REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A reversible refrigeration system including a compressor arranged to compress gaseous refrigerant, a four-way valve switchable between a heating position in which a payload is heated and a cooling position in which the payload is cooled. A payload heat exchanger is connected to the payload requiring heating or cooling, and a dump heat exchanger, two one-way valves, and two controllable expansion valves as well, wherein the one-way valves each are connected parallel to a corresponding expansion valve, wherein switching of the four-way valve between the heating position and the cooling position controls a flow of pressurized refrigerant to either of the payload heat exchanger or the dump heat exchanger and wherein the heat exchanger which receives the flow of pressurized refrigerant functions as a condenser and the other heat exchanger functions as an evaporator.

Claims

1-3. (canceled)

4. A reversible refrigeration system comprising a compressor arranged to compress gaseous refrigerant, a four-way valve switchable between a heating position in which a payload is heated and a cooling position in which the payload is cooled, a payload heat exchanger connected to the payload requiring heating or cooling, a dump heat exchanger, a first one-way valve, a second one-way valve, a first controllable expansion valve and a second controllable expansion valve, wherein the dump heat exchanger comprises first, second, third and fourth large port openings and first and second small port openings, wherein the payload heat exchanger comprises first, second, third and fourth large port openings and first and second small port openings, wherein the first controllable expansion valve is arranged between the first small port opening of the payload heat exchanger and the second large port opening of the payload heat exchanger, and the second controllable expansion valve is arranged between the second small port opening of the dump heat exchanger and the second large port opening of the dump heat exchanger, wherein switching of the four-way valve between the heating position and the cooling position controls a flow of pressurized refrigerant to the first large port opening of either of the payload heat exchanger or the dump heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger which receives the flow of pressurized refrigerant functions as a condenser and the other heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, wherein, when the four-way valve is in the heating position and the payload heat exchanger functions as a condenser, the first expansion valve is closed, and a flow of liquid high pressure refrigerant exiting the payload heat exchanger will pass through the first one-way valve, enter the second small port opening of the dump heat exchanger, exit through the first small port opening of the dump heat exchanger, pass through the second expansion valve, enter the second large port opening of the dump heat exchanger, exchange heat with a dump heat exchange liquid in a co-current mode, and then exchange heat with the refrigerant that passes between the second small port opening and the first small port opening of the dump heat exchanger, wherein low pressure gaseous refrigerant exits the dump heat exchanger through the first large port opening thereof.

5. The reversible refrigeration system of claim 4, wherein, when the four-way valve is in the heating position, the heat exchange in the payload heat exchanger is in a counter-current mode.

6. The reversible refrigeration system of claim 4, wherein, when the four-way valve is in the cooling position, the heat exchange in the payload heat exchanger is in a co-current mode, wherein the heat exchange in the dump heat exchanger is in a counter-current mode.

7. The reversible refrigeration system according to claim 4, wherein, when the four-way valve is in the cooling position, the second expansion valve is closed and the second one-way valve is open.

Description

BREF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In the following, the invention will be described with reference to appended drawings, wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1a is a plan view of a heat exchanger according to one embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 1b is a section view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1a taken along the line A-A;

[0013] FIG. 1c is a section view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1a taken along the line B-B;

[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a heat exchanger according to another embodiment,

[0016] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of heat exchanger according to another embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a heat exchanger according to another embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a reversible refrigeration system shown in a heating mode;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the reversible refrigeration system of FIG. 6 shown in a cooling mode;

[0020] FIG. 7b is a schematic view of another embodiment of a reversible refrigeration system;

[0021] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of four heat exchanger plates comprised in a “multi circuit” heat exchanger;

[0022] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a heat exchanger plate according to a preferred embodiment; and

[0023] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a heat exchanger comprising the heat exchanger plate of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0024] In FIGS. 1a-2, a brazed heat exchanger 100 having a second heat exchanging portion usable as an integrated suction gas heat exchanger portion is shown. The heat exchanger 100 is made from sheet metal plates 110a-110g stacked in a stack to form the heat exchanger 100 and provided with a pressed pattern of ridges R and grooves G adapted to keep the plates on a distance from one another under formation of interplate flow channels for media to exchange heat. Large port openings O2 and O3 are provided near corners of each heat exchanger plate, whereas large openings O1 and O4 are provided centrally close to a short side of each heat exchanger plate. Areas surrounding the port openings O1 to O4 are provided at different heights such that selective communication between the port openings and the interplate flow channels is achieved. In the heat exchanger 100, the areas surrounding the port openings are arranged such that the large openings O1 and O2 are in fluid communication with one another by some plate interspaces, whereas the openings O3 and O4 are in fluid communication with one another by neighboring plate interspaces.

