Patent Publication Number: US-10323863-B2

Title: Ejector refrigeration circuit

Description:
The invention is related to an ejector refrigeration circuit, in particular to an ejector refrigeration circuit comprising at least two controllable ejectors and a method of controlling said ejectors. 
     Controllable ejectors may be used in refrigeration circuits as high pressure control devices for controlling the high pressure level of a circulating refrigerant by varying the high pressure mass flow of the refrigerant rate through the ejector. The variable high pressure mass flow is controllable by the ejector opening degree and can be adjusted between zero and one hundred percent. An ejector additionally may operate as a so called ejector pump for compressing refrigerant from a low pressure level to a medium pressure level using energy that becomes available when expanding the refrigerant from a high pressure level to the medium pressure level. 
     Accordingly, it would be beneficial to optimize the efficiency of an ejector refrigeration circuit for any given overall high pressure mass flow. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a method of operating an ejector refrigeration circuit with at least two controllable ejectors connected in parallel and respectively comprising a controllable primary high pressure input port, a secondary low pressure input port and a medium pressure output port, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
         a) operating a first ejector of the at least two controllable ejectors by controlling the opening degree of its controllable primary high pressure input port until the maximum efficiency of said first ejector has been reached or the actual refrigeration demands are met;   b) operating at least one additional ejector of the at least two controllable ejectors by opening its controllable primary high pressure input port for increasing the refrigeration capacity of the ejector refrigeration circuit in case the actual refrigeration demands are not met by operating the first ejector alone.       

     Exemplary embodiments of the invention also include an ejector refrigeration circuit, which is configured for circulating a refrigerant, in particular carbon dioxide, and comprises:
         at least two controllable ejectors connected in parallel and respectively comprising a controllable primary high pressure input port, a secondary low pressure input port and a medium pressure output port; and   a control unit, which is configured for operating the ejector refrigeration circuit employing a method comprising the steps of:
           a) operating a first ejector of the at least two controllable ejectors by controlling the opening degree of its controllable high pressure port until the maximum efficiency of said first ejector has been reached or the actual refrigeration demands are met;   b) operating at least one additional ejector of the at least two controllable ejectors by opening its controllable primary high pressure input port for increasing the refrigeration capacity of the ejector refrigeration circuit in case the actual refrigeration demands are not met by operating the first ejector alone.   
               

     The efficiency of an individual ejector is a function of the high pressure mass flow rate while the overall high pressure mass flow, i.e. the mass flow through all ejectors, is given as a control input via the needed high pressure drop. In order to cope with part load operation an ejector refrigeration circuit according to exemplary embodiments of the invention is equipped with at least two controllable ejectors, which are configured for working in parallel. 
     Operating an ejector refrigeration circuit comprising at least two controllable ejectors according to exemplary embodiments of the invention allows to operate the ejector refrigeration circuit very stable and efficiently, as it reliably avoids to operate any of the controllable ejectors in a range of operation in which its operation is less efficient. This results in an optimized efficiency of the ejector refrigeration circuit over a wide range of operational conditions. 
    
    
     
       SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in the following with respect to the enclosed Figures. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an ejector refrigeration circuit according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic sectional view of a controllable ejector as it may be employed in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an ejector refrigeration circuit  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention comprising a high pressure ejector circuit  3 , a refrigerating evaporator flowpath  5 , and a low temperature flowpath  9  respectively circulating a refrigerant as indicated by the arrows F 1 , F 2 , and F 3 . 
     The high pressure ejector circuit  3  comprises a compressor unit  2  including a plurality of compressors  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  connected in parallel. 
     The high pressure side outlets  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  of said compressors  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  are fluidly connected to an outlet manifold collecting the refrigerant from the compressors  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  and delivering the refrigerant via a heat rejection heat exchanger/gas cooler inlet line to the inlet side  4   a  of a heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler  4 . The heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler  4  is configured for transferring heat from the refrigerant to the environment for reducing the temperature of the refrigerant. In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler  4  comprises two fans  38  which are operable for blowing air through the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler  4  in order to enhance the transfer of heat from the refrigerant to the environment. Of course, the fans  38  are optional and their number may be adjusted to the actual needs. 
