Abstract:
The invention relates to a refrigeration system having a refrigerant circuit which comprises a plurality of evaporator paths and a distributor distributing refrigerant, wherein the distributor comprises a housing and a controllable valve for each evaporator path. The intent is to achieve a predetermined mode of operation of the refrigeration system by simple means. To this end, it is provided that the distributor comprises a magnet arrangement controlling the valves.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference essential subject matter disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/DK2008/000223 filed on Jun. 17, 2008 and German Patent Application No. 10 2007 028 565.7 filed Jun. 19, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The invention concerns a refrigeration system with a refrigerant circuit comprising several evaporation paths and a distributor causing a distribution of refrigerant, the distributor comprising a housing and a controllable valve for each evaporation path. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    Such a refrigeration system is known from DE 195 47 744 A1. The known refrigeration system comprises one single compressor and one single condenser, but two evaporators, which are made separately from one another. The refrigerant flow delivered by the compressor is divided into two partial flows after the condenser and before the expansion valves by means of a 3/2-way valve, whose position is controlled by a control unit. This embodiment, however, only permits dividing the refrigerant flow into two evaporator paths. 
         [0004]    To permit the supply of several evaporator paths, U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,744 discloses a refrigeration system, in which the distributor comprises a valve between one refrigerant inlet and several refrigerant outlets, said valve being connected in series to a rotating turbine blade. The turbine blade is provided to ensure that the refrigerant is distributed evenly to all outlets of the distributor and thus also evenly to all evaporators. In theory, such a distributor ensures an even distribution of the refrigerant to the individual evaporators. However, already small differences in the dimensions, which could, for example, occur during manufacturing, cause an uneven distribution of the refrigerant to the individual evaporators. Further, with such distributors, it is necessary that basically the individual distributors have the same thermal load and also the same flow resistance. If this is not the case, it may happen that one evaporator receives too much refrigerant, so that the refrigerant is not completely evaporated when it has passed the evaporator. Another evaporator, which is connected to the same distributor can receive too little refrigerant, so that the evaporator cannot deliver the desired refrigeration performance. The oversupply or the undersupply of the evaporator can in particular cause problems, if temperature sensors, which are located at the evaporators or in other positions in the refrigeration system, are controlling an expansion valve. Under unfavourable circumstances, the expansion valve will be caused to vibrate naturally, which further deteriorates the capacity and the efficiency of the refrigeration system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    The invention is based on the task of achieving a predetermined operation of the refrigeration system with simple means. 
         [0006]    With a refrigeration system as mentioned in the introduction, this task is solved in that the distributor comprises a magnet arrangement controlling the valves. 
         [0007]    When, in the following, the term “refrigeration system” is used, the term must be interpreted broadly. It comprises in particular refrigeration systems, freezing systems, air-conditioning systems and heat pumps, that is, all systems in which a refrigerant is circulated or circulates. The term “refrigeration system” is merely used for simplification purposes. The evaporator paths can be arranged in different evaporators. For reasons of simplicity the invention is explained in connection with several evaporators. However, the invention can also be used, when one evaporator comprises several evaporator paths, which are controlled individually or in groups. 
         [0008]    When the distributor comprises a controllable valve for each evaporator, it can control the supply of the evaporators individually, that is, it is then possible to supply each evaporator with the amount of refrigerant it requires. It no longer has to be ensured that all evaporators have the same flow resistance. It is also von inferior importance, if the evaporators have to supply different cooling outputs. An evaporator, from which a larger cooling output is required, receives correspondingly more refrigerant that an evaporator, which has to supply a smaller cooling output. In a simple manner, the control of the valves occurs by means of a magnet arrangement comprising at least one magnet. A magnet exerts magnet forces on valves or parts of valves, if the magnet is in the vicinity of the valve and is active. If, on the other hand, the magnet is far away from the valve or is passive, for example a disconnected electric magnet, it exerts no forces on this valve or parts of it. Thus, by means of a control of the position and/or the function of the magnet, it can be ensured that a certain valve is opened, while other valves remain closed. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the magnet arrangement comprises a rotor that carries at least one magnet. As the magnet is arranged on the rotor, a rotational movement of the rotor will displace the magnet from one valve to another. The rotational movement of the rotor can be controlled by a control arrangement. Thus, eventually, the control arrangement is responsible for the distribution of the refrigerant to the individual evaporators. 