[0025] The heat exchanger plates 110a-110g are also provided with a dividing surface DW extending from one long side of each heat exchanger plate to the other longside thereof.

[0026] A heat exchanger plate 110h, placed at an end of the stack of heat exchanger plates, is not provided with port openings. This is in order to provide a seal for the port openings, such that fluid introduced at one end of the plate stack does not immediately escape the plate pack at the other sided thereof, but is forced into a connection (not shown) or into the interplate flow channels. In all other aspects, the heat exchanger plate 110h is identical to the heat exchanger plates 110a-110g.

[0027] With special reference to FIG. 2, a number of heat exchanger plates 210a-210h are shown. Each of the heat exchanger plates, except the heat exchanger plate 210h, is provided with port openings O1, O2, O3, O4, SO1 and SO2. The port openings are surrounded by areas provided at different levels, such that selective communication is provided between the port openings and the interplate flow channels formed between neighbouring heat exchanger plates, as mentioned above. Moreover, each of the heat exchanger plate is surrounded by a skirt S, which extends generally perpendicular to a plane of the heat exchanger plate and is adapted to contact skirts of neighbouring plates in order to provide a seal along the circumference of the heat exchanger.

[0028] In order to seal the interplate flow channel for fluid flow between the large port openings O4 and O3, a dividing surface DW is provided between long sides of the heat exchanger plates. The dividing surface DW comprises an elongate flat surface provided on different heights of different plates; when the surfaces of neighbouring plates contact one another, the channel will be sealed, whereas it will be open if they do not. In the present case, the dividing surface DW is provided at the same height as the areas surrounding the large port openings O1 and O2, meaning that for interplate flow channels fluidly connecting large port openings O1 and O2, the dividing surface will be open, whereas for the flow channel fluidly connecting the large port openings O3 and O4, the dividing surface will block fluid in this plate interspace.

[0029] Since the dividing surface DW will block fluid flow in the plate interspace communicating with the large port openings O3 and O4, there will be separate interplate channels on either side of the dividing surface DW. The interplate flow channel on the side of the dividing surface DW not communicating with the large opening O3 and O4 communicates with two small port opening SO1 and SO2. It should be noted that the dividing surface DW does not block the interplate flow channels communicating with the large port openings O1 and O2; hence, medium flowing in the interplate flow channels communicating with the small port openings SO1 and SO2 will exchange heat with med medium flowing in the flow channels communicating with the large openings O1 and O2—just like medium flowing in the interplate flow channels communicating with the large port openings O3 and O4.

[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the dividing surface DW extends in a straight line from one long side to the other—opposite—long side of the heat exchanger plates 110a-h, passing between large port openings O1 and O4. The small openings SO1 and SO2 are situated on either sides of the large port opening O1. It should be noted that the large port opening O1 is placed such that medium flowing in the interplate flow channel communicating with the small port openings SO1 and SO2 may pass on both sides of the large port opening O1. This arrangement is beneficial in that the port opening O1 will have an even temperature along its circumference.

[0031] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the dividing surface does not extend in a straight line, but is slightly bent away from the port opening O1, which is placed near a corner of the heat exchanger. This provides for a more uniform flow area from the small opening SO1 to the small opening SO2.

[0032] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the dividing portion extends in a semi-circular fashion around the port opening O1. This embodiment is beneficial in that the large port openings O1-O4 may be placed close to the corners of the heat exchanger, hence providing for a large heat exchanging area. This embodiment is also beneficial in that the flow area of the interplate flow channel on the side of the dividing surface DW not communicating with the large opening O3 and O4 will have an even cross section all the way between the small opening SO1 and the small opening SO2. Please note that the dividing surface of FIG. 4 does not extend between opposing sides of the heat exchanger plates, but between neighbouring sides thereof.

[0033] In FIG. 5, an embodiment resembling the embodiment of FIG. 2 is shown. Just like the previously shown embodiment, the dividing surface DW extends in a straight line from one longside of the heat exchanger to the other, passing between large port openings O1 and O4. The small openings SO1 and SO2 are situated on either sides of the large port opening O1. However, the large port opening O1 is located and arranged such that no fluid may pass between the large port opening O1 and the short side of the heat exchanger. This is beneficial in that the heat exchange between fluid flowing between the small openings SO1 and SO2 and fluid about to exit the heat exchanger through the large opening O1 is improved, since the “dead area” between the port opening O1 and the short side of the heat exchanger is avoided.