     The cooled refrigerant leaving the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler  4  at its outlet side  4   b  is delivered via a high pressure input line  31  comprising a service valve  20  to primary high pressure inlet ports  6   a ,  7   a  of two controllable ejectors  6 ,  7 , which are connected in parallel and configured for expanding the refrigerant to a reduced pressure level. The service valve  20  allows to shut down the flow of refrigerant to the primary high pressure input ports  6   a ,  7   a  in case an ejector  6 ,  7  needs to be maintained or replaced. 
     Details of the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  will be described further below with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The expanded refrigerant leaves the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  through respective ejector output ports  6   c ,  7   c  and is delivered by means of an ejector output line  35  to o an inlet  8   a  of a receiver  8 . Within the receiver  8 , the refrigerant is separated by gravity into a liquid portion collecting at the bottom of the receiver  8  and a gas phase portion collecting in an upper part of the receiver  8 . 
     The gas phase portion of the refrigerant leaves the receiver  8  through a receiver gas outlet  8   b  provided at the top of the receiver  8 . Said gas phase portion is delivered via a receiver gas outlet line  40  to the inlet sides  21   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  of the compressors  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , which completes the refrigerant cycle of the high pressure ejector circuit  3 . 
     Refrigerant from the liquid phase portion of the refrigerant collecting at the bottom of the receiver  8  exits from the receiver  8  via a liquid outlet  8   c  provided at the bottom of the receiver  8  and is delivered through a receiver liquid outlet line  36  to the inlet side  10   a  of a refrigeration expansion device  10  (“medium temperature expansion device”) and, optionally, to a low temperature expansion device  14 . 
     After having left the refrigeration expansion device  10 , where it has been expanded, via its outlet side  10   b , the refrigerant enters into a refrigeration evaporator  12  (“medium temperature evaporator”), which is configured for operating at “normal” cooling temperatures, in particular in a temperature range of −10° C. to +5° C., for providing medium temperature refrigeration. 
     After having left the refrigeration evaporator  12  via its outlet  12   b , the refrigerant flows through a low pressure inlet line  33  to the inlet sides of two ejector inlet valves  26 ,  27 . The outlet sides of said ejector inlet valves  26 ,  27 , which preferably are provided as non-adjustable shut-off valves, are respectively connected to the secondary low pressure inlet ports  6   b ,  7   b  of the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7 . In case the respective ejector inlet valve  26 ,  27  is open, the refrigerant leaving the refrigeration evaporator  12  is sucked into the associated controllable ejector  6 ,  7  by means of the high pressure flow entering via the respective ejector&#39;s  6 ,  7  primary high pressure inlet port  6   a ,  7   a . This functionality of the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  providing an ejector pump will be described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The portion of the liquid refrigerant that has been delivered to and expanded by the optional low temperature expansion device  14  enters into an optional low temperature evaporator  16 , which in particular is configured for operating at low temperatures in particular at temperatures in the range of −40° C. to −25° C. After having left the low temperature evaporator  16  the refrigerant is delivered to the inlet side of a low temperature compressor unit  18  comprising one or more, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  two, low temperature compressors  18   a ,  18   b.    
     In operation, the low temperature compressor unit  18  compresses the refrigerant supplied by the low temperature evaporator  16  to medium pressure, i.e. basically the same pressure as the pressure of the refrigerant which is delivered from the gas outlet  8   b  of the receiver  8 . The compressed refrigerant is supplied together with the refrigerant provided from the gas outlet  8   b  of the receiver  8  to the inlet sides  21   a ,  21   b ,  21   c  of the compressors  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c.    
