An improved refrigeration circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional refrigeration systems experience energy loss due to overheating in the evaporator and have lower efficiency when using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, especially at high external temperatures, with existing solutions being costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
The refrigeration circuit incorporates an ejector module with a convergent nozzle and mixing chamber to optimize pressure and temperature conditions, utilizing a dual evaporator setup with gravity-fed and expansion valve-controlled fluid distribution for enhanced efficiency, and can be adapted to various operating conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a traditional evaporator with overheating zone is used, then the refrigeration system can operate with simple structure, but energy loss occurs due to the overheating zone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of refrigerant from liquid to vapor in the evaporator to absorb heat. The ejector module creates a pressure difference that enables controlled phase transition, allowing the refrigerant to evaporate and absorb heat efficiently without requiring an overheating zone, thus reducing energy loss while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector module acts as an intermediary device between the condenser and evaporator, creating a pressure difference that enables the refrigerant to flow and undergo phase transition. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for complex valve systems and overheating zones while maintaining efficient heat transfer
2Productivity
If CO2 is used as refrigerant in traditional systems, then the system structure remains simple, but efficiency decreases at high external temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameters within the system using the ejector module, which creates a pressure difference between the condenser and evaporator. This parameter change allows CO2 to operate efficiently at high external temperatures by optimizing the pressure-temperature relationship of the refrigerant cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector module replaces traditional mechanical expansion devices with a fluid dynamic-based pressure difference generation mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for complex expansion valves and enables efficient CO2 refrigeration across a wider temperature range including high external temperatures
3Loss of energy
If expensive and complicated solutions are implemented to overcome overheating losses, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector module serves as a simple intermediary device that creates the necessary pressure difference to eliminate overheating losses without requiring complex valve systems or additional components. The pressure difference generated by the ejector enables direct expansion cooling that avoids the overheating zone entirely
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector module utilizes the pressure difference between the condenser and evaporator to automatically drive the refrigerant flow and phase transition process. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex control systems, motors, or additional energy input, achieving energy efficiency improvement without increasing system complexity
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 achieves high efficiency across all operating conditions, including high external temperatures, with energy recovery and automatic pressure optimization, making it suitable for both natural and synthetic refrigerants, and is cost-effective to implement.
Implementation Method 1
The refrigeration circuit incorporates an ejector module with a convergent nozzle and mixing chamber to optimize pressure and temperature conditions
Implementation Method 2
The distribution of the cooling fluid to the evaporator or evaporators 52 occurs in most cases from a liquid tank 50
Implementation Method 3
The dry vapor coming out from the evaporators 52 passes through the compressor 56 which increases its pressure
Implementation Method 4
the compressor 56 which increases its pressure and then is sent to the high-pressure exchanger 51 to be cooled and brought back to the liquid state
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Improved refrigerating circuit (20), preferably suitable for use with CO2 as refrigerant, characterized in that it comprises: - a tank (4) configured to receive and contain inside refrigerant both at the liquid state (5) and at the vapor state (7), - at least one compressor (1) communicating with said tank (4) for sucking the refrigerant from the vapor state (7), - a high-pressure heat exchanger (2) positioned downstream of said at least one compressor (1) and fluidically connected to it, - at least an ejector module (8) comprising an input (8M) for a motor flow (37), an input (8T) for a entrained flow (38), and an output (8OUT) for ejecting into said tank (4) the mixture (39) of said two flows, said input (8M) for the motor flow (37) being fluidly connected to the output of said high-pressure heat exchanger (2), - a first evaporator (24) that is fluidly connected both at the inlet and at the outlet with said tank (4), - a second evaporator (30) that is fluidly connected at the inlet with said tank (4) and at the outlet with said input (8T) for a entrained flow of said ejector module (8).