GB2486646A - Method and Apparatus for Cascade Refrigeration and for Central Heating Hot Water Supply - Google Patents

Method and Apparatus for Cascade Refrigeration and for Central Heating Hot Water Supply Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2486646A
GB2486646A GB1021521.8A GB201021521A GB2486646A GB 2486646 A GB2486646 A GB 2486646A GB 201021521 A GB201021521 A GB 201021521A GB 2486646 A GB2486646 A GB 2486646A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
refrigeration circuit
refrigerant
refrigeration
circuit
heat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1021521.8A
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GB201021521D0 (en
Inventor
Terrence Andrew Carter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SUBLOGIC Manufacturing Ltd
Original Assignee
SUBLOGIC Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SUBLOGIC Manufacturing Ltd filed Critical SUBLOGIC Manufacturing Ltd
Priority to GB1021521.8A priority Critical patent/GB2486646A/en
Publication of GB201021521D0 publication Critical patent/GB201021521D0/en
Publication of GB2486646A publication Critical patent/GB2486646A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25BREFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B7/00Compression machines, plants or systems, with cascade operation, i.e. with two or more circuits, the heat from the condenser of one circuit being absorbed by the evaporator of the next circuit
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24DDOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D3/00Hot-water central heating systems
    • F24D3/18Hot-water central heating systems using heat pumps
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25BREFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B29/00Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously
    • F25B29/003Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously of the compression type system
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25BREFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B9/00Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
    • F25B9/002Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the refrigerant
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24DDOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D2200/00Heat sources or energy sources
    • F24D2200/16Waste heat
    • F24D2200/24Refrigeration
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02BCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B30/00Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
    • Y02B30/12Hot water central heating systems using heat pumps

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Sorption Type Refrigeration Machines (AREA)

Abstract

A method and apparatus 20 for thermal energy transfer by cascade refrigeration has a first refrigeration circuit (34 fig 2) which is adapted to be associated with a second refrigeration circuit (1 fig 1). The first refrigeration circuit can absorb thermal energy from the second refrigeration circuit. The first refrigeration circuit may include have an evaporator 28 which is associable with a heat rejecting part of the second refrigeration circuit. The first refrigeration circuit may include a condenser 38 to enable heat to be transferred to a target fluid, which may be connected to a central heating system via inlet and outlet pipes 44, 46, respectively. In use, refrigerant may be re-routed from the second refrigeration circuit to the first refrigeration circuit from a liquid refrigerant region of the second refrigeration circuit, and absorption of heat from the second refrigeration circuit may give rise to liquid sub-cooling. The refrigerants may be helium or ammonia, and the refrigerant circuit may be a vapour-compression system with at least one compressor 3, 36.

