Air Conditioning System

Abstract

We propose a new air conditioning system. SOLUTION: The air conditioning system includes an outer pipe, an inner pipe coaxially disposed within the outer pipe, and a rotor coaxially disposed within the inner pipe. The inner pipe forms an outer air passage between the outer pipe and the inner pipe. The rotor forms an inner air passage between the inner pipe and the rotor. The air conditioning system further includes a compression stage disposed at a first position in a central axial direction of the outer pipe, an expansion stage disposed at a second position different from the first position in the central axial direction, and a heat exchanger disposed between the compression stage and the expansion stage in the central axial direction. The compression stage includes a first rotor connected to the rotor. The expansion stage includes a second rotor connected to the rotor. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of partition walls isolating the first channel and the second channel from each other. The first channel is inserted into the inner air passage. The second channel is inserted into the outer air passage.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to air conditioning systems. [Background technology]

[0002] A typical air conditioning system utilizes a refrigeration cycle that cools a refrigerant by repeating a series of operations including compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-108683 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure provides a new air conditioning system that utilizes a different principle from conventional refrigeration cycles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The air conditioning system includes an outer pipe, an inner pipe coaxially disposed within the outer pipe, and a rotor coaxially disposed within the inner pipe. The inner pipe forms an outer air passage between the outer pipe and the inner pipe. The rotor forms an inner air passage between the inner pipe and the rotor. The air conditioning system further includes a compression stage disposed at a first position in a central axis direction of the outer pipe, an expansion stage disposed at a second position different from the first position in the central axis direction, and a heat exchanger disposed between the compression stage and the expansion stage in the central axis direction. The compression stage includes a first rotor coupled to the rotor. The expansion stage includes a second rotor coupled to the rotor. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of partition walls isolating the first channel and the second channel from each other. The first channel is inserted into the inner air passage. The second channel is inserted into the outer air passage. Effect of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure can provide a new air conditioning system that utilizes a different principle from that of conventional refrigeration cycles. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing section A in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing section B of FIG. [Figure 4] 4(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing cross section C in FIGS. 2 and 3, and FIG. 4(b) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing cross section D in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5(a) is a top perspective view of the first inner blocking member, and FIG. 5(b) is a bottom perspective view of the first inner blocking member. [Figure 6] FIG. 6(a) is a top perspective view of the first outer blocking member, and FIG. 6(b) is a bottom perspective view of the first outer blocking member. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a partition wall. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the first rotor and the second rotor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An air conditioning system 1 is shown in Fig. 1. Because the air conditioning system 1 is axially symmetric, the lower half of the air conditioning system 1 is omitted in Fig. 1. The air conditioning system 1 is embedded in, for example, a wall that separates a first space 57 and a second space 59. The first space 57 is, for example, outdoors. The second space 59 is, for example, indoors.

[0009] The air conditioning system 1 includes an outer pipe 3, an inner pipe 5 coaxially arranged within the outer pipe 3, a rotor 9 coaxially arranged within the inner pipe 5, and a motor 13 connected to the rotor 9. An outer ventilation passage 7 is formed between the outer pipe 3 and the inner pipe 5. An inner ventilation passage 11 is formed between the inner pipe 5 and the rotor 9. The motor 13 rotates the rotor 9.

[0010] The air conditioning system 1 further includes a compression stage 15 arranged at a first position in the central axial direction 2 of the outer pipe 3. The compression stage 15 may include one or more rotating vanes connected to the rotor 9 and one or more stator vanes connected to the outer pipe 3. In this embodiment, the compression stage 15 includes two first stator vanes 17, 21 and one first rotating vane 19 arranged therebetween.

[0011] The air conditioning system 1 further includes an expansion stage 23 arranged at a second position different from the first position in the central axis direction 2. The expansion stage 23 may include one or more rotating vanes connected to the rotor 9 and one or more fixed vanes connected to the outer tube 3. In this embodiment, the expansion stage 23 includes two second fixed vanes 25, 29 and one second rotating vane 27 arranged therebetween.

[0012] The air conditioning system 1 further includes a heat exchanger 31 disposed between the compression stage 15 and the expansion stage 23 in the central axial direction 2. The motor 13 rotates the rotor 9 to form an inner air flow from the first space 57 to the second space 59 in the inner air passage 11, and form an outer air flow from the second space 59 to the first space 57 in the outer air passage 7. The heat exchanger 31 promotes heat exchange between the air in the inner air passage 11 and the air in the outer air passage 7.

