Refrigerant processing unit, a method for evaporating a refrigerant and use of a refrigerant processing unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerant processing units in closed cooling circuits are inefficient and costly due to the need for separate superheaters, which complicate control and increase piping requirements, making them sensitive to load fluctuations and expensive to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant processing unit design that integrates a flooded evaporator heat exchanger and a superheater heat exchanger as a single unit located below the recirculation container, utilizing gravity for liquid refrigerant collection and a common heating fluid conduit to simplify installation and reduce piping, while a separation plate ensures efficient separation of liquid and gaseous refrigerant phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate superheater is used to prevent liquid refrigerant from reaching the compressor, then the reliability of the compressor is improved, but the device complexity and piping requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the superheater function with the evaporator by positioning the evaporator outlet above the liquid level in the recirculation container. This integration eliminates the need for a separate superheater component and associated piping, while still providing the necessary superheating function to prevent liquid refrigerant from reaching the compressor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses vertical positioning (height difference) between the evaporator outlet and the liquid level in the recirculation container to achieve superheating. By exploiting the gravitational potential energy and the height difference, the system creates a pressure drop that facilitates flash gas formation and superheating without requiring additional horizontal piping or components.
2Reliability
If a separate superheater is installed, then the compressor is protected from liquid damage, but the manufacturing cost and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The superheater function is merged into the existing evaporator and recirculation container assembly. This eliminates the need to manufacture and install a separate superheater component, reducing both manufacturing complexity and installation costs while maintaining compressor protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporator is designed to serve multiple functions: cooling the refrigerant and simultaneously acting as a superheater by positioning its outlet above the liquid level. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated superheater equipment, reducing overall system cost.
3Device complexity
If the evaporator and superheater are arranged in the same vessel, then the device complexity is reduced, but the control difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heat exchanger into distinct functional zones: the lower portion serves as the evaporator for cooling, while the upper portion (above the liquid level) serves as the superheater. This spatial segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function independently, simplifying control compared to a fully integrated single-vessel design.
4Ease of operation
If the heat exchangers are located below the recirculation container, then gravity can be used for liquid refrigerant collection, but the piping arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the standpipe function with the recirculation container by positioning the evaporator outlet to discharge directly into the vapor space above the liquid level. This integration eliminates the need for a separate standpipe component, using the height difference alone to achieve liquid refrigerant collection and flash gas separation.
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 design enhances operational simplicity, reduces costs, and increases efficiency by using gravity for liquid refrigerant management, eliminating the need for active control and minimizing piping complexity, thus creating a more compact and less sensitive system to load variations.
Implementation Method 1
heat the liquid refrigerant to generate a phase change of the refrigerant from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase
Implementation Method 2
heat the gaseous refrigerant to generate a superheated gaseous refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
by placing it below the recirculation container, gravity can be used to collect the liquid refrigerant through a standpipe
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerant processing unit (1) for evaporating a refrigerant. The refrigerant processing unit (1) comprises a recirculation container (2) and a refrigerant inlet (3) connected to the recirculation container (2) for leading liquid refrigerant into the recirculation container (2). The refrigerant processing unit (1) also comprises a flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4) arranged to heat the liquid refrigerant to generate a phase change of the refrigerant from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase and a standpipe (5) extending between a liquid refrigerant outlet (6) of the recirculation container (2) and an evaporator inlet (28) of the flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4). Further, the refrigerant processing unit (1) comprises a return pipe (7) arranged to guide gaseous refrigerant from the flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4) back into the recirculation container (2) and a superheater heat exchanger (8) located below the recirculation container (2), wherein the superheater heat exchanger (8) is arranged to heat the gaseous refrigerant to generate a superheated gaseous refrigerant. Furthermore, the refrigerant processing unit (1) comprises a guide pipe (9) arranged to guide gaseous refrigerant from the recirculation container (2) into the superheater heat exchanger (8), and an outlet pipe (10) arranged to guide the superheated gaseous refrigerant out of the superheater heat exchanger (8) and thereby out of the refrigerant processing unit (1), wherein the flooded evaporator heat exchanger (4) and the superheater heat exchanger (8) are formed as a single heat exchanger unit (11) located below the recirculation container (2).A method for evaporating a refrigerant and use of a refrigerant processing unit (1) is also disclosed.