Crescent-Shaped Economizer Design to Reduce Refrigeration System Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large commercial refrigeration systems using low-pressure refrigerants require significant space due to larger vapor volumes, leading to increased system width and size, posing a challenge in balancing size and performance.
Innovation Solution
A crescent-shaped economizer design with a matching contour to the condenser, featuring a concave first section and a convex second section, along with flow-equalizing plates and a filter chamber, to minimize space occupation while maintaining performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a low-pressure refrigerant is employed in the refrigeration system, then the refrigeration performance is improved, but the system width and occupied space increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The economizer is designed with a first section that fits around the condenser, creating a nested configuration where the economizer housing contains the condenser within its contour. This nesting arrangement allows the two components to share space, reducing the overall system width while maintaining the performance benefits of low-pressure refrigerant operation
2Reliability
If the economizer size is increased to accommodate low-pressure refrigerant, then the refrigeration performance is improved, but the occupied arrangement space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The economizer housing is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional areas along its length, with the first section having a smaller cross-sectional area that fits around the condenser. This local variation in dimensions allows the economizer to maintain adequate performance while minimizing overall volume occupation
3Reliability
If conventional economizer design is used, then the performance is maintained, but the transverse space occupation is large
Solution Approach 1:
The economizer housing features an asymmetric design where the first section has a contour that specifically matches the condenser housing shape, creating an asymmetric fit that optimizes space utilization in the transverse direction while maintaining performance through the asymmetric arrangement of internal components
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 design significantly reduces the transverse space occupied by the refrigeration system while ensuring effective gas-liquid separation and preventing liquid impact on the compressor, thus achieving a compact and efficient refrigeration system.
Implementation Method 1
a filter chamber (108) arranged at a downstream part of the gas-liquid separator (101a), and a wire mesh filter (109) arranged in the filter chamber (108)
Implementation Method 2
a filter chamber (108) arranged at a downstream part of the gas-liquid separator (101a), and a wire mesh filter (109) arranged in the filter chamber (108)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention provides an economizer, including a housing having a first section and a second section; and a condenser outlet, an evaporator inlet, and a compressor intermediate-stage inlet that are disposed on the second section of the housing; wherein the first section has a contour matching a housing of a commonly used condenser, such that the first section can fit the housing of the condenser. The economizer of the present invention can better match an outer contour of a conventional condenser, so that the both can fit each other in arrangement as much as possible when applied to an overall layout of a refrigeration system, thereby significantly reducing a transverse space occupied by the refrigeration system.