     Sensors  30 ,  32 ,  34  which are configured for measuring the pressure and/or the temperature of the refrigerant are respectively provided at the high pressure input line  31  fluidly connected to the primary high pressure input ports  6   a ,  7   a  of the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7 , the low pressure input line  33  fluidly connected to the secondary low pressure input ports  6   b ,  7   b  and the output line  35  fluidly connected to the ejector output ports  6   c ,  7   c . A control unit  28  is configured for controlling the operation of the ejector refrigeration circuit  1 , in particular the operation of the compressors  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   b ,  18   a ,  18   b , the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  and the controllable valves  26 ,  27  provided at the secondary low pressure input ports  6   b ,  7   b  of the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  based on the pressure value(s) and/or the temperature value(s) provided by the sensors  30 ,  32 ,  34  and the actual refrigeration demands. 
     In a first mode of operation, when the refrigeration demands and/or the ambient temperature at the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler  4  are relatively low, only a single (first) ejector  6  of the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  is operated, while both, the primary high pressure inlet port  7   a  and the low pressure inlet valve  27  of the second ejector  7  are closed. With increasing refrigeration demands and/or increasing ambient temperatures at the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler  4  the primary high pressure inlet port  6   a  of the first controllable ejector  6  is gradually opened until the actual refrigeration demands are met or the optimal point of operation of the first controllable ejector  6  is reached. In case the optimal point of operation of the first controllable ejector  6  is reached before the actual refrigeration demands are met, the primary high pressure inlet port  7   a  of the second controllable ejector  7  is additionally opened for increasing the refrigeration capacity of the ejector refrigeration circuit  1  in order to meet the increased refrigeration demands without operating the first controllable ejector  6  beyond its optimal point of operation. 
     Even when the primary high pressure inlet port  7   a  of the second controllable ejector  7  is opened, the associated low pressure inlet valve  27  may remain closed for operating the second controllable ejector  7  as a high pressure bypass valve bypassing the first controllable ejector  6 . When the opening degree of the primary high pressure inlet port  7   a  has reached a point allowing the second controllable ejector  7  to run stable and efficiently, the low pressure inlet valve  27  of said second controllable ejector  7  may be opened for increasing the flow of refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration expansion device  10  and the refrigeration evaporator  12 . 
     Although only two controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  are shown in  FIG. 1 , it is self-evident that the invention may be applied similarly to ejector refrigeration circuits comprising three ore more controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  connected in parallel. The controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  may have the same capacity or different capacities. In particular, the capacity of the second ejector  7  may be twice as large as the capacity of the first ejector  6 , the capacity of an optional third ejector (not shown) may be twice as large as the capacity of the second ejector  7  etc. Such an ejector configuration provides a wide range of available capacities by allowing to selectively operate a suitable combination of controllable ejectors  6 ,  7 . 
     In case a plurality of controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  having the same capacity are provided, every ejector  6 ,  7  alternately may be used as the first ejector  6 , i.e. as the ejector  6  operated alone at low refrigeration demands and/or low ambient temperatures. This will result in a uniform wear of the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  reducing the costs for maintenance. 
     In case the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  are provided with different capacities, any from the plurality of controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  may be selected to operate alone acting as the “first ejector” based on the actual refrigeration demands and/or ambient temperatures in order to enhance the efficiency of the ejector refrigeration circuit by using the controllable ejector  6 ,  7  which may be operated closest to its optimal point of operation. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a controllable ejector  6  as it may be employed as each of the controllable ejectors  6 ,  7  in the ejector refrigeration circuit  1  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The ejector  6  is formed by a motive nozzle  100  nested within an outer member  102 . The primary high pressure inlet port  6   a  forms the inlet to the motive nozzle  100 . The ejector output port  6   c  is the outlet of the outer member  102 . A primary refrigerant flow  103  enters via the primary high pressure inlet port  6   a  and then passes into a convergent section  104  of the motive nozzle  100 . It then passes through a throat section  106  and a divergent expansion section  108  to an outlet  110  of the motive nozzle  100 . The motive nozzle  100  accelerates the flow  103  and decreases the pressure of the flow. The secondary low pressure inlet port  6   b  forms an inlet of the outer member  102 . The pressure reduction caused to the primary flow by the motive nozzle draws a secondary flow  112  from the secondary low pressure inlet port  6   b  into the outer member  102 . The outer member  102  includes a mixer having a convergent section  114  and an elongate throat or mixing section  116 . The outer member  102  also has a divergent section (“diffuser”)  118  downstream of the elongate throat or mixing section  116 . The motive nozzle outlet  110  is positioned within the convergent section  114 . As the flow  103  exits the outlet  110 , it begins to mix with the secondary flow  112  with further mixing occurring through the mixing section  116  providing a mixing zone. Thus, respective primary and secondary flowpaths respectively extend from the primary high pressure inlet port  6   a  and the secondary low pressure inlet port  6   b  to the ejector output port  6   c , merging at the exit. 
