COOLING SYSTEM

A cooling system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a first one-way valve, and a second one-way valve. The compressor includes a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet. The condenser includes a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, and the compressor outlet communicates with the condenser inlet. The evaporator includes an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, the condenser outlet communicates with the evaporator inlet, and the evaporator outlet communicates with the compressor inlet and the condenser inlet. The first one-way valve is disposed on a first flow path between the compressor outlet and the condenser inlet. The second one-way valve is disposed on a second flow path between the evaporator outlet and the condenser inlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 111149148, filed on Dec. 21, 2022. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a cooling system; more particularly, the disclosure relates to a cooling system with good stability.

Description of Related Art

With the advancement of science and technology, power of electronic devices becomes higher and higher, and so does the requirement for heat dissipation. If a general refrigeration cycle system is applied for heat dissipation, the refrigeration cycle system is likely to encounter issues (e.g., condensations) due to the low temperature, and unstable load of the refrigeration cycle system may result in generating an excessive amount of liquid refrigerants, which may damage a compressor because the liquid refrigerants may enter the compressor.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a cooling system with improved stability.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cooling system that includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a first one-way valve, and a second one-way valve is provided. The compressor includes a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet. The condenser includes a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, and the compressor outlet communicates with the condenser inlet. The evaporator includes an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, the condenser outlet communicates with the evaporator inlet, and the evaporator outlet communicates with the compressor inlet and the condenser inlet. The first one-way valve is disposed on a first flow path between the compressor outlet and the condenser inlet. The second one-way valve is disposed on a second flow path between the evaporator outlet and the condenser inlet.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cooling system further includes a refrigerant storage tank and a liquid level sensor disposed in the refrigerant storage tank, and the refrigerant storage tank is disposed between the evaporator outlet and the second flow path and between the evaporator outlet and the compressor inlet.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cooling system further includes a refrigerant storage tank and a liquid level sensor disposed in the refrigerant storage tank, and the refrigerant storage tank is disposed in the condenser.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cooling system further includes a refrigerant storage tank and a liquid level sensor disposed in the refrigerant storage tank, and the refrigerant storage tank is disposed between the condenser outlet and the evaporator.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cooling system further includes an expansion valve disposed between the condenser and the evaporator and includes an expansion valve inlet and an expansion valve outlet, the expansion valve inlet is connected to the condenser outlet, and the expansion valve outlet is connected to the evaporator inlet.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cooling system further includes a valve disposed between the condenser outlet and the evaporator inlet and connected in parallel to the expansion valve.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cooling system further includes an immersion cooling tank communicating with two transfer channels of the immersion cooling tank and communicating with a transfer power source of the two transfer channels, and the two transfer channels communicate with the evaporator.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an operating method of a cooling system is provided, and the operating method includes following steps. The above-mentioned cooling system is provided. A first circulation or a second circulation is selectively performed, where when the first circulation is selected to be performed, the compressor is powered on, a refrigerant sequentially passes through the compressor, the first flow path, and the condenser from the evaporator and returns to the evaporator, and when the second circulation is selected to be performed, the compressor is powered off, and the refrigerant sequentially passes through the second flow path and the condenser from the evaporator and returns to the evaporator.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, in the operating method, the cooling system further includes a refrigerant storage tank, and before the first circulation or the second circulation is selected to be performed, the operating method further includes following steps.

A liquid refrigerant level in the refrigerant storage tank is measured. Whether to power on or power off the compressor is adjusted according to the liquid refrigerant level, where when the liquid refrigerant level is less than a predetermined value, the first circulation is performed, and when the liquid refrigerant level is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the second circulation is performed.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the refrigerant storage tank is disposed between the evaporator outlet and the second flow path and between the evaporator outlet and the compressor inlet.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the refrigerant storage tank is disposed in the condenser.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the refrigerant storage tank is disposed between the condenser and the evaporator.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, in the operating method, the cooling system further includes an expansion valve and a valve, the expansion valve is disposed between the condenser and the evaporator, the expansion valve includes an expansion valve inlet and an expansion valve outlet, the expansion valve inlet is connected to the condenser outlet, the expansion valve outlet is connected to the evaporator inlet, the valve is disposed between the condenser outlet and the evaporator inlet and connected in parallel to the expansion valve, and the operating method further includes following steps. A refrigerant temperature at the condenser outlet is measured. A switch of the valve is adjusted according to the refrigerant temperature, where when the refrigerant temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, the valve is powered on, so that the refrigerant leaving the condenser flows to the evaporator via the valve, and when the refrigerant temperature is higher than or equal to the predetermined temperature, the valve is powered off, so that the refrigerant leaving the condenser flows to the evaporator via the expansion valve.

