Integrated cascade refrigeration system

Abstract

A high efficiency, self-modulating refrigeration system has three principal parts, including (1) a compression refrigeration circuit, (2) an absorption refrigeration circuit coupled in cascade with the compression circuit, and (3) an engine or prime mover/electric generator combination, with the electric generator supplying power to the compressors, pumps, fans and other auxiliary equipment, of the refrigeration circuits, and the waste heat from the prime mover or engine being supplied to the still, or reboilers associated with the absorption refrigeration circuit. Ammonia is used in the absorption circuit, and ammonia or Freon is preferably used in the compression circuit. For retrofitting of compression systems, the existing compression and other equipment may be retained, and employed when servicing or repairing the absorption circuit, or engine generator. Multiple staging may be employed, and the various circuits may be intercoupled from a heat exchange standpoint at several points in the circuits.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A high efficiency cascade refrigeration system comprising: an absorption refrigeration circuit, said absorption circuit including means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant from the absorbent;   a compression refrigeration circuit, said compression circuit including a compressor;   engine means for generating electricity, said engine generating heat;   means for supplying heat from said engine to said absorption circuit separating means;   means for cooling and condensing the refrigerant used in said compression circuit by the evaporation of the refrigerant in said absorption circuit; and   means for powering said compressor from electricity generated by said engine means;   whereby a fully integrated, self-modulating system is provided, wherein increased cooling demand causes increased electrical load for the compressor and associated equipment, and correspondingly increased engine power and heat, boosting the absorption circuit capacity, thereby reducing compression ratio in the compression circuit, and system efficiency is increased.   
     
     
       2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein ammonia is employed as the refrigerant in the absorption circuit. 
     
     
       3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the compression circuit refrigerant is ammonia. 
     
     
       4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the refrigerant in the compression circuit is Freon. 
     
     
       5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein heat exchanger means are provided for concurrently cooling the gaseous compression circuit refrigerant and heating the liquid solution including the absorption circuit refrigerant. 
     
     
       6. A system as defined in claim 1 further including means for electrically heating the means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant and absorbent. 
     
     
       7. A system as defined in claim .Iadd.1 wherein said compression circuit includes a multistage compression circuit. 
     
     
       8. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising condenser means for operating said compression circuit independent of said absorption circuit, and means for switching from cascade operation wherein said absorption circuit is operative, to a simple compression circuit mode of operation. 
     
     
       9. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said engine has a hot gas exhaust and heated liquid coolant, and wherein means are provided for heating the absorption circuit separating means from both said hot gas exhaust and said heated liquid coolant. 
     
     
       10. A high efficiency cascade refrigeration system comprising: an absorption refrigeration circuit, said absorption circuit including means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant from the absorbent, and including ammonia as the refrigerant;   a compression refrigeration circuit, said compression circuit including a compressor, and including a halocarbon such as Freon as the refrigerant;   engine means for generating electricity, said engine generating heat;   means for supplying heat from said engine to said absorption circuit separating means; and   means for cooling and condensing the refrigerant used in said compression circuit by the evaporation of the refrigerant in said absorption circuit; and   means for powering said compressor from electricity generated by said engine means;   whereby a fully integrated, self modulating system is provided, wherein increased cooling demand causes increased electrical load for the compressor and associated equipment, and correspondingly increased engine power and heat, boosting absorption circuit capacity, thereby reducing the compression ratio in the compression circuit, and system efficiency is increased.   
     
     
       11. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein heat exchanger means are provided for concurrently cooling the gaseous compression circuit refrigerant and heating the liquid solution including the absorption circuit refrigerant. 
     
     
       12. A system as defined in claim 10 further including means for electrically heating the means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant and absorbent. 
     
     
       13. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said engine has a hot gas exhaust and heated liquid coolant, and wherein means are provided for heating the absorption circuit separating means from both said hot gas exhaust and said heated liquid coolant. 
     
