The present invention relates generally to a suction connection for a compressor. Specifically, the present invention relates to a suction connection in the evaporator that increases the aerodynamic stability of multiple centrifugal compressors operating in parallel in a refrigeration system.
To obtain increased capacity in a refrigeration system, two centrifugal compressors can be connected in parallel to a common refrigerant circuit. Frequently, for capacity control, one of the compressors is designated as a “lead” compressor and the other compressor is designated as a “lag” compressor. The capacity of the refrigeration system, and of each compressor, can be controlled by the use of adjustable pre-rotation vanes or inlet guide vanes incorporated in or adjacent to the suction inlet of each compressor. Depending on the particular capacity requirements of the system, the pre-rotation vanes of each centrifugal compressor can be positioned to control the flow of refrigerant through the compressors and thereby control the capacity of the system. The positions of the pre-rotation vanes can range from a completely open position to a completely closed position. The pre-rotation vanes for a centrifugal compressor can be positioned in a more open position to increase the flow of refrigerant through the compressor and thereby increase the capacity of the system or the pre-rotation vanes of a centrifugal compressor can be positioned in a more closed position to decrease the flow of refrigerant through the compressor and thereby decrease the capacity of the system.
During operation, a compressor instability or surge condition can occur in a centrifugal compressor, wherein the compressor cannot pump the flow against its discharge pressure. Surge or surging is an unstable condition that may occur when compressors, such as centrifugal compressors, are operated at light loads and high pressure ratios. A high compressor pressure ratio, sometimes called lift or head, may be expressed in a number of fashions. A simplified representation of this compressor pressure ratio is (discharge pressure minus suction pressure (differential pressure or “ΔP”)) divided by suction pressure (“P”), or expressed symbolically, (ΔP)/P. A lower suction pressure will increase the compressor ratio and decrease the stability of a centrifugal compressor. Surge is a transient phenomenon characterized by high frequency oscillations in pressures and flow, and, in some cases, the occurrence of a complete flow reversal through the compressor. Surging, if uncontrolled, can cause excessive vibrations in both the rotating and stationary components of the compressor, and may result in permanent compressor damage. During a surge condition there can exist a momentary reduction in flow and pressure developed across the compressor. Furthermore, there can be a reduction in the net torque and mechanical power at the compressor driving shaft. In the case where the drive device of the compressor is an electric motor, the oscillations in torque and power caused by a surge condition can result in oscillations in motor current and excessive electrical power consumption.
In dual compressor applications, the occurrence of a surge or lack of pumping condition on one compressor results in the other compressor having an increase in refrigerant flow. This increase in refrigerant flow to the non-surging compressor makes it more difficult for the surging compressor to recover from its instability. Axial gas flow within the evaporator to the stable compressor will pass over a suction opening of the unstable compressor, thereby lowering the pressure at the unstable compressor suction connection which further contributes to instability. Several different techniques have been used to limit the potential aerodynamic impact one compressor may have upon the other compressor in a dual compressor system. Some chiller systems with two compressors utilize two completely separate refrigerant circuits to avoid the problem of one compressor aerodynamically impacting the other compressor. Other dual compressor chiller systems which use a common refrigerant circuit have a baffle in the gas plenum space of the evaporator between the suction connections of the compressors to reduce the aerodynamic impact of one compressor upon the other compressor. In this type of system each of the two suction connections are typically located approximately one quarter of the evaporator shell's length from the ends of the evaporator shell, because of the baffle or partition bisecting the evaporator shell into substantially equal halves. Both of these solutions have several drawbacks including a more complicated and expensive implementation of the evaporator. A completely separated evaporator shell would result in less heat exchanger surface being available during single compressor operation, and therefore would provide less effective heat transfer and reduced performance. Flooded shell and tube evaporators boil refrigerant liquid on the shell side to cool water flowing through the tubes. The refrigerant gas flow evaporating off the liquid surrounding the tubes will carry some of the liquid along with the gas. Evaporator heat exchangers typically use baffle passages or mesh pad eliminators to remove the liquid droplets from the gas before entering the compressor suction. If the vapor space above the baffle or mesh pad is separated into halves, as in some systems, the boiling activity in single compressor operation is concentrated in one half of the evaporator using one half of the mesh pads. This provides less effective vapor separation than if the entire baffle or mesh pad section were utilized.
