Method and apparatus for measuring and improving efficiency in refrigeration systems
An apparatus for optimizing an efficiency of a refrigeration system, comprising means for measuring a refrigeration efficiency of an operating refrigeration system: means for altering a process variable of the refrigeration system during efficiency measurement: and a processor for calculating a process variable level which achieves an optimum efficiency. The process variables may include refrigerant charge and refrigerant oil concentration in evaporator.
1. A method for improving efficiency of a set of operating conditions of an evaporator, the set of operating conditions comprising at least a ratio of at least one volatile refrigerant and at least one non-volatile component, comprising determining, a cost of operation under a plurality of sets of operating conditions; determining a cost of altering the set of operating conditions from an initial state to a target state; determining a cost effectiveness of an alteration in operating conditions from an initial state to a target state; and outputting an optimal target state based on an initial state and the cost effectiveness determination.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said determining a cost of operation step occurs during normal operation of the evaporator.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cost of altering a set of operating conditions comprises an energy cost.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cost of altering a set of operating conditions comprises a service cost.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said determining a cost of operation comprises an evolutionary optimization process.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a cost of operation under a plurality of sets of operating conditions varies non-monotonically with respect to at least one parameter.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of performing a fractional distillation of a mixture of components in the evaporator, to alter a ratio of at the least one volatile refrigerant and the at least one non-volatile component, to achieve an optimal target state.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of continuously seeking to maintain an optimal target state.
9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of periodically adjusting the set of conditions to obtain an optimal target state.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the evaporator receives a flow of volatile component and non-volatile component from a condenser during operation.
11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of remediating an accumulation of non-volatile component in the evaporator to achieve an target state.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an optimal target state comprises a non-zero concentration of non-volatile component in the evaporator.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the set of operating conditions comprises a charge level of non-volatile component.
14. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of modeling performance of the evaporator, based at least on said determining a cost of operation.
15. An apparatus for improving operating efficiency of an evaporator having a set of operating conditions comprising at least a ratio of at least one volatile refrigerant and at least one non-volatile component, comprising: an input for receiving information relating to a cost of operation, under a plurality of sets of operating conditions; a processor for: determining a cost of altering the set of operating conditions from an initial state to a target state and determining a cost effectiveness of an alteration in operating conditions from an initial state to a target state based on the input; and a memory for storing an optimal target state based on an initial state and the cost effectiveness determination.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the input receives power consumption information.
17. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the input receives heat load information.
18. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the input receives power cost information.
19. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said processor employs an evolutionary optimization algorithm.
20. The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a fractional distillation system for separating a mixture of components in the evaporator, to alter a ratio of at the least one volatile refrigerant and the at least one non-volatile component, to achieve an optimal target state.
21. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the set of operating conditions comprises a charge level of non-volatile component.