Importance

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Abstract

A refrigeration system, and a method for operating the system, having a two-stage compressor for supplying refrigerant to a cooling coil, and having a desuperheater unit disposed between the two compressor stages. This desuperheater unit includes a container having heat exchange fluid therein and a coil, disposed in the heat exchange fluid, through which the refrigerant passes. During normal operation of the refrigeration system, both compressors are running. The desuperheater unit between the two compressor stages reduces the temperature of the compressed refrigerant before it reaches the second stage. The temperature of the heat exchange fluid is correspondingly increased in the course of the heat exchange. Also during normal operation, frost accumulates on the cooling coil, which is removed by a control device initiating a defrost cycle. When the defrost cycle begins, the first stage compressor is turned off while the second stage compressor continues to run. Flow of refrigerant is then diverted making the desuperheater coil an evaporator coil, providing load for the second stage compressor, while the cooling coil becomes the condenser. Thus, during the defrost cycle, the heat exchange fluid is cooled while the cooling coil is heated and defrosted. After defrost is completed, the flow of refrigerant is normalized, with the cooling coil again cooled and the heat exchange fluid again heated.

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First Claim