         [0010]    It is also advantageous that the magnet arrangement comprises at least one magnet in the form of an electric magnet. In this case, the magnet can be turned on or off. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the magnet acts through a closed wall of the housing. This has the advantage that an activation of the valves does not require an opening for the entry of a tappet or the like. If such an opening is not present, also the problem of a possible leakage does not occur. The only condition for such an embodiment is that the wall does not hinder the effect of the magnet. A plastic material, for example, permits a practically undisturbed passage of a magnetic field. The same also applies for many non-magnetic metals. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the magnet is guided in a circumferential groove. Thus, the groove defines a circular path, in which the magnet can move. Thus, it is sufficient to fix the magnet to the rotor in the circumferential direction. The circumferential groove ensures that in the radial direction the magnet will always maintain the correct positioning in relation to the valves. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the valve is made as a pilot-controlled valve. The forces that a magnet can provide are, among other things, dependent on the size of the magnet. The size of the magnet is determined by the size of the distributor. Usually, it is endeavoured not to make the distributor too large. Accordingly, also the forces that the magnet can provide are limited. If a pilot-controlled valve is used, the magnet only has to act upon an auxiliary element, which then uses an auxiliary energy, for example the pressure of the refrigerant, to activate a main valve element. 
         [0014]    It is preferred that the valve comprises an auxiliary valve element to be moved by the magnet and a main valve element to be moved by the refrigerant, interacting with a main valve seat and bordering, with its side facing away from the main valve seat, a pressure chamber, the auxiliary valve element blocking or releasing a passage from the pressure chamber to an outlet opening connected to an evaporation path. When the auxiliary valve element is displaced by the magnet, the passage is released so that the pressure in the pressure chamber drops. The dropping pressure can then be used to lift the main valve element from the main valve seat. The main valve element then remains lifted from the valve seat until the auxiliary valve element blocks the passage again. Then, the pressure in the pressure chamber can build up again to a level that moves the main valve element back to the main valve seat. The auxiliary valve element blocks the passage, when the magnet is rotated further, so that it can no longer act upon the corresponding auxiliary valve element. 
         [0015]    Preferably, a throttle path extends from an inlet of the distributor to the pressure chamber in parallel to the main valve element. Through the throttle path refrigerant can get from the inlet to the pressure chamber. The pressure then ruling in the pressure chamber ensures that the main valve element bears on the main valve seat as long as the auxiliary valve element has not released the passage. Not until the auxiliary valve element has released the passage, the pressure in the pressure chamber drops so much that the main valve element can open. When the passage is released, the throttle path can namely not supply sufficient refrigerant to generate the pressure required to close the valve. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the throttle path extends between the main valve element and a guide for the main valve element. Thus, not only the pressure difference over the main valve can be utilised to lift the main valve element from the main valve seat. Also the flow of refrigerant through the throttle path is utilised. The refrigerant then generates some kind of “friction” on the main valve element, so that the main valve element can also be lifted from the main valve seat, when the pressure application surfaces on the main valve element for the refrigerant would not permit a movement of the main valve element merely because of a pressure difference. In this case, the throttle path can simply be formed in that a small play exists between the main valve element and the guide. Of course one or more corresponding grooves can also be formed in the circumferential wall of the main valve element or in the inner wall of the guide to form the throttle path. 
         [0017]    Preferably, a first pressure drop over the throttle path is larger than a second pressure drop between the pressure chamber and the outlet. This embodiment ensures that the main valve element opens reliable and also remains open as long as the auxiliary valve element releases the passage. As long as the auxiliary valve element does not block the passage, the refrigerant flow into the pressure chamber will not be sufficient to bring the main valve element back to rest on the main valve seat. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the auxiliary valve element interacts with a closing spring. The closing spring does not have to provide large forces. It must merely be able to bring the auxiliary valve element to rest on an auxiliary valve seat. When the distributor is mounted so that the auxiliary valve element will come to rest on the auxiliary valve seat under the effect of the gravity, a closing spring may be avoidable. However, with a closing spring the advantage exists that choice of the mounting position is substantially free. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the magnet arrangement has a controllable magnet with which several valves can be controlled at the same time. A controllable magnet can, for example, be an electric magnet, that is, a magnetic coil that can be supplied with electrical current to activate the magnet. When the current is turned off, the magnet will no longer be active. If a magnet is located so that it can control several or even all valves of the distributor at the same time, all valves can be opened when starting the refrigeration system to reduce the temperature in the refrigeration system quickly. After a suitable filling of the evaporator paths, the controllable magnet is turned off and the further control is, for example made by means of the rotor. 
