All-in-one machine integrating multiple air cooling modules and water parallel pipelines

Abstract

The utility model discloses an all-in-one machine integrating a plurality of air cooling modules and a water parallel pipeline, which relates to the technical field of air conditioners, and comprises a plurality of air cooling modules, the plurality of air cooling modules are integrated in the all-in-one machine, the plurality of air cooling modules are identical, and each air cooling module comprises an air side heat exchanger, a water side heat exchanger and a module electric box, a power source integrated electric box is arranged on the all-in-one machine frame and connected with a plurality of module electric boxes through wires, a plate type heat exchanger is selected as the water side heat exchanger, and water inlets and water outlets of the plate type heat exchangers are connected through water parallel pipelines. Certain gaps are reserved between the air side heat exchangers, the air side heat exchangers are arranged at the upper end of the all-in-one machine, and the finned heat exchanger is provided with two coil pipes and is arranged in a V shape. The all-in-one machine has the beneficial effects that the defect that the refrigerating capacity of a single unit is small is overcome while the advantages of an existing air cooling module are reserved, and the refrigerating capacity of the all-in-one machine is greatly increased through the technical scheme that the multiple air cooling modules are integrated into the all-in-one machine.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to an integrated unit that integrates multiple air-cooled modules and parallel water pipelines. Background Technology

[0002] Among various central air conditioning units, air-cooled modular units are widely used due to their advantages such as low procurement cost, low vibration and noise, multi-stage adjustment capability, suitability for both low-load and high-load-variation applications, high fault tolerance, and good backup capability. However, since the cooling capacity of each module is generally small, typically 65kW or 130kW, it is necessary to increase the number of modules to achieve a larger cooling capacity, sometimes requiring more than a dozen. A large number of modules, coupled with the need to maintain sufficient air intake and exhaust distances and maintenance space between each module, not only occupies a significant amount of space but also complicates water piping installation and maintenance. This limits the use of air-cooled modules in applications requiring high cooling capacity.

[0003] Although air-cooled screw chillers have a relatively large cooling capacity per unit, they have high initial investment costs, generate significant noise, and have a lower fault tolerance due to the smaller number of refrigerant systems. For example, if the air conditioning unit has only one refrigerant system, even a small fault in that system can cause the entire unit to shut down. If it has two refrigerant systems, a fault in one system will result in a loss of half the cooling capacity, which is unacceptable in many situations. Currently, high-capacity scroll air-cooled chillers are available on the market. Some use parallel scroll compressor technology, while others use high-horsepower scroll compressors. While these solutions increase the cooling capacity of a single unit, they each have their drawbacks. For instance, using parallel compressor technology requires careful attention to gas and oil balance between compressors; using high-horsepower scroll compressors reduces the number of regulation stages, affecting chilled water output accuracy. Furthermore, high-horsepower scroll compressors are less commonly used in the market, making them less advantageous in terms of cost, reliability, and maintenance.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a unit that can retain the advantages of existing air-cooled modules while overcoming their shortcomings, so as to adapt to use in more scenarios. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an integrated unit that combines multiple air-cooled modules and parallel water pipelines, which can overcome the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:

[0007] By integrating multiple air-cooled modules into a single unit, the cooling capacity of a single main unit is increased. At the same time, the integration maintains the relative independence of each module; for example, each module has a complete cooling system, an independent electrical box, and can be switched on and off independently, allowing for mutual switching between main and auxiliary units. This overcomes the limitation of small cooling capacity of individual air-cooled modules while retaining their advantages such as high cost-effectiveness, flexible use, high fault tolerance, and good backup capability.

[0008] The integration of multiple air-cooled modules into one unit refers to the side-by-side installation of several air-cooled modules, excluding the base and frame, into a large base and frame, forming an integrated unit through organic combination.

[0009] The air-cooled module, excluding the base and frame, includes various refrigeration components, copper pipes connecting these components, an electrical box, and electrical wiring. The main components include a scroll compressor, plate heat exchanger, finned heat exchanger, expansion valve, gas-liquid separator, liquid storage device, filter, and axial fan. The finned heat exchanger has two coils arranged in a V-shape, ensuring that the ventilation and heat exchange of any single coil is not affected when multiple finned heat exchangers are installed together.

