Co2 refrigeration system for ice-playing surface

Abstract

A CO 2 refrigeration system comprises a CO 2 circuit. In a compression stage of the circuit, CO 2 refrigerant is compressed to a supracompression state. In a cooling stage, the CO 2 refrigerant from the compression stage releases heat. A pressure-regulating unit in a line extending from the cooling stage to one side of a heat exchanger maintains a pressure differential. A second refrigerant cycles in a cooling circuit between a second side of the heat exchanger and an ice-playing surface. The second refrigerant absorbs heat from the ice-playing surface and releases heat to the CO 2 refrigerant in the heat exchanger.

1 . A CO 2  refrigeration system comprising:
 a CO 2  circuit comprising a compression stage in which CO 2  refrigerant is compressed to at least a supracompression state, a cooling stage in which the CO 2  refrigerant from the compression stage releases heat, a pressure-regulating unit in a line extending from the cooling stage to one side of a heat exchanger to maintain a pressure differential therebetween; and   a cooling circuit in which cycles a second refrigerant between a second side of the heat exchanger and an ice-playing surface, such that the second refrigerant absorbs heat from the ice-playing surface and releases heat to the CO 2  refrigerant in the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling stage comprises at least one of a gas-cooling unit, a heat-reclaim exchanger, and a heating unit. 
     
     
         3 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 2 , comprising a plurality of the heating unit, with valves provided in relation to the plurality of heating unit to individually control an amount of CO 2  refrigerant directed to each said heating unit. 
     
     
         4 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 3 , wherein a fan of each said heating unit is controlled by a controller as a function of a temperature demand and of said amount of CO 2  refrigerant. 
     
     
         5 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pump in the cooling circuit to induce a flow of the CO 2  refrigerant therein. 
     
     
         6 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a CO 2  condensation reservoir between the heat exchanger and the compression stage. 
     
     
         7 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a line extending directly from the heat exchanger to the compression stage. 
     
     
         8 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a shell and tube type of heat exchanger, with the CO 2  circuit side of the heat exchanger being the shell, the cooling side of the heat exchanger being the tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling circuit comprises pipes under the ice-playing surface in which circulates the CO 2  refrigerant to refrigerate the ice-playing surface. 
     
     
         10 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  refrigerant in the CO 2  circuit is compressed to a transcritical state. 
     
     
         11 . A CO 2  refrigeration system comprising:
 a CO 2  circuit comprising a compression stage in which CO 2  refrigerant is compressed to at least a supracompression state, a cooling stage in which the CO 2  refrigerant from the compression stage releases heat, a pressure-regulating unit in a line extending from the cooling stage to one side of a heat exchanger to maintain a pressure differential therebetween; and   a cooling circuit without a reservoir in which cycles a second refrigerant between a second side of the heat exchanger and an ice-playing surface, such that the second refrigerant absorbs heat from the ice-playing surface and releases heat to the CO 2  refrigerant in the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 11 , wherein the cooling stage comprises at least one of a gas-cooling unit, a heat-reclaim exchanger, and a heating unit. 
     
     
         13 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 12 , comprising a plurality of the heating unit, with valves provided in relation to the plurality of heating unit to individually control an amount of CO 2  refrigerant directed to each said heating unit. 
     
     
         14 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 13 , wherein a fan of each said heating unit is controlled by a controller as a function of a temperature demand and of said amount of CO 2  refrigerant. 
     
     
         15 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one pump in the cooling circuit to induce a flow of the second refrigerant therein. 
     
     
         16 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a CO 2  condensation reservoir between the heat exchanger and the compression stage. 
     
     
         17 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a line extending directly from the heat exchanger to the compression stage. 
     
     
         18 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger is a shell and tube type of heat exchanger, with the CO 2  circuit side of the heat exchanger being the shell, the cooling side of the heat exchanger being the tubes. 
     
     
         19 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 11 , wherein the cooling circuit comprises pipes under the ice-playing surface in which circulates the CO 2  refrigerant to refrigerate the ice-playing surface. 
     
     
         20 . The CO 2  refrigeration system according to  claim 11 , wherein the CO 2  refrigerant in the CO 2  circuit is compressed to a transcritical state.