[0013] The inner ventilation passage 11 includes an inner intake port 41 disposed in the first space 57 and an inner exhaust port 43 disposed in the second space 59. The outer ventilation passage 7 includes an outer intake port 45 disposed in the second space 59 and an outer exhaust port 47 disposed in the first space 57. The compression stage 15 receives air at normal temperature and normal pressure from the first space 57 through the inner ventilation passage 11 and makes the air high temperature and high pressure. On the other hand, the expansion stage 23 receives air at normal temperature and normal pressure from the second space 59 through the outer ventilation passage 7 and makes the air low temperature and low pressure. The heat exchanger 31 promotes heat exchange between the high temperature and high pressure air and the low temperature and low pressure air, and generates air at normal temperature and low pressure. The expansion stage 23 receives air at normal temperature and high pressure from the heat exchanger 31 through the inner ventilation passage 11, makes the air low temperature and normal pressure, and discharges the low temperature and normal pressure air to the second space 59. On the other hand, the compression stage 15 receives normal temperature and low pressure air from the heat exchanger 31 through the outer ventilation passage 7, heats this air to high temperature and normal pressure, and discharges the high temperature and normal pressure air to the first space 57. In this way, the air conditioning system 1 creates a temperature difference between the first space 57 and the second space 59 while ventilating between the first space 57 and the second space 59.

[0014] The heat exchanger 31 may have any suitable structure that allows heat exchange between the air in the outer air passage 7 and the air in the inner air passage 11. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchanger 31 includes a plurality of partition walls 61 that separate a first channel 63 and a second channel 65 from each other. The first channel 63 is inserted into the inner air passage 11. The second channel 65 is inserted into the outer air passage 7. The partition walls 61 are made of metal or non-metal. To increase the heat exchange efficiency, the partition walls 61 may be made of a material with high thermal conductivity.

[0015] The first channel 63 includes a plurality of (18 in this embodiment) first sub-channels 63a, 63b.... The second channel 65 includes a plurality of (18 in this embodiment) second sub-channels 65a, 65b, 65c.... The first sub-channels 63a, 63b... and the second sub-channels 65a, 65b, 65c... are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the outer tube 3. The first sub-channels 63a, 63b... extend from the vicinity of the rotor 9 to the outer tube 3 in the radial direction of the outer tube 3. The second sub-channels 65a, 65b, 65c... extend from the rotor 9 to the vicinity of the outer tube 3 in the radial direction of the outer tube 3. Such an arrangement of the first sub-channels 63a, 63b... and the second sub-channels 65a, 65b, 65c... increases the total area of ​​the plurality of partition walls 61 and enhances the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 31.

[0016] 1, the air conditioning system 1 further includes a first inner blocking member 33 and a second inner blocking member 37 so that the inner air passage 11 is connected to the first channel 63 but not connected to the second channel 65. The air conditioning system 1 further includes a first outer blocking member 35 and a second outer blocking member 39 so that the outer air passage 7 is connected to the second channel 65 but not connected to the first channel 63.

[0017] The first inner blocking member 33 is disposed in the inner air passage 11, and is disposed between the compression stage 15 and the heat exchanger 31. The second inner blocking member 37 is disposed in the inner air passage 11, and is disposed between the expansion stage 23 and the heat exchanger 31. The first outer blocking member 35 is disposed in the outer air passage 7, and is disposed between the compression stage 15 and the heat exchanger 31. The second outer blocking member 39 is disposed in the outer air passage 7, and is disposed between the expansion stage 23 and the heat exchanger 31.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the first inner blocking member 33 includes a plurality (18 in this embodiment) of first inner lid portions 33a, 33b, 33c... that block a plurality (18 in this embodiment) of second sub-channels 65a, 65b, 65c... respectively. The first inner lid portions 33a, 33b, 33c... prevent air from flowing from the inner ventilation passage 11 to the second sub-channels 65a, 65b, 65c.... The first outer blocking member 35 includes a plurality (18 in this embodiment) of first outer lid portions 35a, 35b... that block a plurality (18 in this embodiment) of first sub-channels 63a, 63b... respectively. The first outer lid portions 35a, 35b... prevent air from flowing from the first sub-channels 63a, 63b... to the outer ventilation passage 7.

[0019] The second inner blocking member 37 includes a plurality of second inner lid portions that respectively block the plurality of second sub-channels 65a, 65b, 65c, etc., similar to the first inner blocking member 33. The second inner lid portions prevent air from flowing from the second sub-channels 65a, 65b, 65c to the inner-ventilation passage 11. The second outer blocking member 39 includes a plurality of second outer lid portions that respectively block the plurality of first sub-channels 63a, 63b, etc., similar to the first outer blocking member 35. The second outer lid portions prevent air from flowing from the outer-ventilation passage 7 to the first sub-channels 63a, 63b, etc.

