Vapor compression refrigerating systems

Abstract

A vapor compression refrigerating system includes a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, and a radiator connected to the compressor, in which the radiator is configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and to reduce a temperature of the refrigerant. The system also includes a pressure reducing mechanism connected to the radiator, and the pressure reducing mechanism is configured to receive the refrigerant from the radiator and to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant. The system also includes a separator connected to the pressure reducing mechanism and to the compressor, a pump connected to the separator, and an evaporator connected to the pump and to the separator. The separator is configured to receive the refrigerant from the pressure reducing mechanism, to separate a liquid portion of the refrigerant from a gas portion of the refrigerant, and to transmit the gas portion to the compressor. Moreover, the pump is configured to pump the liquid portion from the separator to the evaporator, and the evaporator is configured to evaporate the liquid portion into an evaporated portion, and to transmit the evaporated portion to the separator.

1 . A vapor compression refrigerating system comprising: 
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;    a radiator connected to the compressor, wherein the radiator is configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and to reduce a temperature of the refrigerant;    a particular pressure reducing mechanism connected to the radiator, wherein the particular pressure reducing mechanism is configured to receive the refrigerant from the radiator and to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant;    a separator connected to the particular pressure reducing mechanism and to the compressor;    means for pumping connected to the separator; and    an evaporator operationally coupled to the means for pumping and connected to the separator, wherein the separator is configured to receive the refrigerant from the particular pressure reducing mechanism, to separate a liquid portion of the refrigerant from a gas portion of the refrigerant, and to transmit the gas portion to the compressor, wherein the means for pumping is configured to pump the liquid portion from the separator to the evaporator, and the evaporator is configured to evaporate the liquid portion into an evaporated portion, and to transmit the evaporated portion to the separator.    
   
   
       2 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is driven by a first drive source, and the means for pumping is driven by a second drive source, wherein the first drive source is different than the second drive source.  
   
   
       3 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for independently controlling the compressor and the means for pumping.  
   
   
       4 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 1 , wherein the particular pressure reducing mechanism comprises means for adjusting a degree of pressure reduction by the particular pressure reducing mechanism.  
   
   
       5 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for adjusting the degree of pressure reduction by the particular pressure reducing mechanism comprises a mechanism for determining a degree of pressure reduction based on information associated with a condition of the refrigerating system.  
   
   
       6 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 5 , further comprising means for controlling the means for adjusting the degree of pressure reduction by the particular pressure reducing mechanism, such that a pressure of the refrigerant in the gas and liquid separator is less than or equal to a critical pressure.  
   
   
       7 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a further pressure reducing mechanism connected to the means for pumping and to the evaporator, wherein the evaporator is coupled to the means for pumping via the further pressure reducing mechanism, and the further pressure reducing mechanism is configured to reducing a pressure of the liquid portion and to transmit the liquid portion to the evaporator.  
   
   
       8 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 7 , wherein the further pressure reducing mechanism comprises means for adjusting a degree of pressure reduction by the further pressure reducing mechanism.  
   
   
       9 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for adjusting the degree of pressure reduction by the further pressure reducing mechanism comprises a mechanism for determining a degree of pressure reduction based on information associated with a condition of the vapor compression refrigerating system.  
   
   
       10 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant comprises carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       11 . An air conditioning system comprising the vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       12 . A vehicle comprising the air conditioning system of  claim 11 .  
   
   
       13 . A vapor compression refrigerating system comprising: 
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;    a radiator connected to the compressor, wherein the radiator is configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and to reduce a temperature of the refrigerant;    an expander connected to the radiator, wherein the expander is configured to receive the refrigerant from the radiator and to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant;    a separator connected to the expander and to the compressor;    means for pumping connected to the separator and to the expander; and    an evaporator operationally coupled to the means for pumping and connected to the separator, wherein the separator is configured to receive the refrigerant from the expander, to separate a liquid portion of the refrigerant from a gas portion of the refrigerant, and to transmit the gas portion to the compressor, wherein the means for pumping is configured to pump the liquid portion from the separator to the evaporator, and the evaporator is configured to evaporate the liquid portion into an evaporated portion, and to transmit the evaporated portion to the separator, wherein the expander drives the means for pumping when the expander expands the refrigerant.    
   
   
       14 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 13 , further comprising a bypass passage provided between the radiator and the gas and liquid separator for flowing a portion of the refrigerant by bypassing the expander, wherein the bypass passage comprises means for adjusting the amount of refrigerant which flows through the bypass passage based on information associated with a condition of the vapor compression refrigerating system.  
   
   
       15 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 14 , further comprising means for controlling the means for adjusting the amount of refrigerant which flows through the bypass passage, such that a pressure of the refrigerant in the gas and liquid separator is less than or equal to a critical pressure.  
   
   
       16 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 13 , further comprising a pressure reducing mechanism connected to the means for pumping and to the evaporator, wherein the evaporator is coupled to the means for pumping via the pressure reducing mechanism, and the pressure reducing mechanism is configured to reducing a pressure of the liquid portion and to transmit the liquid portion to the evaporator.  
   
   
       17 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 16 , wherein the pressure reducing mechanism comprises means for adjusting a degree of pressure reduction by the pressure reducing mechanism.  
   
   
       18 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 17 , wherein the means for adjusting the degree of pressure reduction by the pressure reducing mechanism comprises a mechanism for determining a degree of pressure reduction based on information associated with a condition of the vapor compression refrigerating system.  
   
   
       19 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 13 , wherein the expander comprises an impeller.  
   
   
       20 . The vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 13 , wherein the refrigerant comprises carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       21 . An air conditioning system comprising the vapor compression refrigerating system of  claim 13 .  
   
   
       22 . A vehicle comprising the air conditioning system of  claim 21.