US2824430A - Cold-gas refrigerator control system - Google Patents

Cold-gas refrigerator control system Download PDF

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Publication number
US2824430A
US2824430A US489106A US48910655A US2824430A US 2824430 A US2824430 A US 2824430A US 489106 A US489106 A US 489106A US 48910655 A US48910655 A US 48910655A US 2824430 A US2824430 A US 2824430A
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United States
Prior art keywords
cold
space
refrigerator
duct
working space
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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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US489106A
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English (en)
Inventor
Rinia Herre
Haan Jose Jan Willem Den
Dros Albert August
Franciscus Lambertus Va Weenen
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US Philips Corp
North American Philips Co Inc
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US Philips Corp
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
    • F25B9/14—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of operating a coldgas refrigerator and to a cold-gas refrigerator in which both the starting of the machine is facilitated and the operation of the cold-gas refrigerator in reverse as a hotgas engine is prevented. More particularly, an auxiliary space is placed in communication with the working space of the refrigerator when the refrigerator is started or stopped in order that the degree of compression of the cold-gas refrigerator may be reduced.
  • the invention concerns a method of operating a coldgas refrigerator comprising a first working space of variable volume at a high temperature and a second space of variable volume at a lower temperature. These spaces are connected with one another through a cooler, a regenerator and a freezer in which the volume of these spaces are varied by piston-like bodies reciprocating with relative phase difference and having a gas of unvariable chemical composition performing a closed thermodynamic cycle in the working space.
  • a cold-gas refrigerator is often termed a refrigerator operating on the reversed hot-gas reciprocating engine principle.
  • These machines may be constructed in various ways, for example as a displacer-piston machine, a double-acting machine or a machine in which two cylinders are at an angle to one another. These machines produce low temperatures of for example 200 C. in one step. When such a machine produces such cold temperatures in the freezing space, the walls or areas adjacent this space will also assume this low temperature.
  • a very low temperature of for example 200 C. may, consequently, prevail in the freezer and in the freezing space and a materially higher temperature of for example +50 C. in the cooler and in the cooled space.
  • the machine may start spontaneously operating as an engine owing to the temperature difference between the freezing space and the cooled space.
  • the sense of rotation of the machine then reverses, so that then the freezer operates as a cooler and the cooling water of the initial cooler performs the function of a source of heat.
  • the machine then runs until the initially cold parts of the refrigerator have been heated to such an extent and the temperature difference between the spaces of variable volume has become so small, that the machine stops owing to its frictional losses.
  • the speed may, however, increase to a very high value, so that the normal speed of the machine operating as a refrigerator is exceeded and accidents may result.
  • a further phenomenon is that the starting of the'cold-gas refrigerator may give rise to difiiculties, since therequired starting torque is high and the motor which has to supply this torque is often not capable 'to do so.
  • the refrigerator is driven by an electric motor such as a stardelta-connected" electric motor, thetorque supplied by this motor to the refrigerator is often found not to be suflici'ent to start the machine.
  • the working space is connected with an auxiliary space, when the refrigerator is started or stopped, so that the degree of compression of the machine is reduced.
  • the working space of the refrigerator during starting should be connected only during a small number of reciprocating movements of the piston-shaped bodies.
  • a small number is to be understood to mean herein that the number of revolutions per second may be not more than 100.
  • the refrigerator suitable for carrying out the afore said method has the feature that the working space is connected through a duct with the auxiliary space.
  • This duct has a relief valve therein which is open when the machine is stopped and closes when the refrigerator is in operation.
  • the auxiliary space may be constituted by various spaces.
  • a working space associated with one cycle of a cold-gas refrigerator constructed as a multi-cycle machine may be connected through a duct having a relief valve with a space associated with another cycle. Consequently, in this embodiment the working spaces of the machine are connected with one another.
  • the crank case of the refrigerator serves as an auxiliary space.
  • the crank case is connected through a duct having at least one check valve with the working space.
  • This check valve is arranged in a manner such that gaseous medium can flow only from the crank case to the working space, while the duct has an oil separator for cleaning the oil from the gaseous medium leaving the crank case.
  • the crank case is connected with the working space through a second duct which has a relief valve capable of disconnecting this second connection.
  • An oil separator may be provided in the first duct connected to the working space to prevent oil from being deposited in the heat interchangers when the second duct is connected to the working space.
  • the second duct from the crank case to the working space has a by-pass valve which is arranged in a manner such that, when the connection between the working space and the crank case has been established, working medium can flow only in a selected direction from the working space to the crank case.
  • the second duct is traversed by medium only from the working space to the crank case while the first duct is traversed by medium from the crank case to the working space.
  • the first duct comprises an oil separator by which lubricant is extracted from the medium.
  • relief valve in the communication between the working space and the auxiliary space is subjected to a force which tends to hold this member in the open position, while provision is additionally made of an electromagnet which, upon being excited, moves the member against this force into the closed position, the electromagnet being excited only when the electric motor is in delta connection.
  • Figure l is a cross-sectional view of a cold-gas refrigerator in which the crank case serves as an auxiliary space.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic view of a star-delta electrical connection.
  • Thecold-gas refrigerator shown in Figure l is of the displacer-piston type and comprises a cylinder 1,1in which a displacer-piston 2 and a piston 3 move up and down with a constant phase difference.
  • the displacer piston is coupled through a connecting-rod system 4 with a crank of a crank shaft 5, while the piston is also coupled by way of a connecting-rod system 6 with a crank of this crank shaft.
