme parameters. This allows manufacturers to use off-the-shelf components with known cost structures, reducing overall manufacturing cost compared to custom high-performance compressors.
3Reliability
If a high-performance compressor with cold tolerance is used in the low-temperature-side refrigerator, then the cooling performance to target temperature is improved, but the construction period is extended due to unavailability of compressors
Solution Approach 1:
The three-compressor architecture allows each unit to use standard, readily available compressors rather than requiring a single specialized high-performance compressor with long lead times. This segmentation enables parallel procurement and installation, significantly reducing the overall construction period while maintaining reliable cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-temperature-side and medium-temperature-side refrigerators can be installed and commissioned before the low-temperature-side refrigerator, allowing the system to provide partial cooling functionality during construction. This preliminary action reduces the critical path for the overall project timeline.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system allows for stable and efficient cooling of temperature control objects to desired temperatures, reducing the need for high-performance compressors and simplifying manufacturing, while maintaining refrigeration capacity and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the high-temperature-side evaporator of the high-temperature-side refrigerator and the medium-temperature-side condenser of the medium-temperature-side refrigerator constitute a first cascade condenser capable of heat-exchanging the high-temperature-side refrigerant with the medium-temperature-side refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
the medium-temperature-side second evaporator of the medium-temperature-side refrigerator and the low-temperature-side condenser of the low-temperature-side refrigerator constitute a second cascade condenser capable of heat-exchanging the medium-temperature-side refrigerant with the low-temperature-side refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
the fluid allowed to flow by the fluid flow apparatus is cooled by the medium-temperature-side first evaporator of the medium-temperature-side refrigerator, and is then cooled by the low-temperature-side evaporator of the low-temperature-side refrigerator
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid temperature control system cools a fluid by means of a multiple refrigeration apparatus including a high-temperature-side refrigerator (100), a medium-temperature-side refrigerator (200) and a low-temperature-side refrigerator (300). The medium-temperature-side refrigerator (200) in the multiple refrigeration apparatus has a medium-temperature-side first evaporator (204) and a medium-temperature-side second evaporator (224). A high-temperature-side evaporator (104) of the high-temperature-side refrigerator (100) and a medium-temperature-side condenser (202) of the medium-temperature-side refrigerator (200) constitute a first cascade condenser (CC1). The medium-temperature-side second evaporator (224) of the medium-temperature-side refrigerator (200) and a low-temperature-side condenser (302) of the low-temperature-side refrigerator (300) constitute a second cascade condenser (CC2). The medium-temperature-side refrigerant and the low-temperature-side refrigerant are the same refrigerant. The fluid allowed to flow by a fluid flow apparatus is cooled by the medium-temperature-side first evaporator (204) of the medium-temperature-side refrigerator (200), and is then cooled by the low-temperature-side evaporator (304) of the low-temperature-side refrigerator (300).