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US 2014/0360216 A1Published application
Gas defrosting system for refrigeration units using fluid cooled condensers
AssigneeHill Phoenix, Inc.
InventorJames Boyko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas defrosting system is disclosed for efficiently defrosting refrigeration units using fluid-cooled condensers. For each refrigeration unit in refrigeration mode, a cool condenser fluid is applied to the condenser to achieve a high thermodynamic efficiency. For each refrigeration unit in defrost mode, a warm defrost fluid is applied to the condenser to expedite the defrost process.
Claims20
A system for defrosting refrigeration units, the system comprising:
- single or multiple refrigeration units, each of said refrigeration units comprising a condenser, an evaporator, and an expansion valve, wherein each of said refrigeration units is operable in:
- a refrigeration mode during which said refrigeration units are applied for providing useful cooling, and
- a defrost mode during which a gas defrost method is applied for removing frost from said evaporator;
- a means for transferring a condenser fluid through said condenser during said refrigeration mode;
- and
- a means for transferring a defrost fluid through said condenser during said defrost mode.
3 more elements
A refrigeration system comprising:
- a refrigeration circuit comprising a condenser, an evaporator, and a compressor configured to circulate a fluid refrigerant through the condenser and the evaporator;
- a condenser fluid circuit separate from the refrigeration circuit and configured to circulate a chilled condenser fluid through the condenser to provide cooling for the fluid refrigerant in the condenser when the refrigeration system is operated in a refrigeration mode;
- a defrost fluid circuit separate from the refrigeration circuit and configured to circulate a heated defrost fluid through the condenser to provide heating for the fluid refrigerant in the condenser when the refrigeration system is operated in a defrost mode;
- and
- one or more valves configured to switch between circulating the chilled condenser fluid through the condenser in the refrigeration mode and circulating the heated defrost fluid through the condenser in the defrost mode.
2 more elements
A method for defrosting a refrigeration unit, the method comprising:
- circulating a fluid refrigerant through a refrigeration circuit between an evaporator and a condenser;
- operating the refrigeration unit in a refrigeration mode during which a chilled condenser fluid is circulated through a condenser fluid circuit separate from the refrigeration circuit to provide cooling for the fluid refrigerant in the condenser;
- operating the refrigeration unit in a defrost mode during which a heated defrost fluid is circulated through a defrost fluid circuit separate from the refrigeration circuit to provide heating for the fluid refrigerant in the condenser;
- and
- controlling one or more valves to switch between circulating the chilled condenser fluid through the condenser in the refrigeration mode and circulating the heated defrost fluid through the condenser in the defrost mode.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.