WO2008114096A1

WO2008114096A1 - Energy saving heat chamber for refrigerant cycles

Info

Publication number: WO2008114096A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/051003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Parana Gamage Saliya Paranagama
Original assignee: Paranagama Parana Gamage Saliy
Priority date: 2007-03-22
Filing date: 2007-03-22
Publication date: 2008-09-25

Abstract

This apparatus collects the heat emitted by the refrigerator/deep freezer or air conditioner in to a chamber and utilizes it for a useful purpose. It is equipped with a tube system (I) to send the heat into the said chamber, a valve (9) with bimetallic strips or thermal sensor (16) to control the temperature in the chamber or solenoid valves coupled with digital control panel (K) with thermal sensor to control the temperature, a bulb (E) to light the said chamber, a switch (G) that operates automatically only when the door is opened, and a can enabling subsequent removal of water (C) that is formed when the ice is defrosted in the chamber.

Description

Description ENERGY SAVING HEAT CHAMBER FOR REFRIGERANT

CYCLES

Field of Invention

[1] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for using waste heat resulting from a refrigeration process, and more particularly to an apparatus and method which uses waste heat to heat separate chamber and to use this collected heat for useful operations

Background Art

[2] In refrigeration and air conditioning, electrical energy that is used to operate refrigerators and air condition units is used to absorb heat from one location and to pump this heat to another location. Heat, which is pumped out, is wasted without any usage. One objective of producing this equipment is to use this wasted heat for useful operation and to save electrical energy. The second objective is to increase the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle by introducing heat-dissipating chamber and to extend the life of compressor. Disclosure of Invention

Usage of This Invention

[3] Normally, meat, fish and other frozen items, which are put in deep freezers, have to defrost prior to cook or use. In this process, either water is used to defrost the items or microwave energy is used. Hence, the users have to bare extra cost. But, in this production, wasted heat energy can be used to defrost the frozen items, and it will be used as useful energy source. The benefit of this will directly pass to the refrigerator user.

[4] This energy saving heat chamber can be fixed on top or by side of refrigerators, or deep freezers.

[5]

1. A person who purchase a refrigerator of deep freezer can easily connect this apparatus to it .

2. Temperature within the heat chamber could be controlled by the adjustable key or digital controlling panel.

3. In addition to defrost, cooled food items, which need to heat up to room temperature can be easily done through this chamber. As there is no unnecessary temperature rise within the chamber quality of food items will be not changed.

[6] Similarly, when using air condition units and large-scale cold rooms or deep freezers, considerable amount of heat is pumped out without any usage. This wasted heat can be used as heating source for medium range heat chambers. As an example, where yogurt is manufactured, heat is required to protect bacteria required for producing yogurt, and hence electricity is used in large quantities for heat chambers. On the other hand, deep freezers are used to cool the manufactured yogurt and heat which is pumped out from these freezes and air condition units can be used for the heat chambers in production process.

[7] In super markets, short eat food items are heated by keeping in ovens. In this process, electrical energy is used. At the other end, air condition units need to be run to absorb additional heat, which emitted from these ovens. Also, deep freezers are used to keep meat and other food item in frozen status. Heat energy, which is wasted from these air conditioning units and deep freezers, can be used in above stated ovens.

[8] In many way and various places where heat is pumped out for refrigeration, this heat chamber can be used as energy saving apparatus.

Operation

[9] In a refrigerator or in an air condition unit, refrigerant gas is subjected to low pressure and heat is absorbed from one side, and then by means of compressor this heated refrigerant is subject to high pressure and heat is removed to the other side. In this method the heat so removed is deposited in a special chamber and could be used when required.

[10] The uniqueness of this chamber is there is an adjustable key to regulate the inner temperature as required or digital control panel with thermal sensor and solenoid valves to regulate inner temperature. Air inside the chamber could be dissipated using convection current without supplying external energy.

