Compact cooling system and method for accurate temperature control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CO2 evaporative cooling systems are complex, expensive, and require sophisticated control to maintain sub-cooling and pressure, making them larger and less accessible for widespread applications.
Innovation Solution
A compact cooling system that integrates the accumulator with the outlet fluid path, eliminating the need for a separate external heat exchanger and programmable logic control unit, using the discharge liquid from the pump to maintain sub-cooling and regulate refrigerant temperature within the accumulator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional external chiller and separate heat exchanger are used to maintain sub-cooling in the accumulator, then reliable sub-cooling control is achieved, but the system complexity and size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the external chiller and separate heat exchanger into an integrated accumulator assembly. The cooling element is positioned inside the accumulator to directly cool the refrigerant supply, eliminating the need for external sub-cooling hardware while maintaining reliable sub-cooling control throughout operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated accumulator serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores refrigerant, provides sub-cooling through the internal cooling element, and acts as a pressure control point. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated sub-cooling components, reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If an external chiller and separate heat exchanger are employed for accumulator sub-cooling, then temperature accuracy is maintained, but the system size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling element is nested inside the accumulator vessel, with the refrigerant flowing through channels within the accumulator structure itself. This nested configuration allows the sub-cooling function to be contained within the existing accumulator volume, eliminating the need for separate external heat exchanger components and reducing overall system size.
3Measurement precision
If a programmable logic control unit is used to manage heating and cooling of the accumulator, then precise pressure and temperature control is achieved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses passive thermal management where the internal cooling element automatically maintains sub-cooling through refrigerant flow dynamics. The accumulator self-regulates temperature and pressure through the integrated design, eliminating the need for complex programmable logic control units while maintaining precise control through the physical design itself.
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 system achieves reliable, efficient, and accurate temperature control without external sub-cooling, reducing complexity and size, making it more affordable and easier to control while maintaining high temperature accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
cooling of the supply of CO2 in the accumulator vessel 102 can be performed by employing an integrated cooling spiral 106
Implementation Method 2
The cooling spiral 106...allows for efficient heat exchange between the supply of refrigerant stored in said accumulator and said outlet fluid path
Implementation Method 3
heating is achieved by means of an electrical heater such as a thermo siphon heater 104
Implementation Method 4
The accumulator may comprise a heating unit adapted for heating said supply of refrigerant to a predetermined pressure or temperature
Implementation Method 5
The external chiller 108 also serves to sub-cool the refrigerant in the condenser 110...From the liquid pump 112, the subcooled refrigerant is supplied to a heat exchanger 114
Implementation Method 6
After having been pre-heated by means of the heat exchanger 114, liquid CO2 118...is supplied to an evaporator (not shown) in thermal contact with the experiment to be cooled. The pressure drop towards the evaporator causes the supplied liquid to boil in the evaporator
Implementation Method 7
The pressure drop between the evaporator (4-5) and the accumulator connection (1) is low, and hence the accumulator 102 directly controls the pressure and hence temperature of the evaporator
Implementation Method 8
the refrigerant returns to the cooling system 100 via the return pipe 116, and is channeled through the heat exchanger 114 to the condenser 110, whereupon the cooling cycle begins anew
Data Source
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AI summary
In an integrated two-phase accumulator controlled loop cooling system, the pumped refrigerant is employed to cool the supply of refrigerant in the accumulator vessel. No external cooling of the accumulator vessel is required, and a standard heater in the accumulator is sufficient to regulate the boiling pressure. This allows to provide a cooling system in which sub-cooling in the pump is guaranteed by the laws of nature, and which is hence more reliable, structurally simpler, better to control and cheaper.