Refrigeration system with pressure-balanced heat reclaim

Abstract

A refrigeration system with pressure-balanced heat reclaim includes at least one compressor configured to discharge a compressed refrigerant. A heat reclaim branch has a first end configured to receive at least a first portion of the compressed refrigerant and a second end, the heat reclaim branch also has a first refrigerant pressure drop. A condensing branch has a first end configured to receive at least a second portion of the compressed refrigerant and a second end, the second end of the condensing branch is fluidly coupled to the second end of the heat reclaim branch, and the condensing branch has a second refrigerant pressure drop. A pressure regulation device is disposed on one of the heat reclaim branch and the condensing branch and substantially equalizes the first refrigerant pressure drop and the second refrigerant pressure drop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration system for circulating a refrigerant with pressure-balanced heat reclaim, comprising:
 at least one temperature-controlled storage device;   at least one compressor configured to draw the refrigerant from the temperature-controlled storage device and to discharge a hot compressed refrigerant to a discharge line;   a heat reclaim branch having a first end fluidly coupled to the discharge line and a second end;   a heat reclaim heat exchanger disposed between the first end and the second end of the heat reclaim branch and configured to transfer heat from the hot compressed refrigerant to one or more heating loads;   a condensing branch having a first end fluidly coupled to the discharge line and a second end, the second end of the condensing branch being fluidly coupled to the second end of the heat reclaim branch;   a condenser disposed between the first end and the second end of the condensing branch;   a pressure regulation device disposed between the heat reclaim heat exchanger and the second end of the heat reclaim branch; and   wherein the pressure regulation device is operable to substantially balance a refrigerant pressure in the heat reclaim branch downstream of the pressure regulation device with a refrigerant pressure in the condensing branch downstream of the condenser.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser is an air-cooled condenser and has a plurality of separate sections for flow of the hot compressed refrigerant through the condenser. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a heat reclaim valve disposed between the first end of the heat reclaim portion and the heat reclaim heat exchanger, the heat reclaim valve operable to divert a first portion of the hot compressed refrigerant to the heat reclaim heat exchanger and away from the condenser. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a check valve disposed on an outlet of each of the sections of the condenser. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the pressure regulation device is operable to avoid a backpressure condition downstream of the heat exchanger, where the backpressure condition maintains the check valves in a closed position and prevents flow of the refrigerant through the circuits of the condenser. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a condenser inlet valve disposed on an inlet to each section of the condenser. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a controller operable to regulate a position of the heat reclaim valve, the condenser inlet valves, and the pressure regulation device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a bypass valve arranged in parallel with a condenser inlet valve, the bypass valve configured to allow the hot compressed refrigerant to bypass the condenser inlet valve and enter the condenser. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the bypass valve is configured to allow the hot compressed refrigerant to bypass the condenser inlet valve in response to a pressure of the hot compressed refrigerant in the discharge line exceeding a threshold pressure. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigeration system with pressure-balanced heat reclaim, comprising:
 at least one compressor configured to discharge a compressed refrigerant;   a heat reclaim branch having a first end configured to receive at least a first portion of the compressed refrigerant and a second end;   a heat reclaim valve and a heat reclaim heat exchanger disposed between the first end and the second end of the heat reclaim branch, the heat reclaim heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the compressed refrigerant to one or more heating loads;   a condensing branch having a first end configured to receive at least a second portion of the compressed refrigerant and a second end, the second end of the condensing branch being fluidly coupled to the second end of the heat reclaim branch;   a condenser and at least one condenser inlet valve disposed between the first end and the second end of the condensing branch;   a pressure regulation device disposed between the heat reclaim heat exchanger and the second end of the heat reclaim branch; and   a controller configured to send a first output signal to position the heat reclaim valve, and a second output signal to position the condenser inlet valve, and a third output signal to position the pressure regulation device to substantially balance a first refrigerant pressure in the heat reclaim branch downstream of the pressure regulation device with a second refrigerant pressure in the condensing branch downstream of the condenser.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the heat reclaim branch comprises a first refrigerant pressure drop and the condensing branch comprises a second refrigerant pressure drop, the second refrigerant pressure drop being different from the first refrigerant pressure drop. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the controller regulates a position of the pressure regulation device so that the first refrigerant pressure drop is substantially equal to the second refrigerant pressure drop. 
     
     
         13 . A refrigeration system with pressure-balanced heat reclaim, comprising:
 at least one compressor configured to discharge a compressed refrigerant;   a heat reclaim branch having a first end configured to receive at least a first portion of the compressed refrigerant and a second end, the heat reclaim branch having a first refrigerant pressure drop;   a condensing branch having a first end configured to receive at least a second portion of the compressed refrigerant and a second end, the second end of the condensing branch being fluidly coupled to the second end of the heat reclaim branch, the condensing branch having a second refrigerant pressure drop; and   a pressure regulation device disposed on one of the heat reclaim branch and the condensing branch and configured to substantially equalize the first refrigerant pressure drop and the second refrigerant pressure drop.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a heat reclaim valve and a heat reclaim heat exchanger disposed between the first end and the second end of the heat reclaim branch, the heat reclaim heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the compressed refrigerant to one or more heating loads. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a condenser and at least one condenser inlet valve disposed between the first end and the second end of the condensing branch. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a bypass valve arranged in parallel with a condenser inlet valve, the bypass valve configured to allow the compressed refrigerant discharged by the at least one compressor to bypass the condenser inlet valve and enter the condenser. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the bypass valve is configured to allow the compressed refrigerant to bypass the condenser inlet valve in response to a pressure of the compressed refrigerant discharged by the at least one compressor exceeding a threshold pressure. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a controller configured to send a first output signal to position the heat reclaim valve, and a second output signal to position the condenser inlet valve, and a third output signal to position the pressure regulation device to substantially balance a first refrigerant pressure in the heat reclaim branch downstream of the pressure regulation device with a second refrigerant pressure in the condensing branch downstream of the condenser. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one check valve disposed on an outlet of the condenser. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the pressure regulation device is operable to avoid a backpressure condition downstream of the heat reclaim heat exchanger, where the backpressure condition maintains the check valve in a closed position and prevents flow of the refrigerant through the condenser.