Refrigeration – Processes – Vacuumizing an open outlet chamber
Patent
1985-07-19
1987-09-22
Bennet, Henry A.
Refrigeration
Processes
Vacuumizing an open outlet chamber
62268, 622385, 237 2B, F25B 1900
Patent
active
046946586
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention is concerned with a method for the utilization of the freezing heat contained in water as a source of heat of a heat pump. The invention is also concerned with equipment for carrying out the method, which said equipment consists of a possible gas remover, of a crystallizer provided with an agitator, of a combined water-vapour condenser/evaporator of the heat pump, of a compressor unit of the heat pump, of a circulation tank for the medium, of a condenser of the heat pump, of the necessary pumps, of the necessary vacuum equipment, of a possible apparatus for the separation of water and ice crystals from each other, as well as of an apparatus for the generation of melting steam of sufficiently high pressure. The method in accordance with the present invention is characterized in that the water flow to be utilized as a source of heat is evaporated in one or several stages at such a low pressure that, when the vapour that is formed binds its evaporation heat out of the water, part of the water freezes, and that the vapour formed is condensed in one or several heat exchangers functioning as the evaporator of the heat pump, whereat the vapour, on being condensed, delivers its heat to the heat transfer medium used in the heat pump. The equipment in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the crystallizer and the water-vapour condenser are built substantially as one unit between which no separate pipe lines are required.
Thus, the subject of the present invention is a method and equipment for the utilization of the crystallization or freezing heat of water as a source of heat of a heat pump by evaporation of water at such a low pressure that, when part of the water flow to be utilized evaporates and takes its evaporation heat from the remaining water flow, part of this water flow freezes and ice crystals are formed in the water. The vapour formed is passed into the evaporator of the heat pump, where it, on being condensed and frozen on the heat face, delivers its heat to the medium used in the heat pump. By means of a continuous melting system operating during the process, the layer of ice formed on the heat faces of the evaporator is kept sufficiently thin, whereat the efficiency of the heat transfer can also be maintained.
Along with the increase in the cost of energy, the utilization of heat pumps in particular for producing heating energy for buildings has been increased considerably in the last few years.
Along with the increased utilization of heat pumps, the heat pump technology has also been developed remarkably. To-day, the problem is not so much contained in the equipment technology itself, but the problem is how to find suitable economically utilizable sources of heat. Attempts have been made, and are made, to make use of most varied sources of heat.
For large heat pumps, mainly providing municipal heating, various waters are almost the only source of heat that can be utilized economically to a larger extent.
When the suitablility of different flows of water for a source of heat is estimated, attention must be paid in particular to the following factors:
Stability of the Source of Heat
Economical use of a heat pump requires a high degree of utilization of the capacity, which again requires a sufficiently stable flow of water.
Temperature Level of the Water
The higher the temperature level fo the flow of water to be utilized, the higher is the coefficient of performance of the heat pump and the better is the profitability of the heat pump.
It is another, also highly important factor that the higher the inlet temperature of the flow of water to be utilized, the higher is its heat content per unit of mass and the smaller is the flow of water that is sufficient as the source of heat.
It is a real problem in the northern latitudes, so also in Finland, that the temperatures of almost all water flows are very low during the winter season, at which time, on the other hand, the requirement of heat is at the maximum.
This is why very large flows of water are needed as sources
REFERENCES:
patent: 4003213 (1977-01-01), Cox
patent: 4474031 (1984-10-01), Collet
Bennet Henry A.
Rintekno Oy
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