Two-Stage CO2 Compression With Integrated Intercooler Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerant vapor compression systems, especially those operating in transcritical cycles with carbon dioxide, face challenges in energy efficiency and cooling capacity due to the complexity of incorporating intercoolers, which are hindered by physical space, weight, and cost considerations, particularly in transport refrigeration applications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a two-stage compression device with intercoolers that utilize secondary fluids like air and water/glycol, where the intercoolers are strategically placed between compression stages and equipped with bypass circuits to manage refrigerant flow, enhancing energy efficiency and cooling capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If an intercooler is incorporated into the refrigerant circuit between compression stages, then energy efficiency and cooling capacity are improved, but device complexity and physical space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the intercooler with the discharge line heat exchanger into a single integrated component. The intercooler serves dual purposes: cooling the refrigerant between compression stages and functioning as a heat rejection device. This merging eliminates the need for separate intercooler and heat exchanger components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining energy efficiency improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated heat exchanger performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an intercooler for intermediate pressure refrigerant, a discharge line heat exchanger for high pressure refrigerant, and provides heat rejection to the environment. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components, reducing system complexity.
2Productivity
If an intercooler is incorporated into the refrigerant circuit, then cooling capacity is improved, but weight and physical space increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the intercooler functionality into the existing discharge line heat exchanger, the patent eliminates the need for additional separate components. The integrated design uses the same physical structure and refrigerant flow path to achieve both intercooling and heat rejection, thereby improving cooling capacity without adding proportional weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional heat exchanger improves cooling capacity through intercooling while simultaneously providing heat rejection, eliminating the need for additional dedicated intercooler components that would increase system weight.
3Use of energy by moving object
If an intercooler is incorporated into the refrigerant circuit, then energy efficiency is improved, but physical space and equipment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the intercooler with the discharge line heat exchanger into a single integrated component located in the same physical space. This eliminates the need for additional dedicated intercooler space, as the heat exchanger structure serves both intercooling and heat rejection functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated heat exchanger provides multiple functions (intercooling and heat rejection) within a single component footprint, improving energy efficiency without requiring additional physical space that would be needed for separate intercooler and heat exchanger components.
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 solution improves energy efficiency and cooling capacity, particularly in transcritical cycles, by effectively cooling the refrigerant through intercoolers with secondary fluids, while the bypass circuit ensures operational flexibility and prevents condensation issues under varying ambient conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a first refrigerant intercooler disposed intermediate the first compression stage and the second compression stage for passing the refrigerant passing from the first compression stage to the second compression stage in heat exchange relationship with the flow of the first secondary fluid
Implementation Method 2
a first refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger disposed downstream with respect to refrigerant flow of the second compression stage for passing the refrigerant in heat exchange relationship with a flow of a first secondary fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerant vapor compression system includes a compression device having at least a first compression stage and a second compression stage arranged in series refrigerant flow relationship; a first refrigerant heat rejecting heat exchanger disposed downstream with respect to refrigerant flow of the second compression stage for passing the refrigerant in heat exchange relationship with a first secondary fluid; a second refrigerant heat rejecting heat exchanger disposed downstream with respect to refrigerant flow of the first refrigerant heat rejecting heat exchanger for passing the refrigerant in heat exchange relationship with a second secondary fluid.