US2268432A

US2268432A - Refrigeration

Info

Publication number: US2268432A
Application number: US183000A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald G Smellie
Original assignee: Hoover Co
Current assignee: Hoover Co
Priority date: 1938-01-03
Filing date: 1938-01-03
Publication date: 1941-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1958-12-30

Description

ec. 30, 94 D. G. SMELLIE 2,268,432

REFRIGERATION Filed 3, 1958 lllllllll EEIHHH. o\ H I llllllllllll llllllllll l 1 v I 1 I 1 I I I111 lllllllllll ll IIL 11 I'TI II In IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR f?- flmzala 61 Jmeilfe ATTORNEY" Patented Dec. 30, 1941 REFRIGERATION Donald G. Smcllie, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporatlon of Ohio Application January 3, 1938, Serial No. 183,000

18 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating systems and more specifically to a novel device for circulating the liquid in absorption refrigeratingatmosphere generally prevailing within a. re-

frigerating system, and-many problems relating to corrosion resistance, liquid seal structures, and repair are encountered. According to this invention there is provided a refrigerating system in which liquids are circulated positively by a power-driven means but without there being any moving parts within the refrigerating system, the circulation is entirely independent of the rate of heat supply to the generator, no mechanism is exposed to the corrosive atmosphere within the system, and all mechanical parts are readily accessible for repair and servicing without discharging or affecting the refrigerating system per se in any manner.

According to the invention, liquid is circulated through a refrigerating system, which may be of any particular type, by imparting to confined bodies of liquid a wave-like or surging motion and then utilizing the crest of the waves as a pumping element whereby the liquid is elevated to a higher elevation. The pumping device comprises essentially an element connected to be.

vibrated through a slight distance and so inter nally constructed that liquid therein contained will be progressively elevated from the bottom to the top thereof and all without the use or any moving parts within the refrigerating system. I

This invention proposes a pumping device which elevates or circulates fluids by imparting movements thereto in such fashion that the inertia of the fluids forces a part thereof into an elevated position at which part of the fluid so elevated is diverted and trapped.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds heater or by a gas burner.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of my novel pumping element.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

For purposes of convenience I have chosen to illustrate my invention as being applied to a continuous three-fluid absorption refrigerating system, but it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to other types of apparatus. The refrigerating system illustrated comprises a boiler B, an analyzer D, a rectifier R, a condenser C, an evaporator E, an absorber A, and a pumping device P driven by an electric motor M which. are suitably connected' by various conduits to form a plurality of gas and liquid circuits forming a complete refrigerating system.

The system just described is charged with a refrigerant such as ammonia, an absorbent such as water, and a pressure equalizing medium such as nitrogen or hydrogen. The boiler B is heated in any suitable manner as by an electric cartridge The source of heat for the boiler B and the ourrent'for the electrical motor M are controlled by any suitable mechanism and in any preferred manner. A preferred control mechanism is illustrated in the co-pending application of Curtis C. Coons, filed June 16,1937, Serial No. 148,424.

The boiler B contains a solution of a refrigerant in an absorbent which liberates refrigerant vapor when heated. Refrigerant vapor generated in the boiler passes upwardly through the analyzer D in counterfiow relationship with strong absorption solution flowing downwardly therethrough. Any vapor of absorption solution which may be carried into the analyzer!) con denser. therein, the heat of condensation serving to generate more refrigerant vapor from the liquid in theanalyzer, The refrigerant vapor is conducted from the analyzer D into a condenser C, preferably air-cooled, through a con-- duit M which includes an air-cooled rectifier l The rectifier R, condenses any vapor of absorption' solution which may pass through the analyaer. A weal; gas conduit i2 is connected hetween the top portion of the absorber A, which is also preferably air-cooled, and the outer path of a gas heat exchanger it. A conduit i4 interconnects the outer path of the gas heat-exchanger i3 and the lower or freezing section 55 when taken in connection with the accompany:

ing drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a refrigerating system embodying my invention,

of the evaporator E. The low temperature section E5 of the evaporator E is connected to a box-.- cooling evaporator section it which in turn is connected to of the gas heat ex:

fully hereinafter.

