LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM WITH A ROTARY PRESSURE EXCHANGER REPLACING THE BULK FLOW COMPRESSOR AND THE HIGH PRESSURE EXPANSION VALVE
A refrigeration system includes a heat exchanger including a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet, an evaporator including an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a first circulation pump including a first circulation pump inlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger outlet and a first circulation pump outlet, a second circulation pump including a second circulation pump inlet and a second circulation pump outlet, a leakage pump including a leakage pump inlet and a leakage pump outlet, and a pressure exchanger (PX). The PX includes a first PX inlet fluidly coupled to the first circulation pump outlet and the leakage pump outlet, a first PX outlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger inlet, a second PX inlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator outlet, and a second PX outlet fluidly coupled to the leakage pump inlet and the second circulation pump inlet.
1 . A refrigeration system comprising:
a heat exchanger comprising a gas cooler or condenser, the heat exchanger comprising:
a heat exchanger inlet; and
a heat exchanger outlet;
an evaporator comprising:
an evaporator inlet; and
an evaporator outlet;
a first circulation pump comprising:
a first circulation pump inlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger outlet; and
a first circulation pump outlet;
a second circulation pump comprising:
a second circulation pump inlet; and
a second circulation pump outlet;
a leakage pump comprising:
a leakage pump inlet; and
a leakage pump outlet; and
a pressure exchanger (PX) comprising:
a first PX inlet fluidly coupled to the first circulation pump outlet and the leakage pump outlet;
a first PX outlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger inlet;
a second PX inlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator outlet; and
a second PX outlet fluidly coupled to the leakage pump inlet and the second circulation pump inlet.
2 . The refrigeration system of claim 1 further comprising:
a first three-way valve disposed between the first circulation pump outlet, the leakage pump outlet, and the first PX inlet; and
a second three-way valve disposed between the second PX outlet, the second circulation pump inlet, and the leakage pump inlet.
3 . The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system is configured to circulate carbon dioxide.
4 . The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein the PX is a rotary PX or a rotary liquid piston compressor LPC.
5 . The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first PX inlet is a high pressure (HP) inlet;
the first PX outlet is a HP outlet;
the second PX inlet is a low pressure (LP) inlet; and
the second PX outlet is a LP outlet.
6 . The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein the first circulation pump is a high pressure, low differential pressure (DP), multi-phase circulation pump.
7 . The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein the second circulation pump is a low pressure, low DP, multi-phase circulation pump.
8 . The refrigeration system of claim 1 , wherein the leakage pump is a high DP, low flow, multi-phase leakage pump.
9 . A refrigeration system comprising:
a heat exchanger comprising a gas cooler or condenser, the heat exchanger comprising:
a heat exchanger inlet; and
a heat exchanger outlet;
an evaporator comprising:
an evaporator inlet; and
an evaporator outlet;
a first circulation pump comprising:
a first circulation pump inlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger outlet; and
a first circulation pump outlet;
a second circulation pump comprising:
a second circulation pump inlet; and
a second circulation pump outlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator inlet;
a leakage compressor comprising:
a leakage compressor inlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator outlet; and
a leakage compressor outlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger inlet; and
a pressure exchanger (PX) comprising:
a first PX inlet fluidly coupled to the first circulation pump outlet;
a first PX outlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger inlet;
a second PX inlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator outlet; and
a second PX outlet fluidly coupled to the second circulation pump inlet.
10 . The refrigeration system of claim 9 further comprising:
a first three-way valve disposed between the first PX outlet, the leakage compressor outlet, and the heat exchanger inlet; and
a second three-way valve disposed between the evaporator outlet, the leakage compressor inlet, and the second PX inlet.
11 . The refrigeration system of claim 9 , wherein the refrigeration system is configured to circulate carbon dioxide.
12 . The refrigeration system of claim 9 , wherein the PX is a rotary PX or a rotary liquid piston compressor LPC.
13 . The refrigeration system of claim 9 , wherein:
the first PX inlet is a high pressure (HP) inlet;
the first PX outlet is a HP outlet;
the second PX inlet is a low pressure (LP) inlet; and
the second PX outlet is a LP outlet.
14 . The refrigeration system of claim 9 , wherein the first circulation pump is a high pressure, low differential pressure (DP), multi-phase circulation pump.
15 . The refrigeration system of claim 9 , wherein the second circulation pump is a low pressure, low DP, multi-phase circulation pump.
16 . The refrigeration system of claim 9 , wherein the leakage compressor is a high DP, low flow, leakage compressor.
17 . A refrigeration system comprising:
a heat exchanger comprising a gas cooler or condenser, the heat exchanger comprising:
a heat exchanger inlet; and
a heat exchanger outlet;
an evaporator comprising:
an evaporator inlet; and
an evaporator outlet;
a first compressor comprising:
a first compressor inlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator outlet; and
a first compressor outlet;
a second compressor comprising:
a second compressor inlet; and
a second compressor outlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger inlet;
a third compressor comprising:
a third compressor inlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator outlet; and
a third compressor outlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger inlet; and
a pressure exchanger (PX) comprising:
a first PX inlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger outlet;
a first PX outlet fluidly coupled to the second compressor inlet;
a second PX inlet fluidly coupled to the first compressor outlet; and
a second PX outlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator inlet.
18 . The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein the refrigeration system is configured to circulate carbon dioxide.
19 . The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein the PX is a rotary PX or a rotary liquid piston compressor LPC.
20 . The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein:
the first PX inlet is a high pressure (HP) inlet;
the first PX outlet is a HP outlet;
the second PX inlet is a low pressure (LP) inlet; and
the second PX outlet is a LP outlet.
21 . The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein the first compressor is a low differential pressure (DP) circulation compressor disposed in a low pressure fluid loop.
22 . The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein the second compressor is a low DP circulation compressor disposed in a high pressure fluid loop.
23 . The refrigeration system of claim 17 , wherein the third compressor is a flow leakage compressor.