Cooling system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration systems face inefficiencies and increased costs when medium temperature loads are shut off, requiring additional piping and equipment to prevent malfunction of the medium temperature compressor, which also increases space requirements.
Innovation Solution
The system redirects refrigerant from the low temperature compressor to a flash tank, where it mixes with refrigerant from the medium temperature load, and the resulting flash gas is sent to a parallel compressor, with a heat exchanger transferring heat from a high side heat exchanger to the flash gas, eliminating the need for a desuperheater and reducing costs and space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If refrigerant from low temperature compressor is directed to medium temperature compressor suction, then medium temperature load can operate, but system cannot operate efficiently when medium temperature load is shut off and requires additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the refrigerant flow paths by introducing a flash tank that separates liquid refrigerant from flash gas. The flash tank receives refrigerant from the low temperature compressor and divides it into two streams: liquid refrigerant returned to the evaporator and flash gas directed to the heat exchanger and parallel compressor. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different operating conditions without requiring complex additional equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The flash tank serves multiple functions: it acts as a separator for liquid-vapor refrigerant, a storage vessel for flash gas, and a control point for directing refrigerant flow based on system conditions. The parallel compressor also provides multi-functionality by serving as a backup compression path when the primary medium temperature compressor is not needed, eliminating the need for dedicated shutdown equipment.
2Reliability
If additional equipment like desuperheater is added to handle refrigerant when medium temperature load is shut off, then compressor malfunction is prevented, but cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary device that transfers heat from the high side heat exchanger to the flash gas from the flash tank. This intermediary heat transfer mechanism prevents the need for a desuperheater by using the existing high side heat exchanger to condition the flash gas before it enters the parallel compressor, thereby maintaining reliability without adding expensive additional equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own high side heat exchanger to provide the necessary heat transfer function that would otherwise require a dedicated desuperheater. The flash gas is self-conditioned by receiving heat from the high side heat exchanger, eliminating the need for separate malfunction prevention equipment and reducing both cost and space requirements.
3Device complexity
If refrigerant is directed to flash tank instead of medium temperature compressor, then additional equipment is eliminated, but flash gas must be compressed by parallel compressor
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts refrigerant flow paths based on operating conditions. When the medium temperature load is operational, refrigerant flows to the medium temperature compressor. When the medium temperature load is shut off, the system dynamically redirects refrigerant through the flash tank to the parallel compressor. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to maintain productivity by utilizing the parallel compressor's capacity rather than leaving it idle, while simultaneously eliminating the need for a desuperheater.
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 for efficient operation of low temperature loads without a medium temperature load, reducing costs and space needs while improving efficiency by eliminating the need for additional equipment and piping, and optionally including a desuperheater at the low temperature compressor discharge.
Implementation Method 1
The flash tank stores a refrigerant and releases the refrigerant as a flash gas
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanger transfers heat from the refrigerant from a high side heat exchanger to the flash gas
Implementation Method 3
The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a flash tank, a load, a first compressor, a heat exchanger, and a second compressor. The flash tank stores a refrigerant and releases the refrigerant as a flash gas. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the refrigerant to the flash tank. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the refrigerant from a high side heat exchanger to the refrigerant released from the flash tank as the flash gas. The second compressor compresses the refrigerant released from the flash tank as the flash gas.