Description

Energy Transfer Apparqtus The present invention relates to energy transfer apparatus.
Some businesses have high cooling requirements. For example, a food outlet may have a high cooling requirement for preserving large quantities of chilled and S frozen foods for sale. To provide sufficient cooling capacity, such businesses have correspondingly large refrigeration systems. Refrigeration systems typically comprise a compressor, a condenser, a metering device and an evaporator. Each element is connected in series by a network of tubes which form a closed ioop through which flows a refrigerant such as ammonia.
In use, the compressor compresses the gaseous refrigerant which causes it to heat up. This heat is then dissipated by the condenser which may comprise a series of tubes with fins to increase the surface area in contact with the refrigerant. The condenser therefore causes the ammonia gas to condense into liquid ammonia under high pressure. This high pressure liquid ammonia flows through the metering device, which controls the pressure and flow of the ammonia and into the low pressure environment of the evaporator where the liquid expands into a gas. The change of state from liquid to gas results from the absorption of thermal energy from the surrounding atmosphere thereby causing cooling. The cycle repeats to thereby maintain a low temperature in a desired location such as a cold food shelving area.
In order to improve the efficiency of an existing refrigcration system, energy is removed from a region of the system at which the refrigerant is a high pressure liquid between the condenser and the evaporator. This technique is known as liquid sub-cooling which involves extracting energy from the high pressure liquid refrigerant in order to maintain the liquid below its saturated liquid temperature for its given
I
operating pressure. Liquid sub-cooling therefore increases the net refrigeration effect of the refrigeration system.
A problem with liquid sub-cooling is that the energy extracted from the liquid refrigerant is wasted thereby partially offsetting some of the gains in efficiency of the refrigeration system.
An object of the present invention is to utilise energy from an existing refrigeration system.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided energy transfer apparatus comprising a first refrigeration circuit adapted to be associated with a second refrigeration circuit to thereby enable heat to be absorbed from the second refrigeration circuit.
Heat can be extracted from the refrigerant at a part of the refrigeration cycle that gives rise to liquid sub-cooling thereby increasing the efficiency of the refrigeration system. The extracted heat can be put to good use elsewhere so that it is not wasted. This energy might be used for example to improve the efficiency of a different energy cycle. Apparatus according to the invention can therefore be used to make existing refrigeration and heating systems more environmentally friendly and more economical.
The apparatus may further comprise the second refrigeration circuit. The first refrigeration circuit may be associated with the second refrigeration circuit to enable heat to be absorbed by the first refrigeration circuit from the second refrigeration circuit. The first refrigeration circuit may comprise an evaporator which is associable with a heat rejecting part of the second refrigeration circuit. The first refrigeration circuit may comprise a condenser enabling heat absorbed from the second refrigeration circuit to be transferred to a target fluid.
The apparatus may comprise connection means enabling the first refrigeration circuit to associated with the second refrigeration circuit. The connection means may be adapted to re-route refrigerant from the second refrigeration circuit to the first refrigeration circuit. The connection means may be adapted to associate refrigerant from the second refrigeration circuit with the evaporator of the first refrigeration circuit. The connection means may be adapted to be connectable to a region of the second refrigeration circuit at which the refrigerant contained therein is a liquid.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing energy transfer apparatus as defined by the first aspect, comprising the step of associating the first refrigeration circuit with a heat rejecting part of a second refrigeration circuit.
The method may comprise the additional step of associating the condenser of the first refrigeration circuit with a target fluid. The method may comprise the additional step of re-routing refrigerant from the second refrigeration circuit to the first refrigeration circuit to enable energy to be absorbed from the refrigerant. The method may comprise the additional step of re-routing refrigerant through the condenser of the first refrigeration circuit, the refrigerant being re-routed from a region of the second circuit at which the refrigerant is a liquid. The method may comprise the additional step of returning the refrigerant to the second refrigeration circuit.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. I. shows a schematic representation of an existing refrigeration system; Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of apparatus according to the invention; and Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 incorporated into an existing refrigeration system and heating system.
Referring to the drawings, an existing refrigeration system 1 is shown comprising a compressor 3, a condenser 5, a receiver 7, a thermostatic expansion S valve (TEV) 9 and an evaporator 11 each connected in series by a network of tubing 13. Ammonia flows through the tubing 13 and serves as a refrigerant. Whilst ammonia is used in this embodiment, any suitable refrigerant such as helium may be used. Ammonia gas is compressed by the compressor 3 thereby heating and pressurising the gas which flows into the condenser 5. Heat is dissipated from the ammonia gas via the condenser 5 which causes the gas to condense into a high pressurised liquid which is collected in the receiver 7. The high pressure ammonia liquid travels to the evaporator 11 from the receiver 7 via the ThY 9 which serves to control the temperature of the liquid refrigerant. The evaporator 11 has a low pressure environment which, on entering the evaporator 11, causes the liquid refrigerant to vaporise and expand into gaseous fonm This change in state is due to the absorption of heat from the surrounding environment thereby giving rise to cooling of the environment..
Apparatus for transferring energy 20, which is depicted in Fig. 2, comprises a stainless steel body 22 having a refrigerant inlet pipe 24 which enters the apparatus body 22 via an inlet port 26. The apparatus also has a first heat exchanger 28 to one end of which is connected the refrigerant inlet pipe 24 and to the other end of which is connected a refrigerant outlet pipe 30 which exits the body via an outlet port 32. The first heat exchanger 28 comprises the evaporator element of a vapour-compression refrigeration arrangement 34 contained within the apparatus body 22. The refrigeration arrangement 34 further comprises an externally powered vapour compressor 36, a condenser 38 which serves as a second heat exchanger and a refrigerant throttling device 40 all connected in series by a network of tubing 42. A refrigerant circulates through the network of tubing 42 and elements of the refrigeration arrangement 34 to serve as an energy transfer medium.
The apparatus 20 further comprises a fluid inlet tube 44 and fluid outlet tube 46 which are connected to opposite ends respectively of the second heat exchanger 38 and which enter and exit the apparatus body 22 via respective inlet and outlet ports 48 50. Both heat exchangers 28, 38 are arranged such that the refrigerant of the refrigeration arrangement 34 does not come into direct contact with the contents flowing from either the refrigerant inlet tube 24 or the liquid inlet tube 44.
As shown in Fig. 3, the apparatus 20 can be retrofit onto an existing refrigeration system by diverting refrigerant from the existing refrigeration system to the refrigerant inlet loop 24 of the apparatus 20. In this embodiment, this is achieved by switching off the existing refrigeration system, removing a section of tubing from the existing tubing network 13 and connecting one free end of the tubing network 13 to the refrigerant inlet pipe 24 of the apparatus with a connecting pipe 52. The refrigerant outlet pipe 30 is likewise connected to the other free end of the tubing network 13 by a second connecting pipe 54. The removed section of tubing is therefore replaced by extended tubing which runs through the first heat exchanger 28 of the apparatus 20 and back into the tubing network 13 of the existing refrigeration system Once connected, the existing refrigeration system can be returned to normal operation.
The fluid inlet and outlet pipes 44, 46 of the apparatus 20 are likewise connected to a central heating system (not shown) by removing a section of the central heating pipe network and re-routing it through the second heat exchanger 38 via the inlet and outlet pipes 44, 46. Since the re-routed piping does not come into direct contact with the refrigerant of the refrigeration arrangement 36 of the apparatus 20, the water flowing through the central heating system does not become contaminated by potentially toxic refrigerant.
In use, thermal energy from the refrigerant contained within the existing refrigeration network is transferred to the refrigerant of the apparatus 20 via the heat exchanger 28. The energy absorbed by the refrigerant through the evaporator 28 is then elevated to a higher level of energy as it travels through the externally powered compressor 36 which heats and increases the pressure of the gaseous refrigerant. The high thermal energy of the refrigerant is then transferred to the water of the central heating system via the condensing heat exchanger 38 thereby causing the water to heat up. The transfer of energy from the refrigerant to the water of the central heating system causes the refrigerant to condense into liquid form with only low grade energy.
This low grade energy is converted back into a usable form via the refrigerant throttling device 40 which drastically reduces the refrigerant pressure and, hence, temperature enabling the cooled refrigerant to be passed through the evaporator heat exchanger 28 where it absorbs more thermal energy from the refrigerant of the existing refrigeration system thereby repeating the cycle.
Apparatus according to the invention can therefore be used to extract thermal energy from the existing refrigeration system, which improves the system efficiency, and transfer that useful energy to a target fluid such as central heating water thereby reducing its electrical power consumption.
It is of course to be understood that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

