Improved dircet expansion evaporator based chiller system

Abstract

A chiller system is provided including a vapor compression circuit consisting of a fluidly coupled compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. A refrigerant circulates through the vapor compression circuit. The evaporator is a direct exchange heat exchanger. Refrigerant provided at an outlet of the evaporator is a two-phase mixture including liquid refrigerant and vapor refrigerant. The vapor refrigerant comprises less than or equal to 85% of the two-phase mixture. A refrigerant to refrigerant heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the circuit. The refrigerant to refrigerant heat exchanger is configured to convert the vapor refrigerant provided at the outlet of the evaporator into a superheated vapor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates generally to air conditioning and refrigeration systems and, more particularly, to an air conditioning and refrigeration system that enables the use of immiscible oil.[0002]In a vapor compression system, refrigerant vapor from an evaporator is drawn in by a compressor, which then delivers the compressed refrigerant to a condenser (or a gas cooler for transcritical applications). In the condenser, heat is exchanged between a secondary fluid, such as air or water, and the refrigerant. From the condenser, the refrigerant, typically in a liquid state passes to an expansion device, where the refrigerant is expanded to a lower pressure and temperature before being provided to the evaporator. In air conditioning applications, heat is exchanged within the evaporator between the refrigerant and air or another secondary fluid, such as water, glycol, or brine for example, to condition the indoor air of a space.[0003]Since the refrigerant c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a refrigerant system that uses a low global warming potential refrigerant. The system includes a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. The evaporator is a direct exchange heat exchanger and the refrigerant provided at the outlet of the evaporator is a two-phase mixture of liquid and vapor refrigerant. The efficiency circuit is operably coupled to the outlet of the evaporator and is configured to recirculate liquid refrigerant from the separator through the evaporator to improve the efficiency of the system. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a more efficient refrigerant system that reduces global warming potential.

Problems solved by technology

Although the lubricant is normally not useful within the system other than in the compressor, its presence in low concentrations in the system does not generally detract from the flow, heat transfer, and properties of the refrigerant as it passes through the system in a conventional vapor compression cycle.

Due to their higher miscibility, these new “wet refrigerants” tend to absorb significant amounts of oil making the viscosity requirements of the oil-refrigerant mixture difficult to achieve.

Use of immiscible oil, which does not mix with these refrigerants will improve the viscosity of the oil; however, at the same time use of immiscible oil significantly and permanently reduces the performance of air conditioning and refrigeration systems that employ modern flooded type evaporators.

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