[0034] In FIGS. 6 and 7, a preferred embodiment of a chiller system that can use a heat exchanger according to any of the above heat exchanger embodiments is shown in heating mode and cooling mode, respectively.

[0035] The chiller system according to the first embodiment comprises a compressor C, a four-way valve FWV, a payload heat exchanger PLHE connected to a brine system requiring heating or cooling, a first controllable expansion valve EXPV1, a first one-way valve OWV1, a dump heat exchanger DHE connected to a heat source to which undesired heat or cold could be dumped, a second expansion valve EXPV2 and a second one-way valve OWV2. The heat exchangers PLHE and DHE are each provided with the four large openings O1-O4 as disclosed above and the two small openings SO1 and SO2, wherein the large openings O1 and O2 of each heat exchanger communicate with one another, the large openings O3 and O4 of each heat exchanger communicate with one another and wherein the small openings SO1 and SO2 of each heat exchanger communicate with one another. Heat exchange will occur between fluids flowing from O1 to O2 and fluids flowing between O3 and O4 and SO1 and SO2. There will, however, be no heat exchange between fluids flowing from O3 to O4 and fluids flowing from SO1 to SO2.

[0036] In heating mode, shown in FIG. 6, the compressor C will deliver high pressure gaseous refrigerant to the four-way valve FWV. In this heating mode, the four-way valve is controlled to convey the high pressure gaseous refrigerant to the large opening O1 of the payload heat exchanger PLHE. The high pressure, gaseous refrigerant will then pass the payload heat exchanger PLHE and exit at the large opening O2. While passing the pay-load heat exchanger PLHE, the high pressure gaseous refrigerant will exchange heat with a brine solution connected to a pay-load requiring heating and flowing from the large opening O4 to the large opening O3, i.e. in a counter flow direction compared to the refrigerant, which flows from the large opening O1 to the large opening O2. While exchanging heat with the brine solution, the high pressure gaseous refrigerant will condense, and when exiting the payload heat exchanger PLHE through the large opening O2, it will be fully condensed, i.e. be in the liquid state.

[0037] In the heating mode, the first expansion valve EXPV1 will be fully closed, and the flow of liquid refrigerant exiting the payload heat exchanger will pass the first one-way valve OWV1, which allows for a refrigerant flow in this direction, while it will block flow in the other direction (which will be explained later in connection to the description of the cooling mode).

[0038] After having passed the first one-way valve OWV1, the liquid refrigerant (still comparatively hot) will enter the small opening SO2 of the dump heat exchanger DHE, and exit the heat exchanger through the small opening SO1. During the passage between the small openings SO and SO1, the temperature of the refrigerant will drop significantly due to heat exchange with cold, primarily gaseous refrigerant about to exit the dump heat exchanger DHE.

[0039] After leaving the dump heat exchanger DHE through the small opening SO1, the liquid refrigerant will pass the second expansion valve EXPV2, where the pressure of the refrigerant will drop, causing flash boiling of some of the refrigerant, which immediately will cause the temperature to drop. From the second expansion valve, the refrigerant will pass a branch connected to both the second one-way valve OWV2, which is connected between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the refrigerant circuitry and closed for refrigerant flow due to the pressure difference between the high pressure side and the low pressure side. After having passed the branch, the cold, low pressure semi liquid refrigerant will enter the large opening O2 and pass the dump heat exchanger DHE under heat exchange with a brine solution connected to a source from which low temperature heat can be collected, e.g. an outside air collector, a solar collector or a hole drilled in the ground. Due to the heat exchange with the brine solution, which flows from the large opening O4 to the large opening O3, the primarily liquid refrigerant will vaporize. The heat exchange between the brine solution and the refrigerant will take place under co-current conditions, which is well known to give an inferior heat exchange performance as compared to counter-current heat exchange.

[0040] Just prior to the exiting the dump heat exchanger DHE through the large opening O1, the refrigerant (now almost completely vaporized) will exchange heat with the comparatively hot, liquid refrigerant that entered the dump heat exchanger through the small opening SO2 and exited the dump heat exchanger through the small port opening SO1. Consequently, the temperature of the refrigerant about to exit the dump heat exchanger DHE through the opening O1 will increase, hence ensuring that all of this refrigerant is completely vaporized.

