Refrigeration system and methods for refrigeration

Abstract

A refrigeration system includes: a compressor arrangement for compressing gaseous refrigerant from a first pressure to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure comprises a condensing pressure; a first condenser evaporator system and a second condenser evaporator system, where in the first condenser evaporator system and the second condenser evaporator system are arranged in parallel and each comprises: (1) a condenser for receiving gaseous refrigerant at a condensing pressure and condensing the refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant, where in the condenser comprises a gaseous refrigerant inlet, a plate and a liquid refrigerant outlet, and a water delivery system for delivering water to an outside of the plate for removing heat from the plate; (2) a controlled pressure receiver for holding the liquid refrigerant from the condenser; and (3) an evaporator for evaporating the liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver to form the gaseous refrigerant; a first gaseous refrigerant feed line for feeding the gaseous refrigerant at the second pressure from the compressor arrangement to the plurality of condenser evaporator systems; and a second gaseous refrigerant feed line for feeding gaseous refrigerant from the plurality of condenser evaporator systems to the compressor arrangement. A process for feeding multiple condenser evaporator systems provided, and a cartridge condenser is provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration system for a facility comprising:
 (a) a compressor arrangement for compressing gaseous refrigerant from a first pressure to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure comprises a condensing pressure;   (b) a first condenser evaporator system and a second condenser evaporator system, wherein the first condenser evaporator system and the second condenser evaporator system are arranged in parallel and each comprises:
 (1) a condenser for receiving the gaseous refrigerant at the condensing pressure and condensing the gaseous refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant; 
 (2) a controlled pressure receiver for holding the liquid refrigerant from the condenser; and 
 (3) an evaporator for evaporating the liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver to form the gaseous refrigerant; 
   (c) a first gaseous refrigerant feed line for feeding the gaseous refrigerant at the second pressure from the compressor arrangement to the plurality of condenser evaporator systems;   (d) a second gaseous refrigerant feed line for feeding the gaseous refrigerant from the plurality of condenser evaporator systems to the compressor arrangement; and   (e) the condenser for the first condenser evaporator system and the condenser for the second condenser evaporator system comprises:
 (1) a gaseous refrigerant inlet, a plate, and a liquid refrigerant outlet; 
 (2) a water delivery system for delivering water to an outside of the plate for removing heat from the plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the water delivery system comprises a sump for holding water, a pump for moving the water from the sump and through a water line to a spray header where the water is sprayed onto the plate. 
     
     
         3 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an air delivery system that that moves air over the plate. 
     
     
         4 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor arrangement comprises a first stage compressor and a second stage compressor arranged in series. 
     
     
         5 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 4 , wherein the compressor arrangement comprises an intercooler provided between the first stage compressor and the second stage compressor. 
     
     
         6 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 4 , wherein the evaporator of the first condenser evaporator system operates at a first temperature, and the evaporator of the second condenser evaporator system operates at a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is different from the second temperature. 
     
     
         7 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 6 , wherein there first temperature is at least 10° C. lower than the second temperature. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 6 , wherein the first condenser evaporator system is constructed to return gaseous refrigerant to the first compressor, and the second condenser evaporator system is constructed to return gaseous refrigerant to the second compressor. 
     
     
         9 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant comprises ammonia. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the condensing pressure is a pressure greater than 100 psi. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first condenser evaporator system and the second condenser evaporator system are constructed to operate in a defrost cycle so that gaseous refrigerant condenses in the evaporator and liquid refrigerant evaporates in the condenser. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigeration system comprising:
 (a) a centralized compressor arrangement and a plurality of condenser evaporator systems, wherein each condenser evaporator system comprises:
 (1) a condenser for receiving gaseous refrigerant and condensing the gaseous refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant; 
 (2) a controlled pressure receiver for holding the liquid refrigerants from the condenser; 
 (3) an evaporator for evaporating the liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver to form gaseous refrigerant; 
   (b) the refrigeration system is constructed to convey gaseous refrigerant from the centralized compressor arrangement to the plurality of condenser evaporator systems; and   (c) at least one condenser for the plurality of condenser evaporator systems comprises:
 (1) a gaseous refrigerant inlet, a plate, and a liquid refrigerant outlet; and 
 (2) a water delivery system for delivery water to an outside of the plate for removing heat from the plate. 
   
     
     
         13 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 12 , wherein the water delivery system comprises a sump for holding water, a pump for moving the water from the sump and through a water line to a spray header where the water is sprayed onto the plate. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 12 , further comprising an air delivery system that moves air over the plate. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 12 , wherein the compressor arrangement comprises a first stage compressor and a second stage compressor arranged in series. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 15 , wherein the compressor arrangement comprises an intercooler provided between the first stage compressor and the second stage compressor. 
     
     
         17 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of condenser evaporator systems is a first condenser evaporator system and has an evaporator operating at a first temperature, and at least another one of the plurality of condenser evaporator systems is a second condenser evaporator system and has an evaporator operating at a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is different from the second temperature. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 16 , wherein there first temperature is at least 10° C. lower than the second temperature. 
     
     
         19 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first condenser evaporator system is constructed to return gaseous refrigerant to the first compressor, and the second condenser evaporator system is constructed to return gaseous refrigerant to the second compressor. 
     
     
         20 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 12 , wherein the refrigerant comprises ammonia. 
     
     
         21 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 12 , wherein the condensing pressure is a pressure greater than 100 psi. 
     
     
         22 . A refrigeration system according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the condenser evaporator systems operates in a hot gas defrost cycle so that gaseous refrigerant is condensed in the evaporator and liquid refrigerant evaporates in the condenser. 
     
     
         23 . A process for feeding multiple condenser evaporator systems comprising:
 (a) compressing gaseous refrigerant to a condensation pressure to form a hot gaseous refrigerant;   (b) feeding the hot gaseous refrigerant to a plurality of condenser evaporator systems, wherein each condenser evaporator system comprises;
 (1) a condenser for receiving the hot gaseous refrigerant and condensing the hot gaseous refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant, wherein the condenser comprises:
 (i) a gaseous refrigerant inlet, a plate, and a liquid refrigerant outlet; and 
 (ii) a water delivery system for delivering water to an outside of the plate for removing heat from the plate; 
 
 (2) a controlled pressure receiver for holding the liquid refrigerant; and 
 (3) an evaporator for evaporating the liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver to form gaseous refrigerant; and 
   (c) feeding the gaseous refrigerant from the plurality of condenser evaporator systems to a compressor arrangement constructed to compress the gaseous refrigerant to a condensing pressure.   
     
     
         24 . A process according to  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the condenser evaporator systems operators to provide refrigeration as a result of evaporating liquid refrigerant in the evaporator of the condenser evaporator system. 
     
     
         25 . A process according to  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the condenser evaporator systems operators in a hot gas defrost cycle so that the gaseous refrigerant is condensed in the evaporator and liquid refrigerant is evaporated in the condenser.