[0010] Except for the base and frame, the multiple air-cooled modules, when integrated into a single frame, will retain as much of the existing air-cooled module form as possible, such as component layout, piping routing, and finned heat exchanger circuits, making full use of existing mature technologies. At the same time, appropriate improvements will be made according to new circumstances, such as maintaining appropriate distances between modules to ensure sufficient airflow to the finned heat exchangers without making the integrated unit too large.

[0011] The integrated machine has a complete set of base and sheet metal frame, which can combine multiple modules together to support the weight of each component and ensure the normal operation of the unit.

[0012] Each module integrated into the unit has a plate heat exchanger, which is a water-side heat exchanger, and each has an inlet and outlet. Therefore, the integrated unit will have multiple sets of inlet and outlet ports. To ensure that the unit has only one set of inlet and outlet ports, a parallel water piping system is needed to connect all the inlet and outlet ports within the unit, forming a single set of inlet and outlet ports. The parallel water piping system is configured as a parallel return type.

[0013] The multiple air-cooled modules built into the integrated unit each have their own electrical box to maintain control independence, while the unit is also equipped with a power integrated box to connect the power cables of each module's electrical box to the power integrated box. Users only need to connect one set of power input lines, simplifying the user's wiring.

[0014] The beneficial effects are:

[0015] 1. The cooling capacity of a single integrated unit is several times that of an air-cooled module. The more modules built in, the greater the cooling capacity. If the cooling capacity of an air-cooled module is 130kW, then integrating 3 modules can achieve a cooling capacity of 390kW, integrating 4 modules can achieve a cooling capacity of 520kW, and integrating 5 modules can achieve a cooling capacity of 650kW, which is comparable to an air-cooled screw chiller unit. Moreover, compared with an air-cooled screw chiller unit with the same cooling capacity, the unit size is comparable, and the weight can be reduced by about 20%.

[0016] 2. Multiple all-in-one units can also be used together, as long as the total number of modules after combination does not exceed 16. The maximum cooling capacity of several all-in-one units can reach 2080kW.

[0017] 3. Because the independence of each module is maintained during integration, each module can be controlled independently. Therefore, modules within the same integrated unit or between different integrated units are equivalent. For example, they have the same cooling capacity, can be turned on and off independently, and the main and auxiliary units can be interchanged; they can be started at different times to reduce the impact on the power grid during unit startup; the number of modules that can be activated can be controlled to meet the requirements of partial load operation; and they have a compressor wear averaging function to extend the service life of the unit.

[0018] 4. All-in-one units can save users a significant amount of space. Traditional air-cooled modules need to be spaced apart to ensure adequate air intake and maintenance space, which takes up considerable space. All-in-one units eliminate the support columns for each module, and through careful design, they ensure sufficient air intake space for the finned heat exchanger while also providing ample space for personnel to access and maintain each module.

[0019] 5. All-in-one units simplify water system piping for users. Each unit integrates several air-cooled modules, with water pipes pre-installed and hydraulically balanced. Users only need to connect the modules to the main inlet and outlet water pipes of the unit. If a user requires a large cooling capacity, previously using existing air-cooled modules might have required eight or nine main units; now, only two or three all-in-one units are needed, greatly simplifying the piping process.

[0020] 6. All-in-one machines simplify user wiring. Users only need one power cord for each all-in-one machine, which is much more convenient than needing to configure a power cord for each module.

[0021] 7. The all-in-one unit simplifies maintenance and management for users. Using an all-in-one unit significantly reduces the number of units required, making maintenance and management much easier for users.

[0022] The additional technical features and advantages of this utility model will become more apparent from the following description, or may be learned through specific practice of this utility model. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the present invention, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the evolution of a four-module machine into a single integrated machine, which integrates multiple air-cooled modules and parallel water pipelines as described in this utility model.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a layout diagram of an integrated machine that integrates multiple air-cooled modules and parallel water pipelines, as described in this utility model.

[0026] Figure 3 This utility model describes the main components and system flow chart of each module of an integrated machine that combines multiple air-cooled modules and parallel water pipelines.

