Method and apparatus for equalizing a pumped refrigerant system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional direct expansion cooling systems for high-density heat loads require sophisticated controls and excessive floor space, and are not responsive to varying heat loads, necessitating a more efficient and compact cooling solution.
Innovation Solution
A pumped refrigerant system with a first cooling cycle using a pump instead of a compressor, and a second cooling cycle that can include either a chilled water system or a vapor compression system, utilizing volatile working fluids to manage heat loads without the need for water above sensitive equipment, and incorporating an equalization line to maintain system pressure and reliability during load changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional direct expansion cooling system is used for high-density heat loads, then the system can provide cooling capacity, but the system requires sophisticated controls, temperature sensors, and excessive floor space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex control system, temperature sensors, and associated components from the conventional DX cooling system. By using a pumped refrigerant system where refrigerant is actively pumped through evaporators without relying on thermal expansion valves and sophisticated controls, the system achieves reliable cooling capacity while dramatically reducing device complexity and floor space requirements.
2Reliability
If a conventional direct expansion cooling system is used for high-density heat loads, then the system can provide cooling capacity, but the system requires excessive floor space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a compact pumped refrigerant system where components are nested and integrated efficiently. The system uses a centralized pump and receiver configuration with refrigerant distributed through a network of evaporators, allowing for dense packaging of cooling equipment that significantly reduces floor space compared to conventional DX systems while maintaining full cooling capacity for high-density heat loads.
3Device complexity
If a pumped refrigerant system is used instead of conventional DX system, then the control complexity and floor space are reduced, but the system pressure may vary during load changes affecting reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a receiver equipped with a float mechanism that provides automatic feedback control of refrigerant levels and system pressure. As refrigerant returns from evaporators, the float responds to level changes and automatically regulates refrigerant flow into the receiver, maintaining stable system pressure during load changes without requiring complex electronic controls, thus preserving reliability while keeping the system simple.
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 effectively cools high-density heat loads with reduced control complexity and floor space requirements, conserves energy, eliminates the risk of water leaks, and ensures reliable operation by maintaining the dew point above the condensation point, thereby preventing latent cooling and ensuring consistent cooling capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a pump means (616) connected to the volatile refrigerant by a suction line (22) and to the receiver (50) by a discharge line (46)
Implementation Method 2
a condensing heat exchanger (40) having a volatile refrigerant inlet (42) and a volatile refrigerant outlet (44)
Implementation Method 3
an equalization line (500) plumbed between an inlet (42) to the condensing heat exchanger and the outlet (46) of the condensing heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A cooling system is provided that comprises: a refrigerant loop having a pump; an evaporator heat exchanger thermally coupled to a heat source, the evaporator plumbed in the loop; a condensing heat exchanger and a receiver plumbed in the loop; and an equalizing conduit plumbed between an inlet to the condenser and the receiver and comprising a flow regulating valve.