Method and apparatus for measuring and improving efficiency in refrigeration systems
AssigneeHudson Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKevin Zugibe, Douglas Schmidt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for optimizing an efficiency of a refrigeration system comprising means for measuring a refrigeration efficiency of an operating refrigeration system: means for altering a process variable of the refrigeration system during efficiency measurement: and a process for calculating a process variable level which achieves an optimum efficiency. The process variables may include refrigerant charge and refrigerant oil concentration in evaporator.
Claims24
A method for optimizing a refrigeration system, comprising:
- measuring a refrigeration efficiency of an operating refrigeration system;
- altering a process variable of the refrigeration system;
- determining a process variable level which achieves optimum efficiency, wherein the process variable is compressor oil dissolved in the refrigerant in the evaporator;
- establishing the operating point of the refrigeration near the determined optimum efficiency.
An apparatus for optimizing an efficiency of a refrigeration system, comprising:
- an evaporator;
- a condensed refrigerant line feeding the evaporator;
- means for measuring a refrigeration efficiency of an operating refrigeration system, comprising:
- an oil sensor for measuring an oil concentration in liquefied refrigerant in the evaporator;
- an oil removal system for reducing an oil concentration in the evaporator;
- and
- a control system for controlling the oil removal system based on the oil sensor;
- means for altering a process variable of the refrigeration system during efficiency measurement;
- and
- a processor for calculating a process variable level which achieves an optimum efficiency.
A method of optimizing operation of a refrigeration system comprising an evaporator, comprising the steps of:
- determining a sensitivity of the refrigeration system to a change in refrigerant charge, compressor oil dissolved in the refrigerant in the evaporator, and refrigeration system load;
- defining an efficient operating regime for the refrigeration system based on the determined sensitivity;
- controlling refrigerant charge to achieve the defined efficient operating regime.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.