Realizing the freedom of making ice, what black technology does it rely on?

Introduction

In 1834, Jacob Perkins of the United Kingdom successfully developed a refrigeration machine using ether as the refrigerant, which laid the foundation for refrigeration technology. Over time, refrigeration technology has gradually developed and been applied in hospitals, industries, and daily life. This article will provide a detailed introduction to three common refrigerants and their characteristics, with a focus on the application and development of carbon dioxide refrigeration.

1. Vapor Compression Refrigeration Machine

The vapor compression refrigeration machine utilizes the characteristic of heat absorption during liquid evaporation for cooling. One common refrigerant used is ammonia. By introducing ammonia vapor into the compressor and increasing its pressure, high temperature and high pressure ammonia vapor is obtained. Then, it is cooled by cold water or air to remove heat and condense the ammonia vapor into liquid. This refrigerant is commonly used for making ice and cooling air at low temperatures.

2. Carbon Dioxide Refrigeration Machine

Due to the fatal flaws of ammonia refrigerators (flammable and toxic), scientists and engineers began to study carbon dioxide refrigerators. Carbon dioxide is a non-toxic, non-flammable, and easily prepared refrigerant. In 1869, an American named Lowe successfully manufactured an ice maker that used carbon dioxide refrigeration. Despite the higher operating pressure of carbon dioxide refrigeration equipment, it is widely used in the ice making industry.

III. Artificial Synthetic Refrigerant Refrigerators

In the 20th century, artificial synthetic refrigerants gradually replaced natural refrigerants. Chlorofluorocarbons represented by Freon have excellent refrigeration performance and are non-toxic. However, these compounds are not environmentally friendly and can damage the ozone layer or contribute to global warming.

IV. Applications of Carbon Dioxide Refrigeration Technology

With the continuous advancement of refrigeration technology, carbon dioxide as a safe and non-toxic refrigerant has gained people's attention. Modern refrigeration methods can meet the low-temperature needs of various daily life requirements. In recent years, the application of green refrigeration technology has been widely promoted.

5. Carbon Dioxide Ice Making Technology

The National Speed Skating Gymnasium uses carbon dioxide supercritical direct cooling ice-making technology, becoming the world's first large-scale ice and snow sports venue to adopt this technology. Carbon dioxide has unique characteristics under supercritical conditions, with a low critical temperature and excellent heat transfer ability, making the transcritical carbon dioxide refrigeration system more efficient.

Conclusion

Through the discussion of refrigerants in refrigeration machines, we can see the potential of carbon dioxide as a green refrigerant. With the development of green refrigeration technology, the application prospects of carbon dioxide are very broad, providing efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly refrigeration solutions for various industries.