Refrigeration Circuit Switching With Heat Storage for Fast Defrost
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerating apparatuses require additional heat exchanging components and dedicated piping for defrosting, increasing equipment and construction costs, and do not effectively prevent liquid refrigerant from being recycled to the compressor during defrosting, which can damage the compressor.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerating apparatus with a refrigerating circuit that includes a heat storing tank to store evaporation waste heat, which is then used in the defrosting circuit to increase defrosting heat and prevent liquid refrigerant recycling by decompressing high-pressure gaseous refrigerant to a low-pressure state, ensuring only superheated gas is used for defrosting, thus eliminating the need for separate heat exchanging components and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a heat storing apparatus with separate heat exchanging portions is used to store and utilize heat during defrosting, then defrosting time is shortened, but equipment costs and construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storing tank is designed to serve dual functions: storing heat during cooling operation and providing heat during defrosting operation. By integrating both heat storage and heat utilization functions into a single apparatus, the patent eliminates the need for separate heat exchanging portions and dedicated piping, thereby reducing equipment complexity and construction costs while maintaining the benefit of shortened defrosting time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heat storage function and heat utilization function into a single heat storing tank. The tank stores heat from the refrigerant during cooling operation and subsequently uses that stored heat during defrosting operation. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate heat exchanging components and dedicated piping systems, resolving the contradiction between shortened defrosting time and reduced equipment complexity
2Power
If high-pressure liquid refrigerant is discharged directly to the evaporator during defrosting, then defrosting heat is increased, but liquid refrigerant may be sucked into the compressor causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary vaporization of the refrigerant by passing it through the heat storing tank before it reaches the evaporator. The refrigerant is vaporized using heat from the stored heat during defrosting operation, ensuring that only gaseous refrigerant enters the evaporator and subsequently the compressor. This preliminary action prevents liquid refrigerant from reaching the compressor, thereby maintaining compressor safety while still providing sufficient defrosting heat
Solution Approach 2:
The heat storing tank acts as an intermediary between the refrigerant discharge line and the evaporator during defrosting operation. It serves as a medium that both vaporizes the refrigerant and transfers heat to it, preventing liquid refrigerant from reaching the compressor while still delivering the necessary defrosting heat to the evaporator
3Productivity
If dedicated piping is installed to convey stored heat to the evaporator during defrosting, then defrosting efficiency is improved, but construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storing tank is designed to serve dual functions: storing heat during cooling operation and providing heat during defrosting operation. By integrating both heat storage and heat utilization functions into a single apparatus, the patent eliminates the need for separate heat exchanging portions and dedicated piping, thereby reducing equipment complexity and construction costs while maintaining the benefit of shortened defrosting time
Solution Approach 2:
The heat storing tank serves itself by storing heat during cooling operation and then automatically utilizing that stored heat during defrosting operation. The refrigerant passes through the tank, absorbing the stored heat and becoming vaporized, eliminating the need for external dedicated piping or additional heat exchanging components to convey the heat
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 reduces equipment and construction costs by utilizing a single heat storing tank for both cooling and defrosting operations, shortens defrosting time, and prevents compressor damage by ensuring only gaseous refrigerant is recycled, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the refrigerating apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
evaporation waste heat from the refrigerant that is discharged from the compressor is stored in the heat storing tank
Implementation Method 2
evaporation waste heat from the refrigerant that is discharged from the compressor is stored in the heat storing tank
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerant that flows into the heat storing tank absorbs evaporation waste heat that is stored in the heat storing tank
Implementation Method 4
decompressing high-pressure gaseous refrigerant to a low-pressure state
Implementation Method 5
the refrigerant is still at high pressure and in liquid form. This liquefied high-pressure refrigerant is decompressed at a pressure regulating valve, for example, and is vaporized by exchanging heat with a heat storing agent
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerating apparatus includes: a refrigerating circuit in which a refrigerant that is discharged from a compressor is conveyed under pressure sequentially to a first flow rate controlling apparatus, a heat storing tank, a condenser, a first decompressing apparatus, and an evaporator, and is recycled to the compressor; a defrosting circuit in which the refrigerant that is discharged from the compressor is conveyed under pressure sequentially to the first flow rate controlling apparatus, the heat storing tank, the first decompressing apparatus, and the evaporator, and is recycled to the compressor; and a flow channel switching apparatus that connects an outlet side of the heat storing tank to an inlet side of the condenser or to an inlet side of the first decompressing apparatus to form the refrigerating circuit or the defrosting circuit.