Water-Cooled Refrigerated Transport System

Abstract

A refrigeration system ( 30 ) comprises a compressor ( 36 ) for driving the refrigerant along a refrigerant flowpath ( 34 ) and having a first stage ( 36 A) and a second stage ( 36 B). A first heat exchanger ( 38 ) is along the refrigerant flowpath. An intercooler heat exchanger ( 120 ) is along the refrigerant flowpath. A second heat exchanger ( 42 ) is along the refrigerant flowpath. An additional heat exchanger ( 170 ) is along the refrigerant flowpath between the compressor second stage and the first heat exchanger.

1 . A refrigeration system ( 30 ) comprising:
 a compressor ( 36 ) for driving the refrigerant along a refrigerant flowpath ( 34 ) having a first stage ( 36 A) and a second stage ( 36 B);   a first heat exchanger ( 38 ) along the refrigerant flowpath;   an intercooler heat exchanger ( 120 ) along the refrigerant flowpath, wherein the first heat exchanger and intercooler heat exchanger are tube and fin heat exchangers sharing fins ( 128 );   a second heat exchanger ( 42 ) along the refrigerant flowpath; and   an additional heat exchanger ( 170 ) along the refrigerant flowpath between the compressor second stage and the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the additional heat exchanger is a refrigerant-water heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 2  wherein:
 the system has no other refrigerant-water heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the additional heat exchanger is a brazed plate heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a liquid supply fitting ( 174 ) and a liquid return fitting ( 176 ) along a liquid flowpath ( 172 ) through the additional heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the system has no water-cooled heat exchanger between the first stage and the second stage. 
 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first heat exchanger and intercooler heat exchanger are in series along an air flowpath ( 508 ). 
 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first electric fan ( 50 ) positioned to drive a first airflow across the first heat exchanger and the intercooler heat exchanger; and 
 a second electric fan ( 52 A,  52 B) positioned to drive a second airflow across the second heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 8  being a refrigeration module mountable to an end of an intermodal container. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerated transport system ( 20 ) comprising the refrigeration system of  claim 1  and wherein:
 the refrigerated transport system ( 20 ) further comprises a body ( 22 ) enclosing a refrigerated compartment; 
 the first heat exchanger is positioned to reject heat to an external environment in a first cooling mode; and 
 the second heat exchanger is positioned to absorb heat from the refrigerated compartment in the first cooling mode. 
 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated transport system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a controller ( 64 ) configured to shut off the first electric fan in response to sufficient sensed water pressure in the additional heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerated transport system of  claim 10  wherein the body comprises:
 a pair of side walls ( 22 C,  22 D); 
 a top ( 22 A); 
 a bottom ( 22 B); and 
 one or more doors ( 28 A,  28 B). 
 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerated transport system of  claim 12 , being a refrigerated intermodal shipping container wherein:
 the one or more doors comprise a pair of hinged doors at a first end of the body; and   the refrigeration system is mounted in an equipment box at a second end of the body opposite the first end.   
     
     
         14 . A vessel ( 600 ) comprising:
 a hull ( 606 );   a plurality of refrigerated intermodal shipping containers according to  claim 13  in or on the hull; and   a cooled water supply system comprising:
 one or more heat exchangers ( 630 ) positioned to transfer heat between seawater and a heat transfer fluid; and 
 a supply/return system for the heat transfer fluid including one or more pumps ( 642 ) for driving a flow of the heat transfer fluid and conduits culminating in respective supply ( 180 ) and return ( 182 ) conduits coupled to the additional heat exchanger. 
   
     
     
         15 . The vessel of  claim 14  wherein:
 the heat transfer fluid is grey water. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method for operating the refrigeration system of  claim 1  the method comprising in a first mode:
 running the compressor ( 36 ) to drive the refrigerant along the refrigerant flowpath ( 34 ), the refrigerant passing through the intercooler heat exchanger ( 120 ) between the first stage and the second stage; 
 passing the refrigerant through the additional heat exchanger ( 170 ) to reject heat from the refrigerant to a fluid flow; 
 passing the refrigerant through the first heat exchanger ( 38 ); and 
 passing the refrigerant through the second heat exchanger ( 42 ) along the refrigerant flowpath to absorb heat. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in the first mode:
 there is no forced airflow across the first heat exchanger and the intercooler heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein:
 in the first mode:
 the fluid flow is a water flow. 
 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising operating in a second mode comprising:
 running the compressor ( 36 ) to drive the refrigerant along the refrigerant flowpath ( 34 ), the refrigerant passing through the intercooler heat exchanger ( 120 ) between the first stage and the second stage; 
 passing the refrigerant through the additional heat exchanger ( 170 ); 
 passing the refrigerant through the first heat exchanger ( 38 ) to reject heat; and 
 passing the refrigerant through the second heat exchanger ( 42 ) along the refrigerant flowpath to absorb heat. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein:
 in the second mode:
 the first mode fluid flow is disabled; and 
 an airflow is driven across the first heat exchanger and the intercooler