FR2697619A1 - Cold production and distribution plant of a new type. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration installation of the type comprising a cold production circuit consisting in particular of a cooler (2) and a condenser (1), and a cold distribution circuit consisting of evaporators (5), a tank (4). ) receiving the respective back and forth from the production and distribution circuits. According to the invention, the tank (4) comprises partitioning means (9) delimiting a hot zone (8) and a cold zone (7), the return of the distribution circuit and the departure of the resulting production circuit, respectively taking birth in the hot zone (8), the return of the production circuit and the departure of the resulting distribution circuit, respectively originating in the cold zone (7).

Description

Cold production and distribution plant of a

new type.

  The present invention relates to a refrigeration plant of the type comprising a cold production circuit conventionally constituted by a cooler in series with a condenser, a cold distribution circuit consisting of evaporators arranged inside cooling chambers, and a buffer tank still called balloon receiving the return trips of the production circuits and

of distribution.

  Such installations are generally based on the circulation of a coolant such as glycol water. These installations make it possible to maintain cold rooms at low temperatures. The refrigerating installations known are numerous and numerous. However, they all have the same disadvantages, namely a consumption of energy and in particular significant electricity because of the need to maintain

  important at very low temperatures.

  The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a refrigeration plant of a new type which, without significant increase in the cost of the installation, saves several tens of percent of energy in

particular electric.

  To this end, the invention relates to a refrigeration plant of the type comprising a cold production circuit constituted by a cooler in series with a condenser, and a cold distribution circuit consisting of evaporators distributing the cold in cold rooms, a tank receiving the respective trips and returns of the production and distribution circuits, characterized in that said tank comprises partitioning means delimiting a hot zone and a cold zone, the return of the distribution circuit and the departure of the production circuit opening, respectively originating in the hot zone, the return of the production circuit and the departure of the opening distribution circuit, taking respectively

birth in the cold zone.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  will appear again on reading the following description and

  accompanying drawings, which description and drawings are

  given mainly by way of examples In these drawings: FIG. 1 represents a refrigeration plant of the type, for example equipped with brine circulation.

  evaporators connected to a main collector, itself

  even connected to a buffer tank; FIG. 2 represents a refrigeration installation also of the circulating fluid-coolant type, such as glycol water equipped with evaporators connected directly to the buffer tank; The refrigeration system according to the invention generally comprises a cold production circuit and a cold distribution circuit. The installations represented are installations based on the circulation of coolant fluids such as brine. The production circuit comprises a cooler 2 connected to a condenser 1 These are connected by means of two independent circuits whose input and output are received by a tank 8 called according to the type of installation buffer tank or balloon 4 The circuits connecting the different elements between them are constituted by generally metallic or PVC pipes equipped with three-way control valves and isolation hand valves so as to allow the passage from one circuit to another in the event of failure of one of the pipes. tank 4 further receives the departure and the return of the distribution circuit This distribution circuit includes evapora connected directly or indirectly to the balloon or the buffer tank 4 by means of

appropriate pipelines.

  The difference between FIGS. 1 and 2 lies in the design of the evaporator 5 / tank 4 connection. In FIG. 1, the evaporators are connected to a manifold called a main manifold which is itself directly connected to the tank 4 In FIG. 2 on the contrary, each evaporator 5 has its own connection with the tank 4 The invention obviously applies to these two types of installation It should be noted that the installation equipped with a main manifold is more particularly suitable for installations o Cold rooms are located at a distance

  compared to the cold production circuit.

  This tank 4 which receives the inputs and outputs of the various circuits constitutes the characteristic element of the installation. In fact, this tank comprises partitioning means which, according to the configuration of the tank, are vertical or horizontal and make it possible to define a zone In fact, in conventional installations, the inputs and outputs of the production and distribution circuit arrive in bulk inside the tank independently of the temperature zones. The advantage of such a partition is to be able to feed the output of the production circuit in a warmer temperature so as to increase the efficiency of the cold production circuit It is thus observed that the energy consumption is reduced by 5% when an increase of 1 of the temperature from the production circuit Thus, in the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is agreed that the temperature at the start of the pipe of p Cold production is established at 20 C. As for the return of the cold production circuit, it ends in the cold zone 7 at a temperature of 50 C. From this cold zone 7 also leaves the input of the distribution circuit while the return of the In the example shown, the temperature difference is 30 between the input and the output of the production circuit, respectively the input and the output of the distribution circuit. energy saving achieved compared to a conventional installation is 15% However, it is found that, compared to a conventional installation, the only difference lies in the partitioning of the tank 4 As a result, the constructive modifications of the installation allow because of their low cost to very quickly lead to a

  increased profitability of the installation.

  Depending on the shape of the tank and depending on the type of installation, vertical or horizontal partitioning means 9 are envisaged. Thus, in the case of FIG. 1, the tank 4 is actually a balloon partitioned vertically by means of a metal sheet 9 In the upper part of the tank is formed an exchange zone of the coolant fluids to prevent overpressure in one or other of the zones 7, 8 In the example shown, the cold zone 7 is in the left part of the balloon, the hot zone 8 being in the right part of the balloon. In addition, this tank will generally be equipped with means for controlling the level of coolant fluid so as to be able to detect any leakage, these sensors being connected directly to stop means

automatic pumps.

  In the example of FIG. 2, on the contrary, there is shown a horizontal partition, again made by a sheet metal plate 9 so as to delimit a hot zone 8 generally located in the upper part of the tank 4 and a cold zone 7 disposed in the lower part of the tank 4. This metal plate 9 is not completely sealed and allows the passage of the flow differentials Thus, this particularly simple installation increases the power of the cooling unit and its performance without causing a increase in the price of the installation Obviously, the applications of such an installation are the

  same as those of conventional installations.

Claims (6)

  1 refrigerating plant of the type comprising a cold production circuit constituted in particular by a cooler (2) and a condenser (1), and a cold distribution circuit constituted by evaporators (5), a tank (4) receiving the allers and respective returns of the production and distribution circuits, characterized in that said tank (4) comprises partitioning means (9) delimiting a hot zone (8) and a cold zone (7), the return of the distribution circuit and the beginning of the production circuit terminating, respectively originating in the hot zone (8), the return of the production circuit and the departure of the resulting distribution circuit, respectively originating in the zone cold (7).   2 Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the partitioning means (9) are associated with a flow differential to prevent a   overpressure in one of the zones (7, 8).   3 Installation according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the partitioning means (9) are   constituted by a generally metallic plate.   4 Installation according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the partitioning means (9) are arranged vertically inside a tank (4) and define in the upper part of the tank an exchange zone of the   refrigerant fluids to prevent overpressure.   Installation according to one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the tank comprises means for locating the level of coolant fluid associated with means   automatic shutdown of pumps in case of leakage.   Installation according to one of Claims 1 to 5, 7 2697619   characterized in that the pipes for connecting the constituent elements S of the circuits to each other are equipped with outlet isolating hand valves as well as three ways of regulation.