Abstract:
A superheat sensor (1) for sensing superheat of a fluid flowing in a flow channel (3) is disclosed. The sensor (1) comprises a flexible wall defining an interface between an inner cavity (5) having a charge fluid (6) arranged therein and the flow channel (3). The flexible wall is arranged in the flow channel (3) in thermal contact with the fluid flowing therein, and the flexible wall is adapted to conduct heat between the flow channel (3) and the inner cavity (5). Thereby the temperature of the charge fluid (6) adapts to the temperature of the fluid flowing in the flow channel (3), and the pressure in the inner cavity (5) is determined by this temperature. A first wall part (7, 14) and a second wall part (9, 16) are arranged at a variable distance from each other, said distance being defined by a differential pressure between the pressure of the charge fluid (6) and the pressure of the fluid flowing in the flow channel (3), i.e. depending on the pressure and the temperature of the fluid flowing in the flow channel (3), and thereby the superheat of the fluid. A distance sensor, e.g. comprising a permanent magnet (8) and a Hall sensor (10), measures the distance between the wall parts, and the superheat is calculated from the measured distance. The sensor (1) is suitable for use in a refrigeration system. The sensor (1) is mechanically simple and capable of determining the superheat by measuring only one parameter.
Abstract:
A valve assembly (1) comprising an inlet opening, a distributor and an outlet part comprising at least two outlet openings. The distributor comprises an inlet part (5) fluidly connected to the inlet opening, and is arranged to distribute fluid medium received from the inlet opening to at least two parallel flow paths, preferably of a heat exchanger (3). The valve assembly (1) further comprises a first valve part and a second valve part arranged movable relative to each other in such a manner that the mutual position of the valve parts determines the fluid flow from the inlet opening to each of the outlet openings of the outlet part. Finally, the valve assembly (1) comprises a header (2) forming an integral part of the valve assembly (1). The header (2) is arranged to form an interface towards a heat exchanger (3) comprising at least two flow paths, and it provides fluid connections in such a manner that each of the outlet openings (7, 9) is fluidly connected to a flow path of a heat exchanger (3) connected to the header (2).
Abstract:
An expansion valve (1) comprising an inlet opening (10), at least two outlet openings (7), a first valve part (2) and a second valve part (4) is disclosed. The inlet opening (10) is adapted to receive fluid medium in a liquid state, and the outlet openings (7) are adapted to deliver fluid medium in an at least partly gaseous state. The first valve part (2) comprises a piston portion (3), and the second valve part (4) comprises a piston receiving portion (5) adapted to receive the piston portion (3) of the first valve part (2). The piston receiving portion (5) has at least two openings (6) formed therein, each of the openings (6) being fluidly connected to one of the outlet openings (7). The openings (6) are arranged in such a manner that each of the openings (6) in combination with the piston portion (3) defines a valve. The first valve part (2) and the second valve part (4) are arranged movably relative to each other in such a manner that the mutual position of the first valve part (2) and the second valve part (4) defines an opening degree of each of the valves.
Abstract:
An expansion valve (1) comprising an inlet opening (2) and a distributor (4) being arranged to distribute fluid medium received from the inlet opening to at least two parallel flow paths (3). At least two outlet openings (3) are adapted to deliver fluid in an at least partially gaseous state, and each outlet opening is fluidly connected to one of the parallel flow paths. A first valve part (7) and a second valve part (5) are arranged movably relative to each other in such a manner that the mutual position of the first valve part and the second valve part determines the opening degree of the expansion valve. Since the distributor (4) forms part of the expansion valve, it distributes the fluid medium to the parallel flow paths prior to or during expansion of the fluid medium, i.e. while the fluid medium is in a substantially liquid state. This makes it easier to control the distribution of fluid medium to the parallel flow paths in a uniform manner.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and a system to reduce losses of energy due to ripples, especially at the power grid, the ripples being short term power shortages or excess power. The method is based on the idea of shutting off energy consuming devices during a period of power shortage, if their operation is not necessary, and optionally to turn on such energy consuming devices during periods of excess power, if energy may be stored in them, especially when energy may be stored as some physical parameter or variable, being a part of the operation of the energy consuming devices, such as the temperature of a freezer.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and a system to reduce losses of energy due to ripples, especially at the power grid, the ripples being short term power shortages or excess power. The method is based on the idea of shutting off energy consuming devices during a period of power shortage, if their operation is not necessary, and optionally to turn on such energy consuming devices during periods of excess power, if energy may be stored in them, especially when energy may be stored as some physical parameter or variable, being a part of the operation of the energy consuming devices, such as the temperature of a freezer.