  • Flywheel 30 is secured at one end of crank shaft 5.
  • the space of variable volume 7 above the displacer-piston 2 is the freezing space of the machine, this space connects a freezer 8, a regenerator 9 and a cooler 10 with a cooled space 11 of variable volume between the displacer piston and the piston.
  • An apertured enclosure 29 surrounding freezer 8 is provided for atmospheric air and condensate is led away through collecting tube 31. Since always a small quantity of working medium will flow away from the cooled or working space 11 of the machine to the crank case or auxiliary space 12, a device is provided to convey this lost medium hack to a working space of the machine, which in this This device comprises a connecting duct constituted by a duct 13 with a check valve 14, a space 15 with an oil separator 16, a duct 17 with a check valve 18 and a duct 19.
  • the oil separator 16 is shown only diagrammatically; use may be made of a conventional oil separator for this purpose.
  • the extracted oil flows through a duct 20, which may be closed by a float 21, to the crank case of the cold-gas refrigerator.
  • the working space or cooled space 11. of the machine may also be connected through a duct 22, comprising a check valve, i. e. a relief valve 23 and a check valve 24 with the working space of the machine.
  • the check valve 24 is arranged in a manner such that, if the relief valve 23 leaves the passage of the duct 22 open, no medium can flow from the crank case to the working space 11 but it can flow from the working space to the crank case.
  • the relief valve 23 is provided with a knob 25, by which it can be manually displaced, if desired.
  • the relief valve is held in the open position by a force exerted by a spring 26.
  • the device comprises inaddilion an electromagnet 27, which is excited only when a motor 28, driving the cold-gas refrigerator, is in delta connection. If the motor is in star connection or in zero position, the electromagnet is not excited, so that the spring 26 holds the relief valve in the open position. If the magnet is excited, the relief valve 23 is moved into the closed position against the pressure of the spring 26.
  • the device operates as follows: when the cold-gas refrigerator is started, the electric motor 28 is in star connection, so that the electromagnet 27 is not excited and the relief valve 23 is held in the open position by the spring 26. Consequently, there is an open connection between the working space of the machine and the crank case, so that during the instant when the starting torque of the electric motor is comparatively small, the
  • the motor If, after a few instants, for example after reciproeating movements per second of the piston and of the displacer piston, the motor has sulficient speed, it is changed over from star connection into delta connection, so that the electromagnet 27 is excited and the relief valve 23 is moved into the closed position. From this instant no working medium can flow any longer from the working space 11 of the machine to the crank case, so that the working medium is compressed and the cold-gas refrigerator produces cold.
  • the relief valve 23 closes the duct 22. If the refrigerator is to be stopped, the electric motor is changed over from delta connection into zero position by means of switch A, so that the electromagnet 27 is no longer excited and the relief valve 23 opens the duct 22. Thus, the working space of the machine is connected with the crank case so that the risk of having the refrigerator operate as an engine after the refrigerator has been stopped is eliminated.
  • a cold-gas refrigerator comprising cylinder means, at least one piston mounted for reciprocating movement in said cylinder means, a pair of spaces of variable volume in said cylinder means, a freezer, a regenerator and a cooler in series, an auxiliary space, a duct system communicating at one end with said auxiliary space, and a relief valve located in said duct system, said relief valve being operable to connect at least one of said spaces of variable volume to said auxiliary space during relatively low operating speeds of said cold-gas refrigerator.
  • a cold-gas refrigerator comprising a cylinder, a piston and a displacer mounted for reciprocable movement in said cylinder, a pair of spaces of variable volume in said cylinder, a freezer, a regenerator and a cooler in series and interconnecting said two spaces of variable volume, an auxiliary space, a duct system communicating at one end with one of said spaces of variable volume and at the other end with said auxiliary space, and a relief valve located in said duct system, said relief valve being operable to connect said space of variable volume to said auxiliary space during relatively low operating speeds of said cold-gas refrigerator.
  • a cold-gas refrigerator comprising a cylinder, a crank case, ,a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said cylinder, :1 piston and a displacer mounted for reciprocable movement in said cylinder, connecting rod means for connecting said piston and said displacer to said crank shaft, a pair of working spaces of variable volume in said cylinder, a freezer, a regenerator and a cooler connected in series and interconnecting said two spaces of variable volume, a duct system communicating at one end with one of said spaces of variable volume and at the other end with said crank case, and a relief valve located in said duct system, said relief valve being operable to connect said two spaces of variable volume to said crank case during relatively low operating speeds of said cold-gas refrigerator.
  • a cold-gas refrigerator as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a second duct system, and at least one check valve being located in said duct system and directing the flow of medium in a predetermined direction in said second duct system from said crank case to said one working space.
  • a cold-gas refrigerator as claimed in claim 4 in which the resistance of the duct system, check valve and relief valve to the flow of medium therein is less than the resistance of the cooler, regenerator and freezer to the flow of medium therein at low operating speeds of said piston and said displacer.
  • a cold-gas refrigerator as claimed in claim 5 in which said check valve is operable to connect said working space to said crank case only'when said displacer and said piston have stopped operating.
  • a cold-gas refrigerator as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a star-delta wound electric motor which drives said crank shaft, said relief valve being operable to connect said one working space to said crank case when said motor is in star connection and being operable to disconnect said one working space from said crank case when said motor is in delta connection and is stopped.
  • a cold-gas refrigerator as claimed in claim 7 further comprising an electromagnet, a yieldable member urging said electromagnet into operative engagement with said relief valve, said electromagnet being connected to said motor to respond to the delta connection thereof whereby said electromagnet closes said relief valve against the pressure of said yieldable member.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Compressor (AREA)
US489106A 1954-02-18 1955-02-18 Cold-gas refrigerator control system Expired - Lifetime US2824430A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL185220 1954-02-18

