Refrigerant Mixture Composition and Countercurrent Condenser Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The refrigeration capacity of refrigeration circuits is unstable due to inappropriate refrigerant mixtures and ambient temperatures, leading to insufficient liquefaction of refrigerants in condensation, which reduces the evaporated amount and overall refrigeration capacity.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration apparatus with a refrigeration circuit comprising a compressor, condenser, expander, evaporator, and heat exchanger, using a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture with specific weight ratios of high-boiling, medium-boiling, and low-boiling point refrigerants, and a fan to generate cooling air for efficient condensation, along with countercurrent flow configurations in piping to enhance refrigerant cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a refrigerant mixture is used with high content of low-boiling point refrigerant to achieve lower evaporation temperature, then the evaporation temperature decreases, but the liquefaction efficiency in condenser deteriorates and refrigeration capacity becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the compositional parameters of the refrigerant mixture by limiting low-boiling point refrigerant content to 20% or less and setting specific ranges for medium-boiling point (10-40%) and high-boiling point (60-80%) refrigerants. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient liquefaction in the condenser while maintaining stable refrigeration capacity across varying ambient temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite refrigerant system combining three different boiling point components (low-boiling point refrigerant A, medium-boiling point refrigerant B, and high-boiling point refrigerant C) in specific proportions. This composite approach leverages the complementary characteristics of each component to achieve both efficient condensation and stable refrigeration performance.
2Temperature
If the ambient temperature increases, then the cooling demand increases, but the liquefaction efficiency of refrigerant in condenser decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the refrigerant mixture composition parameters to enhance condensation performance under high ambient temperature conditions. By optimizing the ratio of medium-boiling point (10-40%) and high-boiling point (60-80%) refrigerants, the system maintains effective heat rejection and sufficient liquefaction even when ambient temperature rises.
3Ease of manufacture
If inappropriate refrigerant mixture composition is used, then the system can operate with simple refrigerant charging, but the liquefaction efficiency decreases and refrigeration capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific compositional parameter ranges for the refrigerant mixture (low-boiling point: 20% or less, medium-boiling point: 10-40%, high-boiling point: 60-80%) that optimize both liquefaction efficiency and refrigeration capacity. These parameter specifications enable effective system operation with standard refrigerant charging procedures.
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 solution stabilizes refrigeration capacity by ensuring sufficient liquefaction of refrigerants, maintaining ultra-low temperatures, and maintaining refrigeration capacity across varying ambient temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger that cools a refrigerant flowing through the expander by means of the refrigerant flowing from the evaporator to the compressor
Implementation Method 2
The fan generates cooling air that cools the condenser
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerant mixture does not sufficiently liquefy in the condensation
Implementation Method 4
the amount of the refrigerant mixture to be evaporated in an evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration apparatus has a refrigerant. The refrigerant is a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture containing 50% by weight or more and 80% by weight or less of a high-boiling point refrigerant, 10% by weight or more and less than 50% by weight of a medium-boiling point refrigerant having a boiling point lower than that of the high-boiling point refrigerant, and 20% by weight or less of a low-boiling point refrigerant having a boiling point lower than that of the medium-boiling point refrigerant. The content of the high-boiling point refrigerant is larger than that of the medium-boiling point refrigerant, and the content of the medium-boiling point refrigerant is larger than that of the low-boiling point refrigerant. Piping through which the refrigerant derived from the compressor and flowing into the condenser passes includes a countercurrent flow configurator in which the refrigerant flowing through the piping is countercurrent to the cooling air.