Systems and methods for capacity modulation through eutectic plates

• US 10,414,241 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Vehr, Shawn W., Rozsnaki, Joseph James, Siefker, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Keith M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nouketcha, Lionel
• Application Number:
  US15/635,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20180001731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/005 Regenerative cooling means, e.g. cold accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3211 for increasing the efficiency of a vehicle refrigeration cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3255 related to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3272 to control the revolving speed of a compressor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3283 to control the refrigerant flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3289 Additional cooling source
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/13 Economisers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/111 of condenser fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/112 of evaporator fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/2509 Economiser valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/2513 Expansion valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1931 Discharge pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1933 Suction pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2104 of an indoor room or compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2106 of fresh outdoor air
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21151 at the suction side of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21171 of the fluid cooled by the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 47/02 Defrosting cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/006 with cold storage accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 16/00 : Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 : for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 : Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A refrigeration system may include a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first working fluid flow path, and a second working fluid flow path. The first heat exchanger receives working fluid discharged from the compressor. The first working fluid flow path may receive working fluid from the first heat exchanger and may include an evaporator and an evaporator control valve that is movable between a first position allowing fluid flow through the evaporator and a second position restricting fluid flow through the evaporator. The second working fluid flow path may receive working fluid from the first heat exchanger and may include a eutectic plate and a plate control valve that is movable between a first position allowing fluid flow through the eutectic plate and a second position restricting fluid flow through the eutectic plate.

Claims

1. A refrigeration system comprising:

a compressor;

a first heat exchanger receiving a working fluid discharged from the compressor;

a first working fluid flow path receiving the working fluid from the first heat exchanger, the first working fluid flow path including an evaporator and an evaporator control valve that is movable between a first position allowing fluid flow through the evaporator and a second position restricting fluid flow through the evaporator; and

a second working fluid flow path receiving the working fluid from the first heat exchanger, the second working fluid flow path including a eutectic plate and a plate control valve that is movable between a first position allowing fluid flow through the eutectic plate and a second position restricting fluid flow through the eutectic plate, the first and second working fluid flow paths diverging from each other at a first location downstream of the first heat exchanger; and

a control module in communication with and controlling operation of the compressor, the evaporator control valve, and the plate control valve,

wherein the eutectic plate and the evaporator are both in heat transfer relationships with a refrigerated space,

wherein the control module moves the evaporator control valve to the second position during operation of the compressor in response to the refrigerated space reaching a predetermined temperature, and

wherein the control module maintains operation of the compressor and maintains the plate control valve in the first position after the refrigerated space reaches the predetermined temperature as long as a runtime of the compressor is less than a predetermined time period.

2. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the first working fluid flow path includes a first expansion device disposed between the evaporator control valve and the evaporator.

3. The refrigeration system of claim 2, wherein the second working fluid flow path includes a second expansion device disposed between the plate control valve and the eutectic plate.

4. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the first and second working fluid flow paths merge with each other at a second location that is upstream of the compressor.

5. The refrigeration system of claim 4, wherein the second location is fluidly coupled with a suction inlet of the compressor.

6. The refrigeration system of claim 5, further comprising a third working fluid flow path receiving the working fluid from the first heat exchanger, the third working fluid flow path including a fluid-injection heat exchanger and a fluid-injection control valve that is movable between a first position allowing fluid flow through the fluid-injection heat exchanger and a second position restricting fluid flow through the fluid-injection heat exchanger, wherein the third working fluid flow path is fluidly coupled with a fluid-injection inlet of the compressor and provides the working fluid to an intermediate-pressure location within a compression mechanism of the compressor.

7. The refrigeration system of claim 1, further comprising a third working fluid flow path receiving the working fluid from the first heat exchanger, the third working fluid flow path including a fluid-injection heat exchanger and a fluid-injection control valve that is movable between a first position allowing fluid flow through the fluid-injection heat exchanger and a second position restricting fluid flow through the fluid-injection heat exchanger,

wherein the second location is fluidly coupled with a suction inlet of the compressor,

wherein the third working fluid flow path is fluidly coupled with a fluid-injection inlet of the compressor and provides the working fluid to an intermediate-pressure location within a compression mechanism of the compressor, and

wherein the control module is in communication with the fluid-injection control valve and maintains the fluid-injection control valve in the first position after the refrigerated space reaches the predetermined temperature.

8. A vehicle comprising the refrigeration system of claim 1 and a cargo compartment in heat transfer relationships with the evaporator and the eutectic plate.

9. A method comprising:

directing a working fluid from a discharge port of a compressor to a first heat exchanger;

directing a first portion of the working fluid from the first heat exchanger through an evaporator;

directing a second portion of the working fluid from the first heat exchanger through a eutectic plate;

discontinuing a flow of the working fluid through the evaporator in response to a refrigerated space reaching a predetermined temperature; and

maintaining operation of the compressor and maintaining a flow of the working fluid through the eutectic plate after the refrigerated space reaches the predetermined temperature and after discontinuation of the flow through the evaporator as long as a runtime of the compressor is less than a predetermined time period.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein discontinuing the flow of the working fluid through the evaporator includes closing an evaporator control valve.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising directing the first portion of the working fluid through a first expansion device before the working fluid flows through the evaporator;

and directing the second portion of the working fluid through a second expansion device before the working fluid flows through the eutectic plate.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising discontinuing operation of the compressor and discontinuing a flow of the working fluid through the eutectic plate in response to the runtime reaching the predetermined time period.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein discontinuing the flow of the working fluid through the eutectic plate includes closing a plate control valve.

14. A method comprising:

directing the working fluid from a discharge port of a compressor to a first heat exchanger;

directing a first portion of the working fluid from the first heat exchanger through a first evaporator corresponding to a first cargo compartment of a vehicle having a first setpoint temperature;

directing a second portion of the working fluid from the first heat exchanger through a second evaporator corresponding to a second cargo compartment of a vehicle having a second setpoint temperature, the second setpoint temperature is lower than the first setpoint temperature;

discontinuing a flow of the working fluid through the first evaporator in response to the first cargo compartment reaching the first setpoint temperature; and

maintaining operation of the compressor and maintaining a flow of the working fluid through the second evaporator after the first cargo compartment reaches the first setpoint temperature and after discontinuation of the flow through the first evaporator and while the second cargo compartment is at a temperature lower than the second setpoint temperature, as long as a runtime of the compressor is less than a predetermined time period.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein discontinuing the flow of the working fluid through the first evaporator includes closing a first evaporator control valve.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising directing the first portion of the working fluid through a first expansion device before the working fluid flows through the first evaporator;

and directing the second portion of the working fluid through a second expansion device before the working fluid flows through the second evaporator.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising discontinuing operation of the compressor and discontinuing the flow of the working fluid through the second evaporator in response to the runtime reaching the predetermined time period.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein discontinuing the flow of the working fluid through the second evaporator includes closing a second evaporator control valve.