[0027] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0028] 11. First Module; 12. Second Module; 13. Third Module; 14. Fourth Module; 111. Module Frame; 1111. Module Column; 112. Module Base; 2. Integrated Unit Body; 21. Integrated Unit Frame; 211. Integrated Unit Column; 212. Integrated Unit Support Column; 213. Inter-Module Connecting Plate; 22. Integrated Unit Base; 23. Air-Side Heat Exchanger; 31. First Integrated Module; 311. Module Electrical Box; 312. Water-Side Heat Exchanger; 32. Second Integrated Module; 33. Integrated Module N; 4. Electric 5. Main water inlet pipe; 51. First water inlet branch pipe; 52. Second water inlet branch pipe; 53. Module N water inlet branch pipe; 6. Main water outlet pipe; 61. First water outlet branch pipe; 62. Second water outlet branch pipe; 63. Module N water outlet branch pipe; 7. Water filter; 81. Scroll compressor; 82. Four-way reversing valve; 83. Finned heat exchanger; 831. Axial flow fan; 832. Brass distributor; 84. Copper filter; 85. Expansion valve; 86. Gas-liquid separator; 87. Liquid storage device; 88. Plate heat exchanger. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.

[0030] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0031] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0032] like Figures 1-3 As shown, this utility model proposes an integrated unit that combines multiple air-cooled modules and parallel water piping. Prior to this integrated unit, it consisted of several modules. Figure 1 As shown, before integration, there are four modules: a first module 11, a second module 12, a third module 13, and a fourth module 14. Each module has its own module frame 111 and module base 112. After integration, it evolves into the all-in-one machine body 2, and the internal parts of each module are combined together through the all-in-one machine frame 21 and the all-in-one machine base 22.

[0033] Before integration, each module had four module supports 1111, resulting in sixteen module supports 1111 for the four modules. To simplify the structure of the integrated unit body 2 and ensure sufficient air intake space for the air-side heat exchangers 23 between modules, the inner supports of the modules were eliminated. To ensure the strength of the integrated unit, several integrated unit support columns 212 and integrated unit supports 211 are installed at the lower part of the integrated unit body 2, and each module is connected to the others via inter-module connecting plates 213.

[0034] Figure 2 This is a layout diagram of an all-in-one machine, including a first integrated module 31, a second integrated module 32, and an integrated module N33.

[0035] To enhance integration, the integrated unit is equipped with a parallel water system piping, connecting the inlet and outlet of the water-side heat exchanger 312 of each module in parallel, resulting in a single set of inlet and outlet ports for the integrated unit. The parallel water system piping includes a main inlet pipe 5, a first inlet branch pipe 51, a second inlet branch pipe 52, and a module N inlet branch pipe 53; a main outlet pipe 6, a first outlet branch pipe 61, a second outlet branch pipe 62, and a module N outlet branch pipe 63. As an optimization, a water filter 7 is installed before the water-side heat exchanger 312 within the inlet branch pipe module to filter out impurities in the water and protect the water-side heat exchanger 312.

[0036] To enhance integration, the all-in-one unit is also equipped with a power supply integrated box 4, which connects the power cords of each module box 311 to the power supply integrated box 4 for easy wiring by the user.

[0037] like Figure 3 The diagram shows the main components and system flow chart for each module. The main components include a scroll compressor 81, a four-way reversing valve 82, a finned heat exchanger 83, an axial fan 831, a brass distributor 832, a copper filter 84, an expansion valve 85, a gas-liquid separator 86, a liquid receiver 87, and a plate heat exchanger 88. These main components are connected by piping to form a refrigerant circulation system.

[0038] The main process flow is as follows: During refrigeration, the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the scroll compressor 81 flows to the finned heat exchanger 83 after passing through the four-way reversing valve 82 to condense into a medium-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant. Then, it is throttled through the expansion valve 85 and becomes low-temperature and low-pressure wet vapor. Next, it exchanges heat with the returning chilled water in the plate heat exchanger 88 to lower the temperature of the chilled water. At the same time, the wet vapor becomes a gaseous refrigerant, which returns to the scroll compressor 81 for compression after passing through the gas-liquid separator 86.

