Patent Application
20210199348
The present disclosure generally relates to a refrigeration system and more particularly, to a dual-compressor refrigeration system having either a single evaporator or dual evaporators.
The present invention relates to household refrigerators operating with a vapor compression cycle and, more specifically, to refrigerators with two compressors.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigeration system includes a first and second compressor. The system also includes a condenser for receiving refrigerant gas from at least one of the first compressor and the second compressor. The condenser also condenses the refrigerant gas to a refrigerant liquid. The system also includes a high-stage first capillary for receiving the refrigerant liquid from the condenser. A flash chamber for receiving a mixture of refrigerant gas and refrigerant liquid is also included in the system. The flash chamber separates the refrigerant gas from the refrigerant liquid and provides the refrigerant gas to the second compressor. The system includes a low-stage second capillary for receiving the refrigerant liquid from the flash chamber. The system also includes an evaporator for receiving the refrigerant liquid from the second capillary and evaporating the liquid to form the refrigerant gas that is supplied to the first compressor.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first compressor supplies refrigerant gas to the second compressor, the condenser receives refrigerant gas from the second compressor, and the flash chamber receives the mixture of refrigerant gas and refrigerant liquid from the high-stage capillary.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the flash chamber intercools the refrigerant gas supplied from the first compressor to the second compressor. The system may further comprise a second evaporator for receiving refrigerant liquid from the high-stage capillary. The condenser may receive refrigerant gas from both the first compressor and the second compressor, and the flash chamber receives the mixture of refrigerant gas and refrigerant liquid from the second evaporator. Also, another aspect may comprise the first compressor comprising a high-stage compressor and/or the second compressor comprising a low-stage compressor.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the system may comprise a drier located between the condenser and the high-stage capillary, wherein the drier receives the refrigerant liquid from the condenser, and/or a first capillary located between the flash chamber and the high-stage capillary and a second capillary located between the low-stage capillary and the evaporator.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the refrigeration system includes a high-state compressor and a low-stage compressor. The system also includes a condenser for receiving refrigerant gas from at least one of the high-stage compressor and the low-stage compressor and condensing the refrigerant gas to a refrigerant liquid. The system also includes a first heat exchanger for receiving the refrigerant liquid from the condenser and a flash chamber for receiving a mixture of refrigerant gas and refrigerant liquid from the first heat exchanger. The flash chamber separates the refrigerant gas from the refrigerant liquid and provides the refrigerant gas to the low-stage compressor. The system also includes a second heat exchanger for receiving the refrigerant liquid from the flash chamber and an evaporator. The evaporator receives the refrigerant liquid from the low-stage capillary and evaporates the liquid to form the refrigerant gas that is supplied to the high-stage compressor.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the system may have the high-stage compressor supply refrigerant gas to the low-stage compressor, the condenser receives refrigerant gas from the low-stage compressor, and the flash chamber receives the mixture of refrigerant gas and refrigerant liquid from the first heat exchanger.
According to yet another aspect, the flash chamber intercools the refrigerant gas supplied from the low-stage compressor to the high-stage compressor. The system may also comprise a second evaporator for receiving refrigerant liquid from the first heat exchanger. The condenser receives refrigerant gas from both the high-stage compressor and the low-stage compressor and the flash chamber receives the mixture of refrigerant gas and refrigerant liquid from the second evaporator. The system may also comprise a drier located between the condenser and the first heat exchanger, wherein the drier receives the refrigerant liquid from the condenser.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the refrigeration system includes a first compressor and second compressor. The system also includes a condenser for receiving refrigerant gas from at least one of the first compressor and the second compressor and condensing the refrigerant gas to a refrigerant liquid. The system includes a high-stage first capillary for receiving the refrigerant liquid from the condenser and a first evaporator for receiving the refrigerant liquid from the high-stage capillary. The system also includes a flash chamber for receiving a mixture of refrigerant gas and refrigerant liquid from the first evaporator. The flash chamber separates the refrigerant gas from the refrigerant liquid and provides the refrigerant gas to the second compressor. The system also includes a low-stage second capillary for receiving the refrigerant liquid from the flash chamber. The system further includes a second evaporator for receiving the refrigerant liquid from the low-stage capillary and evaporating the liquid to form the refrigerant gas that is supplied to the first compressor.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the condenser receives refrigerant gas from both the first compressor and the second compressor and condenses the refrigerant gas to a refrigerant liquid; the first compressor comprises a mid-stage compressor; and/or the second compressor comprises a low-stage compressor.
According to yet another aspect, the system may comprise: a drier located between the high-stage first capillary and the condenser, wherein the drier receives the refrigerant liquid from the condenser; a third capillary located between the high-stage capillary and the first evaporator, wherein the third capillary receives the refrigerant liquid from the high-stage capillary; and/or a fourth capillary located between the low-stage second capillary and the second evaporator, wherein the fourth capillary receives the refrigerant liquid from the low-stage second capillary.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosure will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to using two compressors in a refrigeration system that may be used in a refrigerator having just a refrigeration compartment or both a refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment and that may be used in a standalone freezer having a freezer compartment, which may all be more energy efficient and cost effective. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
In this document, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or apparatus that comprises the element.
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As the refrigerant liquid exits the flash chamber 16, the enthalpy of the refrigerant liquid may decrease but may maintain pressure (line 84). As the refrigerant liquid exits the low-stage capillary, the enthalpy may continue to decrease (line 86). As the refrigerant liquid exits the optional fourth capillary 40, the enthalpy of the refrigerant liquid may remain the same but the pressure may further decrease (line 88). As the refrigerant liquid exits the second evaporator 34 and changes into a refrigerant gas (line 90), the refrigerant gas may be directed back through the low-stage capillary 34 and enter the first compressor 18 and may maintain pressure but increase in enthalpy.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connectors or other elements of the system may be varied, and/or the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