         [0020]    It is also preferred that each valve is provided with its own controllable magnet. Also such a magnet can be an electric magnet. This embodiment has the advantage that the valves can be controlled independently of one another, that is, also in a more or less random order. Also here all valves can be opened simultaneously when starting the refrigeration system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0021]    In the following, the invention is explained on the basis of a preferred embodiment as shown in the drawings: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a refrigeration system with several evaporators, 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a distributor, 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a section III-III according to  FIG. 2 , 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an insert, 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the insert, and 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a section VI-VI according to  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a refrigeration system  1 , in which a compressor  2 , a condenser  3 , a collector  4 , a distributor  5  and an evaporator arrangement  6  with several parallel-connected evaporators  7   a - 7   d  are joined to a circuit. The evaporator arrangement  6  can also have one single evaporator comprising several evaporator paths, which can be controlled individually or in groups. 
         [0029]    In a manner known per se, liquid refrigerant evaporates in the evaporators  7   a - 7   d,  is compressed by the compressor  2 , liquefied in the condenser  3  and collected in the collector  4 . The distributor  5  is provided to distribute the liquid refrigerant to the individual evaporators  7   a - 7   d.    
         [0030]    At the outlet of each evaporator  7   a - 7   d  a temperature sensor  8   a - 8   d  is arranged. The temperature sensors  8   a - 8   d  determine the temperature of the refrigerant leaving the evaporators  7   a - 7   d.  This temperature information is passed on to a control unit  9  that controls the distributors in dependence of the temperature signals of the temperature sensors  8   a - 8   d.    
         [0031]    The  FIGS. 2 to 6  show the distributor  5  with further details. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows that the distributor  5  comprises a housing  10  with an inlet  11  and several outlets  12 , each outlet  12  being connected to an evaporation path  7   a - 7   d.  The signals from the temperature sensors  8   a - 8   d  are supplied to the distributor  5  via electrical lines  13 . 
         [0033]    As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the housing  10  of the distributor  5  is provided with an insert  14  that is shown with further details in the  FIGS. 4 to 6 . The insert  14  comprises a motor  15 , a rotor  17  being fixed on the drive shaft  16  of said motor  15 . When the motor rotates the drive shaft  16 , the rotor  17  is swivelled around a rotation axis  18 . In this case, the rotor  17  has the form of an arm that is connected to the drive shaft  16 . The motor  15  can, for example, be a step motor. 
         [0034]    At the end facing away from the drive shaft  16 , the rotor carries a magnet  19  that is guided in a circumferential groove  20  when the rotor  17  is rotating. The circumferential groove  20  is formed in a cover wall  21  that seals a part of the inner chamber  22  of the housing  10  that lies next to the outlets  12 . Further, the motor  15  can, for example be pressed into the housing, if no other options are used to hold the motor  15  unrotatably in the housing  10 . 
         [0035]    In the embodiment shown, the magnet  19  is expediently a permanent magnet. The magnet  19  can, however, also be an electric magnet, which can, in a manner of speaking, be turned on and off. 
         [0036]    On the side of the cover wall  21  facing away from the motor  15 , an insert housing  23  is arranged, whose side facing away from the cover wall  21  is covered by a bottom plate  24 . An outlet opening  25  for each outlet  12  is provided in the bottom plate  24 . 
         [0037]    Together with the bottom plate  24  the insert housing  23  borders an inlet chamber  26  for refrigerant. The inlet  11  is shown schematically here to ease the understanding. 
         [0038]    On the side facing the cover wall  21 , each outlet opening  25  forms a main valve seat  27 . A main valve element  28  interacts with each main valve seat  27 . On the side facing away from the valve seat  27  the main valve element  28  borders a pressure chamber  29  together with a guide  30  that surrounds the main valve element  28  in the circumferential direction. 
         [0039]    However, the main valve element  28  is guided in the guide  30  with a small play, so that a throttle path  31  occurs through which refrigerant can flow from the inlet chamber  26  to the pressure chamber  29 , also when the main valve element  28  bears on the main valve seat  27 . 
