Air conditioning and refrigeration apparatus utilizing a cryogen.

摘要

A refrigeration system (10) associated with a conditioned space (14) to be controlled to a predetermined set point temperature (126) via heating and cooling cycles. The refrigeration system includes a fluid flow path (42) through which a predetermined liquid (104) is circulated. The fluid flow path includes a slush tank (78) and first and second heat exchangers (46,88), with cryogen from a supply vessel (16) being expanded into liquid (104) disposed in the slush tank. The first heat exchanger (46) is disposed to condition the air (122) of the conditioned space (14), and the second heat exchanger (88) is in heat exchange relation with heating apparatus (145). The first heat exchanger (46) and slush tank (78) are interconnected when the conditioned space requires a cooling cycle, and the first and second heat exchangers (46,88) are interconnected when the conditioned space requires a heating cycle. Cryogen from the supply vessel is thus not expended to heat the conditioned space, or for defrosting purposes.