CO2 Refrigerating Plant With Reversible Coolant Load Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Natural coolant refrigerating plants used for pasteurizing and producing confectionery products face inefficiencies due to the need for different coolant loads during heating and cooling cycles, leading to reduced overall efficiency as excess coolant is not utilized during heating cycles and remains entrapped during cooling cycles.
Innovation Solution
A natural coolant refrigerating plant with a reversible transcritical carbon dioxide cycle, incorporating an intercooler and gas-cooler, and a system for recovering unused coolant through solenoid valves and branches to balance coolant load, allowing efficient use of coolant during both heating and cooling cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the plant is designed with a greater coolant load for heating cycles, then heating performance is improved, but coolant utilization efficiency deteriorates during cooling cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic coolant load adjustment by controlling solenoid valves to redirect coolant flow between different circuit branches based on operational mode. During heating cycles, coolant is directed through the gas-cooler branch to maximize heating capacity, while during cooling cycles, coolant is redirected through the intercooler branch to optimize cooling efficiency, thereby dynamically adapting the coolant load to match instantaneous operational requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between different coolant circulation paths using solenoid valves. The coolant flow distribution is dynamically adjusted by changing valve states, which redirects coolant through specific heat exchangers (gas-cooler or intercooler) depending on whether heating or cooling is required, optimizing performance for each operational phase
2Device complexity
If the plant uses a fixed coolant load design, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different operational cycles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal coolant circulation system where the same coolant can serve multiple functions by being dynamically routed through different paths. The solenoid-valve-controlled branching system allows coolant to alternatively flow through the gas-cooler branch or the intercooler branch, enabling a single coolant circulation system to adaptively perform both heating and cooling functions with optimized efficiency for each mode
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 maximizes efficiency by enabling the use of a single coolant load for both cycles, reducing cycle times and enhancing overall plant performance by effectively utilizing coolant during both heating and cooling processes.
Implementation Method 1
a motor-driven compressor (2) with two compression stages
Implementation Method 2
an intercooler (8) located upstream of the second compression stage
Implementation Method 3
a gas-cooler (10) located downstream of the outlet from the second compression stage
Implementation Method 4
the coolant circulating in the plant is used as a heat exchange fluid, both for heating and cooling the product
Data Source
AI summary
A natural coolant refrigerating plant includes a motor-driven compressor with two compression stages, at least one jacket for heating and/or cooling a product being processed, an intercooler located upstream of the second compression stage and a gas-cooler located downstream of an outlet from a second compression stage. A first branch connects an outlet of the gas-cooler with an inlet of the first stage of the motor-driven compressor for recovering a predetermined quantity of coolant.