COOLING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a high side heat exchanger configured to remove heat from a refrigerant;
a subcooler heat exchanger configured to receive the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger;
a flash tank configured to store the refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger;
a first load; and
a first compressor;
during a first mode of operation;
the first load configured to use the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a first space proximate the first load;
the first compressor configured to compress the refrigerant from the first load; and
during a second mode of operation;
the subcooler heat exchanger configured to;
receive the refrigerant from the flash tank;
transfer heat from the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the refrigerant from the flash tank; and
direct the refrigerant from the flash tank to the first compressor;
the first compressor configured to;
compress the refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger; and
direct the compressed refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger to the first load to defrost the first load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a subcooler heat exchanger, a flash tank, a load, and a compressor. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The subcooler heat exchanger receives the refrigerant. The flash tank stores the refrigerant. During a first mode of operation, the load uses the refrigerant to cool a space proximate the load and the compressor compresses the refrigerant. During a second mode of operation, the subcooler heat exchanger receives the refrigerant from the flash tank, transfers heat from the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the refrigerant from the flash tank and directs the refrigerant from the flash tank to the compressor. During the second mode of operation, the compressor compresses the refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger and directs the compressed refrigerant to the load to defrost the load.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a high side heat exchanger configured to remove heat from a refrigerant; a subcooler heat exchanger configured to receive the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger; a flash tank configured to store the refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger; a first load; and a first compressor; during a first mode of operation; the first load configured to use the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a first space proximate the first load; the first compressor configured to compress the refrigerant from the first load; and during a second mode of operation; the subcooler heat exchanger configured to; receive the refrigerant from the flash tank; transfer heat from the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the refrigerant from the flash tank; and direct the refrigerant from the flash tank to the first compressor; the first compressor configured to; compress the refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger; and direct the compressed refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger to the first load to defrost the first load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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removing, by a high side heat exchanger, heat from a refrigerant; receiving, by a subcooler heat exchanger, the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger; storing, by a flash tank, the refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger; during a first mode of operation; using, by a first load, the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a first space proximate the first load; compressing, by a first compressor, the refrigerant from the first load; and during a second mode of operation; receiving, by the subcooler heat exchanger, the refrigerant from the flash tank; transferring, by the subcooler heat exchanger, heat from the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the refrigerant from the flash tank; directing, by the subcooler heat exchanger, the refrigerant from the flash tank to the first compressor; compressing, by the first compressor, the refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger; and directing, by the first compressor, the compressed refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger to the first load to defrost the first load. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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a high side heat exchanger configured to remove heat from a refrigerant; a subcooler heat exchanger configured to receive the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger; a flash tank configured to store the refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger; a first load; a second load; a first compressor; and a second compressor; during a first mode of operation; the first load configured to use the refrigerant from the flash tank to cool a first space proximate the first load; the second load configured to use the refrigerant form the flash tank to cool a second space proximate the second load; the first compressor configured to compress the refrigerant from the first load; and the second compressor configured to compress a mixture of the refrigerant from the first compressor and the refrigerant from the second load; and during a second mode of operation; the subcooler heat exchanger configured to; receive the refrigerant from the flash tank; transfer heat from the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the refrigerant from the flash tank; and direct the refrigerant from the flash tank to the first compressor; the first compressor configured to; compress the refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger; and direct the compressed refrigerant from the subcooler heat exchanger to the first load to defrost the first load. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification