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  Cooling systemUSPTO Application #: 20070028631Title: Cooling system Abstract: A cooling system using brine includes: a refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve; a brine circuit that has a cooler and a pump for circulating the brine; a first heat exchanger that is shared by the refrigerant circuit and the brine circuit and performs heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing on a downstream side of the expansion valve of the refrigerant circuit and the brine flowing on a downstream side of the cooler of the brine circuit; and a second heat exchanger that is provided between the cooler and the first heat exchanger and performs heat exchange between the brine and the outdoor air. (end of abstract) Agent: Baker Botts LLP C/o Intellectual Property Department - Washington, DC, US Inventors: Toshiyuki Fukuda, Makoto Kobayashi, Kazumasa Takada USPTO Applicaton #: 20070028631 - Class: 062185000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Refrigeration, Automatic Control, Of External Fluid Or Means, Indirect Heat Transfer Liquid, E.g., Brine The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070028631. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] (i) Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a cooling system using brine. [0003] (ii) Description of the Related Art [0004] Conventionally, there is known a cooling system including a refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve, a brine circuit that has a pump and a cooler, and a first heat exchanger shared by the refrigerant circuit and the brine circuit. [0005] The cooling system performs, in the first heat exchanger, heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing on a downstream side of the expansion valve of the refrigerant circuit and brine flowing on a downstream side of the cooler of the brine circuit to cool the brine. The cooling system supplies the brine cooled to the cooler to cool articles stored in an apparatus, for example, a showcase, in which the cooler is set. [0006] The cooling system using brine is a cooling system proposed in response to the request for the post-Freon process or the Freon-saving in recent years. However, since it is necessary to circulate the brine in the brine circuit, energy consumption is large compared with the conventional direct expansion type cooling system. In other words, if a way of making it possible to reduce the energy consumption is found, it is possible to realize running cost equivalent to or lower than that of the direct expansion type cooling system and improve flexibility of the cooling system. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a cooling system that can realize running cost saving by reducing energy consumption at the time of system operation. [0008] In order to attain the object, the cooling system of the invention includes: a refrigerant circuit that has a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve; a brine circuit that has a cooler and a pump for circulating brine; a first heat exchanger that is shared by the refrigerant circuit and the brine circuit and performs heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing on a downstream side of the expansion valve of the refrigerant circuit and the brine flowing on a downstream side of the cooler of the brine circuit; and a second heat exchanger that is provided between the cooler and the first heat exchanger and performs heat exchange between the brine and the outdoor air. [0009] In this cooling system, for example, in winter when the outdoor air temperature is low, heat exchange is performed between the brine and the outdoor air by the second heat exchanger to cool the brine. The cooling system can lower operating ratios of the compressor and the like by cooling the brine using the outdoor air. Since the operating ratios of the compressor and the like are lowered, the cooling system can reduce energy consumption at the time of system operation. Since the energy consumption at the time of system operation is reduced, the cooling system can realize running cost saving. [0010] The object, other objects, characteristics, and benefits of the invention will be made apparent from the following explanation and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of a cooling system of the invention; [0012] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing control of the cooling system shown in FIG. 1; [0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining operations of the cooling system shown in FIG. 1; [0014] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining operations of the cooling system shown in FIG. 1; [0015] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining operations of the cooling system shown in FIG. 1; [0016] FIG. 6 is an overall diagram according to another embodiment of the cooling system shown in FIG. 1; [0017] FIG. 7 is an overall diagram according to still another embodiment of the cooling system shown in FIG. 1; and [0018] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining operations of the cooling system shown in FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0019] FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention. [0020] A structure of a cooling system using brine will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The cooling system has a refrigerant circuit 10, a brine circuit 20, and a first heat exchanger 30. Continue reading... Full patent description for Cooling system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Cooling system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Cooling system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Chiller control system and method Next Patent Application: Air conditioning systems for vehicles Industry Class: Refrigeration ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Cooling system patent info. 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