Variable expansion device with thermal choking for a regrigeration system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016370041-A1
Application number	US-201615251005-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 30, 2016
Priority date	Sep 4, 2013
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigeration system including a suction line heat exchanger having a first conduit including a refrigerant liquid which flows inside of the first conduit from the condenser to the evaporator. Also the refrigeration system includes a second conduit in thermal communication with the first conduit and includes a refrigerant fluid, typically a vapor, which flows inside of the second conduit in an opposite direction of flow from the first conduit from the evaporator to the compressor. Additionally, at least one heating device is in thermal communication with at least one of the first conduit and second conduit and is configured to communicate with a refrigeration control system to apply heat along a portion of both the first conduit and the second conduit adjacent to the heating device thereby regulating the flow rate of the refrigerant liquid in the first conduit and the second conduit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A system for regulating a cooling capacity of a refrigeration system, comprising:
a suction line heat exchanger comprising:
a first conduit and a second conduit in thermal contact with each other;
a refrigerant fluid flowing through the first and second conduits; and
at least one heating device thermally coupled to at least one of the first and second conduits, wherein the at least one heating device is configured to apply heat to the at least one of the first and second conduits, and wherein the heat applied to the at least one of the first and second conduits is sufficient to vaporize a portion of the refrigerant fluid to regulate a flow rate of the refrigerant fluid and thereby regulate the cooling capacity of the refrigeration system.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant fluid flowing through the first conduit is provided from a condenser to an evaporator, and wherein the refrigerant flowing through the second conduit is provided from the evaporator to a compressor.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second conduits are in abutting contact with one another for at least a portion of their lengths, and wherein the at least one heating device is located at any point along the suction line heat exchanger where the first and second conduits are in abutting contact.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating device is located at a point along the suction line heat exchanger where the refrigerant fluid flows through the first and second conduits in opposite directions.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system operably coupled to the at least one heating device for determining at least one of a heat flux and a duration of the at least one heating device.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating device applies heat to the suction line heat exchanger such that the flow rate of the refrigerant fluid in the first and second conduits is the same or approximately the same.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating device applies heat to the suction line heat exchanger such that the flow rate of the refrigerant inside only one of the first conduit and the second conduit is affected.

8 . A system for regulating a cooling capacity of a refrigeration system, comprising:
a suction line heat exchanger comprising:
a first conduit and a second conduit in abutting contact with each other along at least a portion of their lengths;
a refrigerant fluid flowing through the first and second conduits; and
at least one heating device located at any point along the suction line heat exchanger where the first and second conduits are in abutting contact, wherein the at least one heating device is thermally coupled to at least one of the first and second conduits and is configured to apply heat to the at least one of the first and second conduits, and wherein the heat applied to the at least one of the first and second conduits is sufficient to vaporize a portion of the refrigerant fluid to regulate a flow rate of the refrigerant fluid and thereby regulate the cooling capacity of the refrigeration system.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the refrigerant fluid flowing through the first conduit is provided from a condenser to an evaporator, and wherein the refrigerant flowing through the second conduit is provided from the evaporator to a compressor.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one heating device is located at a central location of the suction line heat exchanger.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one heating device is located proximate the evaporator.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one heating device is located proximate at least one of the condenser and the compressor.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one heating device is located at a point along the suction line heat exchanger where the refrigerant fluid flows through the first and second conduits in opposite directions.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one heating device is in physical contact with at least one of the first and second conduits.

15 . A method of regulating a cooling capacity of a refrigeration system, comprising the steps of:
providing a suction line heat exchanger having a first conduit and second conduit in thermal contact with each other; supplying a refrigerant fluid through the first and second conduits; thermally coupling at least one heat exchanger to at least one of the first and second conduits; operating the at least one heat exchanger to apply heat to the at least one of the first and second conduits, wherein the heat applied to the at least one of the first and second conduits is sufficient to vaporize a portion of the refrigerant fluid to regulate a flow rate of the refrigerant fluid and thereby regulate the cooling capacity of the refrigeration system.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second conduits are in abutting contact with one another for at least a portion of their lengths, and wherein the at least one heating device is located at any point along the suction line heat exchanger where the first and second conduits are in abutting contact.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one heating device is located at a point along the suction line heat exchanger where the refrigerant fluid flows through the first and second conduits in opposite directions.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of controlling at least one of a heat flux and a duration of the at least one heating device based on commands provided to the at least one heating device from a control system of the refrigeration system.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one heating device is in physical contact with at least one of the first and second conduits.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one heating device applies heat simultaneously to the first and second conduits.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Wu Guolian

Classifications

• F25B2341/066

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F25B41/067 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F25B2400/052

  between the capillary tube and another part of the refrigeration cycle · CPC title

• F25B2400/01

  Heaters · CPC title

• F25B41/385 Primary

  Dispositions with two or more expansion means arranged in parallel on a refrigerant line leading to the same evaporator · CPC title