Refrigeration plant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current refrigeration plants for producing artificial snow and air-conditioning systems face challenges with low coefficient of performance (COP), high energy consumption, and limited operational temperature ranges, making them inefficient and costly for large-scale operations.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration plant design featuring a first enclosure with water at or near the triple point temperature, a second enclosure at higher pressure, a compression device, a condensing device, and a cold power extraction system, allowing for efficient cold production across a wide temperature range with reduced energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional refrigeration systems are used for artificial snow production, then snow can be produced, but the coefficient of performance is low (2-4) and energy consumption is high (40-120 kWh per cubic meter)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of water at the triple point (0.01°C, 611.657 Pa) where water can coexist in solid, liquid, and gaseous states. By operating the refrigeration cycle at or near this triple point condition, the system achieves efficient heat transfer and phase change, enabling high COP (>6, preferably >10) and low energy consumption (<5 kWh, preferably <3 kWh per cubic meter of snow) while maintaining high snow production efficiency
2Loss of energy
If cryogenic processes with nitrogen or carbon dioxide are used, then high COP can be achieved, but the overall energy consumption increases to several hundred kWh per cubic meter due to cryogenic fluid production requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses water itself as the working fluid throughout the entire refrigeration cycle, eliminating the need for separate cryogenic fluid production systems. Water is evaporated, compressed, condensed, and expanded using only the water substance, making the system self-sufficient and avoiding the additional energy burden of producing and managing nitrogen or carbon dioxide cryogenic fluids
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional refrigeration systems operate at positive ambient temperatures, then air-conditioning can be provided, but the operational temperature range is limited and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent operates the refrigeration system at or near the triple point of water (0.01°C, 611.657 Pa), utilizing the unique thermodynamic properties of water at this critical parameter point. This enables the system to efficiently operate across an extended temperature range from -30°C to +35°C, maintaining high energy efficiency (>6 COP, preferably >10 COP) regardless of whether the application is artificial snow production or air-conditioning, thus achieving both broad adaptability and sustained efficiency
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 achieves a high COP greater than 6, significantly reducing electric power consumption to less than 5 kWh per cubic meter of produced snow, and operates effectively from -30°C to 35°C, lowering construction costs and energy costs for large-scale operations.
Implementation Method 1
a compression device connecting the first enclosure to the second enclosure
Implementation Method 2
a condensing device partially housed in the second enclosure and adapted to condense the water in the gaseous state in the second enclosure into water in the liquid state
Implementation Method 3
a first enclosure containing water in the liquid state at a temperature lower than or equal to the temperature of the triple point of water or higher than the temperature of the triple point of water by less than 10° C.
Implementation Method 4
water in the gaseous state at a first pressure equal, to within 10%, to the saturated vapor pressure of water in equilibrium with the pressure of water in the liquid state in the first enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration plant including: a first enclosure containing water in the liquid state at a temperature lower than or equal to the temperature of the triple point of water or higher than the temperature of the triple point of water by less than 10° C., and water in the gaseous state at a first pressure equal to the saturated vapor pressure of the water in equilibrium with the pressure of the water in the liquid state; a second enclosure at a second pressure strictly higher than the first pressure by a factor of at least two; a compression device connecting the first enclosure to the second enclosure; a condensing device adapted to condense the water in the gaseous state in the second enclosure into water in the liquid state; and a cold power extraction device for extracting cold power in the first enclosure.