Multi-Bed Carbon Purge System for Chiller Refrigerant Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low pressure chiller systems face contamination from non-condensables due to leaks, leading to degraded performance, with onboard regeneration systems failing to match the efficiency of offline regeneration in refrigerant recovery.
Innovation Solution
A purge system with multiple carbon beds arranged in parallel or series, equipped with heaters for regeneration and an IR sensor to detect refrigerant presence, ensuring efficient refrigerant recovery and reduced emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If onboard regeneration is used in purge systems, then refrigerant recovery is improved, but refrigerant release to ambient cannot be reduced below offline regeneration levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the carbon bed into multiple segments (first carbon bed and second carbon bed) arranged in series. The first carbon bed performs adsorption of refrigerant from the non-condensable stream, while the second carbon bed captures refrigerant that passes through the first bed. This segmentation ensures complete refrigerant recovery before venting, eliminating refrigerant release to ambient while maintaining continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The second carbon bed acts as an intermediary between the first carbon bed and the atmosphere. It intercepts and adsorbs any refrigerant that escapes the first carbon bed, serving as a safety barrier that prevents refrigerant from being released to the ambient environment while allowing non-condensables to pass through to the atmosphere.
2Loss of substance
If multiple carbon beds are used in series, then refrigerant recovery is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple carbon beds into a single integrated purge unit with unified heating and control systems. The first and second carbon beds are positioned within the same housing, share common heating elements, and are controlled by a single microprocessor, reducing overall system complexity despite the increased number of adsorption stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic control through a microprocessor that monitors refrigerant detection and automatically manages the heating cycles of both carbon beds. The system self-regulates the regeneration process, switching between adsorption and regeneration modes without manual intervention, which simplifies operation despite the complex multi-bed configuration.
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 high refrigerant recovery rates while minimizing refrigerant release to the atmosphere, enhancing the operational efficiency and performance of the chiller system.
Implementation Method 1
a heater operably connected to the plurality of carbon beds to selectably heat one or more of the carbon beds of the plurality of carbon beds to release refrigerant therefrom
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of carbon beds fluidly connected to the purge chamber into which a flow of refrigerant and non-condensables is selectably directed from the purge chamber to remove the non-condensables therefrom
Data Source
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AI summary
A purge system for removing non-condensables from a chiller system includes a purge chamber, a plurality of carbon beds fluidly connected to the purge chamber into which a flow of refrigerant and non-condensables is selectably directed from the purge chamber to remove the non-condensables therefrom. A vent line is fluidly connected to the plurality of carbon beds to dispose of the collected non-condensables, and a heater is operably connected to the plurality of carbon beds to selectably heat one or more of the carbon beds of the plurality of carbon beds to release refrigerant therefrom and direct the released refrigerant to the purge chamber.