Double effect air conditioning system
AssigneeGas Research Institute
InventorsRichard N. Christensen, Anthony C. DeVuono, William H. Wilkinson, D. Karl Landstrom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A absorption refrigeration system having cooling and heating modes of operation functions with a double-effect or "split" refrigeration cycle having approximately the same refrigerant concentration span in each cycle loop. The system includes a novel direct expansion combined evaporator and absorber assembly with improved heat transfer characteristics and with interchangeable liquid flows accomplished through actuation of a conventional reversing valve. Also, the system is provided with improved recuperative heat exchangers to further increase system energy conversion efficiencies.
Claims25
In an absorption refrigeration system for conditioning air within a building interior and having an air cooling mode of operation and an air heating mode of operation, in combination:
- a. first substantially vertical tube members each having an outer air heat transfer surface and an inner liquid refrigerant/concentrated refrigerant solution heat transfer surface;
- b. second substantially vertical tube members cooperating with said first tube members and each having an inner hydronic fluid heat transfer surface and an outer liquid refrigerant/concentrated refrigerant solution heat transfer surface;
- c. air distribution means flowing building air substantially horizontally between and around said first tube member outer air heat transfer surfaces in both the system air cooling mode of operation and air heating mode of operation;
- d. hydronic fluid loop means cooling and flowing hydronic fluid through said second tube members in heat transfer relation to said second tube member inner surface in the system air cooling mode of operation and heating and flowing hydronic fluid through said second tube members in heat transfer relation to said second tube member inner PG,30 surfaces in the system air heating mode of operation;
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- e. absorption refrigeration fluid distribution means separately and simultaneously flowing liquid refrigerant and concentrated refrigerant solution to said first tube member inner heat transfer surfaces and to said second tube member outer heat transfer surfaces in the system air cooling mode of operation and in the system air heating mode of operation,
- said absorption refrigeration fluid distribution means flowing liquid refrigerant to said first tube member inner heat transfer surfaces and flowing concentrated refrigerant solution to said second tube member outer heat transfer surfaces for vertical gravitational flow in the system air cooling mode of operation, and flowing liquid refrigerant to said second tube member outer heat transfer surfaces and flowing concentrated refrigerant solution to said first tube member inner heat transfer surfaces for vertical gravitational flow in the system air heating mode of operation.
In an absorption refrigeration system having a desorber unit producing refrigerant vapor from a dilute refrigerant solution and a condenser unit producing liquid refrigerant condensed from the refrigerant vapor produced by the desorber unit, in combination;
- a. an elongated generally vertical and substantially cylindrical desorber chamber receiving heat desorption of a refrigerant vapor from contained dilute refrigerant solution from a generally annular burner means positioned adjacent the desorber chamber bottom;
- b. an elongated generally vertical and substantially cylindrical open tubular baffle member extending concentrically into said desorber chamber from above and cooperatively connecting said desorber chamber to the system condenser unit;
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- c. inlet means directing dilute refrigerant solution into said desorber chamber in the region of said tubular baffle member;
- said inlet means directing dilute refrigerant solution generally tangentially to the desorber chamber vertical cylindrical wall to impart a swirling motion to said solution and effect liquid separation from vapor in the vertical range of said tubular baffle member.
An absorption refrigeration system producing a dilute refrigerant solution flow from the absorption of refrigerant vapor evaporated from a refrigerant liquid flow into a concentrated refrigerant solution flow, comprising in combination:
- a. a high-pressure desorber means receiving one portion of the system dilute refrigerant solution flow for desorption into refrigerant vapor and concentrated refrigerant solution;
- b. a high-pressure condenser means condensing said high-pressure desorber means desorber refrigerant vapor into refrigerant liquid;
- c. a low-pressure desorber means receiving the remaining portion of the system dilute refrigerant solution flow for desorption into refrigerant vapor and concentrated refrigerant solution;
- d. a low-pressure condenser means condensing said low-pressure desorber means desorber refrigerant vapor into refrigerant liquid;
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- e. absorber and evaporator absorption means receiving said high-pressure desorber and low-pressure desorber concentrated refrigerant solutions in combination and said high-pressure condenser and low-pressure condenser refrigerant liquids in combination for evaporation absorption into said combined high-pressure desorber and low-pressure desorber concentrated refrigerant solutions,
- said high-pressure desorber refrigerant solution and said low-pressure desorber refrigerant solution having approximately the same solution concentration spans during desorption.
In a double-effect absorption refrigeration system having a cooling mode of operation and a heating mode of operation, in combination, apparatus comprising:
- a. a vertically elongated, generally cylindrical, low-pressure desorber chamber means producing refrigerant vapor;
- b. a vertically elongated, generally cylindrical, low-pressure condenser chamber means concentrically substantially enveloping said low-pressure desorber chamber means in heat transfer relation, receiving refrigerant vapor at its upper region from said low-pressure desorber chamber means, and having a vapor outlet in its upper extreme;
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- c. a vertically elongated generally cylindrical jacket means substantially enveloping said low-pressure condenser chamber means and selectively receiving a heat transfer medium,
- said jacket means receiving recirculated heat transfer medium only during the system cooling mode of operation, and system cooling mode of operation, said low-pressure condenser chamber means producing liquid refrigerant only during the system cooling mode of operation, and said low-pressure condenser chamber means vapor outlet flowing refrigerant vapor only during the system heating mode of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.