Climate control systems having a liquid-to-suction heat exchanger, an accumulator, and a receiver for variable liquid storage of high glide working fluids and methods for operation thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current climate control systems face challenges in efficiently using refrigerant blends with high glide, which can lead to fractionation and operational issues, particularly in achieving low global warming potential and safety standards.
Innovation Solution
The climate control system incorporates a refrigerant blend with a significant difference in boiling points between the first and second refrigerants, greater than or equal to 25°R at atmospheric pressure, along with a liquid-to-suction heat exchanger, accumulator, and receiver to control refrigerant concentrations and manage high glide properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a refrigerant blend with high glide is used to achieve low global warming potential, then environmental performance is improved, but fractionation and operational issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the refrigerant blend by selecting components with significantly different boiling points (difference ≥25°R), which fundamentally alters the phase behavior and reduces fractionation effects while maintaining low GWP
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid-to-suction heat exchanger acts as an intermediary device that transfers heat between the liquid refrigerant and the suction vapor, enabling precise control over refrigerant concentrations and preventing operational issues associated with high glide blends
2Stability of the object's composition
If refrigerant blends with significant boiling point differences are used to reduce fractionation, then concentration control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid-to-suction heat exchanger serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a heat exchanger for cooling the suction vapor, a concentration control device for managing refrigerant blend composition, and a storage mechanism for maintaining liquid refrigerant levels, thereby managing complexity through multi-functionality
3Object-affected harmful factors
If natural refrigerants are used to replace synthetic refrigerants, then environmental acceptability is improved, but flammability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite refrigerant blends combining natural refrigerants with significantly different boiling points, where the blend composition and phase behavior are carefully controlled to maintain safety while preserving the environmental benefits of natural refrigerants
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
This configuration enables efficient operation with refrigerant blends that exhibit high glide, allowing for capacity modulation and effective use of environmentally friendly refrigerants with low global warming potential, while maintaining system safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid-to-suction heat exchanger is disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the accumulator
Implementation Method 2
a first heat exchanger disposed downstream of the compressor that receives and cools the pressurized vapor stream to generate a multiphase or liquid condensate stream
Implementation Method 3
a second heat exchanger that receives the reduced-pressure multiphase stream from the second expansion device and at least partially vaporizes the reduced-pressure multiphase stream
Implementation Method 4
a first expansion device disposed between the liquid-to-suction heat exchanger and the receiver that processes the multiphase or liquid condensate stream from the liquid-to-suction heat exchanger
Data Source
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AI summary
Climate control systems that circulates a refrigerant blend having high glide (difference in boiling points of refrigerants ≥ 25°R (about 14K) at atmospheric pressure) include an accumulator, a compressor, a first heat exchanger for at least partially condensing the refrigerant blend, a liquid-to-suction heat exchanger disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the accumulator, a first expansion device, a receiver, a second expansion device, and a second heat exchanger that at least partially vaporizes the refrigerant blend, and a fluid conduit. A concentration of the refrigerant blend can be controlled by adjusting stored liquid levels in the accumulator and receiver. Methods for operating a climate control system that circulates a working fluid comprising a refrigerant blend having high glide are also provided.