Compressor Liquid and Vapor Injection for Lower Discharge Temperature
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration systems face inefficiencies due to high discharge temperatures of refrigerant from compressors, which reduce cooling capacity and compressor efficiency, and existing methods fail to achieve quasi-isothermal compression effectively.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a liquid-injection system that injects a cooling liquid into an intermediate-pressure location within the compressor to absorb compression heat, combined with vapor injection through an economizer circuit, to decrease compression and discharge temperatures, thereby increasing cooling capacity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If compression is performed in conventional refrigeration systems, then refrigerant is compressed from low to high pressure, but discharge temperature becomes excessively high reducing cooling capacity and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by injecting cooling liquid into the compression chamber before the compression process completes. This cooling liquid absorbs compression heat during the compression process, preventing excessive temperature rise before discharge occurs. The cooling liquid is introduced at an intermediate stage of compression to proactively manage temperature rather than reacting to high discharge temperatures after compression completes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the compression process by introducing a cooling liquid that absorbs heat during compression. This alters the temperature-pressure relationship during compression, moving toward quasi-isothermal compression where temperature remains relatively stable despite pressure increase. The cooling liquid effectively changes the thermodynamic path of the refrigerant during compression.
2Use of energy by moving object
If compression heat is not reduced, then compressor operation is simpler, but efficiency is reduced due to high discharge temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cooling liquid as an intermediary substance between the refrigerant and the compression heat. This cooling liquid acts as a heat transfer medium that absorbs compression heat from the refrigerant during the compression process. The cooling liquid circulates through a separate circuit with a heat exchanger, providing an intermediary pathway for heat removal that improves compressor efficiency without fundamentally redesigning the compression mechanism itself.
3Productivity
If quasi-isothermal compression is achieved through cooling liquid injection, then cooling capacity increases, but system complexity increases due to additional injection system components
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling liquid circulation system serves multiple functions: it cools the refrigerant during compression, absorbs compression heat, and can be integrated with existing heat exchanger systems in the refrigeration cycle. The same cooling liquid circuit that enables quasi-isothermal compression can also function as part of the overall heat rejection system, reducing the need for separate dedicated cooling components and thereby mitigating the increase in 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
The liquid and vapor injection system reduces compressor temperatures, enhances cooling capacity, and approaches quasi-isothermal compression, simplifying system design and improving overall refrigeration system performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling liquid can absorb the heat of compression during the compression of the refrigerant flowing therethrough
Implementation Method 2
vapor injection of a refrigerant flow into an intermediate-pressure location of the compressor through an economizer circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration system can incorporate a liquid-injection system that can provide a cooling liquid to an intermediate-pressure location of the compressor. The cooling liquid can absorb the heat of compression during the compression of the refrigerant flowing therethrough. The refrigeration system can include an economizer circuit that injects a refrigerant vapor into an intermediate-pressure location of the compressor in conjunction with the injection of the cooling liquid. The incorporation of the vapor injection in conjunction with the cooling-liquid injection can advantageously increase the cooling capacity and/or efficiency of the refrigeration system and the performance of the compressor.