changer I3 by means of a conduit l'l. Rich gas The weak solution formed in the boiler-bythe generation of refrigerant vapor is conveyed therefrom through a conduit 2|, the inner pass of a liquid heat exchanger 22, a conduit 23, and a coil 24 into the finned air-cooled liquid pump P, the operation of which will be described more The bottom of the-pump P extends slightly below the normal liquid level in the boiler-analyzer B-D whereby to insure that the pump will be supplied-with liquid by gravity. The liquid is discharged from the pump P through a coil 25 and a conduit 26 into the upper portion of the absorber A adjacent the weak gas outlet therefrom. The liquid flows downwardly through the absorber A by gravity in counterflow relationship to the pressure equalizing medium refrigerant vapor mixture flowing upwardly therethrough whereby the refrigerant vapor is separated from the inert gas by absorption in the liquid. The strong liquid formed in the absorber A is discharged therefrom into.

a solution reservoir 28L.- Strong solution is conveyed from the reservoir 28 to the analyzer D through a conduit 29, liquid heat exchanger 22,

and conduit 30.

It will be understood that the disclosure of the refrigerating system just described is entirely diagrammatic with the exception of the pumpins device P and the

coils

24 and 25 which are .rlivided into'a plurality of wedge-shaped compartments 42' which are formed by a .plurality of partitions 43 which extend completely across the interior of the casing 4|. and from the top to the bottom thereof. The higher or upstream partition of each compartment 42 is provided with a small cut-out 44 positioned in the top portion thereof andat the apex of the wedgeshaped compartment.

"Ihe'motor, M is suitably rigidly mounted by means of a bracket ;l| attached in any suitable manner to a ri id 811119911. .The drive shaft of the motor is provided with a crank wheel 82 to which is pivotally connected a connecting rod II. The free end of the connecting rod II is pivotally connectedat I4 to an ear II formed integrally with the casing 4| whereby rotation of the motorwill' impart a transverse oscillation or vibration to the casing 4|, asviewed in Figures 2 and 3. The solution coils 24 and 2' provide flexible or resilient-'ns ounting'sfor' the casing 4| whereby it may vibsntewithout imposing an excessive strain on part .of thefluid confining elements of the refrigerating system.

When the motor is is energised it imparts sn oscillatory or vibratini movement to the casing 4| through the mechanism I2, 53, I4, and II. The

vibration or oscillation of the casing 4| causes the liquid contained in the wedge-shaped compartments to surge from side to side therein. As the liquid surges toward the apices of the compartments 42, the wedge shape thereof causes the liquid to rise to a relatively great height whereby a portion thereof spills over through the openings 44. into the next higher compartments. The liquid does not spill downhill through the openings 44 for the reason that the downstream opening 44 of any individual compartment 42 is at the base or wide end of the wedge whereby the liquid head or crest on the surging liquid is not sufficiently great to reach the bottom portion of the downstream opening 44. As a result of this action, the liquid is elevated with a step by step motion from compartment to compartment from the bottom to the top of the casing 4|. The amplitude of movement of the casing 4| is not sufficiently great to impose any excessive strains upon the supporting coils 24 and 2!. The fins on the pump P move rapidly .through the air thereby eifectively cooling the pump and its contents. The cooling action is enhanced by the very turbulent conditions prevailing in the pump chamber. The speed of oscillation or vibration of the pump chamber P may be varied widely; it is only necessary that the frequency and amplitude of the vibrations or oscillations shall be of such value that the inertia of the particular fluid in the chamber P will cause the liquid to surge in the compartments 42, whereby a high wave crest will'be created when the liquid surges into the apices of the compartments.

It is evident from the description above that this invention provides a refrigerating system wherein the absorption solution is positively circulated through its circuit by'a power-driven device but without any moving parts within those portions of the system exposed to fluids in the system.

