Thermoelectric cooler for economized refrigerant cycle performance boost

Abstract

A refrigerant system incorporates an economizer circuit, and a thermoelectric cooler to provide a performance boost to the conventional economized refrigerant system. A thermoelectric cooler cools the refrigerant either directly in a main refrigerant circuit, or in an economized circuit, or both.

1 . A refrigerant system comprising:
 a compressor for compressing refrigerant and delivering it downstream to a heat rejection heat exchanger, the refrigerant from the heat rejection heat exchanger passing through a main expansion device, and then to a heat accepting heat exchanger before being returned to said compressor;   an economizer circuit incorporated between the heat rejection heat exchanger and the main expansion device, said economizer circuit including an economizer and an economizer expansion device; and   a thermoelectric cooler provided to enhance performance of the economized refrigerant system.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler is associated with the economizer circuit. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant system operates at least for a portion of the time in a subcritical cycle. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant system operates at least for a portion of the time in a transcritical cycle. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant system utilizes carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler comprises two semiconductor materials having dissimilar absolute thermoelectric powers. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler comprises at least one pair of P-type and N-type semiconductor materials. 
   
   
       8 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler is associated with the main refrigerant circuit. 
   
   
       9 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said economizer is a heat exchanger type economizer. 
   
   
       10 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler is associated with the main refrigerant circuit and positioned downstream of the economizer heat exchanger. 
   
   
       11 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein a tap refrigerant line for tapping a portion of refrigerant to an economizer circuit is positioned downstream of the thermoelectric cooler, and then passed through the economizer heat exchanger. 
   
   
       12 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein a tap refrigerant line for tapping a portion of refrigerant to an economizer circuit is positioned upstream of the thermoelectric cooler, and then passed through the economizer heat exchanger. 
   
   
       13 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein a tap refrigerant line for tapping a portion of refrigerant to an economizer circuit is positioned downstream of the economizer heat exchanger, and then passed through the thermoelectric cooler that is associated with the economizer circuit and positioned between the economizer expansion device and economizer heat exchanger. 
   
   
       14 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein a tap refrigerant line for tapping a portion of refrigerant to an economizer circuit is positioned downstream of the economizer heat exchanger, and then passed through the thermoelectric cooler that is associated with the economizer circuit and positioned between a tap point and the economizer expansion device. 
   
   
       15 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein a tap refrigerant line for tapping a portion of refrigerant to an economizer circuit is positioned upstream of the economizer heat exchanger, and then passed through the thermoelectric cooler on its way to the economizer heat exchanger. 
   
   
       16 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler is positioned upstream of an economizer expansion device and downstream of a tap point. 
   
   
       17 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler is positioned downstream of an economizer expansion device and upstream of the economizer heat exchanger. 
   
   
       18 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a hot junction of the thermoelectric cooler is cooled by one of air, water or glycol solution. 
   
   
       22 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein an air moving device for moving air over the hot junction of the thermoelectric cooler is positioned such that it also moves air over the heat rejection heat exchanger. 
   
   
       23 . The refrigerant system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler is used for unloading of the refrigerant system. 
   
   
       24 - 46 . (canceled)