A modular process chiller and method of manufacturing a modular process chiller. A pump and tank are positioned in a fluid module configured for receiving fluids from an external source. A refrigeration module comprises a condenser arranged diagonally with a heat exchanger on one side and a fan on the opposite side, wherein the heat exchanger is in cool air flow and air is pulled through the condenser. Nonpermeable and air permeable panels are positioned to direct airflow through the refrigeration module. An electronics module is coupled to the refrigeration module in a configuration to provide user access. In processing systems, a process chiller is selectively configured for positioning proximate a process machine but configured for receiving fluid from external sources and maintaining a fluid temperature, flow rate and fluid pressure independent of the positioning.

A refrigeration subsystem removably received within a base machine to cool an object. The subsystem includes a body with an opening that receives the object. An evaporator thermally communicates with the object, which is cooled by refrigerant flowing through the evaporator. A compressor receives the refrigerant downstream of the evaporator and increases a refrigerant pressure. A condenser receives the refrigerant downstream of the compressor, which cools the refrigerant. An expansion device receives the refrigerant downstream of the condenser and decreases its pressure, the evaporator being downstream from the expansion device. A refrigerant circuit fluidly couples the evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion device such that the refrigerant flows therebetween, all of which are coupled to the body and move together therewith. The refrigerant circuit forms a closed loop that remains unbroken when the body of the refrigerant subsystem is removed from the base machine.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward refrigeration apparatuses, systems, and methods that include a housing and a cabinet arranged within the housing and including an opening configured to operate as a cooling or freezing space. The refrigeration apparatuses, systems, and methods may include a modular refrigeration assembly including a condenser assembly, a compressor, and an evaporator, the modular refrigeration assembly being configured to arrange the evaporator within the cabinet and arrange the condenser assembly and compressor within the housing and external to the cabinet and one or more conduits arranged between the condenser assembly, the compressor, and the evaporator forming a closed loop system configured to contain refrigerant.

A self-enclosed modular refrigeration unit for refrigeration system comprises compressor adapted to compress a refrigerant. A heat exchanger is connected to a cooling water network to condense the refrigerant with cooling water. A suction line is connected to a suction side of the compressor and adapted to provide a feed of refrigerant to the compressor. A discharge line is connected to a discharge side of the compressor and to the heat exchanger to direct compressed refrigerant to the heat exchanger. A head pressure control valve is in the discharge line downstream of the heat exchanger to control an upstream pressure. A casing encloses the compressor, the heat exchanger, the head pressure control valve. An outlet line has an outlet end downstream of the head pressure control valve adapted to output cooling refrigerant having passed through the head pressure control valve. An inlet end is upstream of the suction line to provide a feed of refrigerant to the compressor.

A support structure for a valve module of a refrigeration system includes a support structure that can be supported on the roof or floor of a building by adjustable legs, or can be suspended from the ceiling of a building. The support structure has cross members allowing the components of a valve module to be pre-assembled thereon and transported as a valve control station to an installation location. The pipes of the pre-assembled valve control station can be aligned with pipes laid out at the installation location, thereby allowing off-site fabrication of a valve control station for a refrigeration system.

A chiller plant includes a first pump module having at least one first pump module wall; a second pump module having at least one second pump module wall; and a plurality of chiller modules each having at least one chiller module wall. The first pump module, the second pump module, and the plurality of chiller modules may be placed together to form the chiller plant. The at least one first pump module wall, the at least one second pump module wall, and the chiller module walls may collectively form a perimeter wall around at least a portion of the chiller plant. Other embodiments of the chiller plant, and methods for its use, are described herein.

A modular refrigeration system includes refrigeration modules that contain a high side cassette including a compressor and a condenser that is slidable into and out of a framework. A low side cassette including an evaporator is positioned in an area to be refrigerated in proximity to the framework and the high side cassette. A suction refrigerant pipe extends between the high side and low side cassettes and supplies refrigerant to the condenser from the evaporator. A liquid refrigerant pipe returns refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator. The suction refrigerant pipe and/or liquid refrigerant pipes may include threaded connections and/or quick connects/disconnects to be easily disconnected and allow removal of the high side cassette from the framework. Heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the coolant in the condenser in the high side cassette.

A decentralized condenser evaporator system includes a condenser system, a controlled pressure receiver, a subcooler system, and an evaporator system. The condenser system is positioned to receive a compressed gaseous refrigerant from a centralized compressor system. The condenser system is configured to condense the compressed gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant. The controlled pressure receiver is positioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant. The subcooler system is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver. The subcooler system is configured to sub-cool the liquid refrigerant into a sub-cooled liquid refrigerant. The evaporator system is positioned to receive the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant from the subcooler system. The evaporator system is configured to facilitate providing a cooling operation to a cooling zone through evaporation of the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant flowing through the evaporator system into an evaporated gaseous refrigerant which is returned to the centralized compressor system.

A condenser and evaporator system includes (i) a condenser system positioned to receive a gaseous refrigerant from a compressor system and configured to condense the gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant, (ii) a controlled pressure receiver (CPR) positioned to receive and store the liquid refrigerant, (iii) an evaporator system including a conduit, an expansion valve, and a fan, and (iv) a controller. The conduit is positioned to receive the liquid refrigerant from the CPR. The expansion valve is positioned between the CPR and the conduit, and configured to facilitate modulating an amount of the liquid refrigerant that flows into the conduit from the CPR. The fan is positioned to facilitate providing a cooling operation to an arca associated with the evaporator system through evaporation of the liquid refrigerant flowing through the conduit. The controller is configured to control a stage of the condenser system and/or the evaporator system a condenser system, a reservoir, a compressor return conduit, an evaporator system, and a return line. The condenser system is configured to receive a compressed gaseous refrigerant from a compressor system and condense the compressed gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant. The reservoir is configured to receive the liquid refrigerant. The compressor return conduit is configured to couple the reservoir to the compressor system to direct gaseous refrigerant within the reservoir to the compressor system. The evaporator system is configured to receive the liquid refrigerant from the reservoir and perform a cooling operation where the liquid refrigerant is converted into an evaporated gaseous refrigerant to facilitate thermally regulating a cooling zone associated with the evaporator system. The return line is configured to couple the evaporator system to the reservoir and direct defrost condensate refrigerant to the reservoir from the evaporator system.

An embodiment provides a modular cooling device that is attachable to an enclosure such as a food or beverage cooler or refrigerator. In an embodiment, the modular cooling device includes various modules and is easy to assemble and disassemble. If one of the modules is damaged, it only requires the damaged module to be disassembled for repair or replacement, and the cooling function is restored, which solves inconvenient problems of conventional integrated refrigerators and like systems in terms of assembly, maintenance and repair. Other embodiments are described and claimed.