Multi-injection condensation for refrigeration systems and method

Abstract

A condensing stage of a refrigeration system. The condensing stage comprises means for returning a portion of the refrigerant of the refrigeration system at a downstream end of the condensing stage in a high-pressure liquid state to an upstream end of the condensing stage, to mix the portion of refrigerant with refrigerant in the high-pressure gas state prior to being fed to the condensing stage so as to increase the amount of heat released by volume of refrigerant in the condensing stage.

1 . A condensing stage of a refrigeration system wherein a refrigerant goes through at least a compression stage, wherein said refrigerant is compressed to a high-pressure gas state to then reach said condensing stage through a high-pressure line, wherein said refrigerant in said high-pressure gas state is condensed at least partially to a high-pressure liquid state by releasing heat, to then reach an expansion stage, wherein said refrigerant in said high-pressure liquid state is expanded to a first low-pressure liquid state to then reach an evaporator stage, wherein said refrigerant in said first low-pressure liquid state is evaporated at least partially to a first low-pressure gas state by absorbing heat, to then return to said compression stage, said condensing stage comprising a refrigerant conveying line having an upstream end diverging from the high-pressure line to pass a portion of said refrigerant through said condensing stage, a downstream end of said refrigerant conveying line converging with the high-pressure line downstream of said upstream end of said refrigerant conveying line with respect to the high-pressure line to mix with refrigerant bypassing said refrigerant conveying line, prior to being fed to the condensing stage so as to increase the amount of heat released by volume of refrigerant in said condensing stage, and a valve in the high-pressure line between the upstream end and the downstream end of the refrigerant conveying line to control the amount of said portion of refrigerant.  
     
     
         2 . A refrigeration system of the type wherein a refrigerant goes through at least a compression stage, wherein said refrigerant is compressed to a high-pressure gas state to then reach a condensing stage through a high-pressure line, wherein said refrigerant in said high-pressure gas state is condensed at least partially to a high-pressure liquid state by releasing heat, to then reach an expansion stage, wherein said refrigerant in said high-pressure liquid state is expanded to a first low-pressure liquid state to then reach an evaporator stage, wherein said refrigerant in said first low-pressure liquid state is evaporated at least partially to a first low-pressure gas state by absorbing heat, to then return to said compression stage, the refrigeration system comprising means for directing a portion of said refrigerant from a downstream end of said condensing stage in said high-pressure liquid state to an upstream end of said condensing stage, to mix said portion with refrigerant in said high-pressure gas state prior to being fed to the condensing stage so as to increase the amount of heat released by volume of refrigerant in said condensing stage.  
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system according to  claim 2 , wherein said condensing stage is fed said portion of refrigerant by a first heat release line and a remainder of said refrigerant by a second heat release line, both connected to said high-pressure line, said means for returning a portion of said refrigerant extending between a downstream end of said first heat release line and an upstream end of said second heat release line for conveying said portion of said refrigerant from said first heat release line to said second heat release line, said means comprising a valve on said high-pressure line between said first heat release line and said second heat release line to control the amount of said portion of refrigerant.  
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system according to  claim 3 , wherein said means comprises a refrigerant conveying line extending between a dedicated compressor of said compression stage to direct said portion of refrigerant to said condensing stage.  
     
     
         5 . A method for increasing an amount of heat released by volume of refrigerant in a condensing stage of a refrigeration system of the type wherein said refrigerant goes through at least a compression stage, wherein said refrigerant is compressed to a high-pressure gas state to then reach said condensing stage, wherein said refrigerant in said high-pressure gas state is condensed at least partially to a high-pressure liquid state by releasing heat, to then reach an expansion stage, wherein said refrigerant in said high-pressure liquid state is expanded to a first low-pressure liquid state to then reach an evaporator stage, wherein said refrigerant in said first low-pressure liquid state is evaporated at least partially to a first low-pressure gas state by absorbing heat, to then return to said compression stage, said method comprising the steps of: 
 i) directing at least a portion of refrigerant to said condensing stage for a first pass; and    ii) redirecting said portion of refrigerant upstream of said condensing stage to mix said portion of refrigerant with said refrigerant in said high-pressure gas state.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , comprising a step, prior to step i), of providing a valve between said compression stage and said condensing stage to control the amount of said portion of refrigerant.