This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 112123510, filed on Jun. 21, 2023. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
The disclosure relates to a refrigerant system, and in particular to a refrigerant system and a controlling method thereof.
In the refrigerant system, the compressor extracts the low-pressure gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator and compresses the low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, which is then transported to the condenser. The high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is exothermic in the condenser to form high-pressure liquid refrigerant. Next, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows through the expansion valve and is depressurized to a low-pressure liquid refrigerant. Then, the low-pressure liquid refrigerant flows into the evaporator and absorbs heat in the evaporator to form low-pressure gaseous refrigerant to complete the refrigerant cycle.
Specifically, the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant from the compressor to the condenser is accompanied by lubricating oil. The high-pressure gaseous refrigerant and the lubricating oil are first transported to the oil separator, which separates the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant and the lubricating oil, and then the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is sent to the condenser. As a result, the oil separator is under high pressure and generates a huge pressure difference with the input side of the compressor, which causes the compressor to be subjected to a huge load after shutdown and restart, which not only easily leads to the damage of the internal parts (such as motors, bearings, or other components), but also leads to a decline in the operating efficiency of the compressor and an increase in the energy consumption.
The disclosure provides a refrigerant system and a control method thereof, capable of reducing a start-up load of a compressor and preventing bearing damage caused by unsmooth lubrication during start-up of the compressor.
The disclosure proposes a refrigerant system, including a compressor, an oil separator, an oil solenoid valve, a condenser, an evaporator, a bypass pipe, and a bypass solenoid valve. The compressor has an input end and an output end opposite to the input end. The oil separator is connected to the output end of the compressor and is configured to supply lubricating oil before the compressor starts. The oil solenoid valve is disposed between the oil separator and the compressor. The condenser is connected to the oil separator. The evaporator is connected to the condenser. The bypass pipe has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The first end is connected between the oil separator and the condenser, and the second end is connected between the evaporator and the input end of the compressor. The bypass solenoid valve is disposed on the bypass pipe to equalize a pressure difference between the oil separator and the evaporator.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the refrigerant system further includes a first check valve and a second check valve. The first check valve is disposed between the output end of the compressor and the oil separator. The second check valve is disposed between the oil separator and the condenser, and the first end of the bypass pipe is connected between the oil separator and the second check valve.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the refrigerant system further includes a water tower and a water pump. The water tower is connected to a water outlet of the condenser, and the water tower is equipped with a fan. The radiator tower is connected to a water inlet of the condenser through the water pump.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the refrigerant system further includes a liquid pipe solenoid valve. The liquid pipe solenoid valve is disposed between the condenser and the evaporator and is configured to shut down before the compressor shuts down.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the refrigerant system further includes an expansion valve disposed between the liquid pipe solenoid valve and the evaporator.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the refrigerant system further includes an oil cooler, an economizer, and a liquid-gas separator. The oil cooler is connected between the compressor and the oil separator. The economizer is connected to the condenser. The liquid-gas separator is connected between the evaporator and the input end of the compressor.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the refrigerant system further includes a filter dryer connected between the condenser and the economizer.
The disclosure proposes a controlling method of a refrigerant system, including the following. A startup signal is received. A water pump and a fan of a water tower are started. A pressure difference between an oil separator and an evaporator is determined. If the pressure difference is greater than a pressure difference setting value, a bypass solenoid valve is opened to equalize the pressure difference between the oil separator and the evaporator. If the pressure difference is less than or equal to the pressure difference setting value, an oil solenoid valve is opened to supply lubricating oil before the compressor starts. After the oil solenoid valve has been open for a first set time, the compressor is started. After the compressor has started for a second set time, the bypass solenoid valve is closed.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, at the opening of the solenoid valve, countdown is from the first set time, and at the end of the countdown, the compressor is started.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, at the starting of the compressor, countdown is from the second set time, and at the end of the countdown, the bypass solenoid valve is closed.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controlling method of the refrigerant system further includes the following. A shutdown signal is received. A liquid pipe solenoid valve is closed to reduce pressure of the evaporator. The pressure of the evaporator is detected. If the pressure of the evaporator is less than or equal to a pressure setting value, the compressor is shut down. If the pressure of the evaporator is greater than the pressure setting value, the compressor is shut down after a third set time.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, at the closing of the liquid pipe solenoid valve, countdown is from the third set time, and if the pressure of the evaporator is greater than the pressure setting value, the compressor is shut down at the end of the countdown.
Based on the above, the refrigerant system and the controlling method thereof of the disclosure may equalize the pressure difference between the oil separator and the evaporator by opening the bypass solenoid valve to reduce the start-up load of the compressor, which not only helps to improve the operating efficiency, but also reduces the energy consumption for the purpose of environmental protection and energy saving. In addition, after the pressure difference between the oil separator and the evaporator is less than or equal to the pressure difference setting value, the oil separator may supply lubricating oil to the compressor before starting to lubricate the internal bearing of the compressor, and then start the compressor. Pre-lubricated bearings help to reduce the running resistance of the compressor after start-up, which not only prevents damage to internal parts (such as motors, bearings or other components), but also helps to increase operating efficiency.