  1. CLAIMSI. Energy transfer apparatus comprising a first refrigeration circuit adapted to be associated with a second refrigeration circuit to thereby enable heat to be absorbed from the second refrigeration circuit.
  2. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the second refrigeration circuit.
  3. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first refrigeration circuit is associated with the second refrigeration circuit to enable heat to be absorbed by the first refrigeration circuit from the second refrigeration circuit.
  4. 4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first refrigeration circuit comprises an evaporator which is associable with a heat rejecting part of the second refrigeration circuit.
  5. 5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first refrigeration circuit comprises a condenser enabling heat absorbed from the second refrigeration circuit to be transferred to a target fluid.
  6. 6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising connection means enabling the first refrigeration circuit to associated with the second refrigeration circuit.
  7. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the connection means is adapted to re-route refrigerant from the second refrigeration circuit to the first refrigeration circuit.
  8. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 4, wherein the connection means is adapted to associate refrigerant from the second refrigeration circuit with the evaporator of the first refrigeration circuit.
  9. 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the connection means is adapted to be connectable to a region of the second refrigeration circuit at which the refrigerant contained therein is a liquid.
  10. 10. A method of installing energy transfer apparatus as defined by any preceding claim, comprising the step of: associating the first refrigeration circuit with a heat rejecting part of a second refrigeration circuit.
  11. 11. A method as claimed in claim 10 when dependent directly or indirectly upon claim 5, comprising the additional step of associating the condenser with a target fluid.
  12. 12. A method as claimed in claim 11 when dependent directly or indirectly upon claim 7 comprising the additional step of re-routing refrigerant from the second refrigeration circuit to the first refrigeration circuit to enable energy to be absorbed from the refrigerant.
  13. 13. A method as claimed in claim 12, comprising the additional step of re-routing refrigerant through the condenser of the first refrigeration circuit, the refrigerant being re-routed from a region of the second circuit at which the refrigerant is a liquid.
  14. 14. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprising the additional step of returning the refrigerant to the second refrigeration circuit.
GB1021521.8A 2010-12-20 2010-12-20 Method and Apparatus for Cascade Refrigeration and for Central Heating Hot Water Supply Withdrawn GB2486646A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1021521.8A GB2486646A (en) 2010-12-20 2010-12-20 Method and Apparatus for Cascade Refrigeration and for Central Heating Hot Water Supply

