Patent Application
20160053630
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This invention pertains to an energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system.
One aspect of the present invention is an energy recovery apparatus adapted for use in a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system comprises a first heat exchanger, a compressor and a second heat exchanger. The refrigeration system is configured to circulate refrigerant along a flow path such that the refrigerant flows from the first heat exchanger to the compressor, and from the compressor to the second heat exchanger, and from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger. The energy recovery apparatus is adapted and configured to be in the flow path operatively between the second heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger. The energy recovery apparatus comprises a housing, a turbine, a first nozzle, and a second nozzle. The housing has a nozzle receiving opening and a discharge port. The turbine is within the housing. The turbine is adapted to be driven by refrigerant passing through the nozzle receiving opening. The first nozzle comprises a first nozzle body having a first conduit region. The first conduit region defines a first passageway. The first passageway has a discharge end. The first nozzle is operably connectable to the housing in a position in which the first passageway aligns with the nozzle receiving opening. The first nozzle is adapted and configured to expand refrigerant passing through the first nozzle and to discharge the refrigerant from the discharge end of the first passageway in a liquid-vapor state with a liquid component and a vapor component. The second nozzle comprises a second nozzle body having a second conduit region. The second conduit region defines a second passageway. The second passageway has a discharge end. The second nozzle is operably connectable to the housing in a position in which the second passageway aligns with the nozzle receiving opening. The second nozzle is adapted and configured to expand refrigerant passing through the second nozzle and to discharge the refrigerant from the discharge end of the second passageway in a liquid-vapor state with a liquid component and a vapor component. The size or shape of the second passageway of the second nozzle is different from the size or shape of the first passageway of the first nozzle to enable a user to selectively choose one of the first and second nozzles for operable connection to the housing, whereby the user may make the choice that accomplishes the better refrigerant flow characteristics when the passageway of the chosen nozzle is in the flow path of the refrigeration system. The discharge port is adapted to permit refrigerant to flow out of the energy recovery apparatus. The discharge port of the energy recovery apparatus is downstream of the turbine.
Another aspect of the present invention is a method comprising providing to a person an energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly, a first nozzle, and a second nozzle. The energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly is adapted for use in a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system comprises a first heat exchanger, a compressor and a second heat exchanger. The refrigeration system is configured to circulate refrigerant along a flow path such that the refrigerant flows from the first heat exchanger to the compressor, and from the compressor to the second heat exchanger, and from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger. The energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly is adapted and configured to be in the flow path operatively between the second heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger. The energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly comprises a housing, a turbine, and a generator. The housing has a nozzle receiving opening and a discharge port. The turbine and the generator are within the housing. The turbine is adapted to be driven by refrigerant passing through the nozzle receiving opening. The generator is coupled to the turbine and adapted to be driven by the turbine. The generator is configured to produce electricity as a result of the turbine being driven by refrigerant passing through the nozzle receiving opening. The discharge port is adapted to permit refrigerant to flow out of the energy recovery apparatus. The discharge port of the energy recovery apparatus is downstream of the turbine. The first nozzle comprises a first nozzle body having a first conduit region. The first conduit region defines a first passageway. The first passageway has a discharge end. The first nozzle is operably connectable to the housing in a position in which the first passageway aligns with the nozzle receiving opening. The first nozzle is adapted and configured to expand refrigerant passing through the first nozzle and to discharge the refrigerant from the discharge end of the first passageway in a liquid-vapor state with a liquid component and a vapor component. The second nozzle comprises a second nozzle body having a second conduit region. The second conduit region defines a second passageway. The second passageway has a discharge end. The second nozzle is operably connectable to the housing in a position in which the second passageway aligns with the nozzle receiving opening. The second nozzle is adapted and configured to expand refrigerant passing through the second nozzle and to discharge the refrigerant from the discharge end of the second passageway in a liquid-vapor state with a liquid component and a vapor component. The size or shape of the second passageway of the second nozzle is different from the size or shape of the first passageway of the first nozzle to enable a user to selectively choose one of the first and second nozzles for operable connection to the housing, whereby the user may make the choice that accomplishes the better refrigerant flow characteristics when the passageway of the chosen nozzle is in the flow path of the refrigeration system.
Reference numerals in the written specification and in the drawing figures indicate corresponding items.
An embodiment of an energy recovery apparatus of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 20 in
Referring to
Referring to
Except for the nozzle changeability, the energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly 22 combined with either of the first or second nozzles 24, 26 are similar to the energy recovery apparatus described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/948,942 filed Jul. 23, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference).
Referring to
Referring to
The turbine 42 is positioned and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the discharge end 70 of the first passageway 62 when the first nozzle 24 is connected to the energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly 22, and to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the discharge end 82 of the second passageway 74 when the second nozzle 26 is connected to the energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly. The discharge port 58 is adapted to permit refrigerant to flow out of the energy recovery apparatus 24. The discharge port 58 of the energy recovery apparatus 24 is downstream of the turbine 42.
The first necked-down region 64 has a downstream end 64a and the second necked-down region 76 has a downstream end 76a. The downstream end 64a of the first necked-down region 64 has a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the intake opening of the first nozzle 24. The downstream end 76a of the second necked-down region 76 has a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the intake opening of the second nozzle 26. Preferably, each necked-down region 64, 76 gradually decreases in cross-sectional area toward its downstream end 64a, 76a, respectively. Alternatively, each necked-down region may abruptly decrease in cross-sectional area without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Preferably, the first and second passageways 62, 74 are each in the form of a cylindrical bore, but can be of other shapes without departing from the scope of this invention. In the present embodiment, the downstream cross-section 78 of the first passageway 62 is adjacent the discharge (downstream) end 70 of the first passageway 62, and the downstream cross-section 80 of the second passageway 74 is adjacent the discharge (downstream) end 82 of the second passageway 74.