[0041] It is well known by persons skilled in the art that co-current heat exchange is inferior to counter-current heat exchange. However, due to the provision of the heat exchange between the relatively hot liquid brine entering the small opening SO2 and the mainly gaseous refrigerant about to leave the dump heat exchanger DHE (i.e. a so-called “suction gas heat exchange”), it is not necessary to vaporize the refrigerant completely during the brine-refrigerant heat exchange. Instead, the refrigerant may be only semi-vaporized when it enters the suction gas heat exchange with the hot liquid refrigerant, since the remaining liquid phase refrigerant will evaporate during this heat exchange. It is well known that liquid-to-liquid heat exchange is much more efficient than gas-to-liquid heat exchange. Hence, the somewhat less effective heat exchange caused by the co-current heat exchange mode will be compensated for.

[0042] From the opening O1 of the dump heat exchanger, the gaseous refrigerant will enter the four-way valve FWV, which is controlled to direct the flow of gaseous refrigerant to the compressor, in which the refrigerant is compressed again.

[0043] In FIG. 7, the chiller system is shown in cooling mode. In order to switch mode from heating mode to cooling mode, the four-way valve FWV is controlled such that the compressor feeds compressed gaseous refrigerant to the opening O1 of the dump heat exchanger DHE. The expansion valve EXPV2 will be entirely closed, the one-way valve OWV2 will be open, the one-way valve OWV1 will be closed and the expansion valve EXPV1 will be open to control the pressure before and after the refrigerant has passed the expansion valve EXPV1.

[0044] Hence, in cooling mode, the dump heat exchanger will function as a co-current condenser, and the “suction gas heat exchanger” thereof will not perform any heat exchange, whereas the payload heat exchanger PLHE will function as a co-current condenser. However, due to the provision of the suction gas heat exchange between the hot liquid refrigerant and semi-vaporized refrigerant about to leave the payload heat exchanger PLHE, the efficiency of the co-current heat exchange can be maintained at acceptable levels.

[0045] It should be noted that the suction gas heat exchanging parts are integrated with the dump heat exchanger DHE and that the payload heat exchanger PLHE in FIGS. 6 and 7. In other embodiments, however, the suction gas heat exchangers may be separated from the dump heat exchanger and/or the payload heat exchanger.

[0046] In FIG. 7b, a second embodiment of a reversible refrigeration system is shown. In general, this system is similar to the system shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, however with the difference that the dump heat exchanger DHE is not provided with a suction gas heat exchanging function. Also, the dump heat exchanger according to this embodiment is an outside air/refrigerant heat exchanger. Such heat exchangers are often used when it is not possible to dump the heat in e.g. a brine solution. Generally, air/refrigerant heat exchangers function in cross-current mode, meaning that the benefit of connecting an air/refrigerant heat exchanger to a suction gas heat exchanger in the manner disclosed for both the payload heat exchanger (PLHE) and the dump heat exchanger DHE.

[0047] In FIG. 7b, the reversible refrigeration system is shown in a heating mode, i.e. the payload heat exchanger functions as a condenser. Gaseous refrigerant is compressed in the compressor C and conveyed to the large opening O1, from which it will pass the payload heat exchanger PLHE and exchange heat with a medium requiring heating, i.e. the payload. The heat exchange will take place in a counter-current mode. The refrigerant, now liquid, will thereafter pass the one-way valve OWV1 and thereafter pass the expansion valve EXPV2, in which the refrigerant pressure will decrease, resulting in a corresponding decrease of boiling temperature. The decrease of the boiling temperature will enable the refrigerant to vaporize in the dump heat exchanger DHE by heat exchange with outside air, which in this embodiment will function as the heat dump. The evaporated, i.e. gaseous refrigerant will thereafter be conveyed to the compressor C, which again will compress the refrigerant. It should be noted that in this mode, i.e. when the four-way valve FVW is in the heating position, there will be no or only a minor flow of refrigerant between the small openings SO1 and SO2. Hence, there will be no heat exchange in this part of the heat exchanger.

