CO<sub>2 </sub>refrigeration system with integrated air conditioning module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration systems in supermarkets often operate independently from air conditioning systems, lacking integration that enhances efficiency and modularity, especially in warmer climates with daily or seasonal temperature variations.
Innovation Solution
An integrated CO2 refrigeration and air conditioning system with a flexible module that includes CO2 compressors, a receiver, and an AC module, where the AC compressor operates in parallel with CO2 compressors, allowing for efficient cooling of both refrigeration and air conditioning loads by circulating CO2 refrigerant through a circuit with a high-pressure valve for pressure regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If refrigeration systems and air conditioning systems operate independently, then each system can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall system efficiency decreases and modularity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the refrigeration system and air conditioning system into a single integrated CO2 refrigeration system. The AC module with AC evaporator and AC compressor is integrated with the CO2 refrigeration circuit, allowing both refrigeration loads and AC loads to be served by the same system. This integration reduces overall energy loss by synergistically combining cooling sources while maintaining functional optimization through modular design elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system provides multi-functionality by enabling the CO2 refrigeration system to serve dual purposes: cooling refrigeration loads (display cases, merchandisers) and providing air conditioning for the facility. The AC module and CO2 compressors can operate in various configurations to meet different cooling demands, making the system adaptable to both refrigeration and general cooling requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the AC compressor operates in parallel with CO2 compressors, then cooling capacity and flexibility are enhanced, but system complexity and pressure control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the compression function into multiple independent compressors (CO2 compressors and AC compressor) that operate in parallel. Each compressor can be controlled independently to meet specific cooling demands. The receiver is also segmented into CO2 liquid portion and CO2 vapor portion, allowing selective drawing of refrigerant from different portions based on system requirements, enhancing flexibility while managing complexity through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic operation where the AC compressor and CO2 compressors can be activated or deactivated based on real-time cooling demands. The high pressure valve dynamically adjusts pressure regulation to accommodate varying operating conditions. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to different temperature conditions and cooling loads, providing versatility while maintaining manageable complexity through demand-responsive control.
3Measurement precision
If a high pressure valve is used for pressure regulation, then pressure control precision is improved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The high pressure valve acts as an intermediary device between the high-pressure CO2 discharge and the lower-pressure receiver. It provides precise pressure control by regulating the flow of CO2 refrigerant from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side. While pressure regulation inherently involves some energy loss, the valve enables precise pressure control necessary for efficient system operation, allowing the refrigerant to be properly conditioned before entering the receiver and evaporators.
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 integration increases the efficiency of the refrigeration and air conditioning systems by synergistically combining cooling sources, enhancing modularity and pressure control, thus addressing the inefficiencies of separate systems in varying temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
one or more CO2 compressors configured to discharge a CO2 refrigerant at a higher pressure
Implementation Method 2
a receiver configured to receive the CO2 refrigerant at a lower pressure through a high pressure valve
Implementation Method 3
The AC evaporator has an inlet configured to receive CO2 liquid and an outlet configured to discharge a CO2 vapor
Implementation Method 4
The AC evaporator has an inlet configured to receive CO2 liquid and an outlet configured to discharge a CO2 vapor
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated CO2 refrigeration and air conditioning (AC) system for use in a facility includes one or more CO2 compressors configured to discharge a CO2 refrigerant at a higher pressure for circulation through a circuit to provide cooling to one or more refrigeration loads in the facility and a receiver configured to receive the CO2 refrigerant at a lower pressure through a high pressure valve. The integrated system further includes an AC module configured to deliver a chilled AC coolant to AC loads in the facility. The AC module includes an AC evaporator and an AC compressor. The AC evaporator has an inlet configured to receive CO2 liquid and an outlet configured to discharge a CO2 vapor. The AC compressor is arranged in parallel with the one or more CO2 compressors and is configured to receive CO2 vapor from both the AC evaporator and the receiver.