Reduced pressure carbon dioxide-based refrigeration system

A vapor compression refrigeration system comprising:

• a gas/liquid compressor having an inlet and an outlet, said gas/liquid compressor being for compressing gaseous refrigerant and for circulating refrigerant and liquid co-fluid through said refrigeration system, said co-fluid being characterized as having an equilibrium vapor pressure of 10% by weight carbon dioxide dissolved in said co-fluid at 40.degree. C. of less than 400 psia, said carbon dioxide being differentially soluble in said co-fluid;
• a resorber/condenser connected to said outlet of said gas/liquid compressor;
• an expansion device connected to said resorber/condenser;
• and
• a desorber/evaporator connected to said expansion device, said desorber/evaporator being connected to said inlet of said gas/liquid compressor, such that a stream of refrigerant gas and liquid co-fluid can be circulated through said gas/liquid compressor.

A refrigeration method comprising the steps of:

• (a) compressing a stream of carbon dioxide gas and between approximately 50% and 95% by weight liquid co-fluid to an increased gas pressure with a gas/liquid compressor, such that said compressed carbon dioxide gas at least partially dissolves in said liquid co-fluid, such that the heat of solution is at least partially released from said solution;
• (b) reducing the pressure on said liquid co-fluid containing said dissolved carbon dioxide, such that dissolved carbon dioxide comes at least partly out of solution with said liquid co-fluid and such that the heat of solution is at least partially absorbed from the surroundings by said vaporizing carbon dioxide;
• and
• (c) recirculating said stream of carbon dioxide gas and said liquid co-fluid to said gas/liquid compressor.

A refrigeration method comprising the steps of:

• (a) compressing a stream of carbon dioxide gas and between approximately 50% and 95% by weight liquid co-fluid to an increased gas pressure with a gas/liquid compressor, such that said compressed carbon dioxide gas at least partially dissolves in said liquid co-fluid, such that the heat of solution is at least partially released from said solution, said co-fluid being characterized as having an equilibrium vapor pressure of 10% by weight carbon dioxide dissolved in said co-fluid at 40.degree. C. of less than 400 psia;
• (b) reducing the pressure on said liquid co-fluid containing said dissolved carbon dioxide, such that dissolved carbon dioxide comes at least partly out of solution with said liquid co-fluid and such that the heat of solution is at least partially absorbed from the surroundings by said vaporizing carbon dioxide;
• and
• (c) recirculating said stream of carbon dioxide gas and said liquid co-fluid to said gas/liquid compressor.

A refrigeration method comprising the steps of:

• (a) compressing a stream of carbon dioxide gas and a liquid co-fluid in which said carbon dioxide gas is at least partially soluble to an increased gas pressure, said liquid co-fluid comprising between approximately 50% and 95% by weight of said stream, said co-fluid being characterized as having an equilibrium vapor pressure of 10% by weight carbon dioxide dissolved in said co-fluid at 40.degree. C. of less than 400 psia, said carbon dioxide being differentially soluble in said co-fluid;
• (b) dissolving at least a portion of said compressed carbon dioxide in said liquid co-fluid;
• and
• (c) reducing the pressure on said liquid co-fluid containing said dissolved carbon dioxide such that dissolved carbon dioxide comes out of solution with said liquid co-fluid.

A refrigeration method comprising the steps of:

• (a) compressing a stream of carbon dioxide gas and a liquid co-fluid in which said carbon dioxide gas is at least partially soluble to an increased gas pressure, said liquid co-fluid comprising between approximately 80% and 95% by weight of said stream, said co-fluid being characterized as having an equilibrium vapor pressure of 10% by weight carbon dioxide dissolved in said co-fluid at 40.degree. C. of less than 240 psia, said carbon dioxide being differentially soluble in said co-fluid;
• (b) dissolving at least a portion of said compressed carbon dioxide in said liquid co-fluid;
• and
• (c) reducing the pressure on said liquid co-fluid containing said dissolved carbon dioxide such that dissolved carbon dioxide comes out of solution with said liquid co-fluid.

A method comprising the steps of:

• (a) compressing a stream of carbon dioxide gas and a liquid co-fluid in which said carbon dioxide gas is at least partially soluble to an increased gas pressure, said liquid co-fluid comprising between approximately 50% and 95% by weight of said stream, said liquid co-fluid being characterized as having an equilibrium vapor pressure of 10% by weight carbon dioxide dissolved in said co-fluid at 40.degree. C. of less than 240 psia;
• (b) dissolving at least a portion of said compressed carbon dioxide in said liquid co-fluid, said weight percentage of carbon dioxide compared to co-fluid measured after the carbon dioxide is dissolved in the co-fluid being between 5% and 50% by weight;
• and
• (c) reducing the pressure on said liquid co-fluid containing said dissolved carbon dioxide such that dissolved carbon dioxide comes out of solution with said liquid co-fluid.