To make the aforementioned more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate example embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
Specifically, the oil separator 120 is configured to supply lubricating oil to the compressor 110, and the compressor 110 has an input end 111 and an output end 112 opposite to the input end 111. The oil separator 120 is connected to the output end 112 of the compressor 110, and the oil separator 120 and the output end 112 of the compressor 110 are located at a high-pressure side of the system. On the other hand, the oil cooler 130 is connected between the compressor 110 and the oil separator 120 for cooling the lubricating oil supplied by the oil separator 120 and supplying the cooled lubricating oil to the compressor 110.
As shown in
The condenser 140 is connected to the oil separator 120. The condenser 140 has a water outlet 141 and a water inlet 142, and a water tower 180 is connected to the water outlet 141 to receive water from the condenser 140. In addition, the water tower 180 is equipped with a fan 181, and the water tower 180 is connected to the water inlet 142 through the water pump 182 to send the cooled water to the condenser 140 to carry away the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant in the condenser 140, and then discharge the water with the elevated temperature through the water outlet 141, and then circulates in sequence.
Referring to
The liquid-gas separator 170 is connected between the evaporator 160 and the input end 111 of the compressor 110. The evaporator 160, the liquid-gas separator 170, and the input end 111 of the compressor 110 are located at a low-pressure side of the system, and the pressure of the evaporator 160, the liquid-gas separator 170, and the input end 111 of the compressor 110 is substantially equal. On the other hand, the bypass pipe 101 is connected between the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side of the system. Specifically, the bypass pipe 101 has a first end 101a and a second end 101b opposite to the first end 101a. The first end 101a is connected to the high-pressure side, and the second end 101b is connected to the low-pressure side. More specifically, the first end 101a of the bypass pipe 101 is connected between the oil separator 120 and the condenser 140, and the second end 101b is connected between the evaporator 160 and the input end 111 of the compressor 110, specifically between the liquid-gas separator 170 and the input end 111 of compressor 110.
In this embodiment, the bypass solenoid valve 102 is disposed on the bypass pipe 101 and is located between the first end 101a and the second end 101b. When the bypass solenoid valve 102 is closed, the pressure of the gaseous refrigerant in the oil separator 120 may not be released from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side. Conversely, when the bypass solenoid valve 102 is opened, the pressure of the gaseous refrigerant may be released from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side. In other words, when the bypass solenoid valve 102 is closed, the pressure of the gaseous refrigerant in the oil separator 120 may not be released from the oil separator 120 to the evaporator 160 through the bypass pipe 101. Conversely, when the bypass solenoid valve 102 is opened, the pressure of the gaseous refrigerant may be released from the oil separator 120 to the evaporator 160 through the bypass pipe 101 for bypass pressure relief. That is, the combination of the bypass pipe 101 and the bypass solenoid valve 102 may be used to control the pressure difference between the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side of the system, such as the pressure difference between the oil separator 120 and the evaporator 160.
Referring to
On the other hand, the first end 101a of the bypass pipe 101 is connected between the oil separator 120 and the second check valve 104, and the second check valve 104 may be used to prevent the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant from flowing back from the condenser 140 to the oil separator 120 and the bypass pipe 101. In other words, the second check valve 104 may be used to prevent the refrigerant pressure in the condenser 140 from flowing back to the oil separator 120 and the bypass pipe 101 during bypass pressure relief to avoid affecting the effectiveness of the bypass pressure relief.
As shown in
In steps S12 and S13, whether the pressure difference between the oil separator 120 and the evaporator 160 is less than or equal to a pressure difference setting value is determined. If the pressure difference between the oil separator 120 and the evaporator 160 is greater than the pressure difference setting value (for example, 2 to 2.5 kg/cm2), the bypass solenoid valve 102 is opened to equalize the pressure between the oil separator 120 and the evaporator 160 (or the liquid-gas separator 170). That is, before the compressor 110 starts, if the pressure difference between the oil separator 120 and the evaporator 160 is too large, the bypass solenoid valve 102 is opened so that the pressure may be released from the oil separator 120 to the evaporator 160 (or the liquid-gas separator 170) to reduce the start-up load of the compressor 110, which not only helps to improve the operating efficiency, but also reduces the energy consumption for the purpose of environmental protection and energy saving.
