Single-Phase Low-Pressure Refrigeration Using Vacuum Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration systems face inefficiencies and environmental concerns due to their vapor-compression cycle, which requires phase-changing fluids like Freon, leading to suboptimal cooling capacity and energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A single phase, low pressure refrigeration system utilizing a thermo-vessel-coil enclosed within a chiller with a coolant solution, eliminating the need for compression, expansion, and phase-changing coolant, featuring a closed loop fluid circuit with a coolant pump, fan, ev-coil, and vacuum system to maintain temperature through deep vacuum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a vapor-compression cycle with phase-changing refrigerant is used, then cooling capacity is achieved, but energy efficiency decreases and environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters by eliminating phase change and using single-phase liquid coolant at low pressures. The system uses a desorber to generate cooling effect through heat absorption without compression or phase change, fundamentally altering the thermodynamic parameters from conventional vapor-compression cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression system with a thermal desorption system. Instead of using a compressor to pressurize refrigerant, the system uses a desorber that operates on thermal principles to achieve cooling, eliminating the need for mechanical compression components
2Temperature
If phase-changing refrigerant like Freon is used, then cooling effect is achieved, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the refrigerant state parameter from phase-changing (liquid-vapor) to single-phase liquid only. This eliminates the need for environmentally harmful refrigerants like Freon while maintaining cooling effect through alternative thermal mechanisms in the desorber
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an inert, environmentally benign cooling environment by using water or water-glycol based coolants instead of ozone-depleting or greenhouse gas refrigerants. The closed-loop system prevents any harmful emissions to the environment
3Reliability
If compression and expansion components are included, then refrigeration cycle is completed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the compression and expansion components from the refrigeration system. By taking out these complex mechanical components, the system achieves the same refrigeration effect through a simpler desorption-based thermal cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The desorber component performs multiple functions: it acts as both the cooling generation chamber and the heat exchange medium containment vessel. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed compared to conventional systems requiring separate compressors, condensers, expansion valves, and evaporators
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 system achieves enhanced cooling efficiency by maintaining coolant in a liquid state, allowing for new ev-coil designs that exceed prior art specifications, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing environmental impact by eliminating Freon use.
Implementation Method 1
A vacuum supply circuit comprised of a vacuum reservoir (a deep vacuum reservoir), a vacuum pump, a moisture separator and a vacuum regulator valve, is used to keep the chiller in deep vacuum and devoid of heat
Implementation Method 2
The thermo-vessel-coil enclosed within the chiller, has sufficient thermal capacity so as to eliminate the need for compression, expansion, and phase changing coolant
Implementation Method 3
air at the temperature of the room is blown by a fan across the evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid chiller includes a tubular coil enclosed within a vacuum housing which is partially filled with a coolant and an atmosphere with the vacuum housing connected to a vacuum source. A valve selectively connects the vacuum source to the vacuum housing to allow selective reduction of the pressure within the vacuum housing to obtain a reduction of temperature of the coolant therein. A conventional, compressor type refrigeration system may be connected to the vacuum housing for chilling the vacuum housing and the atmosphere and coolant therein to an initial temperature, prior to applying a vacuum to the vacuum housing for further temperature reduction. A fluid, which may be a secondary coolant, flows through the tubular coil at least partially immersed in the coolant to cool the secondary coolant. The secondary coolant is used to cool a heat load.