In light of the foregoing, the first one-way valve of the cooling system provided in one or more embodiments of the disclosure is disposed on the first flow path between the compressor outlet and the condenser inlet, and the second one-way valve is disposed on the second flow path between the evaporator outlet and the condenser inlet. The cooling system may select to perform the first circulation or the second circulation. When the first circulation is selected to be performed, the compressor is powered on, the second one-way valve is powered off, and the refrigerant sequentially passes through the compressor, the first flow path, and the condenser from the evaporator and returns to the evaporator. When the second circulation is selected to be performed, the compressor is powered off, the first one-way valve is powered off, and the refrigerant sequentially passes through the second flow path and the condenser from the evaporator and returns to the evaporator. When the amount of liquid refrigerant becomes excessive, the second circulation is performed to prevent the liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor and causing damages to the compressor, so that the cooling system may have an improved stability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1is a schematic view illustrating a cooling system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG.2is a schematic view illustrating the cooling system depicted inFIG.1performs a first circulation. With reference toFIG.1andFIG.2, a cooling system100provided in this embodiment may be configured for heat dissipation of servers and other electronic devices, while the application of the cooling system100is not limited to what is disclosed herein. The cooling system100provided in this embodiment may perform the first circulation (FIG.2) or a second circulation (FIG.3). Elements of the cooling system100and the first circulation performed by the cooling system100will be described below.

The cooling system100provided in this embodiment includes a compressor110, a condenser120, an evaporator130, a first one-way valve140, and a second one-way valve145. The compressor110includes a compressor inlet112and a compressor outlet114. The condenser120includes a condenser inlet122and a condenser outlet124, and the compressor outlet114communicates with the condenser inlet122. The first one-way valve140is disposed on a first flow path between the compressor outlet114and the condenser inlet122. The second one-way valve145is disposed on a second flow path between the evaporator outlet134and the condenser inlet122. As shown inFIG.2, in the first circulation, the first one-way valve140is powered on, and second one-way valve145is powered off.

The compressor110is configured to convert a low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high-pressure superheated vapor which then flows to the condenser120. A fan125is disposed next to the condenser120for dissipating heat of the condenser120. The condenser120transfers heat energy of the high-pressure superheated vapor refrigerant to the surrounding medium (water or air), so that the heat energy is taken away. The refrigerant in form of the high-pressure superheated vapor is re-condensed into a normal-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant in the condenser120.

Besides, the evaporator130includes an evaporator inlet132and an evaporator outlet134. The condenser outlet124communicates with the evaporator inlet132. Specifically, the cooling system100provided in this embodiment further includes an expansion valve160disposed between the condenser120and the evaporator130. The expansion valve160includes an expansion valve inlet162and an expansion valve outlet164, the expansion valve inlet162is connected to the condenser outlet124, and the expansion valve outlet164is connected to the evaporator inlet132. In addition, the evaporator outlet134communicates with the compressor inlet112and the condenser inlet122.

The normal-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant, when flowing through the expansion valve160, is throttled and depressurized and is then converted into a low-temperature and low-pressure wet vapor refrigerant (a major portion of which is a liquid refrigerant and a minor portion of which is a vapor refrigerant), and then the low-temperature and low-pressure wet vapor refrigerant enters the evaporator130and is vaporized and absorbs heat in the evaporator130, thereby achieving a cooling effect. That is, when the first circulation is selected to be performed, the compressor110is powered on, the first one-way valve140is powered on, the second one-way valve145is powered off, and the refrigerant sequentially passes through the compressor110, the first flow path, and the condenser120from the evaporator130and returns to the evaporator130.

In addition, the cooling system100further includes an immersion cooling tank180, two transfer channels182and184that communicate with the immersion cooling tank180, and a transfer power source186(e.g., a pump) that communicates with the two transfer channels182and184. The two transfer channels182and184communicate with the evaporator130. Servers and other electronic devices that require heat dissipation may be immersed in the immersion cooling tank180, so that the liquid (e.g., cooling oil) in the immersion cooling tank180may cool down the servers. The cooling oil is sucked by the transfer power source186and enters the evaporator130from the transfer channel182to perform the heat exchange with the refrigerant, so that the hot cooling oil becomes cold cooling oil, and the cold cooling oil then returns to the immersion cooling tank180from the transfer channel184.

In addition, the cooling system100further includes a refrigerant storage tank150and a liquid level sensor152disposed in the refrigerant storage tank150, and the refrigerant storage tank150is disposed between the evaporator outlet134and the second flow path (the second one-way valve145) and between the evaporator outlet134and the compressor inlet112. The liquid level sensor152may serve to sense a liquid refrigerant level in the refrigerant storage tank150to select whether the cooling system100is to perform the first circulation or the second circulation.

Namely, the cooling system100controls whether to power on or power off the compressor110, the first one-way valve140and the second one-way valve145according to the liquid refrigerant level. Specifically, when the liquid refrigerant level is less than a predetermined value, it indicates that the amount of the liquid refrigerant circulated in the cooling system100is adequate, and the compressor110does not suck the liquid refrigerant. At this time, the compressor110is powered on, the first one-way valve140is powered on, and the second one-way valve145is powered off, so as to perform the first circulation.

When the liquid refrigerant level is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, it indicates that the amount of the liquid refrigerant circulated in the cooling system100is excessive, and the compressor110may suck and compress the liquid refrigerant, which may lead to damages.

