Refrigeration system

Claim 2

A closed refrigeration system in which a fluid refrigerant can be circulated, comprising: (a) heating means for converting the fluid to a relatively high pressure gas; (b) an expansion chamber downstream from the heating means, the expansion chamber including a cylindrical chamber with a fluid inlet opening adapted for introducing the gas tangentially into the chamber and an outlet concentric about the chamber axis, and of smaller diameter than the chamber so that conservation of angular momentum causes the fluid to increase the tangential component of its velocity, thereby producing an approximately isentropic expansion with reduced pressure and temperature as it passes through the expansion chamber; (c) a compression chamber connected to the outlet of the expansion chamber, the compression chamber being approximately a mirror image of the expansion chamber, so that the tangential component of the fluid velocity is caused to decrease by the conservation of angular momentum as the fluid passes from the small diameter inlet to the tangential outlet, thereby producing an approximately isentropic compression; (d) condensing means downstream of the compression chamber and upstream of the heating means for condensing the gas from the compression chamber to a liquid; (e) vaporizing means for vaporizing a portion of the liquid at a relatively low pressure for providing refrigeration, the inlet of the vaporizing means being connected between the condensing means and the heating means for diverting a portion of the fluid flowing from the condensing means; (f) a conduit connected at one end to the outlet of the vaporizing means, the other end being located on the axis of the expansion chamber so that the low pressure region will cause fluid to circulate through the vaporizing means; (g) circulating means for circulating fluid through the condensing means, heating means, expansion chamber, and compression chamber; (h) the outlet of the compression chamber being larger than the inlet to the expansion chamber so as to accommodate the increased flow volume, including the added flow from the evaporator and the increased volume of the gas due to heating; (i) means within the expansion chamber in the form of a generally conically shaped body to guide the flow to the tangential outlet in a smooth manner.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, wherein the circulating means includes a pump located downstream from the condensing means and upstream from the heating means.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2, wherein the pump is located downstream from where a portion of the fluid is diverted to the vaporizor.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1, wherein the inlet to the expansion chamber includes a plurality of tangential openings.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet of the compression chamber includes a plurality of outlet openings.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1, wherein a refrigeration heat exchanger is provided in the form of a tubular conduit through which the fluid circulates located between the expansion chamber and the compression chamber.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6, wherein a second level of refrigeration is provided by a refrigeration heat exchanger in the form of a jacket around the tubular conduit between the expansion chamber and output chamber with means for circulating material to be refrigerated through the jacket.

Claim 9

A closed refrigeration system in which a fluid refrigerant can be circulated, comprising: (a) means for compressing the fluid to a high pressure; (b) an expansion chamber downstream from the compressor, the expansion chamber including a cylindrical chamber with a fluid inlet opening adapted for introducing the gas tangentially into the chamber and an outlet concentric about the chamber axis, and of smaller diameter than the chamber so that conservation of angular momentum causes the fluid to increase the tangential component of its velocity, thereby producing an approximately isentropic expansion with reduced temperature and pressure as it passes through the expansion chamber; (c) a compression chamber connected to the outlet of the expansion chamber, the compression chamber being approximately a mirror image of the expansion chamber, so that the tangential component of the fluid velocity is caused to decrease by the conservation of angular momentum as the fluid passes from the small diameter inlet to the tangential outlet, thereby producing an approximately isentropic compression; (d) a conduit connecting the outlet of the compression chamber to the inlet of the compression means; (e) condensing means for condensing a portion of the fluid to a liquid, the inlet of the condensing means being connected between the outlet of the compression chamber and the inlet of the means for compressing the fluid in order to divert a portion of the fluid flowing from the compression chamber; (f) vaporizing means for vaporizing the liquid from the condensing means at a relatively low pressure for providing refrigeration, the inlet of the vaporizing means being connected to the outlet of the condensing means; (g) a conduit connected at one end to the outlet of the vaporizing means, the other end being located on the axis of the expansion chamber so that the low pressure region will cause fluid to circulate through the vaporizing means; (h) the outlet of the compression chamber being larger than the inlet to the expansion chamber so as to accommodate the increased flow volume, including the added flow from the evaporator and the increased volume of the gas due to heating; (i) means within the expansion chamber in the form of a generally conically shaped body to guide the flow to the tangential outlet in a smooth manner.

Claim 10

A closed refrigeration system in which a fluid refrigerant can be circulated, comprising: (a) means for compressing the fluid to a high pressure; (b) an expansion chamber downstream from the compressor, the expansion chamber including a cylindrical chamber with a fluid inlet opening adapted for introducing the gas tangentially into the chamber and an outlet concentric about the chamber axis, and of smaller diameter than the chamber so that conservation of angular momentum causes the fluid to increase the tangential component of its velocity, thereby producing an approximately isentropic expansion with reduced temperature and pressure as it passes through the expansion chamber; (c) a compression chamber connected to the outlet of the expansion chamber, the compression chamber being approximately a mirror image of the expansion chamber, so that the tangential component of the fluid velocity is caused to decrease by the conservation of angular momentum as the fluid passes from the small diameter inlet to the tangential outlet, thereby producing an approximately isentropic compression; (d) a conduit connecting the outlet of the compression chamber to the inlet of the compression means; (e) condensing means for condensing a portion of the fluid to a liquid, the inlet of the condensing means being connected between the outlet of the compression chamber and the inlet of the means for compressing the fluid in order to divert a portion of the fluid flowing from the compression chamber; (f) vaporizing means for vaporizing the liquid from the condensing means at a relatively low pressure for providing refrigeration, the inlet of the vaporizing means being connected to the outlet of the condensing means; (g) a conduit connected at one end to the outlet of the vaporizing means, the other end being located on the axis of the expansion chamber so that the low pressure region will cause fluid to circulate through the vaporizing means; (h) the outlet of the compression chamber being larger than the inlet to the expansion chamber so as to accommodate the increased flow volume, including the added flow from the evaporator and the increased volume of the gas due to heating; (i) means within the expansion chamber in the form of a generally conically shaped body to guide the flow to the tangential outlet in a smooth manner.

Claim 11

The system of claim 8, wherein the means for compressing the fluid is a mechanical compressor.

Claim 12

The system of claim 8, wherein the inlet of the condensing means is connected between the means for compressing the fluid and the expansion chamber.

Claim 13

The system of claim 8, wherein the inlet to the expansion chamber includes a plurality of tangential openings.

Claim 14

The system of claim 8, wherein the outlet to the compression chamber includes a plurality of tangential openings.

Claim 15

The system of claim 8, wherein cooling means for removing heat from the gas is provided between the expansion chamber and the compression means.

Claim 16

The system of claim 8, wherein cooling means for removing heat from the gas is provided between the means for compressing the fluid and the expansion chamber.

Claim 17

The system of claim 8, wherein a refrigeration heat exchanger is provided in the form of a tubular conduit through which the fluid circulates, located between the expansion chamber and the compression chamber.

Claim 18

The system of claim 15, wherein a second level of refrigeration is provided by a refrigeration heat exchanger in the form of a jacket around the tubular conduit with means to circulate material to be refrigerated through the jacket.

Claim 19

The system of claim 15, wherein the fluid is a gas with a low condensing temperature, and the condensing means and the evaporating means are eliminated, so that refrigeration to very low temperatures is obtained in the tubular conduit between the expansion chamber and the compression chamber.