Therefore, what is needed is a simple and economical suction connection for use in a dual compressor refrigeration system that can increase pressure at the suction connection to encourage the flow of refrigerant vapor into a surging compressor to thereby enhance the ability of the surging compressor to recover from its instability.
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a suction connection for a compressor of a refrigeration system. The suction connection is in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system. The suction connection includes a protrusion extending into the evaporator upon installation of the suction connection. The protrusion is configured and disposed to disturb axial flow of refrigerant vapor in the evaporator. This disturbance or disruption of the axial flow of refrigerant vapor in the evaporator can provide a flow of refrigerant to a surging compressor in a dual compressor system to permit the surging compressor to recover from its instability.
An alternate embodiment of the present invention is directed to a suction connection for a plurality of compressors of a refrigeration system in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system. The suction connection includes at least one protrusion extending into the evaporator upon installation of the suction connection. The at least one protrusion is configured and disposed to disturb axial flow of refrigerant vapor in the evaporator.
A further alternate embodiment of the present invention is directed to a multiple compressor refrigeration system including two or more compressors, a condenser in fluid communication with the two or more compressors; an evaporator in fluid communication with the condenser, and a suction connection connecting the evaporator and the two or more compressors. The suction connection has at least one protrusion extending into the evaporator. The evaporator is configured to develop axial flow of refrigerant vapor adjacent to the suction connection and the at least one protrusion is configured and disposed to disturb the axial flow of refrigerant vapor in the evaporator.
One advantage of the present invention is that it encourages refrigerant vapor to flow into the suction connection of a surging compressor in a dual compressor system.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it can provide a more equal distribution and improved liquid/vapor separation with the evaporator heat exchanger.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
A general dual compressor system to which the invention can be applied is illustrated, by means of example, in FIG. 1. As shown, the HVAC, refrigeration or liquid chiller system 100 includes a first compressor 108, a second compressor 110, a condenser 112, a water chiller or evaporator 126, and a control panel (not shown). In another embodiment of the present invention, the liquid chiller system 100 could use one compressor or three or more compressors connected in parallel similar to the connection of the first and second compressors 108, 110. The control panel receives input signals from the system 100 that indicate the performance of the system 100 and transmits signals to components of the system 100 to control the operation of the system 100. The conventional liquid chiller system 100 includes many other features which are not shown in FIG. 1. These features have been purposely omitted to simplify the drawing for ease of illustration.
The compressors 108 and 110 compress a refrigerant vapor and deliver it to the condenser 112 by separate discharge lines. In another embodiment of the present invention, the discharge lines from the compressors 108 and 110 can be combined into a single line that delivers refrigerant vapor to the condenser 112. The compressors 108 and 110 are preferably centrifugal compressors, however the present invention can be used with any type of compressor suitable for use in a chiller system 100. The refrigerant vapor delivered to the condenser 112 enters into a heat exchange relationship with a fluid, preferably water, flowing through a heat-exchanger coil 116 connected to a cooling tower 122. The refrigerant vapor in the condenser 112 undergoes a phase change to a refrigerant liquid as a result of the heat exchange relationship with the liquid in the heat-exchanger coil 116. The condensed liquid refrigerant from condenser 112 flows to an evaporator 126.
The evaporator 126 can include a heat-exchanger coil 128 having a supply line 128S and a return line 128R connected to a cooling load 130. The heat-exchanger coil 128 can include a plurality of tube bundles within the evaporator 126. Water or any other suitable secondary refrigerant, e.g., ethylene, calcium chloride brine or sodium chloride brine, travels into the evaporator 126 via return line 128R and exits the evaporator 126 via supply line 128S. The liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 126 enters into a heat exchange relationship with the water in the heat-exchanger coil 128 to chill the temperature of the water in the heat-exchanger coil 128. The refrigerant liquid in the evaporator 126 undergoes a phase change to a refrigerant vapor as a result of the heat exchange relationship with the liquid in the heat-exchanger coil 128. The vapor refrigerant in the evaporator 126 exits the evaporator 126 through suction connections 132 and 134 as shown in FIG. 2 and returns to the compressors 108 and 110 by separate suction lines to complete the cycle.