In order to prevent said issue, the cooling system100provided in this embodiment may also select to perform the second circulation.FIG.3is a schematic view illustrating the cooling system depicted inFIG.1performs a second circulation. With reference toFIG.3, in the second circulation, the compressor110stops operating, the first one-way valve140is powered off, and the second one-way valve145is powered on.

InFIG.3, when the compressor110is not in operation, the cooling system100may achieve the purpose of circulation by a pressure difference generated due to the temperature difference between the evaporator130and the condenser120themselves. The refrigerant sequentially passes through the second flow path and the condenser120from the evaporator130and returns to the evaporator130.

Specifically, since the pressure at the evaporator outlet134(the pressure of the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant) is greater than the pressure at the condenser inlet122, when the compressor110is not in operation, the refrigerant flows directly to the condenser inlet122through the second one-way valve145, and the first one-way valve140may prevent the refrigerant from flowing back to the compressor110. On such a condition, since the compressor110is not in operation, the liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant storage tank150does not flow to the compressor110and thus does not cause damages the compressor110.

That is, when the liquid level sensor152senses that the liquid refrigerant level in the refrigerant storage tank150is excessively high (indicating the excessive amount of the liquid refrigerant), a controller (not shown) stops the operation of the compressor110. At this time, the evaporator130still continues to absorb the heat, and thus the refrigerant continues to be evaporated and flow to the condenser120through the second one-way valve145, so that the cooling system100is still capable of dissipating the heat. It is not necessary to power on the compressor110again to actively transfer the refrigerant until the heat dissipation capability becomes insufficient.

FIG.4is a schematic view illustrating a refrigerant flowing through an expansion valve in the cooling system depicted inFIG.1. With reference toFIG.4, the cooling system100provided in this embodiment further includes a valve170that is disposed between the condenser outlet124and the evaporator inlet132and connected in parallel to the expansion valve160. The valve170is, for instance, a solenoid valve, but not limited thereto.

The cooling system100may adjust the switch of the valve170according to a refrigerant temperature at the condenser outlet124. When the refrigerant temperature at the condenser outlet124is higher than or equal to a predetermined temperature, it indicates that the refrigerant temperature is overly high, and the valve170is power offed, so that the refrigerant leaving the condenser120flows to the evaporator130through the expansion valve160. Therefore, the refrigerant may be depressurized and cooled down by the expansion valve160, and the resultant refrigerant of a sufficiently low temperature is generated and enters the evaporator130.

FIG.5is a schematic view illustrating a refrigerant flowing through a valve in the cooling system depicted inFIG.1. With reference toFIG.5, when the refrigerant temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, it indicates that the refrigerant temperature is sufficiently low and need not be depressurized and cooled down by the expansion valve160, and the valve170is powered on, so that the refrigerant leaving the condenser120flows to the evaporator130through the valve170. The process of the refrigerant flowing through the valve170is a transfer process without lowering the temperature, which may prevent the decrease in the pressure and the resultant low-temperature condensation.

FIG.6is a schematic view illustrating a cooling system according to another embodiment of the disclosure. With reference toFIG.6, one of the differences between a cooling system100adepicted inFIG.6and the cooling system100depicted inFIG.1lies in that the refrigerant storage tank150is disposed in the condenser120according to this embodiment.FIG.7is a schematic view illustrating a cooling system according to another embodiment of the disclosure. With reference toFIG.7, one of the differences between a cooling system100bdepicted inFIG.7and the cooling system100depicted inFIG.1lies in that the refrigerant storage tank150is disposed between the condenser outlet124and the evaporator130according to this embodiment.

Similarly, inFIG.6andFIG.7, when the liquid level sensor152senses that the liquid refrigerant level in the refrigerant storage tank150is overly low (representing an insufficient amount of the refrigerant), the compressor110is powered on, and the second one-way valve145is powered off. When the liquid level sensor152senses that the liquid refrigerant level in the refrigerant storage tank150is overly high (representing an excessive amount of the refrigerant), the controller (not shown) stops the operation of the compressor110, and the first one-way valve140is powered off, so that the cooling system100may have a favorable stability.

To sum up, in one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the first one-way valve of the cooling system is disposed on the first flow path between the compressor outlet and the condenser inlet, and the second one-way valve is disposed on the second flow path between the evaporator outlet and the condenser inlet. The cooling system may select to perform the first circulation or the second circulation. When the first circulation is selected to be performed, the compressor is powered on, the second one-way valve is powered off, and the refrigerant sequentially passes through the compressor, the first flow path, and the condenser from the evaporator and returns to the evaporator. When the second circulation is selected to be performed, the compressor is powered off, the first one-way valve is powered off, and the refrigerant sequentially passes through the second flow path and the condenser from the evaporator and returns to the evaporator. When the amount of the liquid refrigerant is excessive, the second circulation is performed to prevent the liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor and causing damages to the compressor, so that the cooling system may have an improved stability.