REFRIGERANT SYSTEM WITH INTERCOOLER AND LIQUID/VAPOR INJECTION
First Claim
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1. A refrigerant system comprising:
- a compressor assembly including at least two stages of compression connected in series, with a lower compression stage compressing refrigerant from a suction pressure to an intermediate pressure and passing this refrigerant to a higher compression stage compressing refrigerant from an intermediate pressure to a discharge pressure;
an intercooler positioned intermediate of said lower and higher compression stages;
a liquid/vapor injection function with a vapor injection connection positioned intermediate of said lower and higher compression stages;
a heat rejecting heat exchanger positioned downstream of said higher compression stage, an evaporator positioned upstream of said lower compression stage and an expansion device positioned intermediate of said heat rejecting heat exchanger and said evaporator;
at least one secondary fluid moving device for moving secondary fluid in at least one secondary fluid path over said heat rejecting heat exchanger and said intercooler; and
said intercooler and said liquid/vapor injection function are selectively activated to control refrigerant discharge temperature depending on environmental and operational conditions as well as thermal load demands in a conditioned space.
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Abstract
A refrigerant system is provided with at least two sequential stages of compression. An intercooler is positioned intermediate the two stages. The refrigerant flowing through the intercooler is cooled by a secondary fluid such as ambient air. A vapor/liquid injection function is also provided for the refrigerant system. The intercooler function and the vapor/liquid injection function are selectively activated on demand depending on environmental conditions and thermal load in a conditioned space. This invention is particularly important for the CO2 refrigerant systems operating in the transcritical cycle.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A refrigerant system comprising:
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a compressor assembly including at least two stages of compression connected in series, with a lower compression stage compressing refrigerant from a suction pressure to an intermediate pressure and passing this refrigerant to a higher compression stage compressing refrigerant from an intermediate pressure to a discharge pressure; an intercooler positioned intermediate of said lower and higher compression stages; a liquid/vapor injection function with a vapor injection connection positioned intermediate of said lower and higher compression stages; a heat rejecting heat exchanger positioned downstream of said higher compression stage, an evaporator positioned upstream of said lower compression stage and an expansion device positioned intermediate of said heat rejecting heat exchanger and said evaporator; at least one secondary fluid moving device for moving secondary fluid in at least one secondary fluid path over said heat rejecting heat exchanger and said intercooler; and said intercooler and said liquid/vapor injection function are selectively activated to control refrigerant discharge temperature depending on environmental and operational conditions as well as thermal load demands in a conditioned space. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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2-6. -6. (canceled)
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23. A method of operating a refrigerant system including the steps of:
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(a) providing a compressor assembly including at least two stages of compression connected in series, with a lower compression stage compressing refrigerant from a suction pressure to an intermediate pressure and passing this refrigerant to a higher compression stage compressing refrigerant from an intermediate pressure to a discharge pressure; (b) positioning an intercooler intermediate of said lower and higher compression stages; (c) positioning a liquid/vapor injection function with a vapor injection connection intermediate of said lower and higher compression stages; (d) positioning a heat rejecting heat exchanger downstream of said higher compression stage, positioning an evaporator upstream of said lower compression stage and positioning an expansion device intermediate of said heat rejecting heat exchanger and said evaporator; (e) moving a secondary fluid in at least one secondary fluid path over said heat rejecting heat exchanger and said intercooler; and (f) selectively activating said intercooler and said liquid/vapor injection function to control refrigerant discharge temperature depending on environmental and operational conditions as well as thermal load demands in a conditioned space. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification