Energy Recovery Apparatus for a Refrigeration System

摘要

An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a refrigerant cooler of a refrigeration system. The nozzle comprises a fluid passageway. The nozzle is configured to reduce temperature and pressure of refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant cooler and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the fluid passageway. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the fluid passageway. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

主权项

1. An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, the refrigeration system comprising an evaporator, a compressor and a refrigerant cooler, the refrigeration system being configured to circulate refrigerant along a flow path such that the refrigerant flows from the evaporator to the compressor, and from the compressor to the refrigerant cooler, and from the refrigerant cooler to the evaporator, the energy recovery apparatus being adapted and configured to be in the flow path operatively between the refrigerant cooler and the evaporator, the energy recovery apparatus comprising:
an intake port adapted to permit refrigerant to flow into the energy recovery apparatus; a discharge port adapted to permit refrigerant to flow out of the energy recovery apparatus; a nozzle comprising a conduit region downstream of the intake port, the conduit region defining a passageway, the passageway being adapted to constitute a portion of the flow path, the passageway having an upstream cross-section, a downstream cross-section, a passageway length extending from the upstream cross-section to the downstream cross-section, and a discharge end, the downstream cross-section of the passageway being closer to the discharge end of the passageway than to the upstream cross-section, the passageway at the downstream cross-section having an effective diameter, the effective diameter being defined as (4A/π)1/2, where A is the cross-sectional area of the passageway at the downstream cross-section, the passageway length being at least five times the effective diameter, the nozzle being adapted and configured such that refrigerant entering the nozzle is reduced in temperature and pressure as it passes through the nozzle and is discharged from the discharge end of the passageway in a liquid-vapor state with a liquid component and a vapor component; a turbine positioned and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the discharge end of the passageway, the discharge port of the energy recovery apparatus being downstream of the turbine; a generator coupled to the turbine and adapted to be driven by the turbine, the generator being configured to produce electricity as a result of the turbine being driven by refrigerant discharged from the discharge end of the passageway; and a housing, the turbine and generator being within the housing.