Turbocompressor Refrigeration Cycle for Lower Compressor Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerating devices face inefficiencies and complexity, particularly in dual-stage compression systems, which lead to balancing issues and increased management complexity, limiting their performance and feasibility.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a turbocompressor unit with a pre-compression stage using first and second heat exchangers and turbines, which allows for mechanical energy utilization from bleed-offs to reduce the workload on the main compressor and enhance efficiency without external energy sources, enabling independent adaptation to load conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dual-stage compression plants with two independent compressors are used to increase efficiency, then refrigeration performance is improved, but device complexity and load balancing problems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two compression functions into a single compressor unit. The compressor includes a first compression stage that receives refrigerant from the evaporator and a second compression stage that receives refrigerant from a second evaporator, with both stages discharging to a common condenser. This merging eliminates the need for two independent compressors while maintaining dual-stage compression capability, thus improving efficiency without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The single compressor unit performs multiple functions by incorporating both first and second compression stages within one device. The compressor can handle refrigerant from multiple evaporators simultaneously and discharge to a common condenser, making it a multi-functional unit that replaces what would traditionally require two separate compressors
2Productivity
If dual-stage compression plants with two independent compressors are used to increase efficiency, then refrigeration performance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to more complex management
Solution Approach 1:
By merging two compression functions into one compressor unit with coordinated stages, the system reduces the number of independent components that require management. The single compressor unit with integrated control logic simplifies operational management while maintaining the efficiency benefits of dual-stage compression
3Device complexity
If conventional single-stage compression is used to maintain simple device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but refrigeration efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor is segmented into multiple compression stages (first and second compression stages) within a single unit. Each stage handles specific refrigerant flows from different evaporators, enabling efficient multi-temperature zone operation while maintaining a unified device structure that avoids the complexity of multiple independent compressors
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 coefficient of performance by approximately 30% compared to conventional devices, improving refrigeration efficiency and reducing electric energy consumption while maintaining adaptability to varying loads.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser able to condense the compressed gaseous refrigerant with consequent conversion thereof into the liquid state and release of heat to the external environment
Implementation Method 2
an expansion unit, for example a capillary tube or an isoenthalpic throttling valve, intended to lower the temperature and the pressure of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator, which absorbs heat from the external environment, cooling it, and transfers it to the refrigerating fluid at a low temperature and pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Refrigerating device formed by a main compressor (190), a condenser (140) downstream of and in fluid communication with the main compressor (190), main expansion means (170) downstream of the condenser (140) and an evaporator (180) downstream of and in fluid communication with the main expansion means (170), which also comprises a turbocompressor unit (160) in fluid communication between the evaporator (180) and the main compressor (190) and a heat exchanger (150, 152) having a hot branch (150c) connected upstream, via an inlet line (145), to the condenser (140) and downstream, via an outlet line (149), to the main expansion means (170) and a cold branch (15Of) connected, upstream, to an expansion means (142, 144) mounted on a branch (146) of the line (145) and, downstream, to a turbine portion (162) of the turbocompressor unit (160). The invention also relates to a method for circulating a refrigerating fluid inside the abovementioned device.