Cooling system with parallel compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems experience reduced efficiency and increased energy costs when additional low temperature loads are added, as the medium temperature compressor becomes strained, leading to decreased performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a parallel compression configuration where the discharge of low temperature compressors is fed into a parallel compressor instead of the medium temperature compressor, reducing the workload on the medium temperature compressor and enhancing system efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If additional low temperature loads are added to the cooling system, then the cooling capacity increases, but the medium temperature compressor becomes strained and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the compression function by introducing a dedicated low temperature compressor to handle low temperature load refrigerant, separating it from the medium temperature compressor's responsibilities. This segmentation allows each compressor to operate independently at its optimal efficiency point, resolving the contradiction between increased cooling capacity and compressor strain.
2Quantity of substance
If additional low temperature loads are added to the cooling system, then the cooling capacity increases, but energy costs increase due to reduced system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the compression tasks between dedicated low temperature and medium temperature compressors, the system maintains high efficiency operation across varying load conditions. The low temperature compressor handles low temperature loads efficiently, preventing the medium temperature compressor from operating in inefficient strained conditions, thereby reducing overall energy costs while providing increased cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The medium temperature compressor is designed to handle multiple functions: compressing medium temperature load refrigerant and also receiving discharged refrigerant from the low temperature compressor. This multi-functionality allows the system to accommodate additional low temperature loads without proportionally increasing energy consumption, as the medium temperature compressor can process the combined load efficiently.
3Quantity of substance
If additional low temperature loads are added to the cooling system, then the cooling capacity increases, but the medium temperature compressor workload increases leading to decreased performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated low temperature compressor that segments the compression workload, preventing the medium temperature compressor from becoming overloaded when additional low temperature loads are added. This segmentation maintains the medium temperature compressor's performance while enabling the system to handle increased total cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The low temperature compressor acts as an intermediary between the low temperature loads and the medium temperature compressor. It receives refrigerant from low temperature loads, compresses it, and discharges it to the medium temperature compressor, thereby protecting the medium temperature compressor from direct strain and maintaining its performance while enabling increased cooling capacity.
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 improves cooling efficiency by 5 to 10% or more, reducing energy costs and maintaining system performance even with increased low temperature loads.
Implementation Method 1
a high side heat exchanger, which removes heat from the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the first load. The second compressor compresses the refrigerant from the second load. The third compressor compresses the refrigerant from the third load and the refrigerant from the second compressor. The fourth compressor compresses the refrigerant from the first compressor.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system (200) includes a high side heat exchanger (105), a first load (120), a second load (125), a third load (115), a first compressor (135), a second compressor (140), a third compressor (130), and a fourth compressor (205). The high side heat exchanger (105) removes heat from a refrigerant. The first load (120) uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a first space proximate the first load (120). The second load (125) uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a second space proximate the second load (125). The third load (115) uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a third space proximate the third load (115). The first compressor (135) compresses the refrigerant from the first load (120). The second compressor (140) compresses the refrigerant from the second load (125). The third compressor (130) compresses the refrigerant from the third load (115) and the refrigerant from the second compressor (140). The fourth compressor (205) compresses the refrigerant from the first compressor (135).