Transcritical Refrigeration Machine Operation
Transcritical Refrigeration Machine Operation
BIFLOOR TRANSCRIPT
1. PRESENTATION
To equip supermarkets and cold storage warehouses, a ...
two-stage compression solution feeding both temperature posts
negative only at positive temperature. The principle diagram and the cycle diagram are
represented below.
96 Chapter VII. Two-level Transcritique
b. Operating principle
Starting from reference point 3, the fluid is compressed to a pressure between
80 and 110 bars and is then in a transcritical state (reference 4). It is cooled in the
constant pressure gas cooler up to a temperature above the
maximum outdoor temperature with a temperature difference of between 3
and 6°C (reference 5).
The CO2then traverse the pressure relief valve to be injected into the bottle
liquid separator in a diphasic state (marker 6) and at an intermediate pressure. The
liquid being heavier than gas, it falls to the bottom of the tank. It thus exits in a state
saturated liquid (marker 7) and passes through the liquid-vapor exchanger to exit in state
subcooled liquid (mark 8) to be sent to the positive and negative stations.
The regulators inject the fluid into the evaporators at evaporation pressures.
and in a two-phase state (reference 9 and 11). They exit in a superheated vapor state (reference
10 and 12).
2. Operation of a type 1 machine 97
The superheated vapors that come out of the evaporators of the positive stations (reference
10) are mixed with the vapors coming from the liquid separator bottle
(reference 15) and those coming from the BT compressor (reference 2). This mixture is then
sucked in by the MT compressor (mark 3).
The superheated vapors that come out of the evaporators of the negative stations (marker
12) are drawn in by the BT compressor (marker 1).
The saturated vapors contained in the liquid separator (marker 13) are
evacuated through a pressure regulation valve of the bottle. They are
directed (reference 14) towards the liquid vapor exchanger where they are superheated
(reference 15) by cooling the liquid.
c. Example 1
We study the case of a machine whose characteristics are as follows:
refrigeration power for negative posts n = 30 kW
evaporation temperature for negative posts -32°C
cooling power for positive posts p = 100 kW
evaporation temperature for the positive terminals -10°C,
gas cooler outlet temperature 35°C,
discharge pressure of the compressors MT 85 bars abs.
- intermediate pressure 36 bar abs.
useful overheating of 3 K obtained in the evaporators,
temperature rise in the suction line of the BT compressor
estimated at 14 K,
temperature rise in the liquid line after the liquid exchanger
steam of 6 K,
- perfect liquid-vapor exchanger with a of 20 kJ/kg on the liquid,
The pressure losses are estimated at a drop in temperature in steam.
saturated equivalent to 2 K at the BT compressor suction between markers 12 and 1 and at
0.6 bar in the liquid line between markers 7' and 8,
the compressions are supposed to be isentropic,
the compressors are of semi-hermetic piston type.
• Determination of the three pieces of information needed to place each
point on an enthalpic diagram
Point 1 : - vapeur surchauffée,
- P1 = P-32-2 = P-34°C = 12.45 absolute bars
- 1 = 12 + 14 = -29 + 14 = -15°C.
Point 2: - superheated steam
- P2 = Pop = 26,5 bars abs.,
entropy of point 2 (s2) = entropy of point 1 (s1).
Point 3: - superheated steam,
P3 = P2,
- h3 = ?
98 Chapter VII. Bi-level Transcritical
Point 4: - transcritique,
- P4 = 85 bars abs.
entropy of point 4 (s4) = entropy of point 3 (s3).
Point 5 : - transcritique,
- P5 = P3,
- h5 = 309 kJ/kg,
Point 6: - diphasic,
- P6 = Pi = 36 bars abs.
- h6 = h5.
Point 7: - saturated liquid,
- P7 = P6.
Point7': - subcooled liquid,
- P7’= Pi,
- h7' = h7 - 20 kJ/kg.
Point 8: - subcooled liquid,
-P8 = P7' - 0.6 bar
- 8 = 7’ +6°C.
Point 9: - diphasic,
- P9 = Pop = P-10°C 26.5 bars absolute
- h9 = h8.
Point 10: - superheated steam,
- P10 = P9
- 10 = op + 3°C = -10 + 3 = -7°C.
Point 11: - diphasic,
- P11 = Pon = P-32°C 13.34 bars abs,
- h11 = h8
Point 12: - superheated steam
- P12 = P11,
- 12 = on + 3°C = -32 + 3 = -29°C.
Point 13: - saturated steam,
P13 = Pi = 36 bars abs.
Point 14: - diphasic,
- P14 = Pop,
- h14 = h13.
Superheated steam
- P15 = P14,
h15 = h14 + ? kJ/kg.
• Determination of flow rates and h3
First, isolate the liquid separator.
