초록 ▼

Embodiments to increase the capacity of the evaporator of a vapor-compression refrigeration system are described. The refrigeration system may be configured to have a first stage suction line heat exchanger and a second stage suction line heat exchanger. The refrigerant exiting the evaporator can be

Embodiments to increase the capacity of the evaporator of a vapor-compression refrigeration system are described. The refrigeration system may be configured to have a first stage suction line heat exchanger and a second stage suction line heat exchanger. The refrigerant exiting the evaporator can be heated by the first heat exchanger. A thermal bulb of an expansion device, such as a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) can be positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger. The thermal bulb is capable of regulating a variable volume of refrigerant through the expansion device in response to temperature changes. Thus, the superheat refrigerant vapor region in the evaporator can be reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency of the refrigeration system. The refrigerant exiting the evaporator is a liquid/vapor refrigerant mixture. The mixture can be vaporized to a refrigerant vapor in the first heat exchanger.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A refrigeration circuit comprising: an evaporator;a condenser;an expansion device configured to provide a variable volume of refrigerant into the evaporator;a suction line heat exchanger including a liquid line inlet and a suction line inlet, the liquid line inlet configured to receive refrigeran

1. A refrigeration circuit comprising: an evaporator;a condenser;an expansion device configured to provide a variable volume of refrigerant into the evaporator;a suction line heat exchanger including a liquid line inlet and a suction line inlet, the liquid line inlet configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser and the suction line inlet configured to receive refrigerant from the evaporator, the suction line configured to facilitate heat exchange between refrigerant flowing out of the condenser and refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator;a thermal control device configured to measure a temperature of the refrigerant at a measurement location downstream of the suction line inlet of the suction line heat exchanger; anda second suction line heat exchanger positioned downstream of the suction line heat exchanger;wherein the measurement location is between the suction line heat exchanger and the second suction line heat exchanger,wherein the thermal control device is configured to regulate the expansion device so as to regulate the variable volume of refrigerant, so that the refrigerant at the measurement location is in a superheat state. 2. The refrigeration circuit of claim 1, wherein the measurement location is on the suction line heat exchanger. 3. A refrigeration system comprising: a condenser;an evaporator;a thermal control device;an expansion device that is positioned upstream of the evaporator, the expansion device controlled by the thermal control device to provide a variable volume of refrigerant into the evaporator; anda heat exchanging device having a first portion and a second portion in fluid communication, the first portion and the second portion each configured to have a suction line and a liquid line;wherein the thermal control device positioned between the first portion and the second portion,the suction line of the first portion is configured to receive refrigerant from the evaporator,the suction line of the second portion is configured to receive refrigerant from the first portion through a connecting suction line,the liquid line of the first portion is configured to receive refrigerant from the second portion through a connecting liquid line,the liquid line of the second portion is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser,the first portion and the second portion are configured to facilitate heat exchange between the liquid line and the suction line of the first and second portions,the thermal control device is configured to sense a temperature change of refrigerant in the connecting suction line between the first portion and the second portion and regulate the variable volume of the refrigeration in response to the temperature change. 4. The refrigeration system of claim 3, wherein the heat exchanging device is a two-stage suction line heat exchanger, and the first portion and the second portion are a first stage heat exchanging portion and a second stage heat exchanging portion respectively. 5. The refrigeration system of claim 3, wherein the heat exchanging device is a one stage suction line heat exchanger, and the first portion and the second portion are two different portions of the one stage suction line heat exchanger. 6. The refrigeration system of claim 3, wherein the thermal control device is configured to regulate the variable volume of the refrigerant in response to the temperature change in the connecting suction line so that the refrigerant in the connecting suction line is in a superheat vapor state, wherein controlling the volume of the refrigerant includes measuring a temperature of refrigerant flowing between the first suction line heat exchanger and second suction line heat exchanger. 7. A method of controlling an amount of refrigerant entering an evaporator of a refrigeration system during a cooling cycle comprising: directing refrigerant in a liquid/vapor mixture state into an evaporator; directing the refrigerant from the evaporator into a suction line heat exchanger; directing the refrigerant from a condenser into the suction line heat exchanger, wherein the suction line heat exchanger is configured to facilitate heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporation and the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser; directing the refrigerant from the suction heat exchanger into a second suction line heat exchanger; andcontrolling a volume of the refrigerant into the evaporator so that the refrigerant flowing out of the suction line heat exchanger is in a superheat vapor state. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling the volume of the refrigerant into the evaporator includes controlling the volume of the refrigerant into the evaporator so that the refrigerant flowing from the evaporator into the suction line heat exchanger is in a liquid/vapor mixture state. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the liquid/vapor mixture has a set liquid/vapor ratio. 10. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling a volume of the refrigerant into the evaporator includes measuring a temperature of refrigerant flowing out of the suction line heat exchanger, reducing the volume of the refrigerant when the measured temperature is higher than a set temperature, and increasing the volume of the refrigerant when the measured temperature is higher than a set temperature. 11. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling a volume of the refrigerant into the evaporator includes measuring a temperature of refrigerant flowing between the suction line heat exchanger and the second suction line heat exchanger, reducing the volume of the refrigerant when the measured temperature is higher than a set temperature, and increasing the volume of the refrigerant when the measured temperature is higher than a set temperature. 12. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling a volume of the refrigerant into the evaporator includes measuring a temperature of refrigerant on the suction line heat exchanger, reducing the volume of the refrigerant when the measured temperature is higher than a set temperature, and increasing the volume of the refrigerant when the measured temperature is higher than a set temperature. 13. A method of controlling an amount of a refrigerant entering an evaporator of a refrigeration system during a cooling cycle, comprising: directing the refrigerant into an evaporator;directing the refrigerant exiting the evaporator into a heat exchanger;controlling a volume of the refrigerant into the evaporator so that the refrigerant in a middle region of the heat exchanger is at a superheat vapor state and the refrigerant from the evaporator to the heat exchanger is at a liquid/vapor state wherein directing the refrigerant exiting the evaporator in the heat exchanger includes: directing the refrigerant through a first stage suction line of the heat exchanger, and directing the refrigerant exiting the first stage suction line through a second stage suction line of the heat exchanger that is separate from the first stage suction line; andmeasuring a temperature of the refrigerant at a measurement location between the first stage suction line and the second stage suction line. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the refrigerant in the liquid/vapor mixture state has a set liquid/vapor ratio. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling a volume of the refrigerant into the evaporator includes measuring a temperature of refrigerant on the suction line heat exchanger, reducing the volume of the refrigerant when the measured temperature is higher than a set temperature, andincreasing the volume of the refrigerant when the measured temperature is higher than a set temperature. 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: controlling an expansion device located upstream of the evaporator based on the temperature of the refrigerant at the measurement location so that the refrigerant in the middle region of the heat exchanger is at the superheat vapor state and the refrigerant from the evaporator to the heat exchanger is at the liquid/vapor state. 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising: directing the refrigerant through a condenser;directing the refrigerant from the condenser through a second stage liquid line of the heat exchanger;directing the refrigerant from the second stage liquid line of the heat exchanger through a first stage liquid line of the heat exchanger; anddirecting the refrigerant from the first stage liquid line of the heat exchanger to the evaporator.