Abstract:
A method for operating a vapour compression system (1) is disclosed. The vapour compression system (1) comprises a compressor (2), a condenser (3), at least one expansion device (4), an evaporator (5), said evaporator (5) comprising at least two evaporator paths (5a, 5b) arranged fluidly in parallel, and a distribution device arranged to distribute refrigerant among the evaporator paths (5a, 5b). The method comprises the steps of obtaining at least two predefined distribution keys, each distribution key defining a distribution of available refrigerant among the evaporator paths (5a, 5b), detecting one or more operational settings of the vapour compression system (1), selecting one of the at least two predefined distribution keys, based on said detected operational setting(s), and distributing refrigerant among the evaporator paths (5a, 5b) in accordance with the selected predefined distribution key. The predefined distribution keys constitute pre-settings which can be selected on the basis of operational settings, such as compressor capacity, fan speed, refrigeration load or mode of operation. The vapour compression system (1) may be operated in accordance with the selected predefined distribution key, or the selected predefined distribution key may be used as a suitable starting point for an adaptive adjustment of the distribution key. An optimal distribution of the available refrigerant among the evaporator paths (5a, 5b) is quickly reached due to the pre-settings. Thereby the vapour compression system (1) can be operated in an optimal manner for most of the operating time.
Abstract:
An expansion valve (1) comprising an inlet opening (2) and a distributor (4) being arranged to distribute fluid medium received from the inlet opening to at least two parallel flow paths (3). At least two outlet openings (3) are adapted to deliver fluid in an at least partially gaseous state, and each outlet opening is fluidly connected to one of the parallel flow paths. A first valve part (7) and a second valve part (5) are arranged movably relative to each other in such a manner that the mutual position of the first valve part and the second valve part determines the opening degree of the expansion valve. Since the distributor (4) forms part of the expansion valve, it distributes the fluid medium to the parallel flow paths prior to or during expansion of the fluid medium, i.e. while the fluid medium is in a substantially liquid state. This makes it easier to control the distribution of fluid medium to the parallel flow paths in a uniform manner.
Abstract:
A method for operating a vapour compression system (1) is disclosed. The vapour compression system (1) comprises a compressor (2), a condenser (3), at least one expansion device (4), an evaporator (5), said evaporator (5) comprising at least two evaporator paths (5a, 5b) arranged fluidly in parallel, and a distribution device arranged to distribute refrigerant among the evaporator paths (5a, 5b). The method comprises the steps of obtaining at least two predefined distribution keys, each distribution key defining a distribution of available refrigerant among the evaporator paths (5a, 5b), detecting one or more operational settings of the vapour compression system (1), selecting one of the at least two predefined distribution keys, based on said detected operational setting(s), and distributing refrigerant among the evaporator paths (5a, 5b) in accordance with the selected predefined distribution key. The predefined distribution keys constitute pre-settings which can be selected on the basis of operational settings, such as compressor capacity, fan speed, refrigeration load or mode of operation. The vapour compression system (1) may be operated in accordance with the selected predefined distribution key, or the selected predefined distribution key may be used as a suitable starting point for an adaptive adjustment of the distribution key. An optimal distribution of the available refrigerant among the evaporator paths (5a, 5b) is quickly reached due to the pre-settings. Thereby the vapour compression system (1) can be operated in an optimal manner for most of the operating time.