Phase change cold storage module embedded industrial variable frequency air conditioning system

Abstract

This application relates to the field of industrial air conditioning, specifically a phase change cold storage module embedded industrial inverter air conditioning system. The air conditioning system includes an outdoor unit, an air conditioning main unit connected to the outdoor unit, a phase change cold storage unit and mixing box connected to the air conditioning main unit, an indoor unit connected to the mixing box, and a control main unit. The outdoor unit, controlled by the control main unit, is connected to the inverter compressor within the air conditioning main unit, also controlled by the control main unit, via a circulating pump and insulated pipes, for heat exchange and cooling of the refrigerant. The phase change cold storage unit has a first air inlet, a second air inlet, and a heat exchange channel connecting the first and second air inlets. This system, through the dynamic cold storage / release capacity of the modular phase change cold storage unit, can quickly absorb or replenish the cold capacity difference during sudden load changes, effectively mitigating temperature fluctuations caused by the response lag of the inverter compressor and ensuring accurate temperature control in the industrial environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of industrial air conditioning, and in particular to an embedded industrial variable frequency air conditioning system with a phase change cold storage module. Background Technology

[0002] In the industrial sector, maintaining a stable and suitable ambient temperature is crucial for ensuring the normal operation of production equipment, improving product quality, and enhancing the working environment. Variable frequency air conditioning technology, as the mainstream solution for industrial temperature control, significantly improves energy efficiency under partial load conditions and reduces energy consumption compared to traditional fixed-frequency air conditioners by adjusting the compressor speed to match actual cooling load demands. Its core advantage lies in avoiding the high start-stop losses and temperature fluctuations caused by the frequent start-stop cycles of fixed-frequency air conditioners.

[0003] However, existing industrial variable frequency air conditioning systems still have some inherent limitations in practical applications, especially when dealing with the rapid and significant cooling load fluctuations common in industrial environments. A significant problem is insufficient temperature output stability. When production equipment suddenly starts or stops, or when the environmental heat load changes drastically (such as heat dissipation from large equipment, shift changes leading to changes in personnel density, or the opening of doors and windows), although the variable frequency compressor can adjust its output in response to load changes, its response speed is limited by the inertia of the mechanical system, exhibiting a certain degree of lag. This lag makes it difficult for the system to instantly provide or reduce the required cooling capacity, inevitably causing indoor temperatures to fluctuate around the set value. This fluctuation can not only affect the quality of precision machining or specific processes but also reduce personnel comfort. Another key deficiency lies in the limited potential for further improvements in energy efficiency. To cope with the aforementioned load surges, the compressor often needs to frequently make significant speed adjustments, and may even be forced to operate in a less efficient operating range. Especially when the load demand momentarily exceeds the compressor's maximum cooling capacity, or momentarily falls below the compressor's stable operating limit, the system either cannot meet the demand, leading to excessive temperature, or is forced to perform start-stop operations (although at a lower frequency than fixed-frequency air conditioners), both of which increase additional energy consumption. Furthermore, under partial load, although inverter technology itself has advantages, when the compressor continuously operates at a lower speed, its efficiency still decreases relative to its high-efficiency operating point, and there is still room for optimization in the overall energy efficiency of the system.

[0004] The main reason for these shortcomings is the lack of an effective, dynamic cooling capacity "buffering" or "energy storage" mechanism in existing variable frequency air conditioning systems. The system relies entirely on the real-time output of the compressor to match the load demand instantaneously, but the compressor's adjustment capability and response speed are limited. When load demand changes drastically in a short period, the system lacks an intermediate link to absorb or supplement the instantaneous cooling capacity difference to smooth out fluctuations. This "rigid" energy supply and demand matching method makes it difficult for the system to maintain both absolute temperature stability and high operational efficiency when facing dynamic loads.

[0005] Therefore, developing a new technology that can effectively overcome the shortcomings of existing industrial variable frequency air conditioners has significant practical importance and application value. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this application is to overcome at least one deficiency of the prior art and to provide an embedded industrial variable frequency air conditioning system with a phase change cold storage module.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application discloses an embedded industrial variable frequency air conditioning system with a phase change cold storage module. The air conditioning system includes an outdoor unit, an air conditioning unit connected to the outdoor unit, a phase change cold storage unit and a mixing box connected to the air conditioning unit, an indoor unit connected to the mixing box, and a control unit. The outdoor unit, which is controlled by the control unit, is connected to the variable frequency compressor in the air conditioning unit, which is also controlled by the control unit, through a circulating pump and insulated pipes, for heat exchange and cooling of the refrigerant.

[0008] The phase change cold storage unit has a first air inlet and a second air inlet, as well as a heat exchange channel connecting the first air inlet and the second air inlet.