At the input or inlets to the compressors 108 and 110 from the evaporator 126, there are one or more pre-rotation vanes or inlet guide vanes 120 and 121 that control the flow of refrigerant to the compressors 108 and 110. Actuators are used to open the pre-rotation vanes 120 and 121 to increase the amount of refrigerant to the compressors 108 and 110 and thereby increase the cooling capacity of the system 100. Similarly, the actuators are used to close the pre-rotation vanes 120 and 121 to decrease the amount of refrigerant to the compressors 108 and 110 and thereby decrease the cooling capacity of the system 100.
To drive the compressors 108 and 110, the system 100 includes a motor or drive mechanism 152 for the first compressor and a motor or drive mechanism 154 for the second compressor 110. While the term “motor” is used with respect to the drive mechanism for the compressors 108 and 110, it is to be understood that the term “motor” is not limited to a motor but is intended to encompass any component(s) that can be used in conjunction with the driving of the compressors 108 and 110, such as a variable speed drive and/or a motor starter in addition to the motor. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the motors or drive mechanisms 152 and 154 are electric motors and associated components. However, other drive mechanisms such as steam or gas turbines or engines and associated components can be used to drive the compressors 108 and 110.
In previous evaporators, the gas flowing from a refrigeration evaporator into a compressor suction connection typically leaves through a pipe opening contoured closely to the outside cylindrical shell wrapper of the evaporator vessel. When operating two or more compressors in parallel that draw refrigerant gas or vapor from one evaporator with the previous suction connection, a lack of pumping or “surge” condition can be observed in response to certain suction flow conditions. As one compressor enters a surge condition or state, the other compressor(s) have a stronger axial pull or draw of the gas through the evaporator gas passage. The evaporator gas passage is a section located above a liquid separation means, typically a mesh eliminator or a suction baffle passage. As this axial flow of the gas passes over the suction opening of the surging compressor it can create a lower relative dynamic suction pressure at the opening, making it more difficult for the surging compressor to recover and begin pumping gas again.
In contrast, the present invention has modified suction connections 132, 134, as shown in
Insert member 156 includes a tongue or protruding portion 160 that extends into and is positioned inside the evaporator shell 126 as shown in
Referring to
To form insert member 156 as used in the embodiment of the present invention shown in
Referring to
Alternatively, an insert angle 170 as shown in
Referring to
To provide effective vapor refrigerant flow over substantially the entire length of the evaporator shell 126, a cap plate 176 is provided that spans substantially the entire length of the evaporator shell 126. The cap plate 176 includes opposed sloped portions 183 that are each secured to the inside wall of the evaporator shell 126. Each sloped portion 183 extends to opposed vertical portions 185 that are spanned by a cap portion 187. The cap portion 187 has a plurality of apertures 177 formed therethrough along substantially the entire length of the cap portion 187 to permit the flow of vapor refrigerant 188 through the apertures 177 of the cap plate 176 and the suction connectors 132, 134 of the evaporator shell 126 in response to the suction from suction connectors 132, 134. By forming the apertures 177 in a substantially uniform pattern over the entire length of the cap portion 187, a small pressure drop is generated, which is nonetheless more than the axial pressure drop in the evaporator. This ensures uniform loading of the evaporator tube bundle along its length and minimizes liquid droplets mixing with the vapor. Further, an optional filtering means, such as a mesh pad 178 or baffle is secured within the recess formed by the collective vertical portions 185 and cap plate 176. Securing the mesh pad 178 in this position is a plurality of support members 186 which span along the lower portion of vertical portions 185. Mesh pad 178 is composed of a material that permits vapor refrigerant to flow therethrough while obstructing droplets striking the mesh pad 178 to prevent their entry into the suction connections 132, 134.
One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that both the shape of protruding portions 160 and the location of suction connectors 132, 134 may vary significantly from the positions described in the preferred embodiment. That is, protruding portions 160 employed in suction connectors 132, 134 may differ in both profile and size, not being constrained to the cylindrical walls of insert member 156, such as forming a flat or even a curved plate as long as the protruding portion 160 is secured substantially full face in the stream of suction vapor refrigerant to disrupt the axial flow of vapor refrigerant over the suction connections 132, 134 and provide improved stability of the compressors 108, 110 against surging. Protruding portion 160 may be an insert, may be a contoured or cut shape in the end of the suction pipe connections 132, 134 themselves, or may be an elbow. Finally, the protruding portions 160 can be used in conjunction with other known surge control techniques and procedures.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/401,354 filed Aug. 6, 2002.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040031286 A1 | Feb 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60401354 | Aug 2002 | US |