Economizer and refrigeration system comprising same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration systems with economizers primarily perform gas-liquid separation but lack a combined heat exchange function, leading to inefficiencies in refrigerant processing and increased refrigerant charge requirements in the condenser.
Innovation Solution
The economizer integrates a heat exchange cavity and a gas-liquid separation cavity, utilizing centrifugal force for separation and heat exchange, allowing refrigerants to be cooled and separated within a single component, reducing the need for a subcooler in the condenser and optimizing refrigerant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the economizer only performs gas-liquid separation, then the structure is simple, but the refrigeration efficiency is insufficient and refrigerant charge requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the gas-liquid separation function and heat exchange function into a single economizer component. The heat exchange tube bundle is integrated within the economizer body, allowing refrigerant to undergo both heat exchange and separation processes in one device, thereby improving refrigeration efficiency without proportionally increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The economizer is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: gas-liquid separation, heat exchange, and subcooling. This multi-functionality allows the device to improve overall system performance and reduce the need for separate components, addressing the contradiction between simplicity and efficiency
2Productivity
If heat exchange function is added to the economizer, then refrigeration efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange tube bundle is integrated within the economizer body rather than being a separate component. The tubes are arranged within the separation chamber, allowing heat exchange to occur during the separation process, thus combining two functions in one structure
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange tube bundle is nested within the economizer's separation chamber. The tubes are positioned inside the cavity where gas-liquid separation occurs, creating a nested configuration where one functional element (heat exchange tubes) is contained within another (separation chamber)
3Quantity of substance
If refrigerants are not pre-cooled before throttling, then the system requires less heat exchange capacity, but refrigerant charge requirements in the condenser increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange tube bundle performs preliminary cooling of the refrigerant before it enters the throttling device. This pre-cooling action reduces the amount of refrigerant needed in the condenser while ensuring proper cooling before phase change occurs in the expansion valve
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 integrated approach enhances refrigeration efficiency by enabling both heat exchange and gas-liquid separation, reducing refrigerant charge requirements and condenser size while maintaining effective gas-liquid separation, thus improving the overall refrigeration system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchange tube bundle provided in the heat exchange cavity and extending along the length direction
Implementation Method 2
the gas-liquid separation cavity inlet tube extends along a tangential direction of the outer shell, so that the refrigerants flow spirally along the length direction around the inner shell in the gas-liquid separation cavity, thereby achieving gas-liquid separation under the action of centrifugal force
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in the present application are an economizer and a refrigeration system comprising same. The economizer comprises: an outer shell that internally comprises a heat exchange cavity and a gas-liquid separation cavity; and a heat exchange tube bundle provided in the heat exchange cavity. The economizer is configured to enable refrigerants from a condenser to be subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchange cavity first, and then to be subjected to gas-liquid separation in the gas-liquid separation cavity after passing through a first-stage throttling device, such that gas refrigerants flow out of a gas outlet of the gas-liquid separation cavity, and liquid refrigerants flow out of a liquid outlet of the gas-liquid separation cavity. According to the economizer of the present application, the heat exchange cavity and the gas-liquid separation cavity are provided in the shell, the gas-liquid separation function of the economizer can be achieved, the heat exchange function of a subcooler can also be achieved, such that the structure of the two-stage compression refrigeration system with the function requirements of the subcooler can be more compact.