Apparatus, systems, and methods for economized vapor compression cycle

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for using said apparatus are described in connection with economized vapor compression heat transfer systems. Working fluid is extracted from a sub-cooler disposed prior to a system evaporator and distributed to the inter-scroll pockets of a compressor via an injection plenum and multiple injection ports for the purpose of increasing Δh across the system to increase its effective heat transfer capacity, thereby providing greater operating efficiency and performance. Further, greater configurability is enabled while manufacturing complexity and cost are reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An economized scroll compressor for use with a working fluid and a source of rotational mechanical power, said compressor comprising:
 A. a fixed scroll assembly comprising:
 (i) a fixed planar base; 
 (ii) a first scroll wrap with wrap walls disposed perpendicular to a first surface of said fixed planar base; 
 (iii) a circumferential working fluid vapor injection plenum bounded in part by a second surface of said fixed planar base; and 
 (iv) one or more working fluid vapor injection ports configured to allow working fluid vapor communication from said working fluid vapor injection plenum to pass through said fixed planar base to the region bounded in part by said second surface of the fixed planar base; and 
   B. an orbiting scroll assembly:
 (i) comprising an orbiting planar base comprising a second scroll wrap with wrap walls disposed perpendicular to said orbiting planar base; 
 (ii) disposed such that said second scroll wrap is intermeshed with said first scroll wrap, thereby forming one or more pockets between the walls of the first and second scroll wraps; and 
 (iii) in rotational power receiving communication with said source of rotational mechanical power. 
   
     
     
         2 . The economized scroll compressor of  claim 1  wherein said working fluid comprises a refrigerant. 
     
     
         3 . The economized scroll compressor of  claim 2  wherein said refrigerant comprises at least one of any of R-410A refrigerant and R-404A refrigerant. 
     
     
         4 . The economized scroll compressor of  claim 1  wherein said circumferential working fluid vapor injection plenum comprises a volume bounded by a channel machined into said second surface of said fixed planar base, one or more sealing gasket(s), and an injection plenum sealing plate. 
     
     
         5 . The economized scroll compressor of  claim 1  wherein said circumferential working fluid vapor injection plenum is in working fluid vapor receiving communication with an economizer port inlet via at least one of any of a working fluid channel and a working fluid conduit or tube. 
     
     
         6 . The economized scroll compressor of  claim 5  wherein said working fluid conduit or tube is comprised in whole or in part of at least one of any of steel, copper, iron, aluminum, alloy, plastic, plasticized material, rubber, rubberized material, composite material, or synthetic material. 
     
     
         7 . The economized scroll compressor of  claim 1  wherein said working fluid vapor injection ports comprise two or more sets of one or more ports each, wherein said ports comprise at least one of any of circular ports, rectangular ports with straight or curved sides, elliptical ports with straight or curved major or minor axes, or crescent-shaped ports. 
     
     
         8 . The economized scroll compressor of  claim 7  wherein each of said two or more sets of working fluid vapor injection ports are disposed at positions of equal pressure during compressor operation. 
     
     
         9 . The economized scroll compressor of  claim 7  wherein each of said one or more working fluid vapor injection ports in each of said one or more sets are disposed on an arc that corresponds to the arc of an adjacent fixed scroll wrap wall. 
     
     
         10 . The economized scroll compressor of  claim 1  further comprising:
 A. an intermediate pressure tap from a pocket within the scroll at a higher working fluid vapor pressure than that present within the injection plenum, and 
 B. a floating seal plate disposed atop said circumferential working fluid vapor injection plenum and within a sealed back chamber, said chamber pressurized by working fluid vapor communicated via said intermediate pressure tap so as to maintain the position of said floating seal plate against said injection plenum. 
 