The inert gas may be circulated by a fan or by the well known gravity circulation as desired. It is apparent that the pumping device P and its supporting coils 24' and 2! also function efliciently to pre-cool the absorption solution before supplying the sameto the absorber whereby to 7 improve the efllciency of the absorption process. While I have illustrated and described but a single embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that it is capable of expression in numerous constructional variations and inother environments without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Liquid pumping mechanism comprising an elongated inclined vessel, means forming a plusaid boiler by gravity, characterized by the fact.

that said apparatus includes'mesns for conveying weak solution from said boiler into said absorber including a movable air cooled pumping chamber, a plurality of cooling coils constructed and arranged to support said pumping chamber resiliently, and power-driven means for movin said pumping chamber.

8. Absorption refrigerating apparatus including a solution circuit having a boiler and an absorber therein, characterized by the fact that said circuit includes a pair of spaced apart heat exchange coils in said circuit, a pumping device interconnecting said coils, power-driven means for imparting movement to said pumping device, said pumping device being constructed and arranged to cause solution to surge into a plurality of confined passages and including means providing for overflow of solution from each passage into and adjacent passage.

4. Absorption refrigerating apparatus including a solution circuit, said circuit including means for circulating the solution therethrough comprising an elongated inclined vessel, means forming a plurality of wedge-shaped compartments within said vessel, overflow means on the higher side of the apex of each of said compartments, and means exterior to said vessel for vibrating the same. 1

5. An absorption refrigerating apparatus including a plurality of connected vessels arranged to form a refrigerating system including a plurality of fluid circuits, which is characterized by a fluid circulator in one of said circuits comprising a sealed vessel, means for supplying fluid to one end of said vessel, means for removing fluid from the other end of said vessel, means for oscillating said vessel, and means within said vessel for forcing the fluid to travel therethrough in a plurality of steps as said vessel is oscillated.

6. Absorption refrigerating apparatus characterized in that it includes a liquid pumping mechanism for circulating fluid through the apparatus, said liquid pumping mechanism comprising an elongated inclined vessel, a plurality of spaced apart dams in said vessel, the adjacent dams being in non-parallel relationship, powerdriven means mountedexteriorly of said vessel and connected thereto to oscillate the same, and means resiliently mounting said vessel, each of said dams including a spillway at its end nearest the subjacent dam whereby oscillating bodies of liquid will be crowded over said spillways as said vessel is oscillated.

7. Absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising a boiler, an absorber, means for draining strong solution from said absorber into said boiler by gravity, and means for conveying weak solution from said boiler into said absorber including a plurality of cooling coils and a movable air-cooled pumping chamber, said cooling coils being constructed and arranged to support said pumping chamber resiliently, chamber including means forming a plurality of wedge-shaped compartments, and an overflow orifice adjacent the apex of each of said compartments, said orifices being arranged to provide unidirectional flow through said chamber.

8. Liquid pumping apparatus comprising a ves-.

freely communicating portions of large and small volume, an overflow opening in one side of each of said chambers, and means for oscillating said vessel generally. transversely of said chambers whereby liquid therein is caused to surge between said portions of large and small volume and the liquid overflows through said openings when it surges into said portions of small volume.

10. That improvement in the art of refrigeration which includes the steps of circulatir an absorption solution through a circuit including a boiler and an absorber by imparting a to and fro movement to a confined body of the solution to cause the liquid to surge between a zone of small volume and a zone of larger volume, and spilling off the crest on the solution which is formed when it surges into the zone of small volume.

11. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator, an absorber, a boiler, means for liquefying refrigerant vapor produced in said boiler and for supplying the liquid to said evaporator, means connecting said evaporator and said absorber for circulation of inert as therebetween, and means connecting said absorber and said boiler for circulation of absorption solution therebetween, said apparatus being characterized by the fact that one of said connecting means includes a vibratory pumping means having a plurality of fixedly connected parts immovable with respect to each other, means for conveying fluid to be circulated to and away from said pumping means, said last mentioned means being constructed and arranged to allow operative movement of said pumping means with respect to the other parts of said apparatus, and power driven means positioned externally of said pumping means and operativelyconnected thereto.

12. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator, an absorber, a boiler, means for liquefying refrigerant vapor produced in said boiler said pumping sel,-means within said vessel forming a plurality of dams including overflow openings, means for oscillating said vessel, saidv dams and the said overflow openings being so arranged thatliquid oscillating in said vessel will flow through said openings in a uni-directional manner.

9. Liquid pumping apparatus comprising a pumping vessel, means within said vessel forming a plurality of pumping chambers having and for supplying the liquid to said evaporator, means connecting said evaporator and said absorber for circulation of inert gas therebetween, and means connecting said absorber and said boiler for circulation of absorption solution therebetween, said apparatus being characterized by the fact that one of said means connecting said boiler and said absorber includes avibratory pumping means having a plurality of fixedly connected parts immovable with respect to each other, means for conveying absorption solution to be circulated to and away from said pumping means, said last mentioned means being constructed and arranged to allow operative movement .of said pumping means with respect to the other parts of said apparatus, and power driven means positioned externally of said pumping means and operatively connected thereto.

13. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator, an absorber, a boiler, means for liqueiying refrigerant vapor produced in said boiler and for supplying the liquid to said evaporator, means connecting said evaporator and said absorber for circulation of inert gas therebetween, and means connecting said absorber and said boiler for circulation of absorption solution therebetween, said apparatus being characterized by the fact that one of said connecting means includes a fluid circulating means having no relatively moving parts and operative to circulate fluid when moved bodily, structure for conductoperative to allow bodily movement of said fluid circulating means with respect to other parts of the apparatus, and means for bodily moving said fluid circulating means positioned outside the fluid confining walls of said apparatus.

. and means for supplying refrigerant vapor generated in said boiler to said evaporator in liquid phase, said apparatus being characterized by the fact that said solution circuit includes a circulating device having no relatively moving parts exposed to fluids circulating in said apparatus.

and means for resiliently supporting said circulating device, and power driven means mounted exteriorly of said apparatus connected to operate said circulating device.

15. Absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising a boiler, an absorber, an evaporator. means to supply refrigerant vapor generated in said boiler to said evaporator in liquid form, and conduits interconnecting said evaporator and absorber to form a pressure equalizing medium circuit, said apparatus being characterized in that it includes a fluid circulator having no relatively moving parts exposed tofluids circulating in the apparatus, means movably mounting said fluid circulator and for conveying weak solution from said boiler thereto and for conveying weak solution from said circulator to said absorber, means for conveying enriched solution from said absorber to said boiler, and power operated means positioned externally of the fluid containing portions of the apparatus constructed and arranged to operate said fluid circulator. 16. Absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising a pressure equalizing medium circuit in-.

circulating solution therethrough comprising a pair of spaced apart cooling coils and an elongated inclined vessel mounted upon said cooling coils, an electrical motor connected to oscillate said vessel, a plurality of wedge-shaped compartments formed in said vessel, and a plurality of liquid overflow devices on the upstream side of the, apex of each; of said wedge-shaped compartmenrs.

17. That method of circulating a liquid through a closed circuit in which the liquid is raised from a first liquid level to a higher liquid level without addingv liquid to said circuit or removing liquid therefrom which includes the steps oi. conducting liquid at said first liquid level into a pumping zone having a narrow portion and a wide portion, imparting a. vibratory movement to said pumping zone in a direction to cause the liquid to surge between said narrow and wide portions whereby the liquid crowds into said narrow portion and raises above said first liquid level, and draining liquid from said narrow portionat said higher liquid level.

18. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator vessel, an absorber vessel, a generating vessel and means connecting said vessels to form a fluid circuit, said connecting means' being characterized by the fact that it includes means for circulating a fluid therethrough comprising a pumping element having no relatively moving parts and operative to circulate fluid when moved bodily, means resiliently connecting said pumping element to one of said vessels and a prime mover positioned outside the fluid confining walls of the apparatus and operatively connected to