IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0894034
(2013-05-14)
|
등록번호 |
US-9194615
(2015-11-24)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Lesmerises, Marc-André
- Dolbec, Tommy
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
25 |
초록
▼
There is provided a CO2 cooling system which comprises: a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed; a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat; and an evaporation stage in which CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat. The CO2 refriger
There is provided a CO2 cooling system which comprises: a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed; a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat; and an evaporation stage in which CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat. The CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to at least one of the compression stage, before being directed to the cooling stage, and the cooling stage by at least one of gravity and natural convection. There is also provided a method for operating a CO2 cooling system.
대표청구항
▼
1. A CO2 cooling system comprising: a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed; a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat; an evaporation stage in which the CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat; and a plurality of pipes connecting
1. A CO2 cooling system comprising: a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed; a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat; an evaporation stage in which the CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat; and a plurality of pipes connecting the compression stage, the cooling stage, and the evaporation stage in which circulates the CO2 refrigerant and being configured to define a normal operation closed-loop circuit in which the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the compression stage before being directed to the cooling stage and a thermosyphon free cooling (TFC) operation closed-loop circuit in which the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the cooling stage by at least one of gravity and natural convection; and a controller operatively connected to at least one compressor of the compression stage, the controller selectively turning off the at least one compressor to direct the CO2 refrigerant to the TFC operation closed-loop circuit, and powering on the at least one compressor to direct the CO2 refrigerant to the normal operation closed-loop circuit. 2. The CO2 cooling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compression stage is by-passed in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit. 3. The CO2 cooling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system comprises at least one valve operatively mounted to at least one of the pipes and configurable for selectively directing the CO2 refrigerant to one of the normal operation closed-loop circuit and the TFC operation closed-loop circuit. 4. The CO2 cooling system as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the at least one valve is operatively connected to at least one of the pipes of the TFC operation closed-loop circuit directing the CO2 refrigerant to the cooling stage. 5. The CO2 cooling system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one CO2 reservoir wherein at least part of the CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage is directed to at least one of the at least one CO2 reservoir and at least part of the CO2 refrigerant exiting the at least one CO2 reservoir being directed to the evaporation stage. 6. The CO2 cooling system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one CO2 reservoir, at least part of the CO2 refrigerant exiting at least one of the at least one CO2 reservoir being directed to one of the compression stage in the normal operation closed-loop circuit and the cooling stage in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit. 7. The CO2 cooling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the TFC operation closed-loop circuit further comprises a pump operatively connected to at least one of the pipes, downstream of the cooling stage, directing CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage to the evaporation stage. 8. The CO2 cooling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the pipes directing CO2 refrigerant exiting one of the evaporation stage and a CO2 reservoir to the cooling stage is free of pump and compressor. 9. A method for operating a CO2 cooling system comprising a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed; a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat; and an evaporation stage in which CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat, the method comprising: circulating the CO2 refrigerant in a normal operation closed-loop circuit between the compression stage, the cooling stage, and the evaporation stage; measuring an ambient temperature; comparing the measured ambient temperature to a temperature set-point; if the measured ambient temperature is below the temperature set-point, circulating the CO2 refrigerant in a thermosyphon free cooling (TFC) operation closed-loop circuit between the cooling stage and the evaporation stage wherein the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the cooling stage by at least one of gravity and natural convection; otherwise, circulating the CO2 refrigerant in the normal operation closed-loop circuit. 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the compression stage comprises at least one compressor, the method further comprising turning off the at least one compressor of the compression stage when the CO2 cooling system operates in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit and powering on the at least one compressor of the compression stage when the CO2 cooling system operates in the normal operation closed-loop circuit. 11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein circulating the CO2 refrigerant in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit comprises by-passing the compression stage. 12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein measuring an ambient temperature comprises at least one of measuring an outdoor air temperature and measuring a temperature associated to the cooling stage. 13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the CO2 refrigerant releasing heat in the cooling stage in the normal operation closed-loop circuit is compressed, the method further comprising maintaining a pressure-differential between the CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage and the CO2 refrigerant circulating in the evaporation stage when the CO2 cooling system operates in the normal operation closed-loop circuit. 