     In operation, the primary flow  103  may be supercritical upon entering the ejector  6  and subcritical upon exiting the motive nozzle  100 . The secondary flow  112  may be gaseous or a mixture of gas comprising a smaller amount of liquid upon entering the secondary low pressure inlet port  6   b . The resulting combined flow  120  is a liquid/vapor mixture and decelerates and recovers pressure in the diffuser  118  while remaining a mixture. 
     The exemplary ejectors  6 ,  7  employed in exemplary embodiments of the invention are controllable ejectors. Their controllability is provided by a needle valve  130  having a needle  132  and an actuator  134 . The actuator  134  is configured for shifting a tip portion  136  of the needle  132  into and out of the throat section  106  of the motive nozzle  100  for modulating the flow through the motive nozzle  100  and, in turn, the ejector  6  overall. Exemplary actuators  134  are electric, e.g. solenoid or the like. The actuator  134  is coupled to and controlled by the control unit  28 . The control unit  28  may be coupled to the actuator  134  and other controllable system components via hardwired or wireless communication paths. The control unit  28  may include one or more of: processors; memory (e.g., for storing program information for execution by the processor to perform the operational methods and for storing data used or generated by the program(s)); and hardware interface devices (e.g., ports) for interfacing with input/output devices and controllable system components. 
     Further Embodiments 
     A number of optional features are set out in the following. These features may be realized in particular embodiments, alone or in combination with any of the other features. 
     In an embodiment the method includes gradually opening the primary high pressure input port of at least one additional controllable ejector in order to adjust the mass flow through the additional controllable ejector to the actual refrigeration demands. Gradually opening the primary high pressure input port allows for an exact adjustment of the mass flow through the additional controllable ejector. 
     In an embodiment the method further includes operating at least one of the controllable ejectors with its secondary low pressure input port being closed. A controllable valve, which is preferably provided in the form of a non-adjustable shut-off valve, may be provided upstream the secondary low pressure input port of at least one/each of the controllable ejectors. Such a controllable valve allows to close the respective ejector&#39;s secondary low pressure input port for running at least of the controllable ejectors as a bypass high pressure control valve increasing the mass flow of the refrigerant through the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler in case said ejector would not run stable and efficient with its secondary low pressure input port being open. 
     In an embodiment the method further includes opening the secondary low pressure input port of the at least one ejector, which has been operated with its secondary low pressure input port being closed, for increasing the mass flow of the refrigerant through the heat rejecting heat exchanger(s) to meet the actual refrigeration demands. 
     In an embodiment the method further includes the step of closing the primary high pressure input port and/or the secondary low pressure input port of the first ejector in case the ejector refrigeration circuit is operated more efficiently by running only at least one of the additional controllable ejectors. 
     In an embodiment the method further includes using carbon dioxide as refrigerant, which provides an efficient and safe, i.e. non-toxic, refrigerant. 
     In an embodiment the ejector refrigeration circuit further comprises:
         a heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler having an inlet side and an outlet side, wherein the outlet side of the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler is fluidly connected to the primary high pressure input ports of the controllable ejectors;   a receiver, having a liquid outlet, a gas outlet and an inlet, which is fluidly connected to the outlet ports of the controllable ejectors;   at least one compressor having an inlet side and an outlet side, the inlet side of the at least one compressor being fluidly connected to the gas outlet of the receiver, and the outlet side of the at least one compressor being fluidly connected to the inlet side of the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler;   at least one refrigeration expansion device having an input side, which is fluidly connected to the liquid outlet of the receiver, and an outlet side; and   at least one refrigeration evaporator, which is fluidly connected between the outlet side of the at least one refrigeration expansion device and the secondary low pressure input ports of the controllable ejectors.       

