Thermal System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal cycle systems face reduced cooling capacity due to the presence of refrigerant in a gaseous phase in the evaporator, which decreases heat transfer efficiency and overall cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
The thermal cycle system incorporates an accumulator with a vortex breaker and a separator container to ensure refrigerant is primarily in a liquid phase before reaching the evaporator, using an internal heat exchanger to expel heat and an ejector to lower pressure and temperature, thereby enhancing the refrigerant's heat transfer capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If refrigerant is allowed to exist in gaseous phase in the evaporator, then the system can handle dynamic demands and store additional refrigerant, but the heat transfer efficiency and cooling capacity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulator is segmented into multiple chambers: a first chamber for storing liquid refrigerant, a second chamber for separating gaseous refrigerant, and a third chamber for oil separation. This segmentation allows the system to handle dynamic demands while maintaining refrigerant in liquid phase for optimal heat transfer in the evaporator.
Solution Approach 2:
An internal heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary component within the accumulator to pre-cool the high-pressure refrigerant before it enters the evaporator. This ensures the refrigerant arrives in liquid phase, maximizing heat transfer efficiency while still allowing gaseous refrigerant to be stored in the accumulator.
2Quantity of substance
If refrigerant in gaseous phase is present in the evaporator, then the accumulator can store additional refrigerant, but the heat absorption capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulator is divided into distinct separation chambers that physically isolate gaseous refrigerant from the liquid refrigerant supply line to the evaporator. The first chamber stores liquid refrigerant, the second chamber separates gaseous refrigerant, and a third chamber separates oil, ensuring only liquid refrigerant reaches the evaporator for optimal heat absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal heat exchanger performs preliminary cooling of the high-pressure refrigerant before it enters the evaporator, ensuring it arrives in liquid phase. This preliminary action maximizes the heat absorption capacity of the evaporator while the accumulator continues to store additional refrigerant in various phases.
3Productivity
If refrigerant is maintained in liquid phase before evaporator, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional separation components
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulator combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: refrigerant storage, phase separation, oil separation, and pre-cooling through the internal heat exchanger. This merging reduces the need for separate components while maintaining liquid phase refrigerant supply to the evaporator for optimal heat transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulator is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously stores refrigerant in different phases, separates gaseous and liquid refrigerant, separates oil from refrigerant, and pre-cools the refrigerant through the internal heat exchanger. This universality maintains heat transfer efficiency while avoiding the need for multiple separate components.
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 increases the efficiency of the evaporator and the overall cooling capacity of the thermal cycle system by maintaining refrigerant in a liquid phase, improving heat absorption and transfer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
An internal heat exchanger is positioned in the housing cavity in communication with the high pressure refrigerant inlet line and the high pressure refrigerant outlet line and is configured to expel heat to the housing cavity
Implementation Method 2
A vortex breaker is positioned in the housing cavity and is configured to prevent entrainment of the refrigerant in a gaseous phase into the second low pressure refrigerant output line
Implementation Method 3
The separator container is configured to store and promote separation of the refrigerant in a gaseous phase and the refrigerant in the liquid phase in the separator container cavity. The refrigerant in the gaseous phase is positioned toward the top portion of the separator container above the refrigerant in the liquid phase
Implementation Method 4
An ejector is in communication with the internal heat exchanger and configured to lower a pressure and a temperature of the refrigerant received from the internal heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal system includes an accumulator having a housing defining a housing cavity. The accumulator includes a low pressure inlet line, a first low pressure outlet line, and a second low pressure outlet line.