[0039] During heating, the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the scroll compressor 81 flows to the plate heat exchanger 88 after being diverted by the four-way reversing valve 82, heating the returning chilled water. At the same time, the refrigerant becomes a medium-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant, which is then throttled by the expansion valve 85 and becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure wet vapor. It then evaporates in the finned heat exchanger 83, absorbing heat from the air and becoming a gaseous refrigerant. After passing through the four-way reversing valve 82 and the gas-liquid separator 86, it flows back to the scroll compressor 81 for compression.

[0040] Preferably, each module has a dual refrigerant system arranged symmetrically, with each system having the same cooling capacity. This allows for an increase in the number of unit regulation stages, matching the actual cooling capacity demand at any given time and precisely adjusting the outlet water temperature. Simultaneously, the plate heat exchanger 88 features a dual-system structure, with each refrigerant loop adjacent to the water loop, significantly reducing the risk of chilling water under partial load. The increased heat transfer temperature difference under partial load also leads to a higher energy efficiency ratio.

[0041] Preferably, there is a copper filter 84 before and after the expansion valve 85, which can filter out impurities in the pipeline and protect the expansion valve 85 from dirt blockage.

[0042] Preferably, the finned heat exchanger 83 is equipped with a brass distributor 832 on the liquid refrigerant inlet side to make the refrigerant distribution more uniform and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0043] Preferably, a liquid storage device 87 is installed between the expansion valve 85 and the plate heat exchanger 88. This liquid storage device 87 is a balance tank, which stores excess refrigerant in the system during heating operation.

[0044] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed utility model.

Claims

1. An integrated machine integrating a plurality of air-cooled modules and water parallel pipelines, comprising a plurality of air-cooled modules, characterized in that: Several air-cooled modules are integrated inside the main body (2) of the integrated machine. The main body (2) includes an integrated machine base (22). An integrated machine frame (21) is fixed on the integrated machine base (22). The integrated machine frame (21) fixes several air-cooled modules to the integrated machine base (22). Several air-cooled modules are completely identical. Each air-cooled module includes a scroll compressor (81), a four-way reversing valve (82), an air-side heat exchanger (23), an expansion valve (85), a gas-liquid separator (86), a water-side heat exchanger (312), and a module electrical box (311). The integrated frame (21) is provided with a power supply integrated box (4), which is connected to several module boxes (311) by wires. The water-side heat exchanger (312) is a plate heat exchanger (88), and the inlet and outlet of several plate heat exchangers (88) are connected by parallel water pipes. The air-side heat exchanger (23) is a finned heat exchanger (83), and there is a certain gap between several air-side heat exchangers (23) and they are located at the upper end of the integrated body (2). The finned heat exchanger (83) has two coils and is arranged in a V-shape.

2. The integrated machine of claim 1, wherein: The integrated frame (21) is fixedly connected to the integrated column (211) at the four corners of the integrated base (22). The top of the integrated base (22) is fixedly connected to several integrated support columns (212) with a length less than the integrated column (211). Several air-cooled modules are fixedly connected to each other through inter-module connecting plates (213).

3. The integrated machine of claim 1, wherein: The water parallel pipeline includes an inlet main pipe (5) and an outlet main pipe (6). The inlet main pipe (5) is fixedly connected to several inlet branch pipes and is fixedly connected to the inlets of several water-side heat exchangers (312). The outlet main pipe (6) includes outlet branch pipes and is fixedly connected to the inlets of several water-side heat exchangers (312).

4. The integrated machine of claim 3, wherein: Several water filters (7) are fixedly connected between the main water inlet pipe (5) and the plate heat exchanger (88).

5. The integrated machine of claim 1, wherein: The air-cooled module is symmetrically equipped with a dual heat exchanger system with two-stage regulation capability. The plate heat exchanger (88) is equipped with a dual heat exchanger system structure, both of which are adjacent to the water circuit.

6. The integrated machine of claim 1, wherein: A copper filter (84) is installed before and after the expansion valve (85).

7. The integrated machine of claim 1, wherein: The finned heat exchanger (83) has a brass distributor (832) installed on the liquid refrigerant inlet side.

8. The integrated machine of claim 1, wherein: A liquid storage device (87) is installed between the expansion valve (85) and the plate heat exchanger (88), and the liquid storage device (87) is a balance tank.

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