     In an embodiment all of the controllable ejectors are provided with the same capacity. This allows to freely choose between the controllable ejectors and in particular allows to distribute the time of operation equally between the controllable ejectors for causing an even wear of the controllable ejectors. 
     In an alternative embodiment the controllable ejectors are provided with different capacities allowing to cover a wide range of operational conditions by operating a selected combination of the controllable ejectors. The controllable ejectors in particular may be provided with doubled capacity ratios, i.e. 1:2:4:8. . . , in order to cover a wide range of possible capacities. 
     In an embodiment at least one sensor, which is configured for measuring the pressure and/or the temperature of the refrigerant, is provided in at least one of a high pressure input line fluidly connected to the primary high pressure input ports, a low pressure input line fluidly connected to the secondary low pressure input ports and an output line fluidly connected to the output ports of the controllable ejectors, respectively. Such sensors allow to optimize the operation of the controllable ejectors based on the pressure value(s) and/or temperature value(s) provided by the sensor(s). 
     In an embodiment at least one service valve is provided upstream of the controllable ejectors&#39; primary high pressure input ports for allowing to shut down the flow of refrigerant to the primary high pressure input ports in case an ejector needs to be maintained or replaced. 
     In an embodiment the ejector refrigeration circuit further comprises at least one low temperature circuit which is configured for providing low cooling temperatures in addition to the medium cooling temperatures provided by the refrigerating evaporator flowpath. The low temperature circuit is connected between the liquid outlet of the receiver and the inlet side of the at least one compressor and comprises in the direction of flow of the refrigerant: at least one low temperature expansion device, at least one low temperature evaporator, and at least one low temperature compressor. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalence may be substitute for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the pending claims. 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  ejector refrigeration circuit 
           2  compressor unit 
           2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  compressors 
           3  high pressure ejector circuit 
           4  heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler 
           4   a  inlet side of the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler 
           4   b  outlet side of the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler 
           5  refrigerating evaporator flowpath 
           6  first controllable ejector 
           6   a  primary high pressure inlet port of the first controllable ejector 
           6   b  secondary low pressure inlet port of the first controllable ejector 
           6   c  output port of the first controllable ejector 
           7  second controllable ejector 
           7   a  primary high pressure inlet port of the second controllable ejector 
           7   b  secondary low pressure inlet port of the second controllable ejector 
           7   c  outlet of the second controllable ejector 
           8  receiver 
           8   a  inlet of the receiver 
           8   b  gas outlet of the receiver 
           8   c  liquid outlet of the receiver 
           9  low temperature flowpath 
           10  refrigeration expansion device 
           10   a  inlet side of the refrigeration expansion device 
           10   b  outlet side of the refrigeration expansion device 
           12  refrigeration evaporator 
           12   b  outlet of the refrigeration evaporator 
           14  low temperature expansion device 
           16  low temperature evaporator 
           18  low temperature compressor unit 
           18   a ,  18   b  low temperature compressors 
           20  service valve 
           21   a ,  21   b ,  21   c  inlet side of the compressors 
           22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  outlet side of the compressors 
           26 ,  27  controllable valves at the secondary low pressure input ports 
           28  control unit 
           30  pressure and/or temperature sensor 
           31  high pressure input line 
           32  pressure and/or temperature sensor 
           33  low pressure input line 
           34  pressure and/or temperature sensor 
           35  ejector output line 
           36  receiver liquid outlet line 
           38  fan of the heat rejecting heat exchanger/gas cooler 
           40  receiver gas outlet line 
           100  motive nozzle 
           102  outer member 
           103  primary refrigerant flow 
           104  convergent section of the motive nozzle 
           106  throat section 
           108  divergent expansion section 
           110  outlet of the motive nozzle 
           112  secondary flow 
           114  convergent section of the mixer 
           116  throat or mixing section 
           118  diffuser 
           120  combined flow 
           130  needle valve 
           132  needle 
           134  actuator