[0009] The first air inlet has two output ends. The first output end is connected to the air conditioning unit through an insulated pipe, and the second output end is connected to the cold air inlet in the mixing box through an insulated pipe with a pump and valve controlled by the main unit.

[0010] The second air inlet is connected to two air inlet pipes that connect the indoor and outdoor environments via a flap valve controlled by the main unit, and is used to introduce indoor or outdoor ambient air.

[0011] A temperature sensor connected to the control host is installed inside the air inlet pipe.

[0012] The air conditioning unit has a cold air outlet and a return air outlet. The cold air outlet is connected to the first interface of the electrically controlled three-way valve controlled by the main unit. The second and third interfaces of the electrically controlled three-way valve are respectively connected to the cold air inlet of the mixing box and the first air inlet of the phase change cold storage unit.

[0013] Furthermore, the phase change cold storage unit includes an insulated shell and at least two phase change cold storage units connected in series within the insulated shell; the phase change cold storage unit has an insulated and sealed outer shell, and the inner shell is encapsulated with a solid-liquid phase change material; the outer shell integrates a heat exchange coil assembly and a finned heat exchange assembly, the heat exchange coil assembly being composed of serpentine metal pipes embedded with phase change material; the finned heat exchange assembly is composed of several parallel metal fins connected to the heat exchange coil assembly; the heat exchange coil is connected to a first air inlet and a second air inlet respectively, forming a heat exchange channel through the heat exchange coil.

[0014] Furthermore, a temperature sensor connected to the control host is installed inside the heat exchange coil.

[0015] Furthermore, the mixing box includes a turbulent mixing chamber with a built-in flow guide grille, a return air inlet disposed in the turbulent mixing chamber and connected to the indoor environment and equipped with a primary filter and an air volume regulating valve, and a cold air inlet also disposed on the turbulent mixing chamber.

[0016] Furthermore, the turbulent mixing chamber, the cold air inlet, and the return air inlet are each equipped with a temperature sensor connected to the control host.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, this application has at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0018] 1. Significantly improve temperature control stability: Through the dynamic cold storage / release capacity of the modular phase change cold storage unit, the system can quickly absorb or replenish the cold capacity difference when the load changes suddenly, effectively suppressing the temperature fluctuation caused by the response lag of the variable frequency compressor and ensuring the temperature control accuracy in the industrial environment.

[0019] 2. Optimize overall system energy efficiency: Utilize the time-shifting characteristics of cold energy of phase change materials to actively store cold during off-peak electricity price periods or low load periods, and prioritize the release of cold during peak periods or high load demand periods, thereby reducing the operating frequency and start-stop frequency of the compressor in high energy consumption areas and reducing overall energy consumption.

[0020] The beneficial effects listed above are not exhaustive of all advantages. Other potential beneficial effects and detailed technical implementation methods will be further disclosed in the embodiments or other descriptive sections of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0021] A better understanding of various aspects of this disclosure will be achieved by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The positions, dimensions, and extents of the structures shown in the drawings, etc., do not always represent actual positions, dimensions, and extents. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a hardware connection block diagram of one embodiment disclosed in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be presented in many different ways and is not limited to the embodiments described below; in fact, the embodiments described below are intended to make the disclosure more complete and to fully illustrate the scope of protection of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide further additional embodiments.

[0024] It should be understood that the same reference numerals denote the same elements in all the accompanying drawings. For clarity, the dimensions of certain features may be modified in the drawings.

[0025] It should be understood that the terminology used in this specification is for describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. All terms used in this specification (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise defined. For the sake of brevity and / or clarity, techniques, methods, and apparatus known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail; however, where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and apparatus should be considered part of this specification.

[0026] Unless otherwise specified, the singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in this specification include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “containing” used in this specification indicate the presence of the claimed feature but do not exclude the presence of one or more other features. The term “and / or” used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the relevant listed items.

[0027] See attached document Figure 1 This embodiment uses a precision electronics factory that operates 24 hours a day, year-round as a scenario to demonstrate the complete structure and operation of an industrial variable frequency air conditioning system with an embedded phase change cold storage module.

[0028] In this embodiment, an embedded industrial variable frequency air conditioning system with a phase change cold storage module is provided. The system mainly consists of an outdoor unit 1, an air conditioning host 2, a phase change cold storage unit 3, a mixing box 4, an indoor unit 5, and a control host 6. The components cooperate with each other to achieve effective cooling and temperature regulation of the industrial environment.

[0029] Outdoor unit 1 is connected to air conditioning unit 2, which in turn is connected to phase change cold storage unit 3 and mixing box 4. Mixing box 4 is then connected to one or more of the multiple indoor units 5. The entire system operates in an orderly manner under the coordinated control of control unit 6.