[11] A refrigerant system is illustrated in Fig. 1. What 3 show in the figure 01 is the tube connected to the refrigerator to carry the low-pressure air for the cooling process. Here the portion 3 running up to evaporator 5 is heat insulated to prevent heat absorbing from outside. The arrows show the direction of movement of refrigerant gas. After absorbing the heat at the evaporator 5, the heated refrigerant comes inside the compressor 7. A compressor 7 compresses a refrigerant and delivers a compressed refrigerant into a main refrigerant line 8. This line 8 is heat insulated to avoid heat losses. The heated refrigerant coming out from the compressor 7 through line 8 is directed to heating chamber 1, which fixed on to refrigerator through heat- insulated tube 12. Under normal conditions as on Fig 03, heated refrigerant flows into the heat chamber 1 through the opened valve A2. After circulating through heat chamber 1, refrigerant flows through line 2 and then in to line 10 through opened valve A3. After the heat chamber 1 is heated, the bimetallic strips or thermal sensor 16 gives a signal to the thermal controller 14 and current flows through A5 and a magnetic flux is formed upon the coil and draws the A6 valve upwards and close the valve A2 & A3 as on Fig 04. When the A6 opens, heated refrigerant passes through A4. Then it prevents warming the chamber 1 any further and the heated refrigerant passes through the line 10 and comes to the condenser 11 and to expansion valve 3 after removing heat to the outside. The cooled refrigerant that comes as aforesaid is then sent to the evaporator 5 for the cooling process of the refrigerator.

[12] In addition, bimetallic strips and two way valve can be replaced with thermal sensor coupled to solenoid valves 9b as in Fig 02, which can be control through digital control panel 14b. When the temperature in the chamber 1 rise to the set value, thermal sensor 16 gives the signal to the thermal controller 14b and it will control the solenoid valves 9b.

[13] Fig 3. Shows the cross section of two-way valve when the valves open to the refrigerant to heat chamber. A6 valve is normally closed. Heated refrigerant enters to the tube Al, flows through A2 to the heat chamber. Circulated refrigerant enters to the main refrigerant line at A3 and then flows through A4.

[14] Fig 4. Shows the cross section of two-way valve when the valves opens the path to the condenser. When the heat chamber heated to required set temperature, thermal controller received signal from the thermal sensor within the chamber, and passes electrical currents through E5 electrical connection. Resulting magnetic force pulls the A6 valve upwards. Simultaneously, A2 and A3 valves will close. Then heated refrigerant is directed to the condenser.

[15] Fig 5. Shows the cross section of heat chamber. On this fig 5, chamber L is illustrated in box shape, but it can be any shape. This chamber L is covered with heat insulating cover F. This chamber L consist with two air valves D & H that carries convection currents upwards. Chamber L consist with electric lamp E, ant it is connected to automatic door switch G, that controls the electric lamp E once the door of the chamber L is opened or closed. Chamber L consist drain valve C that is used to drain the defrost water from the chamber. Removable sliding water collecting tray B is fixed at the bottom of the heat chamber to collect defrosts water from the chamber. Thermal sensor J is placed inside the chamber L and this thermal sensor J is connected to thermal controller unit K. Spiral tube system I carrying heated refrigerant is circulated inside the inner housing of the chamber L. Heated refrigerant that is taken from refrigerator, deep freezer, air conditioner or any refrigeration system is directed through tube M to solenoid or two way valve A and to the chamber L Tube M and tube N is heat insulated with heat insulating cover O. This solenoid valves or two way valve A is connected to the thermal controller unit K and it will opened and closed the said valve A upon signals from thermal sensor J. Refrigerant gas from the main refrigerant system is picked from point X and passes through tube M and flows through spiral type tube system I and enters to the main refrigerant system at point Y.

Description of Drawings

[16] FIG. 01 is a first schematic of a refrigerant system according to this invention.

[17] FIG. 02 is a second schematic of a refrigerant system according to this invention.

[18] FIG. 03 is a schematic of two-way valve according to this invention.

[19] FIG. 04 is a schematic of a two-way valve according to this invention.

[20] FIG. 05 is a schematic of a cross section of heat chamber according to this invention.

