Design of evacuated multilayer insulation system for low-pressure refrigerant receiver

Abstract A low-pressure refrigerant receiver is a device utilized in refrigeration systems to store liquid refrigerant. As the cooling capacity decreases, the energy consumption of the refrigeration system increases. Evacuated multi-layer insulation provides excellent thermal insulation properties. Consequently, to minimize cooling loss, reduce system energy consumption, and achieve energy conservation and emission reduction, an evacuated multilayer insulation system was designed for a low-pressure refrigerant receiver of R23. By applying kinetic theory and related principles, we established the conditions and dimensions of the insulated space. We conducted a mechanical analysis of the inner and outer containers of the low-pressure refrigerant receiver using ANSYS, which allowed us to determine the optimal support scheme for the inner container. By analyzing the heat transfer characteristics of the evacuated multilayer insulation and utilizing the relevant empirical formulas, theoretical calculations and comparisons were conducted on the heat transfer performance of high evacuated insulation, high evacuated insulation with a condensing radiation shield, and evacuated multilayer insulation. It was determined that the evacuated multilayer insulation material has the best insulation properties. Comparing the insulating layer thickness and the refrigerant daily evaporation rate for the insulation piled-up material and the evacuated multilayer insulation material, the evacuated multilayer insulation system is superior to the insulation piled-up in terms of the insulation performance, space occupation, duration of service, the economy in the future, etc. It fully reflected the practical significance of designing evacuated multilayer insulation systems for low-pressure refrigerant receivers. Practical and feasible technical measures have been proposed in terms of manufacturing process, installation, and maintenance for the multi-directional heat transfer and vacuum problems of the evacuated multilayer insulation materials.