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US2824430A true US2824430A (en) 1958-02-25

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2993341A (en) * 1958-02-03 1961-07-25 Alwin B Newton Hot gas refrigeration system
US3220200A (en) * 1964-10-26 1965-11-30 Philips Corp Cool-down time of installation incorporating stirling cycle refrigerator
US3640082A (en) * 1970-06-08 1972-02-08 Hughes Aircraft Co Cryogenic refrigerator cycle
US4458495A (en) * 1981-12-16 1984-07-10 Sunpower, Inc. Pressure modulation system for load matching and stroke limitation of Stirling cycle apparatus
EP0614059A1 (fr) * 1993-03-02 1994-09-07 Cryotechnologies Refroidisseur muni d'un doigt froid du type tube pulsé

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2011964A (en) * 1931-07-28 1935-08-20 Devon Mfg Company Refrigerating machine
GB686239A (en) * 1948-07-02 1953-01-21 Philips Nv Improvements in hot-gas reciprocating engines and refrigerating engines operating on the reversed hot gas reciprocating engine principle

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2011964A (en) * 1931-07-28 1935-08-20 Devon Mfg Company Refrigerating machine
GB686239A (en) * 1948-07-02 1953-01-21 Philips Nv Improvements in hot-gas reciprocating engines and refrigerating engines operating on the reversed hot gas reciprocating engine principle

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2993341A (en) * 1958-02-03 1961-07-25 Alwin B Newton Hot gas refrigeration system
US3220200A (en) * 1964-10-26 1965-11-30 Philips Corp Cool-down time of installation incorporating stirling cycle refrigerator
US3640082A (en) * 1970-06-08 1972-02-08 Hughes Aircraft Co Cryogenic refrigerator cycle
US4458495A (en) * 1981-12-16 1984-07-10 Sunpower, Inc. Pressure modulation system for load matching and stroke limitation of Stirling cycle apparatus
EP0614059A1 (fr) * 1993-03-02 1994-09-07 Cryotechnologies Refroidisseur muni d'un doigt froid du type tube pulsé
FR2702269A1 (fr) * 1993-03-02 1994-09-09 Cryotechnologies Refroidisseur muni d'un doigt froid du type tube pulsé.

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NL185220B (nl)

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