Abstract of "USE OF SCREW MACHINES AS A THROTTLE VALVE REPLACEMENT IN REFRIGERATION PLANTS"

DOI: 10.1615/ICHMT.2000.TherSieProcVol2.760
163 pages

Ian K. Smith
City University London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, England

Nikola Stosic
Centre for Positive Displacement Compressor Technology, City University, London EC1V 0HB, U.K.

Ahmed Kovacevic
Centre for Positive Displacement Compressor Technology, City University, London EC1V 0HB, U.K.

Sinopsis

Component efficiencies of vapour compression refrigerant plants approach today upper limits. Losses due to throttling within the cycle become more significant, especially if new refrigerants are used. Efforts are placed to produce two-phase expanders, which could be used to replace the throttle valve and recover power from the loss of the throttling process. Power recovered from the two-phase expansion would then be used to drive either the main compressor or electric generator or another compressor to recompress directly part of the vapour formed during expansion.