US 12,292,236 B2
Refrigeration device and system
Fabien Durand, Sassenage (FR); and Guillaume Delautre, Sassenage (FR)
Assigned to L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Paris (FR)
Appl. No. 17/633,108
Filed by L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Paris (FR)
PCT Filed Jul. 8, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/069193
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 4, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/023459, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 11, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1908949 (FR), filed on Aug. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0333859 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. F25J 1/02 (2006.01); F25B 1/053 (2006.01); F25B 1/10 (2006.01); F25B 9/06 (2006.01); F25B 11/04 (2006.01); F25B 31/02 (2006.01); F25J 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25J 1/0296 (2013.01) [F25B 1/053 (2013.01); F25B 1/10 (2013.01); F25B 9/06 (2013.01); F25B 11/04 (2013.01); F25B 31/026 (2013.01); F25J 1/001 (2013.01); F25J 1/0022 (2013.01); F25J 1/0025 (2013.01); F25J 1/005 (2013.01); F25J 1/0062 (2013.01); F25J 1/0065 (2013.01); F25J 1/0067 (2013.01); F25J 1/0072 (2013.01); F25J 1/0204 (2013.01); F25J 1/0212 (2013.01); F25J 1/0258 (2013.01); F25J 1/0259 (2013.01); F25J 1/0261 (2013.01); F25J 1/0265 (2013.01); F25J 1/0277 (2013.01); F25J 1/0284 (2013.01); F25J 1/0288 (2013.01); F25B 2400/054 (2013.01); F25B 2400/072 (2013.01); F25B 2400/14 (2013.01); F25B 2500/01 (2013.01); F25B 2600/0251 (2013.01); F25J 2230/04 (2013.01); F25J 2230/20 (2013.01); F25J 2290/34 (2013.01); F25J 2290/62 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A low-temperature refrigeration device for refrigeration at a temperature of between minus 100 degrees centigrade and minus 273 degrees centigrade, the refrigeration device being disposed in a frame and comprising:
a working circuit forming a loop and containing a working fluid, the working circuit forming a cycle that comprises, in series: a compression mechanism for compressing the working fluid, a cooling mechanism for cooling the working fluid, an expansion mechanism for expanding the working fluid, and a heating mechanism for heating the working fluid, wherein:
the cooling and heating mechanisms comprising a common heat exchanger through which the working fluid passes in countercurrent in two separate passage portions of the working circuit depending on whether the user fluid is cooled or heated;
the compression mechanism comprises two separate compressors;
the cooling mechanism comprises two cooling heat exchangers that are disposed respectively at the outlets of the two compressors and ensure heat exchange between the working fluid and a cooling fluid;
the frame extends in a longitudinal direction and comprises a lower base configured to be fixed to a support;
the cooling heat exchangers are situated in the frame;
the cooling heat exchangers each have an elongate shape extending in respective longitudinal directions;
each cooling heat exchanger comprises an inlet for working gas to be cooled and an outlet for cooled working gas that are disposed respectively at two longitudinal ends;
each cooling heat exchanger comprises an inlet for cooling fluid and an outlet for cooling fluid;
the two cooling heat exchangers are arranged inversely with respect to one another such that the respective longitudinal directions of the two cooling heat exchangers are parallel or substantially parallel and the directions of circulation of the working fluid in said cooling heat exchangers are opposite to one another;
the cooling heat exchangers are situated adjacently spaced apart from one another by a distance of between 0 mm and 500 mm;
the cooling heat exchangers of elongate shape extend in longitudinal directions that are parallel to the longitudinal axis;
the outlet for cooling fluid of one of the cooling heat exchangers is connected to the inlet for cooling fluid of the other cooling heat exchanger such that some of the flow of cooling fluid passing through one of the cooling heat exchangers has already circulated in the other cooling heat exchanger; and
a refrigeration heat exchanger intended to extract heat at at least one member by heat exchange with the working fluid circulating in the working circuit,
wherein the two cooling heat exchangers are disposed side-by-side or one above the other in a direction perpendicular to the base,
wherein a direction of circulation of the working fluid and the cooling fluid through each of the cooling heat exchangers is countercurrent.
 
7. A system for refrigeration and/or liquefaction of a flow of user fluid, comprising,
a refrigeration device being disposed in a frame and comprising:
a working circuit forming a loop and containing a working fluid, the working circuit forming a cycle that comprises in series: a compression mechanism for compressing the working fluid, a cooling mechanism for cooling the working fluid, an expansion mechanism for expanding the working fluid, and a heating mechanism for heating the working fluid, wherein:
the cooling and heating mechanisms comprising a common heat exchanger through which the working fluid passes in countercurrent in two separate passage portions of the working circuit depending on whether the user fluid is cooled or heated,
the compression mechanism comprises two separate compressors,
the cooling mechanism comprises two cooling heat exchangers that are disposed respectively at the outlets of the two compressors and ensure heat exchange between the working fluid and a cooling fluid,
the frame extends in a longitudinal direction and comprises a lower base configured to be fixed to a support;
the cooling heat exchangers are situated in the frame;
the cooling heat exchangers each have an elongate shape extending in respective longitudinal directions;
each cooling heat exchanger comprises an inlet for working gas to be cooled and an outlet for cooled working gas that are disposed relatively at two longitudinal ends;
each cooling heat exchanger comprises an inlet for cooling fluid and an outlet for cooling fluid;
the two cooling heat exchangers are arranged inversely with respect to one another such that the respective longitudinal directions of the two cooling heat exchangers are parallel or substantially parallel and the directions of circulation of the working fluid in said cooling heat exchangers are opposite to one another;
the cooling heat exchangers are situated adjacently spaced apart from one another by a distance of between 0 mm and 500 mm;
the cooling heat exchangers of elongate shape extend in longitudinal directions that are parallel to the longitudinal axis,
the outlet for cooling fluid of one of the cooling heat exchangers is connected to the inlet for cooling fluid of the other cooling heat exchanger such that some of the flow of cooling fluid passing through one of the cooling heat exchangers has already circulated in the other cooling heat exchanger; and
a refrigeration heat exchanger intended to extract heat at at least one member by heat exchange with the working fluid circulating in the working circuit,
wherein the two cooling heat exchangers are disposed side-by-side or one above the other in a direction perpendicular to the base,
wherein a direction of circulation of the working fluid and the cooling fluid through each of the cooling heat exchangers is countercurrent;
at least one tank of user fluid; and
a duct for circulation of said flow of user fluid in the cooling exchanger.