Combined receiver and heat exchanger for a secondary refrigerant
View Patent ↗A refrigeration system includes a first circuit configured to circulate a first refrigerant. The first circuit includes an evaporator. The refrigeration system also includes a second circuit configured to circulate a second refrigerant. The second circuit includes a receiver associated with the evaporator such that the second refrigerant within the receiver is in a heat exchange relationship with the first refrigerant within the evaporator.
1. A refrigeration system comprising:
a first circuit configured to circulate a first refrigerant, the first circuit including a first evaporator;
a second circuit configured to circulate a second refrigerant, the second circuit including a receiver, at least one display case, and a pump positioned downstream of the receiver to draw liquid refrigerant from the receiver, the receiver associated with the first evaporator such that the second refrigerant within the receiver is in a heat exchange relationship with the first refrigerant within the first evaporator; and
a third circuit configured to circulate a third refrigerant, the third circuit including a second evaporator associated with the receiver of the second circuit and the first evaporator of the first circuit, and the third refrigerant within the second evaporator in a heat exchange relationship with the second refrigerant within the receiver.
2. The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein the first circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, and a receiver.
3. The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein the first refrigerant is R-404a.
4. The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein the second refrigerant is carbon dioxide.
5. The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and wherein the first refrigerant passes through the first evaporator that is at least partially disposed above the liquid.
6. The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and wherein the first refrigerant passes through the first evaporator that is at least partially disposed in contact with the liquid.
7. The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein the third circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, and a receiver.
8. The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and wherein the third refrigerant passes through the second evaporator that is at least partially disposed above the liquid.
9. The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and wherein the third refrigerant passes through the second evaporator that is at least partially disposed in contact with the liquid.
10. The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein the third circuit is in operation when the first circuit is not in operation.
11. A method of exchanging heat between a first refrigerant, a second refrigerant, and a third refrigerant, the method comprising:
circulating the first refrigerant through a first circuit having a first evaporator;
circulating the second refrigerant through a second circuit having a receiver associated with the first evaporator, at least one display case, and a pump positioned downstream of the receiver;
drawing liquid refrigerant from the receiver using the pump;
exchanging heat between the first refrigerant within the evaporator and the second refrigerant within the receiver;
circulating the third refrigerant through a third circuit having a second evaporator; and
exchanging heat between the third refrigerant within the second evaporator and the second refrigerant within the receiver.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein circulating the first refrigerant includes circulating the first refrigerant through a compressor, a condenser, and a receiver.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and further comprising passing the first refrigerant through the first evaporator at least partially disposed above the liquid.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and further comprising passing the first refrigerant through the first evaporator at least partially disposed in contact with the liquid.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and further comprising passing the third refrigerant through the second evaporator at least partially disposed above the liquid.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and further comprising passing the third refrigerant through the second evaporator at least partially disposed in contact with the liquid.
17. A refrigeration system comprising:
a first circuit having a first evaporator;
a second circuit having a receiver, at least one display case, and a pump positioned downstream of the receiver to draw liquid refrigerant from the receiver, a first refrigerant within the first evaporator being in a heat exchange relationship with a second refrigerant within the receiver; and
a third circuit having a second evaporator associated with the receiver such that a third refrigerant within the second evaporator is in a heat exchange relationship with the second refrigerant within the receiver.
18. The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and wherein the first refrigerant passes through the first evaporator that is at least partially disposed above the liquid.
19. The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and wherein the first refrigerant passes through the first evaporator that is at least partially disposed in contact with the liquid.
20. The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and wherein the third refrigerant passes through the second evaporator that is at least partially disposed above the liquid.
21. The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the second refrigerant within the receiver is a liquid, and wherein the third refrigerant passes through the second evaporator that is at least partially disposed in contact with the liquid.
22. The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein the third circuit is in operation when the first circuit is not in operation.