Dual Heat Absorption Ejector Cycle for Refrigerant Flow Splitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ejector refrigeration systems face inefficiencies in heat transfer and refrigerant management, particularly in the splitting and recombination of refrigerant flows, which affects overall system performance and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a configuration with two compressors, a heat rejection heat exchanger, and an ejector with primary and secondary inlets, along with controllable expansion devices and heat absorption heat exchangers to optimize refrigerant enthalpy management and flow splitting, allowing for improved refrigerant recycling and heat absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single compressor and single heat exchanger configuration is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the system efficiency and cooling capacity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the refrigerant flow into multiple streams using a flow splitter, with separate paths through first and second heat absorption heat exchangers. This segmentation allows parallel heat absorption processes to occur simultaneously, increasing total cooling capacity while managing complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector merges the refrigerant streams from the first and second heat absorption heat exchangers into a single combined flow before returning it to the compressor. This merging consolidates the separated cooling paths back into one system loop, maintaining manageable device complexity while achieving enhanced cooling capacity through the combined effect of multiple heat exchangers
2Loss of energy
If refrigerant flow is split and recombined through an ejector, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector acts as an intermediary device that receives refrigerant from the flow splitter, combines flows from multiple heat absorption heat exchangers, and returns the merged flow to the compressor. This intermediary component enables efficient heat transfer by facilitating proper flow distribution and recombination without requiring complex valve systems or multiple compressors
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector performs multiple functions: it acts as a flow mixer, a pressure regulator, and a refrigerant return mechanism simultaneously. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved heat transfer efficiency through optimized flow management
3Productivity
If dual heat absorption heat exchangers are used, then cooling capacity is enhanced, but the device complexity and refrigerant management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling load is divided between two separate heat absorption heat exchangers, each handling a portion of the refrigerant flow. This segmentation allows each heat exchanger to be optimized for its specific thermal requirements and enables parallel operation, enhancing total cooling capacity while distributing the complexity across modular units
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant streams from both heat absorption heat exchangers are merged in the ejector before returning to the compressor. This merging consolidates the dual heat exchanger system back into a unified refrigeration cycle, managing device complexity by using a single common return path and compressor interface
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 enhances system efficiency by optimizing refrigerant flow and heat transfer, leading to improved cooling capacity and reduced energy consumption, with controllable parameters ensuring optimal operation across varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
refrigerant received from the first and second compressors by the heat rejection heat exchanger rejects heat in the heat rejection heat exchanger to produce initially cooled refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
A first heat absorption heat exchanger is coupled to the means to receive a second flow of the reduced enthalpy refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
A second heat absorption heat exchanger is between the outlet of the ejector and the first compressor
Implementation Method 4
The ejector has a primary inlet coupled to the means to receive a first flow of the reduced enthalpy refrigerant. The ejector has a secondary inlet and an outlet. The outlet is coupled to the first compressor to return refrigerant to the first compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A system (20) has a first compressor (22) and a second compressor (52). A heat rejection heat exchanger (30) is coupled to the first and second compressors to receive refrigerant compressed by the compressors. The system includes an economizer for receiving refrigerant from the heat rejection heat exchanger and reducing an enthalpy of a first portion of the received refrigerant while increasing an enthalpy of a second portion. The second portion is returned to the compressor. The ejector (66) has a primary inlet (70) coupled to the means to receive a first flow of the reduced enthalpy refrigerant. The ejector has a secondary inlet (72) and an outlet (74). The outlet is coupled to the first compressor to return refrigerant to the first compressor. A first heat absorption heat exchanger (80) is coupled to the economizer to receive a second flow of the reduced enthalpy refrigerant and is upstream of the secondary inlet of the ejector. A second heat absorption heat exchanger (90) is between the outlet of the ejector and the first compressor.