Industrial Applicability

[21]

[22] When using air condition units and large-scale cold rooms or deep freezers, considerable amount of heat is pumped out without any usage. This wasted heat can be used as heating source for medium range heat chambers. As an example, where yogurt is manufactured, heat is required to protect bacteria required for producing yogurt, and hence electricity is used in large quantities for heat chambers. On the other hand, deep freezers are used to cool the manufactured yogurt and heat which is pumped out from these freezes and air condition units can be used for the heat chambers in production process.

[23] In super markets, short eat food items are heated by keeping in ovens. In this process, electrical energy is used. At the other end, air condition units need to be run to absorb additional heat, which emitted from these ovens. Also, deep freezers are used to keep meat and other food item in frozen status. Heat energy, which is wasted from these air conditioning units and deep freezers, can be used in above stated over.

Claims

Claims [1] What is claimed is:

1. A energy saving heat chamber comprising: a tube system which connected to main refrigerant line of refrigeration system just downstream of compressor to bypass the heated refrigerant gas in to heat chamber, a spiral tube system inside the said heat chamber to circulate heated refrigerant within the said heat chamber, said bypass line communicating back in to said main refrigerant line at a junction point upstream the condenser of the main refrigerant system. a two way- valve systems or solenoid valve system for selectively communicating a refrigerant to a said heat chamber or to the condenser of main refrigerant line a thermal sensor in said heat chamber to emit signal to thermal controller connected to this system that control the said two-way valve system or solenoid valve system once the temperature level of the said heat chamber reaches to set value. a pre programmable thermal controller unit that communicate with the thermal sensor within the said heat chamber and two-way or solenoid valve system, two convection type air valves fixed to the said heat chamber at the bottom and on top with the mechanism to control the opening of this valve to facilitate fresh air to circulate in the said heat chamber. a drain pipe which fixed to the bottom of the said chamber to drain the defrost water in the chamber. a movable type drawer to collect drained water from the said chamber, an electric lamp within the said chamber to light the chamber when the chamber door is opened. An automatic door switch connected to the said chamber to facilitate the on off function of the said lamp when door is opened and closed, a heat insulation cover that cover the said heat chamber.

[2] The heat chamber, which connected to the refrigerant system as, set forth in claim 1, wherein said two-way valve or solenoid valve system is positioned to communicate refrigerant from said main refrigerant flow line.

[3] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said two-way valve or solenoid valve system is positioned at a location downstream of said compressor and said return communication point upstream to the condenser of said refrigerant system.

[4] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said two way valve or solenoid valve system is positioned to be upstream of said return communication point of said refrigerant bypass line

[5] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tube line that bypass the heated refrigerant to the said heat chamber is heat insulated.

[6] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spiral tube line that circulated the heated refrigerant within the said heat chamber is fixed in the inner boundary of the said heat chamber.

[7] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tube line that returns the refrigerant to the said return point of main refrigerant system is connected to point upstream the system condenser.

[8] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said thermal sensor is positioned within the said heat chamber.

[9] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said thermal sensor is connecting to thermal control unit of said heat chamber system.

[10] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said thermal sensor is powered up through the thermal control unit of said heat chamber system

[11] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pre programmable thermal controller is connected to said thermal sensor and to the said two-way valve or solenoid valve system.

[12] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said pre programmable thermal controller unit is set to control the said two-way valve or solenoid valve system.

[13] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said convection type air valves are fixed to the bottom of said chamber and top of the said chamber

[14] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said convection type air valves are equipped with a mechanism to control the opening of the said valves.

[15] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said drain line is positioned at the bottom of the said chamber.

[16] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said movable water collecting drawer is fixed at the bottom of the said chamber and fixed in a way to slide on top of supporting guides.

[17] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrical lamp is fixed within the said chamber.

[18] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said electrical lamp is connected to an automatic door switch.

[19] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said automatic door switch is fixed in a way to operate the said switch when the door of the said chamber is opened and closed.

[20] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said lamp is set to operate with electrical supply.

[21] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said heat chamber and its door is covered with heat insulation material.

[22] The heat chamber system as set forth in claim 21, wherein said heat insulation layer is covered with finishing material