Refrigeration plant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration systems face the risk of compressor damage due to the intake of liquid refrigerant during the compression of the additional mass flow, which requires expansion and cooling.
Innovation Solution
The additional mass flow from the intermediate pressure collector is expanded and fed to the deep-freeze intermediate pressure collector, allowing the liquid phase to separate, with the gas phase being compressed separately to avoid liquid intake by the compressor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the additional mass flow is expanded and cooled before compression, then the refrigerant temperature is reduced for better cooling effect, but liquid refrigerant may be drawn into the compressor causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The additional mass flow is separated into liquid phase and gas phase in the deep-freeze intermediate pressure collector. The liquid phase is utilized for deep-freeze cooling, while the gas phase is directed to the additional mass flow compressor unit for compression, preventing liquid intake by the compressor.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid phase is extracted from the additional mass flow through phase separation in the deep-freeze intermediate pressure collector and directed to the deep-freeze stage, leaving only the gas phase to be compressed by the additional mass flow compressor unit.
2Reliability
If the additional mass flow is compressed directly without expansion, then compressor damage from liquid intake is avoided, but cooling capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The additional mass flow is segmented into liquid phase (used for deep-freeze cooling) and gas phase (compressed by additional mass flow compressor unit), allowing the cooling function and compression function to be separated and optimized independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The additional mass flow serves dual purposes: the liquid phase provides deep-freeze cooling capacity, while the gas phase is compressed to high pressure and merged with the normal cooling mass flow to contribute to overall system cooling and maintain compressor operation.
3Productivity
If a separate additional mass flow compressor unit is provided, then the gas phase can be compressed efficiently without liquid interference, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration system is segmented into distinct functional units: the additional mass flow compressor unit handles only gas phase compression, while the deep-freeze compressor unit handles deep-freeze cooling, and the refrigerant compressor unit handles normal cooling, allowing each unit to operate optimally for its specific function.
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 method ensures that the liquid phase is utilized effectively while preventing compressor damage by ensuring the gas phase is compressed without further expansion, maintaining system efficiency and performance.
Implementation Method 1
the additional mass flow from the intermediate pressure collector expands via an expansion element and is fed to the deep-freeze intermediate pressure collector
Implementation Method 2
a liquid phase formed by expansion by means of the expansion element separates in the deep-freeze main mass flow within the deep-freeze intermediate pressure collector
Data Source
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AI summary
In order for a refrigeration plant, comprising a refrigerant circuit, in which a total mass flow of a refrigerant is guided, a refrigerant-cooling heat exchanger on the high pressure side, an expansion element which generates a main mass flow of liquid refrigerant and an additional mass flow of gaseous refrigerant which enter an intermediate pressure collector, at least one normal cooling stage which taps off a normal cooling mass flow from the main mass flow and expands it in a normal cooling expansion unit, a deep-cooling intermediate pressure expansion unit which feeds to a deep-cooling intermediate pressure collector a deep-cooling main mass flow of liquid refrigerant and a deep-cooling additional mass flow of gaseous refrigerant, a deep-cooling stage which conducts the deep-cooling main mass flow away from the deep-cooling intermediate pressure collector and has at least one deep-cooling expansion unit, a deep-cooling compressor unit which compresses the deep-cooling main mass flow and feeds it to a refrigerant compressor unit for compressing it to high pressure, to be improved such that the risk of aspiration of liquid is considerably reduced, it is proposed that the additional mass flow is expanded via an expansion element and is fed to the deep-cooling intermediate pressure collector such that a liquid phase separates off in the deep-cooling intermediate pressure collector and such that a gas phase of the additional mass flow, which forms in the deep-cooling intermediate pressure collector, is fed together with the deep-cooling additional mass flow to an additional mass flow compressor unit for compressing it to high pressure.