Turbo Compressor Cooling Duct with Airflow Splitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems using turbo compressors face challenges in maintaining efficient operation when the load of heat exchangers decreases, as they often operate near the surge region, making it difficult to individually adjust cooling capacity and avoid surge conditions.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device and method that includes a duct with a cooler and an adjusting mechanism, allowing for the discharge of cooled air into the room, which adjusts the air supply to the cooling target, thereby reducing the refrigerant flow rate and preventing turbo compressor operation in the surge region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the cooling capacity is reduced to match the decreased load, then the energy efficiency improves, but the turbo compressor operates in the surge region causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow from the exhaust port is divided into two separate paths: one path directs air to the cooler for cooling before returning to the cooling target, while the other path directly returns air to the cooling target without cooling. This segmentation allows independent control of cooling capacity and compressor operation, enabling the system to reduce cooling capacity to match decreased load while maintaining sufficient refrigerant flow through the compressor to avoid surge region operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the refrigerant flow rate is reduced to match the decreased heat load, then the cooling capacity adjusts to the load, but the turbo compressor operates near the surge region
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the air flow distribution between the cooler path and direct return path based on the heat load conditions. When the load decreases, more air is directed through the direct return path while less goes through the cooler, maintaining adequate refrigerant circulation. This dynamic adjustment allows the cooling capacity to adapt to varying loads while keeping the compressor operating outside the surge region through sufficient refrigerant flow.
3Reliability
If the cooling air flow is completely stopped to avoid surge, then the compressor operates stably, but the cooling target cannot be cooled when load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow distribution is dynamically adjusted based on cooling demands. When the load increases, the system increases the proportion of air directed through the cooler path to provide adequate cooling capacity. When the load decreases, more air is directed through the direct return path to maintain compressor stability. This dynamic control enables the system to provide full cooling capacity when needed while maintaining compressor stability through adequate refrigerant flow.
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 allows for flexible adjustment of cooling capacity, preventing turbo compressor surge and optimizing refrigerant flow, ensuring efficient operation across varying loads and temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a cooler that is provided in the duct and cools the air flowing inside the duct
Implementation Method 2
an adjusting mechanism that is located on a downstream side of the cooler, adjusts an amount of the air discharged from the duct into a room where the cooling target is installed
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device includes: a duct that guides air that has absorbed heat generated inside a cooling target and has been discharged, to the cooling target; a cooler that is provided in the duct and cools the air flowing inside the duct; and an adjusting mechanism that is located on a downstream side of the cooler, adjusts an amount of the air discharged from the duct into a room where the cooling target is installed.


