Co2-refrigerant device with heat reclaim

Abstract

A refrigeration device containing CO 2 a refrigerant to be circulated, comprising: a compressor ( 1, 10, 11 ), a heat-rejecting heat exchanger ( 3, 30 ), an expansion device ( 7 a, 7 b, 70 a, 70 b, 71 ), and an evaporator ( 8 a, 8 b, 80 a, 80 b, 81 ) which are connected to one another, wherein the refrigeration device comprises a first portion ( 61, 71, 81, 11, 92, 10 ) and a second portion ( 60, 70 a, 80 a, 90, 10 ), the second portion having a higher temperature relative to the first portion when the refrigeration device is in operation; and a heat-reclaim heat exchanger (E 1, E 2, E 3, E 4 ) provided at a given location in the second portion, provided to transfer heat to a fluid for further use as a source of heated fluid.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . A refrigeration device containing CO 2  as a refrigerant to be circulated, comprising:
 a compressor, an air cooled heat-rejection heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an evaporator which are connected to one another, wherein the refrigeration device comprises a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a higher temperature relative to the first portion when the refrigeration device is in operation;   a heat-reclaim heat exchanger positioned after the heat-rejection heat exchanger to transfer heat from the refrigerant to a fluid namely water; and   a spraying device to spray said fluid namely water that has passed the heat-reclaim heat exchanger on the heat-rejection heat exchanger in order to enhance the heat transfer in the heat-rejection heat exchanger.   
   
   
       24 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 23 , wherein at least one further heat-reclaim heat exchanger is provided at a given location in the second portion of the refrigeration device to transfer heat to the fluid for further use as a source of heated fluid. 
   
   
       25 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 23 , further comprising an intermediate expansion device between the heat-rejection heat exchanger and the expansion device. 
   
   
       26 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 23 , wherein the compressor is comprised of a multistage compression with a first and a second compressor stage. 
   
   
       27 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 26 , wherein a further heat-reclaim heat exchanger is provided at a location between the first and the second compressor stage to transfer heat to the fluid for further use as a source of heated fluid. 
   
   
       28 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 23 , further comprising a display cabinet to be refrigerated. 
   
   
       29 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 23 , wherein the evaporator comprises evaporator coils. 
   
   
       30 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 24 , wherein the further heat-reclaim heat exchanger is provided at a location selected from the group consisting of a location between the compressor and the heat-rejection heat exchanger, a location combined with the heat-rejection heat exchanger, and a location between the heat-rejection heat exchanger and the expansion device. 
   
   
       31 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 23 , further comprising one member of the group consisting of a control valve and a variable speed pump for controlling the temperature of the heated fluid exiting the heat-reclaim heat exchanger or the further heat-reclaim heat exchanger, respectively. 
   
   
       32 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 23 , further comprising a storage tank for the heated fluid. 
   
   
       33 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 23 , further comprising a circuit for circulating the fluid. 
   
   
       34 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 23 , further comprising a fluid path for directing at least part of the heated fluid to the evaporator for defrosting the evaporator. 
   
   
       35 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 34 , further comprising at least one member of the group consisting of nozzles for spraying at least part of the heated fluid onto the evaporator coils and conduits for passing at least part of the heated fluid in heat exchange relationship with the evaporator. 
   
   
       36 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 28 , further comprising a fluid path for circulating at least part of the heated fluid adjacent to windows of the display cabinet for defogging the windows. 
   
   
       37 . The refrigeration device according to the  claim 28 , further comprising a fluid path for circulating at least part of the heated fluid to fluid channels provided near a surface of the display cabinet, thereby raising the surface temperature above the dew point of water. 
   
   
       38 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 23 , further comprising a fluid path for directing at least part of the heated fluid to a radiator for space heating. 
   
   
       39 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 24 , wherein the further heat-reclaim heat exchanger is provided to transfer heat to usable water, comprising a fluid path for directing at least part of the water to a location where usable warm water is consumed. 
   
   
       40 . A method for operating a refrigeration device, comprising the steps of:
 (a) circulating CO 2  as a refrigerant through a compressor, an air cooled heat-rejection heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an evaporator which are connected to one another, wherein the refrigerant circulates through a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a higher temperature relative to the first portion;   (b) transferring heat from the refrigerant to a fluid namely water in a heat-reclaim heat exchanger positioned after the heat-rejection heat exchanger; and   (c) spraying the fluid namely water that has passed the heat-reclaim heat exchanger on the heat-rejection heat exchanger in order to enhance heat transfer in the heat-rejection heat exchanger.   
   
   
       41 . The method for operating a refrigeration device according to  claim 40 , comprising the further step of transferring heat from the refrigerant to the fluid in at least one further heat-reclaim heat exchanger provided at a given location in the second portion of the refrigeration device. 
   
   
       42 . The method for operating a refrigeration device according to  claim 40 , comprising the further step of directing at least part of the heated fluid to the evaporator for defrosting the evaporator. 
   
   
       43 . The method for operating a refrigeration device according to  claim 40 , comprising the further step of directing at least part of the heated fluid to a radiator for space heating. 
   
   
       44 . The method for operating a refrigeration device according to  claim 40 , comprising the further step of directing at least part of the heated fluid adjacent to windows of a refrigerated display cabinet for defogging the windows. 
   
   
       45 . The method for operating a refrigeration device according to  claim 40 , wherein the fluid is usable water, further comprising the step of directing at least part of the water to a location where usable warm water is consumed.