     
     
         11 . A economized vapor compression refrigeration system utilizing a working fluid, the system comprising:
 A. a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat energy to the working fluid;   B. a scroll compressor in heated working fluid receiving communication with said first heat exchanger, said compressor comprising:
 (i) a fixed scroll assembly comprising:
 (a) a fixed planar base; 
 (b) a first scroll wrap with wrap walls disposed perpendicular to a first surface of said fixed planar base; 
 (c) a circumferential working fluid vapor injection plenum bounded in part by a second surface of said fixed planar base; and 
 (d) one or more working fluid vapor injection ports configured to allow working fluid vapor communication from said working fluid vapor injection plenum to pass through said fixed planar base to the region bounded in part by said second surface of the fixed planar base; and 
 
 (ii) an orbiting scroll assembly:
 (a) comprising an orbiting planar base comprising a second scroll wrap with wrap walls disposed perpendicular to said orbiting planar base; and 
 (b) disposed such that said second scroll wrap is intermeshed with said first scroll wrap, thereby forming one or more pockets between the walls of the first and second scroll wraps; 
 
   C. a second heat exchanger in compressed heated working fluid receiving communication with said scroll compressor, said second heat exchanger configured to remove heat energy from said working fluid at a constant pressure;   D. a first expansion valve in working fluid receiving communication with said second heat exchanger, said first expansion valve configured to reduce the pressure in the working fluid to an intermediate pressure;   E. A working fluid flash tank or heat exchanger in intermediate pressure working fluid receiving communication with said first expansion valve;   F. a working fluid vapor injection valve in intermediate pressure working fluid vapor receiving communication with said working fluid flash tank or heat exchanger and in intermediate pressure working fluid vapor sending communication with said circumferential working fluid vapor injection plenum; and   G. a second expansion valve in intermediate pressure working fluid receiving communication with said working fluid flash tank or heat exchanger and in expanded working fluid sending communication with said first heat exchanger;   
       wherein the operation of said scroll compressor is optimized via injection of said intermediate pressure working fluid vapor from said circumferential working fluid vapor injection plenum into pockets formed by the intermeshed walls of said first and second scroll wraps via said one or more working fluid vapor injection ports. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said working fluid comprises at least one of any of R-410A refrigerant and R-404A refrigerant. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said working fluid vapor injection ports comprise two or more sets of one or more working fluid vapor injection ports each, wherein said ports comprise at least one of any of circular ports, rectangular ports with straight or curved sides, elliptical ports with straight or curved major or minor axes, or crescent-shaped ports. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein each of said two or sets of working fluid vapor injection ports are disposed at positions of equal pressure during compressor operation. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein each of said one or more working fluid vapor injection ports in each of said one or more sets are disposed on an arc that corresponds to the arc of an adjacent fixed scroll wrap wall. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said circumferential working fluid vapor injection plenum comprises a volume bounded by a channel machined into said second surface of said fixed planar base, one or more sealing gasket(s), and an injection plenum sealing plate. 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing economized operation of a working fluid scroll compressor comprising a fixed scroll wrap and an intermeshed orbiting scroll wrap, the method comprising steps of:
 A. providing a circumferential working fluid vapor injection plenum comprising an intermediate pressure working fluid vapor inlet;   B. providing one or more working fluid vapor injection ports, each said port configured to communicate intermediate pressure working fluid vapor from said working fluid vapor injection plenum to one or more pockets formed by an intermeshed fixed scroll and orbiting scroll; and   C. injecting said intermediate pressure working fluid vapor into said pockets so as to reduce the enthalpy of the working fluid during compression of the working fluid vapor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said one or more working fluid vapor injection ports comprise two or more sets of one or more ports each, wherein each of said ports comprise at least one of any of circular ports, rectangular ports with straight or curved sides, elliptical ports with straight or curved major or minor axes, or crescent-shaped ports. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein each of said working fluid vapor injection ports are disposed at positions of equal pressure during compressor operation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein each of said two or more sets of one or more working fluid vapor injection ports are disposed on an arc that corresponds to the arc of an adjacent fixed scroll wrap wall.