Refrigerative system including a refrigerative condenser/cooler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current refrigeration and cooling equipment require a constant source of water for heat removal, which necessitates chemical treatment and waste water management, posing environmental and regulatory challenges.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop 'refrigerative' process using a proprietary 'liquid absorption refrigeration' system with a 'tube and channel heat exchanger' design, where a strong solution evaporates to transfer heat from a target medium, condenses on the exchanger's interior, and re-evaporates to absorb heat from the absorbent, eliminating the need for constant water supply and chemical treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water is used for heat removal in refrigeration equipment, then heat transfer effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm and operational complexity increase due to chemical treatment and waste water management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary heat transfer medium (propylene glycol-based solution) that mediates between the refrigeration system and the environment. This intermediary fluid circulates through the heat exchanger, absorbing heat from the refrigerant, and dissipates it to ambient air through finned surfaces, eliminating the need for direct water contact and subsequent environmental disposal issues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the water-based mechanical cooling system with an air-cooled heat exchanger system. Instead of using water to directly absorb and carry away heat, the system uses ambient air flowing over finned surfaces to dissipate heat, substituting a liquid-based thermal transport mechanism with a gas-based convection system that eliminates water consumption and waste water generation
2Temperature
If water is used for heat removal, then cooling capacity is improved, but device complexity increases due to chemical treatment and waste water management systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the water treatment and waste water management subsystems from the refrigeration system. By eliminating the need for water-based cooling, the design removes chemical treatment equipment, filtration systems, and waste water disposal infrastructure, retaining only the essential heat exchanger components that directly perform the cooling function
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger system is designed to be self-sufficient, using ambient air as a free cooling resource. The finned heat exchanger surfaces passively dissipate heat to the surrounding environment without requiring external water supplies or treatment systems, making the system self-service in terms of heat rejection and eliminating complex auxiliary subsystems
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
Effectively removes unwanted thermal energy from the target medium to the atmosphere without requiring a constant water source or chemical treatment, reducing environmental impact and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
the refrigerant condenses on the interior surface of the channel section of the exchanger
Implementation Method 2
a portion of which evaporates when exposed to the target medium
Implementation Method 3
a proprietary heat exchanger design referred to as a 'tube and channel heat exchanger' which allows for the flow of a strong solution to pass over a coil containing the target medium to have heat removed from
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid absorption refrigeration system and a tube and channel heat exchanger include: an absorber section to contain a saturated strong solution; a pump connected to an outlet of the absorber section to receive saturated strong solution therefrom; a regenerator section connected to an outlet of the pump to receive a flow of pressurized saturated strong solution therefrom; an expansion device connected to an outlet of the regenerator section to receive a flow of subcooled strong solution therefrom; an evaporator section connected to an outlet of the expansion device to receive the subcooled strong solution therefrom, the evaporator section connected to the absorber section to return strong solution thereto; and a condenser section connected to the evaporator section to receive a refrigerant evaporated from the subcooled strong solution in the evaporator, the condenser section connected to the absorber section to return liquid refrigerant thereto.