14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the CO2 cooling system further comprises at least one CO2 reservoir mounted in a line extending between the evaporation stage and the cooling stage, the method further comprises directing at least part of the CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage to at least one of the at least one CO2 reservoir and directing the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage to at least one of the at least one CO2 reservoir. 15. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising pumping the CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage towards the evaporation stage in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit. 16. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising directing the CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage to the evaporation stage by gravity in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit. 17. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising preventing the CO2 refrigerant to by-pass the compression stage when operating in the normal operation closed-loop circuit. 18. A method for operating a CO2 cooling system comprising a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed; a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat; and an evaporation stage in which CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat, the method comprising: circulating the CO2 refrigerant in a thermosyphon free cooling (TFC) operation closed-loop circuit between the cooling stage and the evaporation stage wherein the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the cooling stage by at least one of gravity and natural convection; measuring at least one process parameter within the TFC operation closed-loop circuit; comparing the at least one process parameter to at least one process parameter set-point; and if the at least one process parameter is below the at least one process parameter set-point, circulating the CO2 refrigerant in one of the TFC operation closed-loop circuit and a normal operation closed-loop circuit between the compression stage, the cooling stage, and the evaporation stage; otherwise, circulating the CO2 refrigerant in the other one of the TFC operation closed-loop circuit and the normal operation closed-loop circuit. 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein measuring at least one process parameter comprises: measuring CO2 pressure within the TFC operation closed-loop circuit; correlating the measured CO2 pressure in a saturation state to a CO2 temperature; comparing the CO2 temperature to a temperature set-point; if the CO2 temperature is above the temperature set-point, circulating the CO2 refrigerant in the normal operation closed-loop circuit; otherwise, circulating the CO2 refrigerant in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit. 20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one process parameter comprises at least one of a CO2 refrigerant temperature, a CO2 cooling circuit charge, and a CO2 temperature differential. 21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one process parameter comprises a CO2 temperature differential between an input and an output of the evaporation stage. 22. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the compression stage comprises at least one compressor, the method further comprising turning off the at least one compressor of the compression stage when the CO2 cooling system operates in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit and powering on the at least one compressor of the compression stage when the CO2 cooling system operates in the normal operation closed-loop circuit. 23. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit, the CO2 refrigerant circulates between the cooling stage and the evaporation stage by-passing the compression stage. 24. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the CO2 cooling system further comprises at least one CO2 reservoir mounted in a line extending between the evaporation stage and the cooling stage, the method further comprises directing at least part of the CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage to at least one of the at least one CO2 reservoir. 25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising directing the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage to at least one of the at least one CO2 reservoir. 26. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising pumping the CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage towards the evaporation stage in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit. 27. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising directing the CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage to the evaporation stage by gravity in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit. 28. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising preventing the CO2 refrigerant to flow towards the compression stage when operating in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit. 29. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising preventing the CO2 refrigerant to by-pass the compression stage when operating in the normal operation closed-loop circuit. 30. A CO2 cooling system comprising: a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed; a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat; an evaporation stage in which the CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat; and a plurality of pipes connecting the compression stage, the cooling stage, and the evaporation stage in which circulates the CO2 refrigerant and being configured to define a normal operation closed-loop circuit in which the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the compression stage before being directed to the cooling stage and a free cooling (FC) operation closed-loop circuit in which the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is pumped to the cooling stage. 31. The CO2 cooling system as claimed in claim 30, further comprising at least one pump operatively connected to at least one of the pipes for pumping the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage to the cooling stage. 