Refrigeration system with distributed compressors

Abstract

A refrigeration system for use with a building. The refrigeration system can include a plurality of refrigerated display cases, a condenser, a liquid main and a gas main. Each refrigerated display case can include an evaporator assembly and a compressor assembly fluidly coupled to one another. The condenser can be remotely located from the refrigerated display cases to reject heat from refrigerant in the system. The liquid main can fluidly couple an outlet of the condenser with the evaporator assembly of each refrigerated display case, and the gas main can fluidly couple the compressor assembly of each refrigerated display case with an inlet of the condenser. At least a portion of each of the liquid main and the gas main can be positioned adjacent each refrigerated display case to allow the refrigerated display cases to be positioned at a variety of locations within a shopping area of the building.

1 . A refrigeration system comprising: 
 a plurality of refrigerated display cases, each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases including 
 a dedicated evaporator assembly adapted to cool return air from the respective refrigerated display case by at least partially evaporating a refrigerant, and  
 a dedicated compressor assembly in fluid communication with the dedicated evaporator assembly to compress evaporated refrigerant from the dedicated evaporator assembly,  
 the plurality of dedicated compressor assemblies providing the only source of refrigerant compression in the refrigeration system;  
   a condenser located remotely from the plurality of refrigerated display cases to reject heat from the refrigerant to the environment    a gas main fluidly coupling an outlet of each dedicated compressor assembly to the condenser;    a liquid main fluidly coupling an outlet of the condenser to the dedicated evaporator assembly in each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases,    the gas main and the liquid main positioned to allow refrigerant to flow between the condenser and the plurality of refrigerated display cases without pumping or compressing the refrigerant as it flows from the gas main, through the condenser, and into the liquid main.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver positioned in fluid communication with the liquid main to separate liquid and gaseous phases of the refrigerant and to supply liquid refrigerant to each dedicated evaporator assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the refrigerated display cases includes a receiver in fluid communication with the liquid main to separate liquid and gaseous phases of the refrigerant and to supply liquid refrigerant to the dedicated evaporator assembly of the same refrigerated display case.  
   
   
       4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein, the dedicated compressor assembly compresses evaporated refrigerant from the dedicated evaporator assembly of a single refrigerated display case.  
   
   
       5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dedicated evaporator assemblies is connected to the liquid main in parallel.  
   
   
       6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dedicated compressor assemblies is connected to the gas main in parallel.  
   
   
       7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser rejects heat from the evaporated refrigerant from each of the dedicated evaporator assemblies in the system to the environment.  
   
   
       8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the dedicated compressor assembly of each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases is oil free.  
   
   
       9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser includes an air-cooled condenser.  
   
   
       10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the dedicated compressor assembly in at least one of the plurality of refrigerated display cases includes at least two compressors.  
   
   
       11 . A refrigeration system for use with a building, the refrigeration system comprising: 
 a plurality of refrigerated display cases located throughout a shopping area of the building, each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases including 
 an evaporator assembly adapted to cool return air from the refrigerated display case by at least partially evaporating a refrigerant,  
 a compressor assembly fluidly connected to the evaporator assembly to compress evaporated refrigerant from the evaporator assembly;  
   an air-cooled condenser remotely located from the shopping area of the building to reject heat from the refrigerant;    a liquid main fluidly connecting an outlet of the air-cooled condenser with the evaporator assembly of each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases, the plurality of evaporator assemblies being connected to the liquid main in parallel; and    a gas main fluidly connecting the compressor assembly of each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases with an inlet of the air-cooled condenser, the plurality of compressor assemblies being connected to the gas main in parallel,    the liquid main and the gas main each having at least a portion positioned adjacent each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases to allow the plurality of refrigerated display cases to be positioned at a variety of locations within the shopping area.    
   
   
       12 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , further comprising a receiver in fluid communication with the outlet of the air-cooled condenser to separate liquid and gaseous phases of the refrigerant and direct liquid refrigerant into the liquid main.  
   
   
       13 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of compressor assemblies provide the sole source of compression for the refrigeration system.  
   
   
       14 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein the compressor assembly of each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases is oil free.  
   
   
       15 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases is fluidly connected to the liquid main via a liquid branch line,    each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases is fluidly connected to the gas main via a gas branch line, and    the liquid main and the gas main are positioned within or just outside the shopping area to minimize the length of the liquid branch lines and the gas branch lines, respectively.    
   
   
       16 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein the gas main and the liquid main are positioned to allow refrigerant to flow between the air-cooled condenser and the plurality of refrigerated display cases without pumping or compressing the refrigerant as it flows from the gas main, through the air-cooled condenser, and into the liquid main.  
   
   
       17 . A refrigeration system for use with a building the refrigeration system comprising: 
 a plurality of refrigerated display cases positioned in a shopping area of the building, each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases including 
 a dedicated evaporator assembly adapted to cool return air from the respective refrigerated display case by at least partially evaporating a refrigerant, and  
 a dedicated compressor assembly in fluid communication with the dedicated evaporator assembly to compress evaporated refrigerant from the dedicated evaporator assembly;  
   an air-cooled condenser positioned outside of the building, the air-cooled condenser positioned to reject heat from the evaporated refrigerant in the system;    a liquid main fluidly connecting an outlet of the air-cooled condenser with each dedicated evaporator assembly; and    a gas main fluidly connecting an inlet of the air-cooled condenser with each dedicated compressor assembly,    the liquid main and gas main each having at least a portion positioned adjacent each of the plurality of refrigerated display cases to allow the plurality of refrigerated display cases to be connected to the liquid main and the gas main at a variety of locations within the shopping area of the building, the liquid main and the gas main positioned to allow refrigerant to flow between the condenser and the plurality of refrigerated display cases without pumping or compressing the refrigerant as it flows from the gas main, through the air-cooled condenser, and into the liquid main.    
   
   
       18 . The refrigeration system of  claim 17 , further comprising a receiver positioned in fluid communication with the liquid main to separate liquid and gaseous phases of the refrigerant and supply liquid refrigerant to each dedicated evaporator assembly.  
   
   
       19 . The refrigeration system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of dedicated evaporator assemblies is connected to the liquid main in parallel.  
   
   
       20 . The refrigeration system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of dedicated compressor assemblies is connected to the gas main in parallel.  
   
   
       21 . The refrigeration system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of dedicated compressor assemblies provide the only source of refrigerant compression in the refrigeration system.