     
       14. A high efficiency cascade refrigeration system comprising: an absorption refrigeration circuit, said absorption circuit including means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant from the absorbent;   a compression refrigeration circuit, said compression circuit including a compressor;   prime power source means including an engine for generating electricity, said engine generating heat in the form of hot exhaust gases and a heated coolant;   means for supplying heat from said hot exhaust gases and said heated coolant to said absorption circuit separating means;   means for cooling and condensing the refrigerant used in said compression circuit by the evaporation of the refrigerant in said absorption circuit; and   means for supplying electricity from said generator to power compressors and pumps in said absorption and compression refrigeration circuits;   whereby a fully integrated self-modulating system is provided, wherein increased cooling demand causes increased engine power and heat, boosting absorption circuit capacity, thereby reducing the compression ratio in compression circuit, and system efficiency is increased.   
     
     
       15. A system as defined in claim 14 wherein ammonia is employed as the refrigerant in the absorption circuit. 
     
     
       16. A system as defined in claim 14 wherein heat exchanger means are provided for concurrently cooling the gaseous compression circuit refrigerant and heating the liquid solution including the absorption circuit refrigerant. 
     
     
       17. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising condenser means for operating said compression circuit independent of said absorption circuit, and means for switching from cascade operation wherein said absorption circuit is operative, to a simple compression circuit mode of operation. 
     
     
       18. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for supplying electricity from the generator to circuits other than said refrigeration circuits. 
     
     
       19. A high efficiency cascade refrigeration system comprising: an absorption refrigeration circuit, said absorption circuit including means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant from the absorbent;   a compression refrigeration circuit, said compression circuit including a compressor;   engine means for generating electricity, said engine generating heat;   means for supplying heat from said engine to said absorption circuit separating means;   means for cooling said condensing the refrigerant used in said compression circuit by the evaporation of the refrigerant in said absorption circuit;   said engine having a hot gas exhaust and heated liquid coolant, and wherein means are provided for heating the absorption circuit separating means from both said hot gas exhaust and said heated liquid coolent; and   said separating means including a fractionating column, and first and second associated reboilers, with the gas exhaust being coupled to a first one of said reboilers, and said liquid coolant being coupled to said second reboiler;   whereby a fully integrated, self-modulating system is provided, wherein increased cooling demand causes increased engine power and heat, boosting the absorption circuit capacity, thereby reducing compression ratio in the compression circuit, and system efficiency is increased.   
     
     
       20. A high efficiency cascade refrigeration system comprising: an absorption refrigeration circuit, said absorption circuit including means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant from the absorbent, and including ammonia as the refrigerant;   a compression refrigeration circuit, said compression circuit including a compressor, and including a halocarbon such as Freon as the refrigerant;   engine means for generating electricity, said engine generating heat;   means for supplying heat from said engine to said absorption circuit separating means;   means for cooling and condensing the refrigerant used in said compression circuit by the evaporation of the refrigerant in said absorption circuit;   said engine having a hot gas exhaust and heated liquid coolant, and wherein means are provided for heating the absorption circuit separating means from both said hot gas exhaust and said heated liquid coolant; and   said separating means including a fractionating column and first and second associated reboilers, with the gas exhaust being coupled to a first one of said reboilers, and said liquid coolant being coupled to said second reboilers;   whereby a fully integrated, self-modulating system is provided, wherein increased cooling demand causes increased electrical load for the compressor and associated equipment, and correspondingly increased engine power and heat, boosting absorption circuit capacity, thereby reducing the compression ratio in the compression circuit, and system efficiency is increased.   
     
     
       21. A high efficiency retrofit cascade refrigeration system comprising: an absorption refrigeration circuit, said absorption circuit including means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant from the absorbent;   a compression refrigeration circuit, said compression circuit including a compressor;   engine means for generating electricity, said engine generating heat;   means for supplying heat from said engine to said absorption circuit separating means;   means for cooling and condensing the refrigerant used in said compression circuit by the evaporation of the refrigerant in said absorption circuit;   means for powering said compressor from electricity generated by said engine means; and   means for mounting said absorption refrigeration circuit, said engine means, said heat supplying means, and said cooling and condensing means, as a single separate, physical assembly, for use in a retrofit installation with an existing compression refrigeration system;   whereby a fully integrated, self-modulating system is provided, wherein increased cooling demand causes increased electrical load for the compressor and associated equipment, and correspondingly increased engine power and heat, boosting the absorption circuit capacity, thereby reducing compression ratio in the compression circuit, and system efficiency is increased. .Iadd.   
     
