Cooling system with low temperature load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration systems in CO2 booster configurations face unsafe operating conditions when medium temperature loads are not present or are imbalanced, leading to overheating of medium temperature compressors due to high refrigerant temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerant from the low temperature compressor is routed through a flash tank below its liquid level line, where it is cooled by the liquid refrigerant, and then sent to the medium temperature compressor via a flash gas bypass line, ensuring safe operation by reducing the refrigerant temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If refrigerant is routed directly from low temperature compressor to medium temperature compressor, then system simplicity is maintained, but medium temperature compressor overheating occurs due to high refrigerant temperature
Solution Approach 1:
A flash tank is introduced as an intermediary component between the low temperature compressor and medium temperature compressor. The flash tank receives high-temperature refrigerant from the low temperature compressor, allows flash gas to separate and be routed to the medium temperature compressor via a bypass line, while liquid refrigerant settles at the bottom. This intermediary device effectively cools the refrigerant and enables safe operation of the medium temperature compressor without significantly complicating the overall system.
2Reliability
If medium temperature load is absent or imbalanced, then system adaptability is reduced, but medium temperature compressor overheating occurs due to insufficient refrigerant cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The flash tank performs preliminary cooling and separation of the refrigerant before it reaches the medium temperature compressor. By pre-cooling the high-temperature refrigerant from the low temperature compressor and separating flash gas, the system ensures that the medium temperature compressor always receives refrigerant at safe operating temperatures, regardless of whether the medium temperature load is present or balanced. This preliminary action enhances compressor reliability under varying load conditions.
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 allows the medium temperature compressor to safely handle the refrigerant, preventing overheating and compressor failure, even when medium temperature loads are absent or imbalanced, by effectively cooling the refrigerant before it reaches the compressor.
Implementation Method 1
routing, by a refrigerant routing line, the refrigerant from the first compressor to the flash tank below a liquid level line of the flash tank
Implementation Method 2
sending, by a flash gas bypass line coupled to the flash tank, the refrigerant as a flash gas from the flash tank to a second compressor
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A system (100) includes a flash tank (115), a load (125), a first compressor (140), a second compressor (145), a refrigerant routing line (200), and a flash gas bypass line (150). The flash tank (115) stores a refrigerant. The load (125) uses the refrigerant from the flash tank (115) to remove heat from a space proximate the load (125). The first compressor (140) compresses the refrigerant from the load (125). The refrigerant routing line (200) routes the refrigerant from the first compressor (140) to the flash tank (115) below a liquid level line (205) of the flash tank (115). The flash gas bypass line (150) is coupled to the flash tank (115) and sends the refrigerant as a flash gas from the flash tank (115) to the second compressor (145). The second compressor (145) compresses the refrigerant.