Mechanical Refrigeration System

Abstract

The invention relates to the special configuration of a compression device of a refrigeration system and to its actuation method. The device consists of a pair of dual-action cylinders (8-9) connected together by means of the movable rod (11) thereof, such that the first cylinder (8) acts as an element for compressing coolant fluid, for which purpose the rod is moved through the second cylinder (9), being fed by a pressurised fluid which, by means of a series of branches and valves controlled using limit switches of the rod (11), allow the flow of coolant fluid in the first cylinder and the flow of pressurised fluid of the second cylinder at the outlet of both devices to be constant. Thus, a completely autonomous device that does not need electricity or any type of fuel is obtained.

Claims

1. Mechanical refrigeration system comprising: a closed circuit for a coolant fluid, comprising: a compressor device connected to a capacitor configured to extract part of the heat generated in the compressor device, the capacitor comprising an outlets, an expansion valve being disposed at the outlet of the capacitor configured to low the pressure of the coolant fluid, an evaporator configured to evaporate the coolant fluid and generate cold, wherein the evaporator is communicated in a closed circuit with the compressor device, and wherein the compressor device comprises a pair of dual-action cylinders, a first dual-action cylinder and a second dual-action cylinder, connected together by a movable rod thereof which is common for both dual-action cylinders, such that the first dual-action cylinder compresses the coolant fluid, and having at each of two intakes, acting as both inlets and outlets, respective pairs of branches which, by, are connected by check valves in series to the closed circuit, and wherein the second dual-action cylinder comprises two intakes, corresponding to each of two working chambers, each of which is connected to a branch in each of which there is established an opening/closing valve (, that is, a first valve, a second valve, a third valve and a fourth valve, there being two-by-two communication between opposite branches, at which communication point there is established a pressurized water inlet and an outlet for said water, respectively, with the particularity that the opening and closing of the first valve and the third valve is mechanically synchronised, inversely with respect to the second valve and the fourth valve, there having been provided that in correspondence with the movable rod common to both dual-action cylinders there is established an actuator mechanically associated in the limit switches thereof with an inverter configured to invert the position of the opening/closing valves.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the water outlet and the water inlet are connected in a closed loop wherein there are established in series a heat exchanger after the water outlet, communicated by a check valve with a vacuum tube solar collector which feeds the water inlet.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plunger movable in a first direction by the pressurized water, and wherein the first dual-action cylinder comprises a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber, wherein the pressurized water causes the compression of the coolant fluid in the first sub-chamber of the first dual-action cylinder, as well as a suction effect in the second sub-chamber of the first dual-action cylinder.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plunger is movable in a second direction by the pressurized water once the plunger reaches a stroke end, wherein the pressurized water causes the compression of the coolant fluid in the second sub-chamber of the first dual-action cylinder, as well as a suction effect in the first sub-chamber of the dual-action cylinder.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the compressed coolant fluid is conducted to the capacitor.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the compressed coolant fluid is conducted to the capacitor.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] As a complement to the description that will be provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, according to a preferred practical exemplary embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part thereof in which, by way of illustration and not limitation, the following is represented:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a mechanical refrigeration system carried out according to the object of the present invention corresponding to the instant in which the rod common to both dual-action cylinders moves to the left.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but corresponding to the movement of the common rod to the right.

[0025] FIGS. 3 and 4 show respective views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but corresponding to a completely autonomous embodiment variant, in which an outer pressurised water intake is not required, because said pressurised water is provided in a closed circuit by a system based on a vacuum tube solar collector.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In view of the mentioned figures, it can be observed how the system of the invention starts from a conventional structuring for a refrigeration system, wherein a closed circuit (1) for a coolant fluid is defined, which includes a compressor device (2), connected to a capacitor (3) by means of which part of the heat (4) generated in said compression process is extracted, there being established at the outlet of said capacitor (3) an expansion valve (5) after which the fluid loses pressure, causing it to evaporate in an evaporator (6), with a cold (7) being generated that is utilised for the application regarded as appropriate, which evaporator is communicated in a closed circuit with the compressor device (2), where said circuit may include the usually accessory elements, such as bleed valves (10), safety valves, etc.

[0027] In turn, the compressor device (2) is materialised in a pair of dual-action cylinders (8-9) connected together by means of the movable rod (11) thereof which is common for both.

[0028] Therefore, the first dual-action cylinder (8) acts as a compression system for the refrigerant fluid, having at each of its two intakes (12-13), acting as both inlets and outlets, respective pairs of branches (14-15), (16-17) which, by means of check valves (18), are connected in series to the main refrigeration circuit (1).

[0029] In turn, the second dual-action cylinder (9) is the one that does all the compression work that is carried out in the first cylinder (8).

[0030] More specifically and according to the essence of the invention, it has been envisaged that its two intakes (19-20) are connected to two branches (21-22) and (23-24) each of them having their respective opening/closing valves (A, B, C and D), there being two-by-two communication between opposite branches, at which communication point there is established a pressurised water inlet (25) and a water outlet (26).

[0031] Having said that, the opening and closing of valves (A) and (C) is mechanically synchronised, as occurs with valves (B) and (D), such that, according to FIG. 1, when valves (A) and (C) are open, and accordingly valves (B) and (D) are closed, the pressurised water causes movement of the plunger (27) to the left, which in turn causes the compression of the coolant gas in the sub-chamber (28) of the first dual-action cylinder (8), as well as a suction effect in the sub-chamber (29) of said cylinder (8).

[0032] Conversely, when the plunger (27) reaches the limit of its stroke, by means of an actuator (30) it will mechanically invert the position of the valves (A, B, C and D) with valves (A) and (C) being closed, and accordingly valves (B) and (D) open, as shown in FIG. 2, which will cause the pressurised water to cause the movement of the plunger (27) to the right, which in turn causes the compression of the coolant gas in the sub-chamber (29) of the first dual-action cylinder (8), as well as a suction effect in the sub-chamber (28) of said cylinder (8), such that the compressed gas in both cases would be conducted at all times to the capacitor (3).

[0033] By acting automatically on the opening and closing of the valves of the different branches, a constant flow of pressurised water from the inlet to the outlet thereof is achieved, which at all times causes the reciprocating movement in one direction or the other of the rod linking both cylinders, therefore causing a reciprocating compression process in either chamber (28-29) of the first dual-action cylinder (8), which is utilised to carry out the compression of the coolant fluid.

[0034] As discussed above, the system of the invention can be connected in series by means of its inlet (25) and its outlet (26) to any duct through which water circulates at sufficient pressure, with a pressure of about 2 Kg/cm.sup.2 being sufficient.

[0035] According to the embodiment variant of FIGS. 3 and 4, in order to obtain a completely autonomous system, that does not depend on any external source of pressurised water, it has been envisaged that the outlet (26) and the inlet (25) are connected in a closed loop (30) such that the outlet (26) is communicated with a heat exchanger (31), intended for cooling the water exiting the system and communicated by means of a check valve (32), so as to ensure the circular and one-way flow of the water, with a vacuum tube solar collector (33) by means of which there is achieved a substantial increase in the water pressure at its outlet, providing the system with complete autonomy.

[0036] As discussed above, it has experimentally been found that the system of the invention is capable of functioning with 2 Kg/cm.sup.2 of water pressure, such that given that most vacuum tube solar collectors can provide water pressures of about 16 Kg/cm.sup.2, the system could be multiplied as many times needed to take advantage of this excess pressure.