Double circuited refrigeration system with chiller

Abstract

A more efficient system for cooling a load to very low temperatures by utilizing a double circuited refrigeration design. The design incorporates an air cooled condenser in a first circuit coupled in parallel with a water cooled condenser. The water cooled condenser is further coupled to a chiller in a second circuit. The chiller operates as an evaporator in the second circuit to cool a liquid that circulates between the chiller and the water cooled condenser. As the cool liquid circulates through the water cooled condenser, it enhances the efficiency of the water cooled condenser. The system operates in a single circuited mode when the difference between the desired load temperature and the ambient temperature is relatively small. The system operates in a double circuited mode the difference in temperatures is relatively large. A controller coupled to the system automatically configures the system to operate in the single or double circuited mode depending on the difference in temperatures between a desired load temperature and an ambient temperature. If the difference is slight, then the controller will automatically configure for single circuited mode. If the difference in temperatures is great however, then the controller will configure the system for double circuited mode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.