The downstream cross-section 78 of the first passageway 62 has a first effective diameter defined as (4A1/π)1/2, where A1 is the cross-sectional area of the first passageway 62 at the downstream cross-section 78 of the first passageway. The downstream cross-section 80 of the second passageway 74 has a second effective diameter defined as (4A2/π)1/2, where A2 is the cross-sectional area of the second passageway 74 at the downstream cross-section 80 of the second passageway 74. As used herein, the cross-sectional area is the planar area generally perpendicular to the intended direction of flow at the given point in the first or second passageway, e.g., at the downstream cross-section 68 or 80 of the first or second passageway. The cross section of each of the first and second passageways 62, 74 at any point along the first or second passageway lengths, respectively, is preferably circular, but it is to be understood that other cross-sectional shapes may be employed without departing from this invention. Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the first passageway 62 at the downstream cross-section 78 of the first passageway is not greater than the cross-sectional area of the first passageway at any point along the first passageway length, and the cross-sectional area of the second passageway 74 at the downstream cross-section 80 of the second passageway is not greater than the cross-sectional area of the second passageway at any point along the second passageway length. The first passageway 62 may have a generally constant cross-sectional area along the first passageway length, and the second passageway 74 may have a generally constant cross-sectional area along the second passageway length. Alternatively, the first passageway 62 may converge as it extends toward the discharge end of the first passageway, and the second passageway 74 may converge as it extends toward the discharge end of the second passageway.
Preferably, the first passageway length of the first passageway is at least five times the first effective diameter, and more preferably at least seven and one-half times the first effective diameter, and more preferably at least ten times the first effective diameter, and even more preferably at least twelve and one-half times the first effective diameter. The second passageway length of the second passageway 74 is preferably at least five times the second effective diameter, and more preferably at least seven and one-half times the second effective diameter, and more preferably at least ten times the second effective diameter, and even more preferably at least twelve and one-half times the second effective diameter.
Referring again to
The first nozzle 24 is preferably adapted and configured such that the liquid component of the refrigerant discharged from the discharge end 70 of the first passageway 62 has a velocity that is at least 60% that of the velocity of the vapor component of the refrigerant discharged from the discharge end 70 of the first passageway and more preferably has a velocity that is at least 70% of the velocity of the vapor component of the refrigerant discharged from the discharge end of the first passageway. Likewise, the second nozzle 26 is preferably adapted and configured such that the liquid component of the refrigerant discharged from the discharge end 82 of the second passageway 74 has a velocity that is at least 60% that of the velocity of the vapor component of the refrigerant discharged from the discharge end 82 of the second passageway and more preferably has a velocity that is at least 70% of the velocity of the vapor component of the refrigerant discharged from the discharge end 82 of the second passageway. If the refrigerant is expanded too rapidly in the nozzle (e.g., if the passageway is insufficiently long), then the velocity of the liquid component will be insufficient to impart the desired force on the turbine blades 50.
Preferably, the first nozzle 24 is adapted and configured to discharge the liquid component of the refrigerant from the discharge end 70 of the first passageway 62 at a velocity of at least about 190 feet per second (58 m/s) and more preferably at a velocity of at least about 220 feet/second (67 m/s). Preferably the second nozzle 26 is adapted and configured to discharge the liquid component of the refrigerant from the discharge end 82 of the second passageway 74 at a velocity of at least about 190 feet per second (58 m/s) and more preferably at a velocity of at least about 220 feet/second (67 m/s). Also, the passageways should not be made excessively long such that the pressure of the refrigerant is too low to match the pressure requirements of the first heat exchanger.
Preferably, each of the nozzles 24, 26 is shaped and configured such that refrigerant entering the nozzle at X % liquid and (100−X) % vapor, by mass, is expanded as it passes through the nozzle and is discharged from the discharge end of the corresponding passageway in a liquid-vapor state with a liquid component that is at most at (X−5)% and a vapor component that is at least (105−X) %, by mass. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that “X”, as used herein, is typically the number 100, but could be a number somewhat less than 100.
In operation, the energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly 22, and the first and second nozzles 24, 26 may be provided to a person. The person may be a manufacturer of refrigeration equipment, or a person downstream of the manufacturer. The manufacturer of refrigeration equipment may sell an indoor unit with the energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly 22 and the first nozzle 24 connected to the indoor unit. The second nozzle 26 and perhaps additional nozzles may be packed in an accessory kit and, along with the assemblage of the indoor unit and the recovery apparatus sub assembly 22 and the first nozzle, may be provided to a user. Because the different nozzles provide different flow characteristics, having the different nozzles enable the user to match the indoor unit with a different capacity outdoor unit. Written instructions, or other indicia may also be provided to indicate to the user that the second nozzle may be connected to the energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly 22.
As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. For example, although the energy recovery apparatus sub-assembly is described and shown as having one nozzle receiving opening and being adapted for receiving only one nozzle at a time, it is to be understood that the present invention also applies to a multi-nozzle energy recovery apparatus. A multi-nozzle energy recovery apparatus in accordance with the present application is similar to the multi-nozzle energy recovery apparatus disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/179,899 filed Feb. 13, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference), except the nozzles are changeable nozzles, and more than two nozzles would be included to provide changeability. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
It should also be understood that when introducing elements of the present invention in the claims or in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, the term “portion” should be construed as meaning some or all of the item or element that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first, second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing any relative position or time sequence between limitations. Additionally, the term person may be an individual or an entity, such as a corporation or partnership. Still further, the order in which the steps of any method claim that follows are presented should not be construed in a manner limiting the order in which such steps must be performed.
