A cooling device designed specially for application to refrigeration units

Abstract

 A cooling device (1) designed specially for application to refrigeration units, comprising a chamber (10) which at least partially envelops the casing of an electrically-powered compressor (3) and which contains a fluid with a low boiling point.
The chamber (10) is connected to a condenser (12) by a first pipe (13) via which the heated steam ascends and by second pipe (14) via which the steam, after being liquified by the condenser (12), returns to the chamber (10) so that the low boiling point fluid can remove the heat from the compressor (3).

Description

[0001] The invention described in this document concerns a cooling device that is specially designed for application to refrigeration units.

[0002] The electrically-powered compressors used in refrigeration systems, especially those with high output, frequently encounter problems of overheating which may reduce the efficiency of the system as well as causing more serious damage.

[0003] A number of different solutions have been proposed in order to solve this problem by using the cooling circuit of the refrigeration unit itself, but without achieving the hoped-for results.

[0004] The problem of overheating is especially critical in high-performance compressors such as Scroll versions, and in reciprocating compressors such as those manufactured by Danfoss.

[0005] The structural solutions adopted in some of these compressors with the purpose of improving cooling have not solved the problem satisfactorily.

[0006] The objective of this invention is to create a cooling device that prevents overheating of the compressors used in refrigeration units.

[0007] Within the context of this objective, one aim of the invention is to create a cooling device that can be applied to various types of compressor, including pre-existing models.

[0008] Another objective of the invention is that the operation of the cooling device should be totally independent of the refrigeration unit itself.

[0009] This and other objectives, which are described hereunder, are achieved by this cooling device for refrigeration units, which consists of a chamber that partially or totally envelops the compressor casing and contains a fluid with a low boiling point. The chamber is connected to a condenser to which the heated steam ascends via a pipe and, after returning to a liquid state in the condenser, returns downwards via a second pipe to the cooling chamber. The function of the fluid is to remove heat from the compressor.

[0010] Other characteristics and advantages offered by this invention may be observed in greater detail from examination of the description of the preferred, but not exclusive, configuration of the invention, which is illustrated in general but non-limitative terms in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic elevation of a refrigeration unit fitted with the cooling device represented by this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic elevation of the cooling device represented by this invention.

Figure 3 is a further-enlarged elevation of the device applied to the casing of the compressor.

[0011] Referring to the numeration of the three figures illustrating the cooling device, itself indicated as number 1, the invention is designed for application to a refrigeration unit (2) consisting, as is widely known, of an electrically-powered compressor (3), a condenser (4), a liquid reservoir (5), a dehydrator filter (6), a flow control valve (7), an evaporator (8) and a liquid separator (9).

[0012] In this invention, the cooling device (1) consists essentially of a chamber (10) designed to partially or totally envelop the casing of the compressor (3) and containing liquid with a low boiling point (e.g. 20°C).

[0013] Between the chamber (10) and the external surface of the compressor casing (3), a winding (11) acts as a thermal conductor between the casing of the compressor and the low-boiling-point fluid contained in the chamber (10).

[0014] The chamber is connected to a condenser (12) by means of a pipe (13) via which the heated steam ascends and a return pipe (14) via which the steam liquified by the condenser (12) returns downwards to the chamber.

[0015] The winding (11) may consist of a copper spiral positioned against the surface of the compressor casing (3), and acts as a thermal conductor between the source of the heat and the low-boiling-temperature fluid.

[0016] The liquid absorbs any excess heat, which is eliminated by the condenser; after the steam returns to the liquid state, the condenser ducts it back to the chamber (10) where the cooling cycle continues.

[0017] In this invention, the cooling device is also fitted with an intake/pressure control valve (15) and a pressure coupling (16) for a safety fuse, both of which are connected to the ascent pipe (13).

[0018] The device also features a fluid level indicator (17) which also confirms the flow of fluid in the return pipe (14) when the system is in operation.

[0019] In order to meet specific requirements, the condenser (12) may be located relatively close to the refrigeration unit, as illustrated in the attached drawings, or at a greater distance.

[0020] Efficiency may be further improved by enclosing the ascent pipe (13) in an insulating sheath (18).

[0021] In addition, the chamber (10) may be designed as an integral part of the compressor casing.

[0022] As an alternative, the chamber (10) may be fitted to the delivery pipe of the compressor's output circuit.

[0023] Practical experiments confirm that the invention performs the functions and achieves the objectives described above.

[0024] Naturally, the materials used and the dimensions of the various components of the system may be modified according to requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

1. A cooling device designed specially for application to refrigeration units and characterized by the use of a chamber which at least partially envelops the casing of an electrically-powered compressor and which contains a fluid with a low boiling point; the chamber is connected to a condenser by a first pipe via which the heated steam ascends and by second pipe via which the steam, after being liquified by the condenser, returns to the chamber. The function of the liquid is to absorb and remove the heat from the compressor casing.

2. A cooling device, as described in claim 1, characterized by the presence of a winding positioned between the chamber and the compressor casing, the function of which is to act as a thermal conductor between the compressor casing and the low-boiling-point fluid contained in the chamber.

3. A cooling device, as described in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the winding consists of a copper spiral positioned against the compressor casing and acting as a thermal conductor between the source of heat and the low-boiling-point fluid.

4. A cooling device, as described in one or more of the previous claims, characterized by the presence of an intake/pressure control valve and a pressure coupling for a safety fuse, both connected to the ascent pipe.

5. A cooling device, as described in one or more of the previous claims, characterized by the presence of a fluid level indicator, fitted to the descent pipe, which also confirms the flow of fluid when the system is in operation.

6. A cooling device, as described in one or more of the previous claims, characterized by the use of a fluid with a low boiling point not exceeding approximately 20°C.

7. A cooling device, as described in one or more of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the device is independent of the refrigeration unit driven by the compressor.

8. A cooling device, as described in one or more of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the heat exchange which takes place as a result of cooling the compressor, made possible by the independent circuit described herein, may also be peformed by a chamber which, instead of enveloping the compressor casing, is applied to the delivery duct of the compressor.

9. A cooling device, as described in one or more of the previous claims, which includes one or more of the features described and/or illustrated herein.

Drawing