These
equipment are used
to obtain cold or chilled water, up to 2°C, using vapor energy at medium
or low pressure. The thermocompressor substitutes here the
mechanical compressor used in conventional refrigeration machines.
In this case, the condenser may be barometric and does not require a
completely closed circuit, because the cooling fluid is water.
If
we allow water to enter into a space which is at a lower pressure than the
liquid vapor pressure corresponding to such temperature, an
inmediate partial vaporization - flash- occurs that cools the system down
to the temperature corresponding to the pressure prevailing in the system.
In fact, vacuum refrigeration equipment is composed of an
evaporator "F" where the evaporative cooling takes place.
The
produced vapors are compressed by one thermocompressor "X" until
they reach the condenser "M" pressure.
The
cooling system may have several stages: two
or three flash chambers, each one with its booster and a divided
condenser, in order to obtain flexibility and save motive steam.