[0048] The reversible refrigeration system of FIG. 7b may also be used in the reverse mode, just like the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this mode, compressed refrigerant is directed to the dump heat exchanger DHE. Just like in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, this is achieved by switching the four-way valve FWV. In the dump heat exchanger, the high pressure gaseous refrigerant will exchange heat with the outside air, and as a result, the refrigerant will condense. The condensed refrigerant will leave the dump heat exchanger and pass the one-way valve OWV1 (which allows for a flow in this direction). Then, the refrigerant will be transferred to the small opening SO2 of the payload heat exchanger PLHE, and, under heat exchange with cold gaseous refrigerant, pass the payload heat exchanger PLHE under heat exchange with cold, gaseous refrigerant about to leave the payload heat exchanger PLHE.

[0049] In still another embodiment, at least one integrated suction gas heat exchanger is provided in a so-called “multi circuit” heat exchanger, such as schematically shown in FIG. 8. A multi circuit heat exchanger is a heat exchanger having inlet and outlet port openings for three different media to exchange heat, i.e. six port openings.

[0050] In FIG. 8, an exemplary embodiment of a plate and port arrangement in a multi circuit heat exchanger 200 with integrated suction gas heat exchange possibility is shown. In the shown embodiment, four plates 201, 202, 203, 204 are each provided with six large port openings 210a-210f and a pressed pattern of ridges R and grooves G adapted to keep the grooves on a distance from one another when the plates are stacked on top of one another, such that interplate flow channels for media to exchange heat are formed between the heat exchanger plates 210a-210f. The port openings 210a-210f are provided at different heights, such that selective fluid communication between the port openings and the interplate flow channels is obtained.

[0051] In the present case, the port openings 210a and 210b are provided at the same height, meaning that they will communicate with the plate interspace between the plates 201 and 202. The port openings 210c and 210d are communicating with the plate interspace between the plates 202 and 203 and the port openings 210e and 210f communicate with the plate interspace between the plates 203 and 204.

[0052] Moreover, dividing surfaces DW are provided such that the interplate flow channels between the plates 202 and 203 is sealed off for communication, hence forming first and second heat exchanging portions that communicate with small port openings SO1-SO4, wherein the small port openings SO1 and SO2 communicate with the heat exchanging portion being located closest to the port opening 210b and wherein the small port openings SO3 and SO4 communicate with the heat exchanging portion being located closest to the port opening 210f.

[0053] Usually, a multi circuit heat exchanger is used where the requirements for heating and/or cooling varies within wide boundaries. In a typical setup, every other interplate flow channel (the channels communicating with the port openings 210c and 210d) is arranged for a flow of brine solution, wherein one of its neighbouring interplate flow channels is arranged for a flow of a first refrigerant and its other neighboring flow channel is arranged for a flow of a second refrigerant. The first and second refrigerants are connected to separate refrigeration systems, each having its own compressor and expansion valve. When high power cooling or heating is required, both compressors are energized, whereas only one compressor is energized when the cooling or heating requirement is lower.

[0054] A multi circuit heat exchanger can be used in basically the same way as disclosed above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, however with dual compressors C, dual expansion valves EXPV1, dual expansion valves EXPV2, dual four-way valves FWV, dual one-way valves OWV1 and dual one-way valves OWV2.

[0055] In FIG. 9, another embodiment of a heat exchanger plate 300 is shown. The heat exchanger plate 300 according to this embodiment comprises four port openings O1-O4, which are in fluid communication with one another in the same way as the port openings O1 to O4 of the plate of FIG. 2. However, in contrast to the heat exchanger plate of FIG. 1, the port openings O1 to O4 are placed near corners of the heat exchanger plate 300. Moreover, small port openings SO1 and SO2 are provided in the vicinity of one another and they communicate with one another in the same way as the small port openings of the heat exchanger plates 210a, 210b of FIG. 2. Also, there is a dividing surface DS provided on the heat exchanger plate 300, the dividing surface 300 extending between two neighbouring sides of the heat exchanger plate 300; in case the heat exchanger plate is elongate, the dividing surface DS will extend between one long side and one short side of the heat exchanger plate 300, hence partly encircling a port opening O1-O4. In contrast to the heat exchanger plates shown in FIG. 4, the dividing surface DS of the embodiment of FIG. 9 is not entirely circular. Rather, ends of the dividing surface DS are straight, meaning that they will connect to the sides of the heat exchanger in a perpendicular or close to perpendicular fashion.

[0056] In FIG. 10, an exploded view of a heat exchanger comprising heat exchanger plates according to FIG. 9 is shown. It has the same function as described above with reference to FIGS. 1-2. However, the heat exchanger plate embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 has the advantage of providing an equal flow area over the length between the small port openings SO1 and SO2.