Patent CA-2577231-A1 (CA)
Inventor: KOGANITSKY GREGORY
IPC: F25B30/00
Filed: 2007-01-31
Abstract: Heat exchange between "intermediate substance" and any stream flowing through a condenser coil is carried out after the vortical stratification of the "intermediate substance" flow outgoing off compressor (4) into two independent vortex flows differed by temperature and having their own circuit of circulation.     /The stratification is carried out by means of one of the options of the Ranque--Hilsch vortex pipe (A)/.     After stratification one of two received flows, the one with higher temperature (5) than the flow that goes out of compressor discharge port, is directed into condenser, and another flow (8) the one with lower temperature than flow outgoing of the compressor, is directed into injector (B).     The overheated flow (5) changes its modular status after energy waste in a condenser, and enters into evaporator through regulating and expending systems.  A vapor-gas mixture (9) produced in the evaporator by energy absorption is directed into a suction port of the injector (B).     The cold gas flow (8) of "intermediate substance" separated by stratification, having pressure and temperature higher than the vapor-gas flow (9) has, comes into a force port of the injector (B) working as inter-pump for vapor-gas flow directed through it from evaporator into compressor suction port (11).    Parameters of the "intermediate substance" flow outgoing from the evaporator discharge port through the injector into compressor suction port, are being changed by the injector influence As a result of such parameters changing, the "intermediate substance" getting into compressor has both temperature and pressure higher than temperature and pressure of the vapor-gas mixture outgoing off the evaporator.  This effect gives possibility both as to keep difference between operational condenser pressure and operational evaporator pressure, as the working process optimization requires, and simultaneously to preserve compressor optimal operational parameters.     Depending on destination, offered device consisting of stratification unit and injector, can work either as a device carrying out compressor mode optimization of a heat pump working in hard temperature mode, or as a device that insures light and independent start for a compressor working in multi-compressors, parallel system or as matching network between compressor and a system of condenser-evaporator after changing used refrigerant by modern refrigerant brand.     In the presented device stratification unit may be designed either by usage of a reverse circuit [Sketch_1(A)] where the colder vortex flow (7) is going to the outlet port (8) through opened volume of a vortex-induction chamber (1) or be designed as a toroidal vortex chamber [Sketch_2] where colder vortex (7) received after stratification, is separated from the vortex-induction chamber. For these two sub-variants, it is not important whether optimization device is an all-in-one unit or composite system.     In the case of using simplified scheme, design of an optimization device may be represented as system consisting of a Ranque-Hilsch vortex pipe with vortex-induction chamber (A) and an injecting pump (B).    The device may be designed either as two different parts working together: a vortex pipe and an injecting pump (sketch_1), or as an all-in-one unit, for example, as an adjutage onto suction port of a centrifugal compressor (sketch_2) or as any sub-variant of them.     Sketch_1(A) - Potential design of the Vortex Stratification device: (1 - vortex chamber; 2 - stratification chamber; 3 - regulator device; 4 -incoming high pressure flow; 5 - overheated outgoing fraction of stratification;  6 - overheated vortex; 7 - cold vortex; 8- colder outgoing fraction of stratification);     Sketch_1(B) - Potential design of the Injector Inter-pump: (8 - colder fraction of stratification; 9 - vapor-gas mixture from evaporator; 10 - gas flow into suction port of compressor.);     Sketch_1(C) - Potential connecting circuit for a heat pump's compressor and optimization device offered above. (A - vortex stratification unit; B - injector; 5 - overheated fraction of stratification to condenser intake; 8 - colder fraction of stratification; 9 -vapor-gas mixture from evaporator; 11 - compressor);     Sketch_2 - Potential design of the device carried out as an all-in-one unit: (1 - vortex chamber; 2 - stratification chamber; D - injecting area; 5 -overheated fraction of stratification; 6 - overheated vortex; 7 - cold vortex;    vapor-gas mixture from evaporator; 10 - gas flow into suction port of compressor);     The device designed as an all-in-one unit is preferable for usage as the operation process optimization device and/or device lightening start running of centrifugal compressors working in a multi-compressor, parallel scheme -Sketch_3).     Sketch_3 - Potential connecting circuit of a compressor system working with the unite described above: (E - optimization and lightening start unit; 5 - overheated flow going to intake of condenser; 9 - vapor-gas mixture from evaporator; 10 - gas flow into suction port of compressor; 12 - check valve; 11 - compressor).   Method lightening start running of compressor operating in a multi-compressor parallel scheme (Sketch_3) In multi-compressor parallel system already having a few operating compressors (11) the temperature of the compressor optimization unit (E) intended for starting is supported on higher level than temperature of the refrigerant condensation for the pressure in discharge line (5).   At the moment immediately preceding starting of the compressor running, temperature of the unit (E) is to be decreased to condensation temperature, and is to be supported at this level till compressor operation mode is reached. This operation causes initial density increase of refrigerant in a cavity of the compressor and the unit (E). While this initial period the check valve (12) corresponding to this unit is to be closed.  While this initial period of compressor running, a refrigerant is circulating through injector inside of the system formed by compressor and its unit. From compressor starting up to reaching its operation mode the starting parameters of injector geometry and forced cooling for the stratification chamber ensure high efficiency of the injector and an optimum of the compressor's through-passage resistance that corresponds to this mode.   The check valve will be opened automatically when a compressor suction pressure will be decreased up to the operation pressure of the check-valve (12).   After confirming compressor operation mode forced cooling of stratification chamber is ceased. In this case, working parameters of the injector may be also changed by means of one or another method. For example, it may be carried out by a geometry changing of the injection zone (D).    In case of designing a reversible cooling/heating heat pump providing service for residential or commercial buildings, the optimization unit and compressor are combined into a uniform system working as virtual compressor (C) and located in a gas schema before reversible valve (G) (Sketch_4).     Sketch 4- Potential circuit of a reversible heat pump using the virtual compressor (C) based on the optimization device offered above. (C - virtual compressor; A - stratification unit; B - injector; G - reversible valve; S - condenser; R - regulative system; J - evaporator) There is a possibility to use one of sub-variants of optimization units described above for modernization of 'heat pump' based systems to new compressor or refrigerant brand without condenser or evaporator replacement.   In such a case, the system "compressor - optimization unit" is adjusted by change of injection's ratio and/or stratification ratio in such a manner that correlation between compressor suction pressure and compressor discharge pressure is adequate to the new brand refrigerant or compressor, but the temperature of condensation and the temperature of vaporization in this system has to correspond to the old refrigerant brand and/or old compressor brand.