Refrigeration apparatus

Abstract

A refrigeration apparatus includes a compressor, two or more cylinders coupled with the compressor, and an airproof container enclosing the cylinders and filled with air or other gas. Each cylinder is provided with a piston, an inlet valve coupled with the compressor, and an outlet valve coupled with a condenser. When inlet valves are open, outlet valves are closed, and pistons move from bottom to top of cylinders, refrigerant flows from compressor into cylinders through inlet valves; and when inlet valves are closed and outlet valves are open, refrigerant flows from cylinders into condenser through outlet valves. Then, air pressure in cylinders drops, and pressure in airproof container forces pistons to move to the bottom of cylinders. The pressure in airproof container is utilized by cylinders to produce electrical energy.

Claims

1. A refrigeration apparatus comprising: (a) a compressor; (b) a cylinder unit comprising at least a first cylinder and a second cylinder, each communicating with the compressor, the first and second cylinders being provided therein with a first piston and a second piston respectively; (c) an airproof container enclosing the cylinder unit, and filled with air or other gas; (d) a condenser communicating with the first and second cylinders; (e) first and second inlet valves provided on first and second inlet pipes extending between the compressor and the first and second cylinders respectively, and a first mechanism driving the first and second inlet valves so that when the first inlet valve is open, the second inlet valve is closed, and vice versa; (f) first and second outlet valves provided on first and second outlet pipes extending between the condenser and the first and second cylinders respectively, and a second mechanism driving the first and second outlet valves so that when the first outlet valve is open, the second outlet valve is closed, and vice versa; and (g) when the first inlet valve is open, the first outlet valve is closed, and the first piston is moved from a bottom end to a top end of the first cylinder, a refrigerant flows from the compressor into the first cylinder through the first inlet valve; and when the first inlet valve is closed, the first outlet valve is open, the refrigerant then flows from the first cylinder into the condenser through the first outlet valve, pressure in the first cylinder drops and atmospheric pressure in the airproof container forces the first piston to move from the top end to the bottom end; and when the first inlet valve is closed, the second inlet valve is open and the second cylinder undergoes a same process as the first cylinder; (h) whereby the atmospheric pressure in the airproof container is utilized by both the first and second cylinders to produce electrical energy and compensate power consumption of the compressor.

2. The refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is a three-port valve or a multi-port valve.

3. The refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a piston rod connecting between the first and second pistons such that piston-sides of the first and second cylinders are facing each other; and a pair of shifting yokes fixed on the piston rod.

4. The refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first mechanism comprises a first valve rod having a first stopper provided at a central portion thereof, and first and second inlet valve cores provided at two opposite ends thereof for opening and closing first and second conventional valves respectively; and the second mechanism comprises a second valve rod having a second stopper provided at a central portion thereof, and first and second outlet valve cores provided at two opposite ends thereof for opening and closing third and fourth conventional valves respectively; the first and second stoppers being disposed between the pair of shifting yokes such that the shifting yokes engage and shift the first and second stoppers, thereby opening and closing the first and second inlet and outlet valves.

5. The refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second cylinders comprises: (a) a cylinder barrel; (b) a top cover provided at a top end of the cylinder barrel; (c) a linear bearing mounted at a center of the top cover through which the piston rod passes; (d) an opening formed on the top cover; (e) a bottom cover provided at a bottom end of the cylinder barrel; (f) an inlet port and an outlet port formed on the bottom cover, and coupled with the first inlet pipe and the first outlet pipe respectively; and (g) a corrugated tubular seal provided between the piston and the cylinder barrel.

6. The refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second inlet and outlet valves comprises: (a) a cylinder barrel; (b) a top cover provided at a top end of the cylinder barrel; (c) a linear bearing mounted at a center of the top cover through which the valve rod passes; (d) an opening formed on the top cover; (e) a bottom cover provided at a bottom end of the cylinder barrel; (f) a central opening formed on the bottom cover through which the end of the valve rod passes; (g) a valve stem having one end coupled with the end of the valve rod and an opposite end coupled with the valve core; and (h) a corrugated tubular seal provided between the piston and the cylinder barrel.

7. The refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure in the airproof container is equal to or higher than the refrigerant's liquefaction pressure at environmental temperature, and is equal to or lower than pressure at the compressor's outlet.

8. The refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second cylinders comprise a heat-insulating material.

9. The refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a starter coupled with the first and second pistons to activate movement thereof.

10. The refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an expansion valve coupled with the condenser; and an evaporator coupled with the expansion valve, and wherein the compressor is coupled with the evaporator so that the refrigerant flows in a circle.

