Cooling circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling circuits with complex pump units are economically unfeasible due to high leak rates and operational inefficiencies, particularly at high pressures.
Innovation Solution
A simplified cooling circuit design featuring a pressure-tight pump chamber housed within a magnetic drive system, utilizing a low-delivery-rate pump with a piston or rotating element, and a gas removal unit to ensure efficient operation and minimize leaks, allowing for cost-effective and efficient refrigerant supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex pumping units are used in the supply unit, then the refrigerant can be supplied to the pressure chamber, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical drive feedthroughs with a magnetic coupling system. The pump element is driven magnetically through the pump chamber housing wall, eliminating the need for mechanical seals and feedthroughs that compromise pressure tightness. This substitution maintains reliable refrigerant supply while simplifying the mechanical structure and reducing leakage risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump chamber housing serves as an intermediary barrier that isolates the pressurized refrigerant from the drive mechanism. By using magnetic coupling through this housing, the system transmits driving force without creating direct mechanical connections that would compromise the pressure boundary, thus maintaining both reliability and simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical drive feedthroughs are used for the pump element, then the pump can be driven, but leakage occurs at high pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical drive feedthroughs by using magnetic coupling. The magnetic field penetrates the pump chamber housing wall to drive the pump element without creating mechanical openings or seals in the pressure boundary. This substitution maintains full drive capability while ensuring complete pressure tightness even at high refrigerant pressures.
3Power
If large volume pump chamber housing is used, then the pump element can be adequately driven, but the housing cannot be easily sealed pressure-tight
Solution Approach 1:
By using magnetic coupling through the pump chamber housing wall, the patent enables adequate drive power transmission without requiring large housing volumes for mechanical drive components. The magnetic field penetrates the housing wall efficiently, allowing compact pressure-tight housing design that is easy to manufacture and seal while maintaining sufficient drive capability for the pump element.
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 enables the use of inexpensive, low-leakage pumps with a leak rate comparable to permanently closed systems, ensuring efficient operation and effective cooling by maintaining liquid refrigerant delivery, even at high pressures.
Implementation Method 1
the pump element is driven by an electromagnetic or magnetic force acting through the pump chamber housing
Implementation Method 2
in a condenser, the refrigerant is liquefied in subcritical operation
Implementation Method 3
in supercritical operation the refrigerant is only cooled without being liquefied
Implementation Method 4
an evaporator located in the cooling circuit between the condenser and the suction connection
Data Source
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AI summary
In the case of a cooling circuit comprising a refrigerant compressor with a suction port and with a pressure chamber which has a pressure port, comprising a liquefier which is arranged in the cooling circuit downstream of the pressure port and which has a fluid collecting chamber in which a refrigerant reservoir of refrigerant forms, comprising an evaporator which is situated in the cooling circuit between the liquefier and the suction port, and comprising a feed unit which is connected at one side to the refrigerant reservoir and at the other side to the pressure chamber and which serves for the supply of refrigerant from the refrigerant reservoir to the pressure chamber and which comprises a pump unit for the refrigerant, to improve said cooling circuit such that it can be realized in an economically expedient manner, it is proposed that the pump unit has a housing which is closed off in pressure-tight fashion and which is provided with only an inlet and an outlet as access points and in the pump chamber of which there is arranged a pump element which can be moved for the purpose of pumping the refrigerant.