Dual-circuit, multiple-effect refrigeration system and method
AssigneeMartin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
InventorRobert C. DeVault
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dual circuit absorption refrigeration system comprising a high temperature single-effect refrigeration loop and a lower temperature double-effect refrigeration loop separate from one another and provided with a double-condenser coupling therebetween. The high temperature condenser of the single-effect refrigeration loop is double coupled to both of the generators in the double-effect refrigeration loop to improve internal heat recovery and a heat and mass transfer additive such as 2-ethyl-1-hexanol is used in the lower temperature double-effect refrigeration loop to improve the performance of the absorber in the double-effect refrigeration loop.
Claims18
A dual loop multiple-effect absorption refrigeration system having a double-condenser coupling comprising:
- a first refrigeration loop defined by a double-effect absorption refriqeration loop comprising first and second generator means, first and second condensing means, first evaporating means, and first absorber means operatively coupled together for the circulation of a first refrigerant-containing solution therethrough and with the first and second condensing means adapted to respectively receive vaporous refrigerant from the first and second generator means for condensing the vaporous refrigerant;
- a second refrigeration loop in combination with said first refriqeration loop and defined by a single-effect refriqeration loop comprising third generator means, third condensing means, second evaporating means and second absorber means operatively coupled together for the circulation of a second refrigerant-containing solution therethrough;
- means for heating the second refrigerant-containing absorption solution in the third generator means to a first refrigerant-vaporizing temperature;
- first heat exchange means coupled to the third condensing means and to the second generator means for heating the first refrigerant-containing solution in the second generator means to a second refrigerant-vaporizing temperature which is lower than said first temperature;
- second heat exchange means coupled to the second condensing means and the first generator means for providing heat to the first refrigerant-containing solution in the first generator means;
- and
- third heat exchange means coupled between the third condensing means and the first generator means and in heat exchange relationship with the first refrigerant-containing solution in said first generator means for combining heat from vaporous refrigerant from the second refrigerant-containing solution condensed in the third condensing means with said heat provided to the first refrigerant-containing solution in the first generator means by said second heat exchange means for heating the first refrigerant-containing solution in the first generator means to a third refrigerant-vaporizing temperature which is lower than said second temperature.
A method for operating a dual loop multiple-effect absorption refrigeration system comprising first and second refrigeration loops with the first refrigeration loop having first and second generator means, first and second condensing means, first evaporating means, and first absorber means operatively coupled together and with the first and second condensing means respectively receiving and condensing hot vaporous refrigerant of a first refrigerant-containing solution from the first and second generator means in conjunction, and with the second loop having third generator means, third condensing means, second evaporating means, and second absorber means operatively coupled together with the third condensing means receiving and condensing hot vaporous refrigerant of a second refrigerant-containing solution from the third generator means, said method comprising the steps of:
- heating the second refrigerant-containing solution in the third generator means to a first temperature for vaporizing refrigerant contained therein;
- utilizing heat from the third condensing means for heating the first refrigerant-containing solution in the second generator means to a second refrigerant-vaporizing temperature that is lower than said first temperature;
- utilizing heat from the second condensing means for heating the first refrigerant-containing solution in the first generator means:
- and
- utilizing heat from the third condensing means with the heat provided to the second condensing means by the vaporous refrigerant from the second generator means for heating the first refrigerant-containing solution in the first generator means to a third refrigerant-vaporizing temperature which is lower than said second temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.