         [0040]    From the pressure chamber  29  an auxiliary channel  32  leads into an auxiliary chamber  33 , in which an auxiliary valve element  34  is located. The auxiliary valve element  34  is positioned in such a way by the force of a closing spring  35  that can be made to be relatively weak that it closes the auxiliary channel  32 . In the shown, closed position of the auxiliary valve element  35 , refrigerant that has reached the pressure chamber  29  cannot flow off from the pressure chamber  29 . 
         [0041]    If, however, the magnet  19  is positioned over the auxiliary valve element  34 , the magnet  19  attracts the auxiliary valve element  34  against the force of the closing spring  35 , so that the auxiliary channel  32  is released and a connection occurs between the pressure chamber  29  and the auxiliary chamber  33 . The refrigerant that was previously trapped in the pressure chamber  29  can then flow into the auxiliary chamber  33  and from there through further auxiliary channel sections  36 ,  37  to the outlet opening  25 . This reduces the pressure in the pressure chamber  29 . 
         [0042]    The refrigerant from the inlet chamber  26  subsequently flowing into the pressure chamber  29  through the throttle path  31  then generates a pressure difference over the main valve element  28  that is sufficient to lift the main valve element  28  from the main valve seat  27 . As soon as the main valve element  28  has been lifted from the main valve seat  27 , the full pressure of the refrigerant from the inlet chamber  26  acts in the opening direction upon the main valve element  28 , so that it is maintained in the opening position. As long as the main valve element  28  is lifted from the main valve seat  27 , refrigerant flows via the corresponding outlet opening  25  into the outlet  12  and then into the allocated evaporator path  7   a - 7   d.    
         [0043]    When the magnet  19  is rotated further, so that it no longer acts upon the auxiliary valve element  34 , the closing spring  35  again presses the auxiliary valve  34  back to the closed position shown, so that the auxiliary channel  32  is closed. As refrigerant still reaches the pressure chamber  29  through the throttle path  32 , which can, however, no longer flow off through the auxiliary channel  32  and the auxiliary channel sections  36 ,  37 , a pressure builds up in the pressure chamber  29  that does again make the main valve element  28  rest on the main valve seat  27 . The main valve element  28 , the valve seat  27  and the auxiliary valve element  34  thus form essential parts of a valve  38 , a valve being provided for each outlet opening  25  and thus for each evaporator path  7   a - 7   d,  each valve  38  being individually controllable. The amount of refrigerant that will then reach the individual evaporator paths  7   a - 7   d  depends on the duration of the period, during which the magnet  19  remains over the individual auxiliary valve elements  34 . During a rotation of the drive shaft  16 , each valve  38  will thus open once. If, under certain circumstances, it is desired to prevent the opening of a valve  38 , the rotation direction of the drive shaft  16  is reversed before reaching the valve  38  in question, or the magnet is made to pass very quickly over the corresponding auxiliary valve element  34 . When using an electric magnet, the magnet  19  can be turned off when passing a valve  38  that shall not be opened. 
         [0044]    The throttle path  31  has a flow resistance that is larger than the flow resistance of the auxiliary channel  32  and the auxiliary channel sections  36 ,  37 . Accordingly, no pressure can build up in the pressure chamber  29 , as long as the auxiliary valve element  34  releases the auxiliary channel  32 . 
         [0045]    It is shown that the control arrangement  9  is located separately from the distributor  5 . However, it is also possible to make a design that joins the control arrangement  9  and the distributor  5 . 
         [0046]    In a manner not shown in detail, an additional magnet coil can be arranged so that its magnetic field can act upon all auxiliary valve elements  34  at the same time. In this case, all valves  38  are opened at the same time. This is advantageous when starting the refrigeration system  1 , in order to lower the temperature quickly. After a suitable filling of the evaporator paths, the coil is turned off and the rotor rotates the magnet  19  to the various auxiliary elements  34 . However, it can also be provided that the effect of such an electric magnet is limited to some or several valves  38 . 
         [0047]    In an embodiment that is also not shown in detail, the rotor bringing the magnet  19  from one valve  38  to the next can be replaced by providing an electric magnet for each valve  38 , which then opens the valve  38  individually. All electric magnets are then connected to the control arrangement  9  that controls the valves  38 . 
         [0048]    While the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present.