     
       22.  A high efficiency cascade refrigeration system comprising: an absorption refrigeration circuit, said absorption circuit including means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant from the absorbent;   a compression refrigeration circuit, said compression circuit including a compressor;   means for generating electricity and further for generating heat wherein increased generation of electricity results in increased generation of heat;   means for supplying said heat to said absorption circuit separating means;   means for cooling and condensing the refrigerant used in said compression circuit by the evaporation of the refrigerant in said absorption circuit; and   means for powering said compressor from said electricity;   whereby a fully integrated, self modulating system is provided, wherein an increased cooling demand causes increased electrical load for the compressor and associated equipment, and correspondingly increased heat to be generated, boosting the absorption circuit capacity, thereby reducing compression ratio in the compression circuit, and system efficiency is increased. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A system as defined in claim 22 wherein said electricity and heat generating means involves a chemical reaction, and in which the heat of reaction increases with increased electricity developed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A system as defined in claim 22 wherein said electricity and heat generating means includes:   a natural gas turbine engine which develops the heat; and   an electrical generator driven by said turbine to develop said electricity.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.25.  A system as defined in claim 22 wherein said separating means includes: a plurality of reboilers, said reboilers being heated by said heat, said reboilers heating said absorption circuit refrigerant and the absorbent; and   a fractionating column in which said absorption circuit refrigerant is separated from the absorbent. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. A system as defined in claim 22 further comprising circuit means for selectively powering said compressor from electricity from one of said electricity and heat generating means and an electric local power net. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A system as defined in claim 26 wherein said circuit means further supplies excess electricity generated by said electricity and heat generating means to said local power net. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A system as defined in claim 22 including electrical circuit means coupled to said means for generating electricity, said electrical circuit means including an electric local power net; and   means for coupling said compressor to said electrical circuit means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A system as defined in claim 22 wherein heat exchanger means are provided for concurrently cooling the gaseous compression circuit refrigerant and heating the liquid solution including the absorption circuit refrigerant. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A high efficiency cascade refrigeration system comprising:   an absorption refrigeration circuit, said absorption circuit including means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant from the absorbent;   a compression refrigeration circuit, said compression circuit including a compressor;   prime power source means for generating electricity and concurrently generating heat wherein increased generation of electricity results in increased generation of heat;   means for supplying said heat to said absorption circuit separation means;   means for cooling and condensing the refrigerant used in said compression circuit by the evaporation of the refrigerant in said absorption circuit; and   means for powering said compressor from electricity;   whereby a fully integrated, self modulating system is provided, wherein an increased cooling demand causes increased electrical load for the compressor and associated equipment, and correspondingly increased heat to be generated, boosting the absorption circuit capacity, thereby reducing compression ratio in the compression circuit, and system efficiency is   
     
     
        increased. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31.  A high efficiency cascade refrigeration system comprising: an absorption refrigeration circuit, said absorption circuit including means for separating the absorption circuit refrigerant from the absorbent;   a compression refrigeration circuit, said compression circuit including a compressor;   means for generating electricity and further for generating heat wherein increased generation of electricity results in increased generation of heat;   means for supplying said heat to said absorption circuit separating means;   means for cooling and condensing the refrigerant used in said compression circuit by the evaporation of the refrigerant in said absorption circuit;   electric circuit means coupled to said means for generating electricity; and   means for coupling said compressor to said electric circuit means;   whereby a fully integrated, self-modulating system is provided, wherein an increased cooling demand causes increased electrical load for the compressor and associated equipment, and correspondingly increased heat to be generated, boosting the absorption circuit capacity, thereby reducing compression ratio in the compression circuit, and system efficiency is   
     
     
        increased. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32.  A system as defined in claim 30 wherein said electric circuit means includes a local electric utility network. .Iaddend.