[0030] The outdoor unit 1 is connected to the variable frequency compressor 204 in the air conditioning unit 2 via a circulation pump 101 and insulated pipes. When the system is running, the refrigerant circulates in the pipes. The outdoor unit 1 starts working under the command of the control unit 6 to perform heat exchange and cooling operations on the refrigerant, thereby providing low-temperature refrigerant for the subsequent cooling process. The circulation pump 101 can be a corrosion-resistant and high-efficiency model, and the insulated pipes use high-efficiency insulation materials, such as polyurethane foam, to reduce the loss of cold energy during transmission.

[0031] In this embodiment, the air conditioning unit 2 is equipped with a cold air outlet 201 and a return air outlet 202. The cold air outlet 201 is connected to the first interface of the electrically controlled three-way valve 203, which is controlled by the main unit 6. As a key control component in the system, the second and third interfaces of the electrically controlled three-way valve are respectively connected to the cold air inlet of the mixing box 4 and the first air inlet of the phase change cold storage unit 3. By controlling the electrically controlled three-way valve 203 through the main unit 6, the flow direction of the refrigerant can be flexibly adjusted to achieve different working modes. For example, when it is necessary to prioritize the use of the phase change cold storage unit 3 for cold storage or for cold supply, the electrically controlled three-way valve 203 can be controlled to switch the flow path.

[0032] In this embodiment, the phase change cold storage unit 3 has a unique structure, comprising an insulated shell and at least two phase change cold storage units 301 connected in series within the insulated shell. The insulated shell is made of a material with good thermal insulation properties, such as perlite or rock wool, which can effectively prevent external heat from entering and ensure the internal cold storage effect. The phase change cold storage unit 301 is provided with an insulated and sealed outer shell, and the inner shell is encapsulated with a solid-liquid phase change material. The selection of the phase change material is crucial. In this embodiment, a paraffin-based phase change material can be used, whose phase change temperature range is compatible with the cooling requirements of the industrial environment. It can stably undergo phase change during heat absorption and release, storing and releasing a large amount of cold energy. The outer casing integrates a heat exchange coil assembly and a finned heat exchange assembly. The heat exchange coil assembly consists of serpentine metal tubing embedded with phase change material. The metal tubing has excellent thermal conductivity; for example, copper or aluminum alloy tubing can be used to make the heat exchange between the refrigerant and the phase change material more efficient. The finned heat exchange assembly consists of several parallel metal fins connected to the heat exchange coil assembly, increasing the heat exchange area and further improving heat exchange efficiency. The heat exchange coil is connected to the first and second air inlets, forming a complete heat exchange channel. When the refrigerant flows through the heat exchange coil, it exchanges heat with the phase change material, causing the phase change material to undergo a phase change process of heat storage or release. In addition, a temperature sensor connected to the control host 6 is installed inside the heat exchange coil. This temperature sensor can monitor the temperature changes inside the heat exchange coil in real time and feed the data back to the control host 6, allowing the control host 6 to accurately adjust the system operating parameters based on the temperature information.

[0033] Furthermore, to achieve peak cooling adjustment, the first air inlet of the phase change cold storage unit 3 in the system is equipped with dual output paths:

[0034] The first output end is connected to the electrically controlled three-way valve 203 via an insulated pipe, which is used to determine whether the air conditioning unit 2 directly turns on the phase change cold storage 301 to realize cold storage.

[0035] The second output end is connected to the cold air inlet of the mixing box 4 via another pipe with insulation, which is first controlled by a pump and valve, and then opened and pressurized when needed.

[0036] When the load changes abruptly, the control host 6 immediately controls the valves and pumps to ensure that the air pre-cooled by the phase change cold storage unit 3 through the heat exchange channel can directly enter the mixing box 4 and mix with the cold air output by the variable frequency compressor 201, thereby suppressing the temperature fluctuations caused by the response lag of the variable frequency compressor.

[0037] In this embodiment, the mixing box 4 includes a turbulent mixing cavity with a built-in guide grille. The guide grille enables air from different sources to be fully mixed in the cavity, ensuring that the air temperature delivered to the indoor unit 5 is uniform.

[0038] The mixing chamber 4 is also equipped with a return air inlet connected to the indoor environment. The return air inlet is equipped with a primary filter and an airflow regulating valve. The primary filter, using materials such as filter cotton, filters large particles like dust and hair from the air, ensuring indoor air cleanliness. The airflow regulating valve adjusts the return air volume according to actual indoor needs, thus affecting the overall cooling capacity distribution of the system. Additionally, a cold air inlet is located on the turbulent mixing chamber, used to introduce cold air generated by the air conditioning unit 2 and cold air introduced by the phase change cold storage unit 3, mixing it with the return air. Temperature sensors connected to the control unit 6 are also installed in the turbulent mixing chamber, at the cold air inlet, and at the return air inlet. These temperature sensors monitor the temperature at various points in real time, providing data support to the control unit 6, enabling it to accurately control the opening of the airflow regulating valve and the switching timing of the electrically controlled three-way valve 203, maintaining a stable and comfortable indoor temperature.

