Multi-circuit cooling element for a refrigeration system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temperature-controlled cases face challenges in efficiently managing refrigerant usage and energy consumption due to the need for large quantities of coolant, which are costly and subject to regulatory limitations, especially in commercial settings where refrigeration loads are high.
Innovation Solution
A multi-circuit cooling element system where multiple fluid pathways are isolated within a single physical structure, allowing each circuit to have its own dedicated components and coolant, enabling selective control of cooling and reducing refrigerant usage per circuit, thus meeting regulatory requirements and optimizing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single cooling system with shared coolant is used, then the cooling coverage is comprehensive, but the refrigerant usage quantity increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling element is divided into multiple fluidly separate circuits (first circuit, second circuit, etc.) with isolated coolant pathways. Each circuit has its own cooling coil that can be independently controlled, allowing the system to serve the entire temperature controlled space while using less refrigerant in each individual circuit compared to a single large shared system.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple separate cooling systems are used to reduce refrigerant per system, then the number of components and piping increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate cooling circuits are merged into a single integrated cooling element structure. The first cooling coil, second cooling coil, and additional circuits are all housed within one cooling element assembly, sharing common mounting infrastructure and spatial arrangement, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining fluid separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cooling element structure serves multiple functions by accommodating multiple independent circuits within it. This universal structure provides both the mechanical support and thermal exchange functionality for all circuits simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate housing and mounting structures for each individual cooling system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single cooling circuit is used, then the system structure is simple, but the ability to selectively control cooling and adapt to different loads is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system incorporates dynamic control capabilities by allowing selective operation of individual circuits based on cooling load requirements. The system can adjust which circuits are active and at what capacity, enabling adaptive response to varying thermal demands while maintaining a relatively simple underlying circuit 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
This approach reduces refrigerant usage, lowers energy consumption, and allows for scalable cooling solutions, meeting refrigeration demands while adhering to environmental regulations, and facilitates easier maintenance by using smaller components and less piping.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-circuit cooling element in thermal communication with the temperature controlled space. The multi-circuit cooling element includes two or more cooling coils. Each of the cooling coils is coupled to a different circuit structured to selectively circulate coolant through the multi-circuit cooling element
Implementation Method 2
The multi-circuit cooling element further includes a plurality of heat exchange fins coupled to each of the two or more cooling coils such that each of the heat exchange fins facilitates heat removal from the temperature controlled space by each of the two or more cooling coils
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature controlled case includes a housing that defines a temperature controlled space and a multi-circuit cooling element in thermal communication with the temperature controlled space. The multi-circuit cooling element includes two or more cooling coils. Each of the cooling coils is coupled to a different circuit structured to selectively circulate coolant through the multi-circuit cooling element. Each circuit is fluidly separate from each remaining circuit such that the coolant circulated through each circuit is not shared with each remaining circuit. The multi-circuit cooling element further includes a plurality of heat exchange fins coupled to each of the two or more cooling coils such that each of the heat exchange fins facilitates heat removal from the temperature controlled space by each of the two or more cooling coils.