Abstract:
A method of controlling a fan of a vapour compression system is disclosed. The vapour compression system comprises a compressor, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, e.g. in the form of a gas cooler or a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator arranged in a refrigerant circuit. The fan is arranged to provide a secondary fluid flow across the heat rejecting heat exchanger, e.g. in the form of an air flow. The method comprises the steps of establishing a temperature, T1, of refrigerant leaving the heat rejecting heat exchanger, establishing a temperature, T2, of ambient air of the heat rejecting heat exchanger, and deriving a temperature difference, ΔT=T1-T2, between the temperature (T1) of refrigerant leaving the heat rejecting heat exchanger and the temperature (T2) of ambient air of the heat rejecting heat exchanger. The temperature difference, ΔT, is compared to a first threshold value and to a second threshold value, the second threshold value being smaller than or equal to the first threshold value, and the rotational speed of the fan is controlled on the basis of the comparing step. The method allows the electrical energy consumption of the fan to be reduced without risking instability of the vapour compression system.
Abstract:
A method for monitoring gas pressure in a heat rejecting heat exchanger in a cooling circuit is disclosed. In the heat rejecting heat exchanger, pressure is controlled by means of a control unit, said control unit controlling at least one valve. The present capacity of one or more compressors in the cooling circuit compared to a maximum capacity of the one or more compressors is established. The maximum capacity may be the rated capacity of the compressors, or it may be a maximum capacity under the given circumstances and/or the given operating conditions. If the present capacity of the one or more compressors is at least at a level corresponding to a pre-set percentage of the maximum capacity, a period of time elapsed from a point in time where the compressor capacity reached said level is established. If the established period of time has a duration which is longer than a pre-set period of time, then it is concluding that the cooling medium is in a gas loop operational mode. Detecting a gas loop operational mode in an easy manner allows an operator or a controller to adjust operation of the cooling plant in such a manner that the cooling medium is brought out of the gas loop operational mode, thereby increasing the energy efficiency of the cooling plant.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a heating or cooling mat (1) with a carrying sheet (2) having a top side (9) and a bottom side (11), and at least one heating and cooling unit (5) located on the carrying sheet (2), an adhesive being located on the bottom side (11) of the carrying sheet (2). It is endeavored to improve the handling properties of the heating or cooling mat. For this purpose, the adhesive is located on a double-sided adhesive tape (12), which is fixed on the bottom side (11) of the carrying sheet (2), the adhesive on the bottom side of the adhesive tape (12) being covered by the top side of the carrying sheet (2) and the adhesive tape (12) bonding with the top side of the carrying sheet (2) in the rolled up state of the heating or cooling mat (1).
Abstract:
A flow control valve (1) for a refrigeration system is disclosed. The valve (1) comprises a valve port (14) having a substantially cylindrical inner circumference arranged to receive a protruding portion of a valve member (5). The valve member (5) comprises a protruding portion having a substantially cylindrical outer circumference corresponding to the inner circumference of the valve port (14), said protruding portion also having at least one fluted part (16), said at least one fluted part (16) defining fluid passage along the at least one fluted part (16) when the valve member (5) is in the open position. The valve member (5) is provided with at least one first fluid passage (6) extending through the valve member (5) between a second valve chamber (15) and a pressure balancing chamber (8), and at least one second fluid passage (7) establishing a fluid connection between a first valve chamber (12) and the first fluid passage (6). The second fluid passage (7) has an opening arranged on the substantially cylindrical part of the protruding portion of the valve member (5). The invention allows the pressure of the balancing chamber (8) to be adjusted independently of the primary flow through the valve (1), via the fluted parts(s) (16).
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 method for controlling a refrigerant distribution in a vapour compression system, such as a refrigeration system, e.g. an air condition system, comprising at least two evaporators. The refrigerant distribution determines the distribution of the available amount of refrigerant among the evaporators. While monitoring a superheat, SH, at a common outlet for the evaporators, the distribution of refrigerant is modified in such a manner that a mass flow of refrigerant to a first evaporator is altered in a controlled manner. The impact on the monitored SH is then observed, and this is used for deriving information relating to the behaviour of the first evaporator, in the form of a control parameter. This is repeated for each evaporator, and the refrigerant distribution is adjusted on the basis of the control parameters. The impact may be in the form of a significant change in SH. Alternatively, the control parameter may reflect a change in SH occurring as a result of the modification of the distribution of refrigerant.
Abstract:
The invention provides a valve comprising a tube for guiding movement of a plunger, a solenoid which can be arranged about the tube, and a yoke which can be positioned in an operational position relative to the tube and relative to the solenoid so that it provides a magnetic path between the solenoid and portions of the tube. The yoke engages the tube and thereby prevents removal of the solenoid from tube. The invention thereby provides a very simple valve design with a low amount of components. The invention further provides a method of making a valve including fixing a solenoid to a tube by use of a yoke which engages the tube.
Abstract:
A valve (4) for a refrigeration system. Comprises two diaphragms (8, 10) being operatively connected. One diaphragm (8) is in contact with the refrigerant, the other (10) is in contact with the filling fluid. The two diaphragms (8, 10) may have different active areas. In combination with the connection between the two diaphragms (8, 10) this provides a ‘pressure gearing’ between the filling fluid and the refrigerant. Allows the pressure of the filling fluid to be relatively low even when the pressure of the refrigerant is high, while ensuring that the valve (4) can function properly. Particularly suitable for high pressure refrigeration systems, such as CO2 systems.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a valve arrangement (7) comprising a flow path (11) connecting an inlet (9) and an outlet (10), a closing means (12) arranged in said flow path (11), a resetting means and a first pressure in a first pressure chamber (14) acting in a closing direction on said closing means (12), a pressure of said outlet (10) and a second pressure in a second pressure chamber (18) corresponding to a pressure of said inlet (9) when said closing means (12) is closed acting in opening direction on said closing means (12), said first pressure chamber (14) being connectable to the outlet (10) via an auxiliary valve (13). It is intended to keep small a pressure pulse when opening the valve arrangement (7). This is achieved in that the closing means (12) having a first opening state (A) and a second opening state (B), a flow resistance of said closing means (12) in said first opening state (A) being larger than a flow resistance of said closing means in said second opening state (B).
Abstract:
A refrigerant guiding pipe for a heat exchanger having: a pipe wall in which an inner chamber is formed, an opening formed in the pipe wall, and a refrigerant guiding wall portion, at least a part of the refrigerant guiding wall being disposed to be substantially inclined with respect to an axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe to guide refrigerant passing through the opening. The refrigerant guiding wall portion is a recessed wall section depressed towards the inner chamber. The refrigerant guiding pipe can distribute and guide refrigerant well to help avoid non-uniform distribution of refrigerant due to layering of gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant