Refrigeration system with phase change material heat exchanger

Abstract

The present application provides a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system may include a compressor and a condenser downstream of the compressor. The condenser may include a refrigerant tube, an outer jacket surrounding the refrigerant tube, and a phase change material positioned between the refrigerant tube and the outer jacket and in contact with the refrigerant tube.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 a compressor; and   a condenser downstream of the compressor;   the condenser comprising a refrigerant tube, an outer jacket surrounding the refrigerant tube, and a phase change material positioned between the refrigerant tube and the outer jacket and in contact with the refrigerant tube.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer jacket comprises a smooth surface. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer jacket comprises a corrugated surface. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer jacket comprises one or more outer jacket fins. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer jacket comprises one or more compartments. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more compartments comprise a plurality of varying volume compartments. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more compartments comprise a plurality of phase change materials therein with differing melting and solidification temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material comprises a wax. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of refrigerant tubes within the outer jacket. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant tube comprises one or more refrigerant tube fins. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more refrigerant tube fins comprise one or more star shaped fins. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant tube comprises a plurality of bends. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor comprises a phase change material shell thereon. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration system of  claim 13 , wherein the phase change material compressor shell comprises the phase change material therein in contact with the compressor. 
     
     
         15 . A method of condensing a refrigerant, comprising:
 flowing a refrigerant in a refrigerant tube from a compressor;   surrounding the refrigerant tube with a phase change material;   removing heat from the refrigerant when the compressor is on by melting the phase change material; and   releasing heat to the ambient when the compressor is off by solidifying the phase change material.   
     
     
         16 . A phase change material heat exchanger, comprising:
 a heat source;   a phase change material surrounding the heat source in whole or in part; and   an outer jacket surrounding the phase change material;   the phase change material removes heat when the heat source is on by melting and releases heat to the ambient when the heat source is off by solidifying.   
     
     
         17 . The phase change material heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the heat source is a refrigerant. 
     
     
         18 . The phase change material heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the heat source is a compressor. 
     
     
         19 . The phase change material heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the heat source is a refrigeration component. 
     
     
         20 . The phase change material heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the outer jacket comprises a plurality of compartments with a plurality of varying volume compartments and/or a plurality of phase change materials therein with differing melting and solidification temperature.