Temperature-controlled system with thermally isolated components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration systems face limitations in refrigeration capacity due to restrictions on the use of flammable refrigerants like R290, which require minimal charge amounts, and conventional systems with ductwork reduce airflow, limiting efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a capillary tube for expansion, positions the condenser externally with thermal isolation, and uses an air plenum structure to exhaust heat to an external environment, maximizing refrigerant charge without increasing ductwork.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If flammable refrigerants like R290 are used to improve refrigeration capacity, then refrigeration efficiency increases, but safety risks increase due to flammability constraints requiring minimal charge amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the condenser and places it externally in a separate cabinet from the refrigerated space, allowing the use of flammable R290 refrigerant at higher charge amounts without compromising safety. The condenser is positioned in an external environment where heat rejection occurs away from the conditioned space, enabling increased refrigerant charge for improved capacity while maintaining safety through spatial separation.
2Loss of energy
If conventional ductwork is added to reduce airflow for heat rejection, then heat rejection efficiency improves, but refrigeration capacity is limited due to reduced airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal airflow through ductwork to vertical heat rejection through the cabinet exterior. The condenser is positioned at the top of the external cabinet where heat is rejected vertically to the surrounding environment, eliminating the need for restrictive ductwork and maintaining full airflow capacity for optimal refrigeration performance.
3Device complexity
If the condenser is positioned inside the conditioned space to simplify system configuration, then system complexity is reduced, but thermal burden on the conditioned space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser is extracted from the conditioned space and positioned in an external cabinet, separating the heat rejection function from the refrigerated environment. This external placement eliminates the thermal burden on the conditioned space while maintaining simplified system configuration through integrated condenser-evaporator design.
4Productivity
If refrigerant charge amount is increased to improve refrigeration capacity, then cooling performance improves, but system safety and efficiency deteriorate due to excessive refrigerant charge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes vertical space by positioning the condenser at the top of an external cabinet, allowing adequate refrigerant charge for optimal capacity while maintaining proper refrigerant distribution and heat rejection efficiency through the vertical configuration and external heat dissipation environment.
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 configuration enhances refrigeration capacity while maintaining environmental friendliness by using R290 within limits, reducing thermal burden on the conditioned space, and optimizing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The refrigeration circuit may include a suction line and capillary tube functioning as at least a portion of the liquid line so as to minimize the dimensions (e.g., length or the like) of the liquid line
Implementation Method 2
utilizes a capillary tube for the expansion device. In one example, the presently disclosed split refrigeration system reduces the dimensions of the liquid line
Implementation Method 3
Cooling for the refrigeration system may be provided by heat exchange with a heat absorbing heat exchanger of a refrigeration circuit of a cooling system, such as with an evaporator being the heat absorbing heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
The refrigerant loop may further include a condenser as a heat rejection heat exchanger
Implementation Method 5
a condenser configured to be coupled to the refrigeration circuit
Implementation Method 6
a compressor configured to be coupled to the refrigeration circuit
Implementation Method 7
the air plenum structure may be configured to thermally isolate the compressor-condenser assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed and described herein are example refrigeration units having an interior conditioned space and a refrigeration circuit charged with a refrigerant, such as an A3 refrigerant. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor-condenser assembly that is thermally isolated from an ambient environment of the conditioned space. An air plenum structure may thermally isolate the compressor-condenser assembly from the ambient environment of the conditioned space and direct heated rejection from refrigeration system. In an operational configuration in which the refrigeration system is installed in a structure, the compressor-condenser assembly may be thermally isolated from the ambient environment of the conditioned space via at least a portion of the structure, such as by positioning the compressor-condenser assembly on an exterior wall of the structure and coupling the compressor-condenser with the refrigeration circuit and conditioned space through the wall.