The equation of conservation of flows is written as:
qmHT= qmn+ qmp+ qmi
The energy conservation equation is written as:
qmHT.h6 = (qmn+ qmp) . h7+ qmi. h13
2. Operation of a type 1 machine 99
Let:
(qmn+ qmp+ qmi) .h6 = (qmn+ qmp) . h7+ qmi. h13
And so:
qmi=[(qmn+ qmp(h7–h6)] /(h6 - h13)
With:
qmn = n / (h12–h11)
qmp= p / (h10–h9)
We are now isolating the mixing area:
the energy conservation equation is written as
qmHT.h3 = qmp. h10+ qmn. h2 + qmi. h15
Let it be:
b. Principle of operation
Starting from point 3, the fluid is compressed to a pressure between 80 and
110 bars and is then in a transcritical state (reference 4). It is cooled in the
gas cooler at constant pressure up to a temperature above the
maximum outside temperature with a temperature difference of 3
and 6°C (reference 5).
The CO2traverse the exchanger in which it is cooled (reference 6) by the
relaxed vapors coming from the liquid separator bottle (marker 16). It passes through
then the expansion valve to exit (marker 7) at an intermediate pressure.
The fluid exits the separator bottle (marker 8) as liquid which is then under-
cooled while passing through the liquid-vapor exchanger (reference 8').
The vapors from the negative stations are superheated by the heat exchanger.
liquid-vapor (reference 14) before being drawn in by the BT compressor (reference 1).
The diphasic fluid coming from the liquid separator bottle is heated in
crossing the first interchange (marker 17).
c. Example 2
We keep the same data as in example 1, to which we add a
cooling of 2 K in the heat exchanger, assumed to be perfect, located at the outlet of the cooler
of gas, by changing the value of the the heat of the liquid-vapor exchanger is 12 kJ/kg and
the hypothesis on the temperature increase in the liquid line by bringing it down to 4 K.
• Determination of the three pieces of information required to place each
point on an enthalpy diagram
Point 1 : - vapeur surchauffée,
- P1 = 12,45 bars abs.,
- h1 = h14 + ? kJ/kg.
Point 2: - superheated steam
- P2 = Pop = 26.5 bars abs.
Entropy of point 2 (s2) = entropy of point 1 (s1).
Point 3 : - vapeur surchauffée,
- P3 = P2,
h3 = ?
Point 4: - transcritique,
P4 = 85 bars absolute,
entropy of point 4 (s4) = entropy of point 3 (s3).
Point 5: - transcritique,
- P5 = P4,
- h5 = 309 kJ/kg,
Point 6: - transcritique,
- P6 = P5
- 6 = 35 - 2 = 33°C
102 Chapter VII. Bi-level Transcritique
Point 7: - diphasic,
P7 = Pi = 36 bars abs.
- h7 = h6
Point 8: - saturated liquid,
- P8 = Pi,
Point 8’: - subcooled liquid,
-P8' = P8,
- h8’= h8 - 12 kJ/kg.
Point 9: - subcooled liquid,
- P9 = P8–0.6 bar,
- 9 = 8' +4°C.
Point 10: - diphasic,
- P10 = Pop = 26,5 bars abs.
- h10 = h9.
Point 11: - superheated steam,
- P11 = Pop,
- 11 = -7°C
Point 12: - diphasic
- P12 = Pon = 13,34 bars abs.
- h12 = h11.
Point 13 : - vapeur surchauffée,
- P13 = Pon,
- 13 = -29°C.
Point 14 : - vapeur surchauffée,
- P14 = 12,45 bars abs.,
- 14 = -15°C.
Point 15: - saturated steam
- P15 = Pi.
Point 16: - diphasic,
P16 = 26.5 bars abs.
- h16 = h15.
Point 17 : - vapeur surchauffée,
- P17 = P16,
- h17 = h16 + ? kJ/kj.
• Cycle path (see next page)
In the same way as in example 1, we find:
qmi0.391 kg/s, qmHT= 0,938 kg/s, h17 = 459 kJ/kg, h1 = 508 kJ/kg et h3 = 467 kJ/kg.
So:
PeBT=0.126 x (553–508) / 0.9 x 0.9 = 7 kW
And
PeHT=0.938 x (524–467) / 0.87 x 0.9 =68.2 kW
Which gives an efficiency for this refrigeration machine of:
4. Operation of a type 4 machine 103
b. Operating principle
Starting from reference 3, the fluid is compressed to a pressure ranging between
80 and 120 bars and is then in a transcritical state (reference 4). It is cooled in the
constant pressure gas cooler up to a temperature above the
maximum outside temperature with a temperature difference of between 3
and 6°C (reference 5).
The CO2then pass through the expansion valve to be injected into the bottle
liquid separator in a two-phase state (marker 6) and at an intermediate pressure. The
liquid being heavier than gas, it falls to the bottom of the tank. In this tank, we
find a heat exchanger in which the vapors from the top of the bottle circulate
previously relaxed (reference 14) and transitioned to a biphasic state. This system allows
a subcooling of the liquid (marker 7).
This subcooled liquid is then distributed to the refrigeration production stations.
Subsequently, the operation is identical to that of type 1 machine.
c. Example 3
We keep the same data as in example 1 with the difference that the
Subcooling of the liquid of 20 kJ/kg takes place in the liquid separator bottle.
and that the exchanger at the outlet of the gas cooler is removed.
