Refrigeration system with separate feedstreams to multiple evaporator zones
AssigneePDX Technologies LLC
InventorJohn S. Scherer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A refrigeration system has: (a) a fluid tight circulation loop including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, the evaporator having at least three evaporator zones, each evaporator zone having an inlet port, the circulation loop being further configured to measure the condition of the refrigerant with a refrigerant condition sensor disposed within the evaporator upstream of the evaporator outlet port; and control the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant within the evaporator, and (b) a controller for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant to the evaporator based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant within the evaporator upstream of the evaporator outlet port.
Claims30
A method of controlling a refrigeration system, wherein the refrigeration system comprises a refrigerant disposed within a fluid-tight circulation loop including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, the refrigerant being capable of existing in a liquefied state, a gaseous state and a two-phase state comprising both refrigerant in the liquefied state and refrigerant in the gaseous state, the evaporator having an outlet port and multiple evaporator zones in series, each evaporator zone having an evaporator zone inlet port, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) compressing refrigerant in a gaseous state within the compressor and cooling the refrigerant within the condenser to yield refrigerant in the liquefied state;
- (b) flowing refrigerant from the condenser into the evaporator via the inlet ports of each evaporator zone, wherein the refrigerant partially exists in a two-phase state;
- (c) flowing refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor;
- (d) repeating steps (a)-(c);
- (e) measuring the condition of the refrigerant with a refrigerant condition sensor disposed within the evaporator upstream of the outlet port;
- and
- (f) controlling the flow rate of refrigerant to the evaporator in step (b) based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant condition of the refrigerant from step (e).
A refrigeration system comprising:
- (a) a fluid tight circulation loop including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, the circulating loop being configured to continuously circulate a refrigerant which is capable of existing in a liquefied state, a gaseous state and a two-phase state comprising both refrigerant in the liquefied state and refrigerant in the gaseous state, the evaporator having an outlet port and at multiple evaporator zones in series, each evaporator zone having an inlet port, the circulation loop being further configured to (i) compress refrigerant in a gaseous state within the compressor and cool the refrigerant within the condenser to yield refrigerant in the liquefied state;
- (ii) flow refrigerant from the condenser into the evaporator via the inlet ports of each evaporator zone, wherein the refrigerant partially exists in a two-phase state;
- (iii) flow refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor;
- (iv) repeat steps (i)-(iii);
- (v) measure the condition of the refrigerant with a refrigerant condition sensor disposed within the evaporator upstream of the evaporator outlet port;
- and (vi) control the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator in step (ii) based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant within the evaporator from step (v);
- and
- (b) a controller for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant to the evaporator based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant within the evaporator upstream of the evaporator outlet port.
A refrigeration system comprising:
- (a) a fluid tight circulation loop including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, the circulating loop being configured to continuously circulate a refrigerant which is capable of existing in a liquefied state, a gaseous state and a two-phase state comprising both refrigerant in the liquefied state and refrigerant in the gaseous state, the evaporator having an outlet port and at least one inlet port, the circulation loop being further configured to (i) compress refrigerant in a gaseous state within the compressor and cool the refrigerant within the condenser to yield refrigerant in the liquefied state;
- (ii) flow refrigerant from the condenser into the evaporator via the evaporator inlet port, wherein the refrigerant partially exists in a two-phase state;
- (iii) flow refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor;
- (iv) repeat steps (i)-(iii);
- (v) measure the condition of the refrigerant with a refrigerant condition sensor;
- and (vi) control the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator in step (ii) based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant from step (v);
- (b) a controller for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant to the evaporator based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant;
- and
- (c) reversing conduits and valves for alternatively (i) flowing refrigerant from a discharge side of the compressor to the evaporator inlet port without first flowing to the condenser, (ii) flowing refrigerant exiting the evaporator to the outlet port of the condenser, (iii) flowing refrigerant from the outlet port of the condenser through the condenser to the condenser inlet port and iv flowing refrigerant from the condenser inlet port to a suction side of the compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.