Refrigeration apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional refrigeration systems for vehicles require separate cooling lines for each compartment, leading to high running costs, large refrigerant storage needs, and excessive refrigerant emission, which results in environmental issues and increased vehicle weight.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration apparatus that allows independent temperature control of multiple compartments using liquefied gas as the refrigerant, where refrigerant expelled from one compartment is reused to cool the other, reducing waste and emissions, and incorporating pressure gradients and fluid control mechanisms to manage refrigerant flow efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate cooling lines are used for each compartment, then independent temperature control is achieved, but device complexity and refrigerant storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling lines of the first and second compartments into a single integrated system. The refrigerant flows sequentially through both compartments via a common cooling line, eliminating the need for separate lines while maintaining independent temperature control through a shared controller that regulates refrigerant distribution to each compartment based on their respective temperature requirements.
2Ease of operation
If separate cooling lines are used for each compartment, then independent temperature control is achieved, but refrigerant storage volume and vehicle weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the refrigerant storage into a single shared tank that supplies both compartments through a common cooling line. This eliminates the need for separate refrigerant storage vessels for each compartment, significantly reducing the total refrigerant volume required and thereby decreasing the weight of the refrigeration system while still enabling independent temperature control through centralized management.
3Ease of operation
If refrigerant is expelled from each compartment separately, then each compartment can be cooled independently, but refrigerant emissions and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous refrigerant circulation system where refrigerant that has cooled the first compartment is redirected to cool the second compartment rather than being expelled. This continuous reuse of refrigerant throughout the system minimizes emissions to atmospheric levels while maintaining independent cooling capability in each compartment through controlled refrigerant distribution.
4Quantity of substance
If larger refrigerant storage is used, then sufficient refrigerant is available for both compartments, but vehicle weight and storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the refrigerant supply into a single shared storage tank that serves both compartments through a common cooling line system. This centralized approach optimizes refrigerant utilization by allowing the same refrigerant to serve multiple purposes sequentially, reducing the total quantity of refrigerant needed compared to having separate storage vessels for each compartment, thereby decreasing weight and storage space requirements.
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 usage and emissions, allows for smaller storage vessels, and decreases the volume of vapour clouds, thereby lowering operational costs and environmental impact while maintaining effective temperature control for both frozen and chilled compartments.
Implementation Method 1
Each heat exchanger may be an evaporator
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant is fed into the first compartment (18) and from the first compartment (18) to the second compartment (26)
Implementation Method 3
The refrigerant storage means is a pressure vessel operating at a higher pressure than the first conduit, and so refrigerant is automatically fed along the first conduit by the pressure gradient
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigeration apparatus and method of operating a refrigeration apparatus are disclosed. The refrigeration apparatus comprises a refrigerant storage means (12), a first compartment (18) comprising a refrigerant inlet in fluid communication with the storage means and a refrigerant exhaust outlet, and a second compartment (26) comprising a refrigerant inlet in fluid communication with the refrigerant exhaust outlet of the first compartment. The apparatus is configured to feed refrigerant from the storage means to the second compartment via the first compartment.