[0039] In the phase change cold storage unit 3, the second air inlet is connected to two air inlet pipes 302, which connect the indoor and outdoor environments, via a flap valve controlled by the control host 6. This design allows for the introduction of indoor or outdoor air as needed to meet different ventilation requirements and cooling strategies. Temperature sensors installed in the air inlet pipes 302 transmit air temperature information to the control host 6. Based on the set indoor temperature and the actual indoor temperature, the control host 6 controls the opening and closing of the flap valve, precisely adjusting the flow rate and source of the introduced air. For example, when the outdoor temperature is low, the proportion of introduced outdoor cold air can be appropriately increased to assist cooling and save energy; when indoor air quality needs improvement, fresh air can also be introduced by adjusting the flap valve. Through the close cooperation of all components and the intelligent control of the control host 6, the entire system achieves efficient cooling, cold storage, and temperature regulation functions in an industrial environment, effectively improving energy utilization efficiency, reducing operating costs, and providing a stable and suitable working environment for industrial production. In practical applications, this air conditioning system can flexibly adjust its operating mode according to the heat generation of equipment and the number of personnel in the workshop. Through the phase change cold storage unit 3, it stores cold during off-peak electricity hours at night and releases the cold during peak hours in the daytime. With the real-time adjustment of the variable frequency compressor, it can not only meet the strict temperature requirements of the workshop, but also significantly reduce electricity costs, while ensuring the freshness and cleanliness of the air in the workshop. Compared with traditional industrial air conditioning systems, it has significant energy-saving effects and better comfort performance.

[0040] While exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore, all changes and modifications are included within the scope of protection of this disclosure as defined by the claims. This disclosure is defined by the appended claims, and equivalents of those claims are also included.

Claims

1. An embedded industrial variable frequency air conditioning system with a phase change cold storage module, characterized in that, The air conditioning system includes an outdoor unit, an air conditioning unit connected to the outdoor unit, a phase change cold storage unit and a mixing box connected to the air conditioning unit, an indoor unit connected to the mixing box, and a control unit. The outdoor unit, which is controlled by the control unit, is connected to the variable frequency compressor in the air conditioning unit, which is also controlled by the control unit, through a circulating pump and insulated pipes, for heat exchange and cooling of the refrigerant. The phase change cold storage unit has a first air inlet and a second air inlet, as well as a heat exchange channel connecting the first air inlet and the second air inlet. The first air inlet has two output ends. The first output end is connected to the air conditioning unit through an insulated pipe, and the second output end is connected to the cold air inlet in the mixing box through an insulated pipe with a pump and valve controlled by the main unit. The second air inlet is connected to two air inlet pipes that connect the indoor and outdoor environments via a flap valve controlled by the control host, for introducing indoor or outdoor ambient air; a temperature sensor connected to the control host is installed inside the air inlet pipe. The air conditioning unit has a cold air outlet and a return air outlet. The cold air outlet is connected to the first interface of an electrically controlled three-way valve controlled by the main unit. The second and third interfaces of the electrically controlled three-way valve are respectively connected to the cold air inlet of the mixing box and the first air inlet of the phase change cold storage unit. The return air outlet is also connected to the first air inlet through a valve controlled by the main unit.

2. The phase change cold storage module embedded industrial variable frequency air conditioning system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The phase change cold storage unit includes an insulated shell and at least two phase change cold storage units connected in series within the insulated shell. Each phase change cold storage unit has an insulated and sealed outer shell, inside which a solid-liquid phase change material is encapsulated. A heat exchange coil assembly and a finned heat exchange assembly are integrated within the outer shell. The heat exchange coil assembly is composed of serpentine metal pipes embedded with phase change material. The finned heat exchange assembly is composed of several parallel metal fins connected to the heat exchange coil assembly. The heat exchange coils are connected to a first air inlet and a second air inlet, respectively, forming a heat exchange channel.

3. The phase change cold storage module embedded industrial variable frequency air conditioning system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A temperature sensor connected to the control unit is installed inside the heat exchange coil.

4. The phase change cold storage module embedded industrial variable frequency air conditioning system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mixing chamber includes a turbulent mixing cavity with a built-in flow guide grille, a return air inlet located in the turbulent mixing cavity and connected to the indoor environment, and equipped with a primary filter and an airflow regulating valve, and a cold air inlet also located in the turbulent mixing cavity.

5. The phase change cold storage module embedded industrial variable frequency air conditioning system as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The turbulent mixing chamber, cold air inlet, and return air inlet are each equipped with temperature sensors connected to the control host.

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