• Determination of the three pieces of information allowing to place each
point on an enthalpy diagram
Point 1: - superheated steam,
- P1 = P-32-2 = P-34°C 12.45 bars abs.
- 1 = 12 + 14 = -29 + 14 = -15°C.
Point 2: - superheated steam
- P2 = Pop = 26.5 bars absolute,
entropy of point 2 (s2) = entropy of point 1 (s1).
Point 3: - superheated steam,
- P3 = P2,
- h3 = ?
Point 4: - transcritique,
- P4 = 85 bars absolute,
- entropy of point 4 (s4) = entropy of point 3 (s3).
Point 5: - transcritique,
- P5 = P3,
- h5 = 309 kJ/kg
Point 6: - diphasic,
P6 = Pi = 36 bars abs.
- h6 = h5.
Point 7: - subcooled liquid,
P7 = P6.
4. Operation of a type 4 machine 105
auxiliary to aspirate the vapors contained in the separator bottle for improvement
the efficiency of the installation.
b. Simplified diagram
See next page
c. Principle of operation
Starting from reference point 3, the fluid is compressed to a pressure between
80 and 120 bars and is then in atranscritical state (reference 4). It is then mixed.
with the refrigerant in a transcritical state coming from the discharge of the compressor
auxiliary (markers 16 and 4’). Then it is cooled in the pressure gas cooler.
constant until a temperature higher than the maximum outside temperature with
a temperature difference between 3 and 6°C (reference 5).
5. Operation of a type 5 machine 107
We obtain:
whatHT 0.126 + 0.421 = 0.547 kg/s
And:
h3 = (qmn.h2 + qmp.h11) / qmHT[(0.126 x 553) + (0.421 x 439)] / 0.547
h3 = 465 kJ/kg
We are now isolating the liquid separator bottle.
And
Peto the22.5 kW
4. REGULATION
a. Regulation of the gas cooler without recovery
heat
The regulation of the gas cooler
is divided into three parts. When the
the outside temperature is lower or
equal to 14°C, the regulator allows a
subcritical operation. The pressure
of refoulement is then lower than the
critical pressure and the cooler becomes
a condenser. The algorithm of the automaton
then maintains a difference of 5 to 6 °C
between the condensation temperature and the
outside temperature and a sub-
liquid cooling from 2 to 3°C.
As the temperature approaches
critique, the algorithm changes by increasing
progressively the subcooling to bridge the gap between the regulation
conventional and transcritical regulation.
When the transcritical conditions are reached, the discharge pressure is
adapted by the regulator according to the outside temperature in order to maintain
the best possible COP for the installation. Indeed, the amount of liquid in the
The two-phase mixture injected into the liquid separator also depends on the pressure of
backflow and the outlet temperature of the gas cooler, the goal is to
produce the least amount of steam possible at the outlet of the pressure relief valve.
For the regulators powered by the liquid contained in this tank to be able to
a minimum pressure is necessary to operate. In the case where the pressure would not be
not sufficient, the regulator 1 can force the gradual opening of valve 5.
To avoid excessive pressure in the separator bottle 4, the regulator
One can force valve 5 to close gradually.
If the pressure regulation in this tank is important, it must not
not to neglect the design of this device which is primarily a liquid separator and
must therefore be designed as such. Indeed, without a complete separation of the liquid and
from the steam that is injected by the pressure relief valve, there is a risk of seeing liquid
pass through the venting pipe.
[Link] management
The regulator of the MT part can manage the recovery and return of the oil from the
MT and BT compressors. The oil separator drain is then performed by a
a certain number of impulses lasting for example one second followed by a pause
of one minute. The information provided to the regulator may come from either the switch of
level of the oil separator, either from the oil reservoir pressure transmitter, or
of the two.
• Principle of regulating the evacuation of oil from the separator to the
tank.
The oil level in the separator can be regulated by one or two detectors.
level. The oil is sent to the tank via a pulse solenoid valve.
6. Regulation 113
d. Heat recovery
5. LATEST DEVELOPMENT
a. Introduction
The energy performances of supercritical power plants can be optimized.
thanks, for example, to new modulating ejector technologies.
114 Chapter VII. Bi-level Transcritique
First part of the ejector: the high pressure of the engine fluid at the inlet is
transformed at high speed.
Second part of the ejector or mixing chamber: the working fluid is at high
speed but with a lower pressure than that of the fluid to be drawn, which allows its
suction in the mixing room. Its speed is then increased by the fluid.
engine.
Third part of the ejector or diffuser: the two mixed fluids, which are at
the same high speed, enter the diffuser. This will reconvert this high
speed at a pressure higher than the suction pressure.
6. Regulation 115
There is also the CO2OLtecEvo solution from the company Profroid that uses a
patented technology of modulating ejector presented on the next page.
The system uses high-pressure energy to pre-compress the mass flow.
suction MT coming from the suction pressure at a higher level. In pre-
compressing the mass flow rate of suction MT (energy recovery from high
116 Chapter VII. Bi-level Transcritique