Refrigeration – With alternately usable energy sources
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-01
2004-09-07
Doerrler, William C. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
With alternately usable energy sources
C062S434000, C062S238300, C062S467000, C062S148000, C062S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786059
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to refrigeration systems, and in particular to improvements in refrigeration systems of the type in which water is directly evaporated to generate cold heat.
BACKGROUND ART
In some of refrigeration systems of such a type, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokoku Publication No. H05-6105, the evaporator is depressurized by the compressor, and water present in the evaporator is caused to evaporate so that a target for cooling is cooled.
Further, in some other type of refrigeration system, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. H07-43039, a water solution of ammonia is used as a refrigerant and an evaporator provided with a moisture permeable membrane is disposed. The evaporator of this refrigeration system is divided into a depressurization space and a refrigerant passageway, and a part of the refrigerant evaporates and passes through the moisture permeable membrane from the refrigerant passageway, going into the depressurization space. This generates a refrigerant which is cold heat. A target for cooling is cooled by this refrigerant in the heat exchanger, and meanwhile, refrigerant gas separated in the evaporator is compressed by the compressor. Thereafter, the refrigerant from the heat exchanger, after absorbing the compressed refrigerant gas in the absorber, is brought back again to the evaporator. Then, such an operation is repeatedly carried out.
Problems that the Invention Intends to Solve
In the above-described conventional refrigeration system (Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. H06-257890), in order to directly evaporate water, it is necessary to drive the compressor to compress water vapor from a saturation vapor pressure at an evaporating temperature up to a saturation vapor pressure at a condensation temperature.
However, the input of the compressor is not taken into consideration at all, and generally compressors are driven by electric motor. That is, compressors are driven by electrical energy alone, therefore producing the problem that there is a limit to the improvement in efficiency.
On the other hand, the above-described refrigeration system making utilization of a water solution of ammonia or the like (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. H07-43039) also produces some problems. One problem is that the operating temperature and the operating pressure of the system are limited by the properties of the water solution such as corrosiveness. Another problem is that there is a limitation that the use of a special material is required.
Bearing in mind the above-described problems with the prior art techniques, the present invention was made. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to generate cold heat by evaporating water at high efficiency.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Summary of the Invention
In the present invention, the pressure increasing means makes use of thermal energy as its input.
Means of Solving the Problems
More specifically, as shown in
FIG. 1
, the present invention discloses a refrigeration system in which water is evaporated to generate cold heat and water vapor produced is increased in pressure by pressure increasing means (
50
) and then discharged, and the pressure increasing means (
50
) is driven at least by mechanical power derived from thermal energy.
Further, the refrigeration system of the present invention may include: a cold heat generating means (
40
) in which water serves as a refrigerant; the water is evaporated to generate cold heat; and water vapor produced is drawn into the pressure increasing means (
50
); a moisture discharging means (
60
) for discharging water vapor increased in pressure by the pressure increasing means (
50
); and a prime mover (
80
) for generating mechanical power from thermal energy to drive the pressure increasing means (
50
).
Further, the refrigeration system of the present invention may further include an electric motor (
52
) which generates mechanical power from electrical energy to drive the pressure increasing means (
50
) together with the prime mover (
80
).
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the prime mover (
80
) may be a steam turbine (
80
).
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the steam turbine (
80
) may utilize an excess of water vapor.
Further, the refrigeration system of the present invention may further include a boiler (
81
) which utilizes waste heat to generate a supply of water vapor to the steam turbine (
80
).
Further, the refrigeration system of the present invention may further include: a boiler (
81
) which utilizes waste heat to generate a supply of water vapor to the steam turbine (
80
); and a superheating means which superheats water vapor generated in the boiler (
81
).
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the pressure of the boiler (
81
) may be set below atmospheric pressure.
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, water vapor discharged from the steam turbine (
80
) is mixed with water vapor discharged from the pressure increasing means (
50
) and then discharged from the moisture discharging means (
60
).
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, sensible heat produced in the pressure increasing means (
50
) may be collected and the collected heat is utilized to generate a supply of water vapor to the steam turbine (
80
) or to superheat water vapor.
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the moisture discharging means (
60
) may include a water vapor permeable membrane (
61
) allowing water vapor to pass therethrough so that water vapor can be discharged into the atmospheric air because of a difference in water vapor pressure created between partition spaces divided by the water vapor permeable membrane (
61
).
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the cold heat generating means (
40
) may include: a humidification cooler (
41
) which supplies water to air to be conditioned so that the air is cooled; and a dehumidifier (
42
) which dehumidifies the air cooled by the humidification cooler (
41
).
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the cold heat generating means (
40
) may include: a dehumidifier (
42
) which dehumidifies air to be conditioned; and a humidification cooler (
41
) which supplies water to the air dehumidified by the dehumidifier (
42
) so that the air is cooled.
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the dehumidifier (
42
) may include a water vapor permeable membrane (
4
b
) allowing water vapor to pass therethrough so that water vapor can be removed because of a difference in water vapor pressure created between partition spaces divided by the water vapor permeable membrane (
4
b
).
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the cold heat generating means (
40
) may directly spray air to be conditioned with water so that the to-be-conditioned air is cooled.
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the humidification cooler (
41
) may include a moisture permeable membrane allowing water vapor to pass therethrough so that water evaporates and then passes through the moisture permeable membrane to humidify and cool air.
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the cold heat generating means (
40
) may include an evaporation cooler (
43
) which supplies cold heat generated by water evaporation to air to be conditioned so that the to-be-conditioned air is cooled.
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the cold heat generating means (
40
) may include an evaporation cooler (
43
) which generates cooling water by water evaporation.
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the cold heat generating means (
40
) may include an evaporation cooler (
43
) which generates ice by water evaporation.
Further, in the refrigeration system of the present invention, the evaporation cooler (
43
) may cause water to undergo direct evaporation in a low pressur
Piao Chun-cheng
Sakamoto Ryuichi
Watanabe Yuji
Yonemoto Kazuo
Yoshimi Manabu
Daikin Industries Ltd.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Shulman Mark
Studebaker Donald R.
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