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1021521.8A GB2486646A (en) 2010-12-20 2010-12-20 Method and Apparatus for Cascade Refrigeration and for Central Heating Hot Water Supply

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GB201021521D0 GB201021521D0 (en) 2011-02-02
GB2486646A true GB2486646A (en) 2012-06-27

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Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4041724A (en) * 1975-02-18 1977-08-16 Projectus Industriprodukter Ab Installation for heating a fluid, preferably water, in a conventional central heating system, using the waste heat produced by a number of refrigerators
DE3134276A1 (en) * 1981-08-29 1983-03-10 Helfried Dipl.-Phys. 8021 Icking Credé Device for obtaining heating heat according to the heat pump principle
US4391104A (en) * 1982-01-15 1983-07-05 The Trane Company Cascade heat pump for heating water and for cooling or heating a comfort zone
US6116035A (en) * 1995-09-08 2000-09-12 Daikin Industries, Ltd. Heat transfer device
JP2005299935A (en) * 2004-04-06 2005-10-27 Fujitsu General Ltd Air conditioner
EP1780476A1 (en) * 2004-07-01 2007-05-02 Daikin Industries, Ltd. Hot-water supply device
GB2455579A (en) * 2007-12-13 2009-06-17 Martin Perrin Heat pump comprising an inverter drive compressor
US20100050675A1 (en) * 2007-03-27 2010-03-04 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Heat pump system
WO2010082324A1 (en) * 2009-01-15 2010-07-22 三菱電機株式会社 Complex system for air conditioning and hot water supplying
EP2211125A1 (en) * 2009-01-27 2010-07-28 Zanotti S.p.A. Plant and process for producing cold and for producing hot water to be supplied to one or more thermal users

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4041724A (en) * 1975-02-18 1977-08-16 Projectus Industriprodukter Ab Installation for heating a fluid, preferably water, in a conventional central heating system, using the waste heat produced by a number of refrigerators
DE3134276A1 (en) * 1981-08-29 1983-03-10 Helfried Dipl.-Phys. 8021 Icking Credé Device for obtaining heating heat according to the heat pump principle
US4391104A (en) * 1982-01-15 1983-07-05 The Trane Company Cascade heat pump for heating water and for cooling or heating a comfort zone
US6116035A (en) * 1995-09-08 2000-09-12 Daikin Industries, Ltd. Heat transfer device
EP1291587A2 (en) * 1995-09-08 2003-03-12 Daikin Industries, Ltd. Heat transfer device
JP2005299935A (en) * 2004-04-06 2005-10-27 Fujitsu General Ltd Air conditioner
EP1780476A1 (en) * 2004-07-01 2007-05-02 Daikin Industries, Ltd. Hot-water supply device
US20100050675A1 (en) * 2007-03-27 2010-03-04 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Heat pump system
GB2455579A (en) * 2007-12-13 2009-06-17 Martin Perrin Heat pump comprising an inverter drive compressor
WO2010082324A1 (en) * 2009-01-15 2010-07-22 三菱電機株式会社 Complex system for air conditioning and hot water supplying
EP2211125A1 (en) * 2009-01-27 2010-07-28 Zanotti S.p.A. Plant and process for producing cold and for producing hot water to be supplied to one or more thermal users

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Publication number Publication date
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