Thermal Storage Subcooling for Higher Refrigeration Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling systems lack efficiency and capacity due to inadequate subcooling of refrigerants before they reach the evaporator, leading to suboptimal energy utilization and cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A subcooling system that employs a refrigerant circuit with a subcooling heat exchanger, where a cooling fluid absorbs thermal energy from the refrigerant, reducing its enthalpy and increasing cooling capacity, coupled with a thermal storage unit to store and regulate the cooling fluid, enhancing the system's efficiency and capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional cooling systems operate without subcooling, then the system structure is simple, but the cooling capacity and energy efficiency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into separate functional modules: a subcooling heat exchanger dedicated to subcooling refrigerant, a thermal storage unit for cooling fluid storage, and a chiller system for cooling fluid regeneration. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system modularity and manageability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs subcooling of refrigerant before it enters the evaporator, and pre-cools the cooling fluid in the thermal storage unit during off-peak hours or when cooling demand is low. This preliminary action prepares the system components in advance, enabling the main cooling system to operate at peak efficiency during high-demand periods
2Use of energy by moving object
If subcooling is implemented without thermal storage, then the system can subcool refrigerant, but the cooling fluid cannot be regulated and energy efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal storage unit pre-cools the cooling fluid during periods of low cooling demand or off-peak hours, storing the cooled fluid for later use. This preliminary cooling action allows the chiller system to operate more efficiently during high-demand periods and reduces peak loading
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates the chiller system and thermal storage unit in periodic cycles, cooling the cooling fluid during off-peak hours or when cooling demand is low, then using the stored cold energy during peak demand periods. This periodic operation optimizes energy efficiency by avoiding continuous high-power operation
3Productivity
If the cooling system increases compressor work to maintain cooling output, then the cooling capacity is maintained, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the refrigerant by implementing subcooling, reducing refrigerant enthalpy before it enters the evaporator. This parameter change increases the refrigerant's cooling capacity per unit mass, allowing the system to maintain or increase cooling output while reducing compressor work and energy consumption
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
The subcooling system significantly increases the cooling capacity of refrigeration systems by reducing refrigerant enthalpy and improving energy efficiency, achieving a 25% increase in cooling capacity with the same compressor work or reducing compressor work by 30% to maintain cooling output.
Implementation Method 1
a subcooling heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit configured to receive cooled refrigerant from a first condenser of the refrigerant circuit and to subcool the refrigerant, a subcooling circuit configured to flow a cooling fluid through the subcooling heat exchanger such that the cooling fluid absorbs thermal energy from the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a thermal storage unit of the subcooling circuit configured to store the cooling fluid
Implementation Method 3
a chiller system configured to cool the cooling fluid of the subcooling circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerant flow through a refrigerant circuit may be cooled with a cold cooling fluid flow from a thermal storage unit to generate a warm cooling fluid flow. The cold cooling fluid flow and the warm cooling fluid flow may be thermally isolated in the thermal storage unit, and a chiller system may cool the warm cooling fluid flow from the thermal storage unit to at least partially produce the cold cooling fluid flow.