32. The CO2 cooling system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the CO2 refrigerant circulates in a liquid stage between the cooling stage and the evaporation stage in the FC operation mode. 33. A CO2 cooling system comprising: a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed into one of a sub-critical state and a transcritical state;a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat;an evaporation stage in which the CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat;a plurality of pipes connecting the compression stage, the cooling stage, and the evaporation stage in which circulates the CO2 refrigerant and being configured to define a normal operation closed-loop circuit in which the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the compression stage before being directed to the cooling stage and a thermosyphon free cooling (TFC) operation closed-loop circuit in which the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the cooling stage by at least one of gravity and natural convection; anda pressure differential unit operatively connected to at least one of the pipes downstream of the cooling stage and configurable to maintain a pressure differential between the cooling stage and at least one of a CO2 reservoir and the evaporation stage in the normal operation closed-loop circuit when the CO2 refrigerant is compressed into the transcritical state by depressurizing the CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage and the pressure differential unit being configured in an open configuration in the TFC operation closed-loop circuit allowing the CO2 refrigerant to flow in both directions in the at least one of the pipes. 34. A method for operating a CO2 cooling system comprising a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed into one of a sub-critical state and a transcritical state; a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat; an evaporation stage in which CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat, and a pressure differential unit mounted in a line between the cooling stage and the evaporation stage, the method comprising: circulating the CO2 refrigerant in a normal operation closed-loop circuit between the compression stage, the cooling stage, and the evaporation stage;measuring an ambient temperature;comparing the measured ambient temperature to a temperature set-point;if the measured ambient temperature is below the temperature set-point, configuring the pressure differential unit in an open configuration allowing the CO2 refrigerant to flow in both directions in the line and circulating the CO2 refrigerant in a thermosyphon free cooling (TFC) operation closed-loop circuit between the cooling stage and the evaporation stage wherein the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the cooling stage by at least one of gravity and natural convection;if the measured ambient temperature is equal to or above the temperature set-point, circulating the CO2 refrigerant in the normal operation closed-loop circuit. 35. A method for operating a CO2 cooling system comprising a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed; a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat; an evaporation stage in which CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat, and a pressure differential unit mounted in a line between the cooling stage and the evaporation stage, the method comprising: circulating the CO2 refrigerant in a thermosyphon free cooling (TFC) operation closed-loop circuit between the cooling stage and the evaporation stage wherein the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the cooling stage by at least one of gravity and natural convection and wherein the pressure differential unit is configured in an open configuration to allow the CO2 refrigerant to flow in both directions in the line;measuring at least one process parameter within the TFC operation closed-loop circuit;comparing the at least one process parameter to at least one process parameter set-point; andif the at least one process parameter is below the at least one process parameter set-point, circulating the CO2 refrigerant in one of the TFC operation closed-loop circuit and a normal operation closed-loop circuit between the compression stage, the cooling stage, and the evaporation stage;if the at least one process parameter is equal to or above the at least one process parameter set-point, circulating the CO2 refrigerant in the other one of the TFC operation closed-loop circuit and the normal operation closed-loop circuit. 36. A CO2 cooling system comprising: a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed into one of a sub-critical state and a transcritical state;a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat;an evaporation stage in which the CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat;a plurality of pipes connecting the compression stage, the cooling stage, and the evaporation stage in which circulates the CO2 refrigerant and being configured to define a normal operation closed-loop circuit in which the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the compression stage before being directed to the cooling stage and a free cooling (FC) operation closed-loop circuit in which the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is pumped to the cooling stage; anda pressure differential unit operatively connected to at least one of the pipes downstream of the cooling stage and configurable to maintain a pressure differential between the cooling stage and at least one of a CO2 reservoir and the evaporation stage in the normal operation closed-loop circuit when the CO2 refrigerant is compressed into the transcritical state by depressurizing the CO2 refrigerant exiting the cooling stage and the pressure differential unit being configured in an open configuration in the FC operation closed-loop circuit allowing the CO2 refrigerant to flow in both directions in the at least one of the pipes. 37. A CO2 cooling system comprising: a compression stage in which CO2 refrigerant is compressed;a cooling stage in which the CO2 refrigerant releases heat;an evaporation stage in which the CO2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat; anda plurality of pipes connecting the compression stage, the cooling stage, and the evaporation stage in which circulates the CO2 refrigerant and being configured to define a normal operation closed-loop circuit in which the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the compression stage before being directed to the cooling stage and a thermosyphon free cooling (TFC) operation closed-loop circuit in which the CO2 refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage is directed to the cooling stage by at least one of gravity and natural convection, wherein at least one of the pipes directing CO2 refrigerant exiting one of the evaporation stage and a CO2 reservoir to the cooling stage is free of pump and compressor.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.