Refrigeration system

Abstract

A refrigeration system includes a low temperature portion with a primary loop that circulates a refrigerant to temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a low temperature, the primary loop also including a condenser to at least partially condense the refrigerant. The refrigeration system also includes a medium temperature portion having a primary refrigerant loop and a secondary coolant loop, the primary refrigerant loop provides cooling to the secondary coolant loop through a chiller. The secondary coolant loop has a first branch and a second branch, where the first branch circulates coolant to temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a medium temperature, and the second branch circulates coolant to the condenser of the low temperature portion.

1 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 a first portion having a primary loop configured to circulate a refrigerant to one or more temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a first temperature, the primary loop also including a condenser configured to at least partially condense the refrigerant; and   a second portion having a primary refrigerant loop and a secondary coolant loop, the primary refrigerant loop configured to provide cooling to the secondary coolant loop through a chiller, and the secondary coolant loop having a first branch and a second branch, the first branch configured to circulate coolant to one or more temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a second temperature and the second branch configured to circulate coolant to the condenser of the first portion.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is less than the second temperature. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant of the secondary coolant loop comprises a liquid coolant. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a first temperature are low temperature refrigerated display cases configured for storage of frozen objects, and the temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a second temperature are medium temperature refrigerated display cases configured for storage of refrigerated objects. 
   
   
       5 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 a first portion having a primary loop and a secondary loop operably coupled by a first chiller, the primary loop configured to circulate a refrigerant through the first chiller to provide cooling to a coolant in the secondary loop, the secondary loop having a supply portion and a return portion, the supply portion configured to circulate the coolant to one or more temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a first temperature; and   a second portion having a primary loop and at least one secondary loop operably coupled by at least one second chiller, the primary loop configured to circulate a refrigerant through the second chiller to provide cooling to coolant in the secondary loop, the secondary loop having a supply portion and a return portion, the supply portion configured to circulate the coolant to one or more temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a second temperature;   wherein the return portion of the secondary loop of the first portion and the return portion of the secondary loop of the second portion share a common return header.   
   
   
       6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 5 , wherein the first temperature is less than the second temperature. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 6 , wherein the return portion of the secondary loop of the first portion diverges from the return portion of the secondary loop of the second portion prior to the second chiller. 
   
   
       8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 7 , wherein the coolant in the return portion of the secondary loop of the first portion pre-cools the coolant in the return portion of the secondary loop of the second portion. 
   
   
       9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 6 , wherein the return portion of the secondary loop of the first portion diverges from the return portion of the secondary loop of the second portion after the second chiller. 
   
   
       10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , wherein the second chiller pre-cools the coolant in the return loop of the secondary portion of the first portion. 
   
   
       11 . The refrigeration system of  claim 6 , wherein the second chiller comprises a plurality of second chillers, each of the second chillers operably coupled to a secondary loop, and each of the secondary loops operably coupled to a group of temperature-controlled display devices. 
   
   
       12 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the groups of temperature-controlled display devices are configured to operate at a different temperature. 
   
   
       13 . The refrigeration system of  claim 5 , wherein the return header further comprises a pump. 
   
   
       14 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 a first portion having a first primary loop and a secondary loop operably coupled by a first chiller, the first primary loop configured to circulate a refrigerant through the first chiller to provide cooling to a coolant in the secondary loop, the secondary loop having a supply portion and a return portion, the supply portion configured to circulate the coolant to one or more temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a first temperature; and   a second portion including at least one modular unit containing a second primary loop and a second chiller, the second portion further including at least one secondary loop operably coupled to the second chiller, the second primary loop configured to circulate a refrigerant through the second chiller to provide cooling to coolant in the secondary loop, the secondary loop having a supply portion and a return portion, the supply portion configured to circulate the coolant to one or more temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a second temperature;   wherein the return portion of the secondary loop of the first portion and the return portion of the secondary loop of the second portion share a common return header.   
   
   
       15 . The refrigeration system of  claim 14 , wherein the first temperature is less than the second temperature. 
   
   
       16 . The refrigeration system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one modular unit comprises a plurality of modular units, each having a second chiller operably coupled to a secondary loop, and each secondary loop configured to provide coolant to a group of temperature controlled storage devices. 
   
   
       17 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , wherein each of the secondary loops share a common supply header and the common return header. 
   
   
       18 . The refrigeration system of  claim 17 , wherein the return portion of the secondary loop of the first portion diverges from the common return portion prior to the second chillers. 
   
   
       19 . The refrigeration system of  claim 16 , wherein the return portion of the secondary loop of the first portion diverges from the return portion of the secondary loops of the second portion after at least one of the second chillers. 
   
   
       20 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 a primary loop and a secondary loop operably coupled by a chiller; the primary loop configured to circulate a refrigerant through the chiller to provide a chilled coolant supply in the secondary loop; the secondary loop having a first flow path and a second flow path, the first flow path configured to circulate a first portion of the chilled coolant supply to one or more temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a first temperature and to return unchilled coolant to the chiller, and the second flow path configured to combine a second portion of the chilled coolant supply with a portion of the unchilled coolant for delivery as a combined liquid coolant to one or more temperature-controlled storage devices operating at a second temperature.   
   
   
       21 . The refrigeration system of  claim 20 , wherein the first flow path and the second flow path share a common return segment. 
   
   
       22 . The refrigeration system of  claim 21 , further comprising a tempering valve operable to mix the second portion of the chilled coolant supply with the portion of the unchilled coolant to provide the combined liquid coolant. 
   
   
       23 . The refrigeration system of  claim 22 , wherein the first temperature is less than the second temperature.