Refrigerating circuit, facility comprising such a circuit and corresponding method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing installations for heating and cooling fluids, such as heat pumps, are limited in energy efficiency and complexity, requiring significant refrigerant usage and lacking flexibility in operating modes to meet building heating and cooling needs simultaneously and independently.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration circuit with a compressor, condenser exchanger, balancing exchanger, evaporator exchanger, and fluid management devices, including 4-way valves, allows for simultaneous or alternate production of hot and cold fluids by adjusting the exchanger modes and minimizing refrigerant usage through strategic connections and a sub-cooler exchanger for energy recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a refrigeration circuit uses multiple exchangers operating in different modes to provide heating and cooling simultaneously, then the versatility and functionality are improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple fluid management devices and connection nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing exchanger is designed to perform multiple functions by operating in different modes: it can function as a condenser to provide heating, as an evaporator to provide cooling, or both simultaneously. This multi-functionality is achieved through fluid management devices that redirect refrigerant flow to enable the same exchanger to serve different thermal purposes based on system needs
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration circuit is divided into separate functional circuits: a condenser circuit within the balancing exchanger and an evaporator circuit within the evaporator exchanger. These segmented circuits can operate independently or in coordination, allowing flexible configuration of heating and cooling modes without requiring a completely separate system for each function
2Loss of substance
If the installation uses a minimum of refrigerant through strategic connections, then the loss of substance is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper refrigerant distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The system includes pre-established connection nodes and fluid management pathways that are configured during system assembly to enable optimal refrigerant distribution. The 4-way valves and connection nodes are positioned and configured in advance to ensure proper refrigerant flow distribution across different operating modes, reducing the need for complex real-time adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
Fluid management devices including 4-way valves and connection nodes act as intermediaries to control and distribute refrigerant flow. These intermediary components facilitate precise refrigerant routing to different exchangers based on operating mode, ensuring efficient refrigerant utilization while minimizing the total refrigerant charge required
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system operates in multiple modes to meet heating and cooling needs, then the adaptability is improved, but the energy consumption increases due to multiple compressors and exchangers
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the heating and cooling functions into a single integrated refrigeration circuit that uses one compressor. By combining the condenser and evaporator circuits within the same system and using a single compressor to drive both, the system reduces energy consumption compared to having separate heating and cooling systems while maintaining the ability to meet both heating and cooling needs simultaneously or alternately
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 solution reduces refrigerant charge, enhances energy efficiency, and allows for flexible operating modes, improving the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the system while maintaining high performance in heating, cooling, and defrosting operations.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor
Implementation Method 2
an exchanger, called a condenser exchanger, comprising a condenser circuit
Implementation Method 3
an exchanger, called an evaporator exchanger, comprising an evaporator circuit
Implementation Method 4
by heat transfer from the condenser circuit to the transfer circuit of said exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~2A
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigerating circuit (2) for a facility, called a thermorefrigerating pump (1), comprising a compressor (200), a condensing heat exchanger (21, 22), a balancing heat exchanger (25), a node (NL1) for connection between the condensing heat exchanger (21, 22) and the balancing exchanger (25), and an evaporating heat exchanger (23), two fluid management devices (51, 52) each comprising four channels. The invention also relates to a facility comprising such a refrigerating circuit and hot and cold fluid production circuits, and to a method for heating and/or cooling fluid by means of such a facility.