Refrigerant Subcooling Circuit for Stable Liquid Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration systems fail to supply refrigerant in a liquid single-phase state to the utilization side circuit during cooling operations, leading to reduced cooling capacity due to the refrigerant changing to a gas-liquid two-phase state, causing pressure loss and decreased wetness fraction.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a gas-liquid separator and cooling means, including gas and liquid refrigerant pressure reducing mechanisms, to cool the refrigerant from the separator to a subcooled state before entering the utilization side circuit, ensuring it remains in a liquid state despite pressure losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If refrigerant is supplied as saturated liquid from the refrigerant adjustment tank, then the system structure is simple, but the refrigerant changes to gas-liquid two-phase state due to pressure loss, reducing cooling capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by subcooling the liquid refrigerant before it leaves the refrigerant adjustment tank. The cooling means (heat exchanger) cools the refrigerant below its saturation temperature in advance, creating a temperature margin that prevents flash evaporation during subsequent pressure loss in the piping system. This ensures the refrigerant remains in liquid state until it reaches the expansion device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the refrigerant by introducing a cooling means that reduces the refrigerant temperature below its saturation point. This parameter change (subcooling) transforms the refrigerant from a saturated liquid state to a subcooled liquid state, preventing phase change during pressure loss and improving cooling capacity.
2Loss of energy
If refrigerant flows through piping without subcooling, then the system is simple, but pressure loss increases and wetness fraction decreases, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling means performs preliminary subcooling of the refrigerant before it enters the piping system. By reducing the refrigerant temperature below saturation in advance, the system creates a buffer that compensates for subsequent pressure losses during flow, maintaining the refrigerant in liquid state and preventing excessive pressure drop and wetness fraction reduction.
3Productivity
If liquid refrigerant is supplied to the utilization side circuit, then cooling capacity improves, but the refrigerant may flash evaporate in the piping, causing two-phase flow and reduced performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by subcooling the liquid refrigerant before it leaves the refrigerant adjustment tank. The cooling means (heat exchanger) cools the refrigerant below its saturation temperature in advance, creating a temperature margin that prevents flash evaporation during subsequent pressure loss in the piping system. This ensures the refrigerant remains in liquid state until it reaches the expansion device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the refrigerant by introducing a cooling means that reduces the refrigerant temperature below its saturation point. This parameter change (subcooling) transforms the refrigerant from a saturated liquid state to a subcooled liquid state, preventing phase change during pressure loss and improving cooling capacity.
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 configuration maintains the refrigerant in a liquid single-phase state, enhancing cooling capacity and reducing pressure losses, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the refrigeration system by ensuring consistent refrigerant supply and increased enthalpy difference across the utilization side heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-liquid separator (35) for the separation of refrigerant flowing therein from the expander (31) into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a cooling means (36, 45, 53, 55) for the cooling of liquid refrigerant heading from the gas-liquid separator (35) to the utilization side circuit (11) in the cooling operation
Implementation Method 3
a gas refrigerant pressure reducing mechanism (36), disposed in a gas supply pipe (37) for the feeding of gas refrigerant within the gas-liquid separator (35) to the compressor (30), for the pressure reduction of refrigerant in the gas supply pipe (37)
Data Source
AI summary
A heat source side circuit (14) includes a gas-liquid separator (35) for the separation of refrigerant flowing therein from an expander (31) into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and a cooling means (36, 45, 53, 55) for the cooling of liquid refrigerant heading from the gas-liquid separator (35) to a utilization side circuit (11). Since the refrigerant exiting the gas-liquid separator (35) is in a saturated liquid form, it always changes state to a subcooled state whenever cooled by the cooling means (36, 45, 53, 55).