11. The refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a generator coupled with the first and second cylinders.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the new type refrigeration apparatus.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the new-style cylinders and the new-style valve of the new type refrigeration apparatus of present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) A specific embodiment is introduced in the following text, however, it is not intended to be limited to specific form set forth herein: see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

(4) The new type of refrigeration apparatus is very similar, in some respects, to the traditional refrigeration apparatus, so the traditional refrigeration apparatus can be adapted to function as the new type of refrigeration apparatus.

(5) In order to change the traditional refrigeration apparatus into the new type of refrigeration apparatus, a three-port valve 4, a cylinder unit 1, 2, and an airproof container 11 need to be installed, between the compressor's outlet and the condenser's inlet of the conventional refrigeration apparatus.

(6) The cylinder unit consists of two cylinders 1, 2, and the material of these cylinders is a heat insulator. Each cylinder has an inlet valve 16, 17 and an outlet valve 18, 19. As the piston 7 moves along the cylinder 1, the outlet valve of each cylinder is connected to the condenser 10, and the three-port valve 4 is installed in the compressor's outlet and is connected with the cylinder's inlet valve.

(7) A cylinder unit 1, 2 is installed in an airproof container 11. The airproof container 11 is filled with air. The atmospheric pressure of the airproof container 11 is higher than that of the refrigerant's liquefied pressure, at environmental temperature. The atmospheric pressure of the airproof container 11 is equal to that at the compressor's outlet. According to the environmental temperature, the pressure of the airproof container 11, and the pressure of the compressor's outlet, will be adjusted, so that the refrigerant can enter into the cylinder 1, 2 successfully, and can be liquefied in the condenser 10.

(8) For example, if the refrigerant is ammonia, and if the environmental temperature is 30 degree centigrade, the pressure of the airproof container 11 should be greater than 1.1672 MPa, because ammonia will liquefy when the pressure is 1.1672 MPa and the temperature is 30 degree centigrade. Considering the friction loss when the ammonia flows through the pipe and the cylinder, the pressure of the airproof container 11 should be greater than 1.1672 MPa, so that the ammonia can be liquefied in the condenser 10.

(9) The volume of the cylinder 1, 2 will depend on the difference of flux between the outlet of the compressor 3 and the expansion valve 1, the greater the difference of flux, the greater the volume of the cylinder 1, 2.

(10) When the ammonia flows through the compressor 3, which is an adiabatic isentropic compression process, the compressor 3 will cause the refrigerant to be compressed, until its pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure of the airproof container 11.

(11) When the ammonia leaves the compressor 3, it will flow through the inlet valve of the cylinder 1, or that of the cylinder 2, and then enter cylinder 1, or cylinder 2. For example, when ammonia first enters cylinder 1. At the start, the piston at the bottom of this cylinder 1, the outlet valve of this cylinder 1 is closed; the inlet valve of this cylinder 1 is opened and is connected to the outlet of the compressor 3. When the ammonia enters cylinder 1 from the compressor 3, the starter 32 activates the piston to travel. This movement is similar to that of the inlet stroke of the Otto cycle. The movement of the cylinders is ganged together, when the piston of the cylinder 1 runs to the top of the cylinder 1, the piston of the cylinder 2 will run to the bottom of the cylinder 2. When the piston of the cylinder 1 runs to the top of the cylinder 1, its shifting yoke then closes the inlet valve, and opens the outlet valve, by pushing the stopper of the valve's rod. The outlet valve of the cylinder 1 will be opened and the cylinder 1 will be connected to the condenser 10. The inside pressure of the cylinder 1 will drop when the ammonia enters the condenser 10. The atmospheric pressure of the airproof container 11 will push the piston to move to the bottom of the cylinder 1. The outlet valve of the cylinder 1 will be closed and the inlet valve will be opened, and be connected with the compressor 3 when the piston reaches the bottom of the air cylinder 1, the piston will then, again, be pushed on towards the top of the air cylinder 1. The work which the atmospheric pressure does on the piston can be utilized by the generator and so produce electrical energy during such cycle.

(12) When the inlet valve of the cylinder 1 is closed, the inlet valve of the cylinder 2 will be opened and connected with the compressor's outlet, and cylinder 2 will undergo the same processes.

(13) When the piston-rod moves, it will cause the loop to move. When the loop cuts the magnetic lines, electrical energy is produced.

(14) When ammonia enters the condenser, it will release heat to the environment, via water or air, until its temperature is equal to the environmental temperature. The ammonia will liquefy in the condenser.

(15) When the ammonia leaves the condenser, it will enter the expansion valve; its pressure and temperature will drop. When the ammonia leaves the expansion valve it will enter the evaporator, due to the work of the compressor, the inside pressure of the evaporator will be low.

(16) The ammonia will extract heat from the evaporator, until its temperature is equal to that of the environmental temperature. When the ammonia leaves the evaporator it will enter the compressor for the next cycle.