Refrigeration system for an industrial process or an industrial machine and method for cooling an industrial process or an industrial machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration systems for industrial processes and machines face high power consumption and component wear due to frequent cycling to maintain precise temperature control, especially during standby or low-load operations, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration system with a buffer tank and controller that adjusts the chilled water temperature to a broader range in standby or low-load modes, reducing the need for frequent compressor activation and allowing longer operation of energy-consuming components to be switched off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the refrigeration system maintains precise temperature control by frequent cycling, then temperature stability is improved, but power consumption and component wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tank is pre-chilled to a lower temperature before standby mode begins. This preliminary cooling action stores cold energy in advance, allowing the system to maintain temperature stability during standby without frequent compressor cycling, thereby reducing power consumption and component wear.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the refrigeration system maintains precise temperature control by frequent cycling, then temperature stability is improved, but component wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tank is pre-chilled to a lower temperature before standby mode begins. This preliminary cooling action stores cold energy in advance, allowing the system to maintain temperature stability during standby without frequent compressor cycling, thereby reducing component wear and improving reliability.
3Measurement precision
If the refrigeration system uses a fixed narrow temperature range, then cooling precision is improved, but efficiency during standby mode deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the temperature control range based on operational mode. During standby mode, the buffer tank is pre-chilled to a lower temperature and the system allows a broader temperature range, reducing the need for frequent compressor activation. During active cooling mode, the system returns to precise narrow-range control, maintaining cooling precision while improving overall 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
This approach reduces power consumption and extends the operation of energy-consuming components, enhancing overall efficiency and system simplicity by minimizing frequent cycling and component wear.
Implementation Method 1
The transfer of the cold generated in the refrigeration process in the refrigeration machine 1 typically takes place via a first heat exchanger 2
Implementation Method 2
a first heat exchanger 2, which is thermally associated with the evaporator of the refrigeration machine
Implementation Method 3
The heat generated in the refrigeration process is dissipated via a second heat exchanger 3, which is assigned to the condenser of the refrigeration machine
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A refrigeration system and method for an industrial process or an industrial machine that is to be cooled during operation, comprisin a compression refrigeration machine (chiller) (1), a buffer tank (6) connected to the refrigeration machine (1) via refrigerant lines to be charged by the refrigeration machine (1) with chilled water of a set temperature, an interface (8a,8b) to the industrial process or machine for supplying cold water from the buffer tank (6) as a supply to a cooling circuit (22;22a) of the industrial process or machine and for receiving the cold water as hot water from the cooling circuit (22;22a) of the industrial process or machine as a return and directing it to the buffer tank (6), and a controller configured to control the chilled water in the buffer tank (6) by means of the refrigeration machine (1) in a first operation mode to a first set temperature and to control the chilled water in the buffer tank (6) in a second operation mode to a second set temperature which is in a temperature range between a minimum temperature and a maximum temperature, wherein the second operation mode is applied when the industrial process or the industrial machine is operated in a standby operation state or in a low load operation state. Thereby, the repeated switching on/off of the refrigeration machine can be avoided and the efficiency ratio can be improved.