If the pressure difference between the oil separator 120 and the evaporator 160 is less than or equal to the pressure difference setting value, the oil solenoid valve 131 is opened to supply lubricating oil to the compressor 110 before the compressor 110 starts. At this time, the bypass solenoid valve 102 is still open to continue pressure relief. In steps S14 to S16, when the oil solenoid valve 131 is opened, a countdown starts from a first set time (for example, 1 to 2 seconds), and when the countdown ends, the compressor 110 is started. That is, after the oil solenoid valve 131 opens and supplies lubricating oil to the compressor 110 for the first set time, the fully pre-lubricated compressor 110 is started.
Specifically, after the pressure difference of the oil separator 120 and the evaporator 160 is less than or equal to the pressure difference setting value, the oil separator 120 first supplies lubricating oil to the compressor 110 before starting to lubricate the bearings inside the compressor 110, and then starts the compressor 110. Pre-lubricated bearings help to reduce the running resistance of the compressor 110 after start-up, which not only prevents damage to internal parts (such as motors, bearings or other components), but also helps to increase operating efficiency.
Please continue to refer to
In steps S22 to S24, if the pressure of the evaporator 160 is less than or equal to the pressure setting value, the compressor 110 is directly shut down. If the pressure of the evaporator 160 (or the liquid-gas separator 170) is greater than the pressure setting value, the compressor 110 continues to operate, discharging the gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator 160 and the compressor 110 to reduce the refrigerant pressure in both of them, and in the process of counting down, the pressure of the evaporator 160 is continuously judged to determine whether to directly shut down the compressor 110 or to shut it down at the end of the countdown. That is, before shutting down the compressor 110, if the pressure of the evaporator 160 is greater than the pressure setting value, the compressor 110, which may continue to operate for up to a third set time after closing the liquid pipe solenoid valve 105, may extract the low-pressure gaseous refrigerant from the liquid-gas separator 170, resulting in a lowering of the pressure of the evaporator 160.
Before the compressor 110 is shut down, the liquid refrigerant has stopped being sent from the condenser 140 to the evaporator 160 and the liquid-gas separator 170, which greatly reduces the pressure of the evaporator 160, and its gauge pressure is approximately equal to 0 kg/cm2. Since the pressure of the evaporator 160 drops to an extremely low level and the refrigerant is centrally stored in the condenser 140, the pressure difference between the oil separator 120 and the evaporator 160 increases, which not only helps to speed up the process of equalizing the pressure difference between the oil separator 120 and the evaporator 160, but also helps to reduce the average value of the pressure of the oil separator 120 and the pressure of the evaporator 160.
Referring to
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Correspondingly, after the compressor 110 stops operating, the first check valve 103 may prevent the refrigerant pressure in the oil separator 120 from flowing back to the compressor 110, so that the evaporator 160, the liquid-gas separator 170, and the compressor 110 may maintain relative low pressure when they stop operating. Thus, when the compressor 110 is started again, since the average pressure of the evaporator 160 and the oil separator 120 is low, the start-up load of the compressor 110 is relatively low to reduce the load on the components of the compressor 110. On the other hand, since the average pressure between the evaporator 160 and the oil separator 120 is low, when the compressor 110 is started, the refrigerant may easily overtop the first check valve 103 so that the gas inside the compressor 110 may be discharged smoothly.
In addition, due to the higher pressure difference between the oil separator 120 and the compressor 110, the bypass effect is better when opening the bypass solenoid valve 102 to relieve the refrigerant pressure from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side, and there is enough pressure difference to drive the lubricating oil from the oil separator 120 to smoothly inject into the compressor 110 before the compressor 110 starts to achieve the purpose of pre-lubrication of the bearings before the start of the compressor 110, which not only reduces the resistance of the parts to start, but also avoids damage to the bearings.
To sum up, the refrigerant system and the controlling method thereof of the disclosure may equalize the pressure difference between the oil separator and the evaporator by opening the bypass solenoid valve to reduce the start-up load of the compressor, which not only helps to improve the operating efficiency, but also reduces the energy consumption for the purpose of environmental protection and energy saving. In addition, after the pressure difference between the oil separator and the evaporator is less than or equal to the pressure difference setting value, the oil separator may supply lubricating oil to the compressor before starting to lubricate the internal bearing of the compressor, and then start the compressor. Pre-lubricated bearings help to reduce the running resistance of the compressor after start-up, which not only prevents damage to internal parts (such as motors, bearings or other components), but also helps to increase operating efficiency.
In addition, before shutting down the compressor, the liquid pipe solenoid valve is closed to stop sending the liquid refrigerant to the evaporator and the liquid-gas separator, and then the refrigerant of the low-pressure side is discharged through the continuous operation of the compressor, resulting in a significant reduction in the pressure of the evaporator. As the evaporator pressure drops to a very low level, the pressure difference between the oil separator and the evaporator increases, allowing the bypass program at the next startup to accelerate the process of equalizing the pressure difference between the oil separator and the evaporator.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the disclosure covers modifications and variations provided that they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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112123510 | Jun 2023 | TW | national |