Energy saving refrigeration system using composition control with mixed refrigerants
AssigneeVai Holdings, LLC
InventorsYoung I. Cho, Cheolho Bai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An energy-saving refrigeration system circulates a mixture of R-134a, R-32 and R-125 whose composition is controlled using a vapor separator. A vortex generator is a preferred means to separate the mixture. For high thermal load operation, R-32 stays in the circulating line with increased cooling capacity, and R-134a and R-125 are stored in a storage tank. Conversely, for low thermal load operation, R-134a and R-125 stay in the circulating line with increased EER, and R-32 is stored in a storage tank. Multiple storage tanks can be used to control the composition of each refrigerant independently.
Claims39
A refrigeration system operable with a refrigerant mixture including components having different densities;
- the system comprising:
- a compressor, a plurality of condensers, an expansion device, an evaporator, a separator, and a storage tank;
- and wherein:
- an outlet of the expansion device is connected to an inlet of the evaporator;
- an outlet of the evaporator is connected to an inlet of the compressor;
- the separator is constructed to receive a refrigerant mixture at an inlet thereof and to provide components of the refrigerant mixture at respective outlets thereof according to the relative densities of the components;
- an outlet of the compressor is selectably connectable to the inlet of the separator or to inlets of the condensers;
- outlets of the condensers are selectably connectable to an inlet of the expansion device or to the storage tank;
- and
- an outlet of the storage tank is selectably connectable to the inlet of the expansion device.
A method of operating a refrigeration system of the type which uses a refrigerant mixture including components having different densities;
- and which is comprised of a compressor, a plurality of condensers, an expansion device, and an evaporator, the compressor, all connectable in a closed path for circulation of refrigerant, a separator constructed to receive a refrigerant mixture at an inlet thereof and to provide components of the refrigerant mixture at respective outlets thereof according to the relative densities of the components, and a storage tank,
- the method being comprised of the steps of:
- connecting the compressor, the separator, and the condensers to deliver a selected refrigerant component to the closed path, and to deliver the remaining refrigerant components to the storage tank for a first storage time interval;
- and
- after the first storage time interval:
- preventing delivery of further refrigerant to the storage tank;
- and
- circulating the unstored refrigerant through the closed path,
- the components selected for circulation and storage during the first storage time interval, and the duration of the first storage time interval being selected according to the thermal load.
A refrigeration system operable with a refrigerant mixture including components having different densities;
- the system comprising:
- a compressor;
- a plurality of condensers,
- an expansion device;
- an evaporator,
- the compressor, the condensers, the expansion device, and the evaporator being connectable in a closed path for circulation of refrigerant;
- a separator constructed to receive a refrigerant mixture at an inlet thereof and to provide components of the refrigerant mixture at respective outlets thereof according to the relative densities of the components;
- and
- a storage tank,
- the separator and the storage tank being selectably connectable with the compressor, the condensers, the storage tank and the closed path to store one or more separated components of the refrigerant mixture in the storage tank, thereby controlling the composition of the refrigerant being circulated in the closed path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.