[0020] The first inner lid portion 33a, 33b, 33c, etc. and the second inner lid portion 37a, 37b, 37c, etc. may have any suitable structure capable of closing the second sub-channels 65a, 65b, 65c, etc. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the first inner lid portion 33b includes a vertical surface 67 facing the compression stage 15 and an inclined surface 69 facing the inside of the second sub-channel 65b. The vertical surface 67 is perpendicular to the central axis direction 2. The inclined surface 69 is inclined with respect to the vertical surface 67. The vertical surface 67 is suitable for stopping the flow of air. The inclined surface 69 is suitable for directing air radially outward of the outer tube 3. The second inner lid portion 37b includes a vertical surface 71 facing the expansion stage 23 and an inclined surface 73 facing the inside of the second sub-channel 65b. The vertical surface 71 is perpendicular to the central axis direction 2. The inclined surface 73 is inclined with respect to the vertical surface 71. The vertical surface 71 is suitable for stopping the flow of air. The inclined surface 73 is suitable for directing air in a radially inward direction of the outer tube 3.

[0021] The first outer lid portion 35a, 35b, etc. and the second outer lid portion 39a, 39b, etc. may have any suitable structure capable of closing the first sub-channels 63a, 63b, etc. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the first outer lid portion 35b includes a vertical surface 75 facing the compression stage 15 and an inclined surface 77 facing the inside of the first sub-channel 63b. The vertical surface 75 is perpendicular to the central axis direction 2. The inclined surface 77 is inclined with respect to the vertical surface 75. The vertical surface 75 is suitable for stopping air. The inclined surface 77 is suitable for directing air radially outward of the outer tube 3. The second outer lid portion 39b includes a vertical surface 79 facing the expansion stage 23 and an inclined surface 81 facing the inside of the first sub-channel 63b. The vertical surface 79 is suitable for stopping the flow of air. The inclined surface 81 is suitable for directing the air radially inward.

[0022] 4(a), the outer-air-passage passage 7 has a first length L1 in the radial direction of the outer pipe 3. The second sub-channel 65b has a second length L2 in the radial direction of the outer pipe 3. The second length L2 may be greater than the first length L1.

[0023] 4(b), the inner-air-passage passage 11 has a third length L3 in the radial direction of the outer pipe 3. The first sub-channel 63a has a fourth length L4 in the radial direction of the outer pipe 3. The fourth length L4 may be greater than the third length L3.

[0024] FIG. 4(a) shows the first inner lid portion 33b as a representative. As shown in FIG. 5(a) and (b), the first inner blocking member 33 may be axially symmetric, and therefore the first inner lid portions 33a, 33b, 33c, etc. may be the same as each other. The same applies to the second inner blocking member 37. FIG. 4(b) shows the first outer lid portion 35b as a representative. As shown in FIG. 6(a) and (b), the first outer blocking member 35 may be axially symmetric, and therefore the first outer lid portions 35a, 35b, etc. may be the same as each other. The same applies to the second outer blocking member 39.

[0025] 7, in this embodiment, the multiple partition walls 61 are arranged parallel to the central axis direction 2. However, this is not limited thereto, and the multiple partition walls 61 may be skewed with respect to the central axis direction 2.

[0026] In this embodiment, each of the partition walls 61 is a flat plate. The partition walls 61 may be embossed to increase strength or heat exchange efficiency. The embossing may be in the form of dimples, grooves, or other shapes.

[0027] 8, the first rotor 19 may include a first inner ring 83, a first outer ring 85, and a first intermediate ring 87 between the first inner ring 83 and the first outer ring 85. The first inner ring 83 may have an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the rotor 9 so as to fit into the rotor 9. The first outer ring 85 may have an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tube 3 so as to be spaced apart from the outer tube 3. The first intermediate ring 87 may have an inner diameter equal to the inner diameter of the inner tube 5 and an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the inner tube 5.

[0028] The first rotor 19 may further include a plurality of first inner wings 89 connected between the first inner ring 83 and the first intermediate ring 87, and a plurality of first outer wings 91 connected between the first outer ring 85 and the first intermediate ring 87. The plurality of first inner wings 89 are disposed in the inner ventilation passage 11. The plurality of first outer wings 91 are disposed in the outer ventilation passage 7.

[0029] Each of the multiple first inner wings 89 may have a first angle with respect to the central axial direction 2 of the outer tube 3. Each of the multiple first outer wings 91 may have a second angle different from the first angle with respect to the central axial direction 2 of the outer tube 3. The first angle may be an angle that forms an inner air flow from the first space 57 to the second space 59 in the inner ventilation passage 11 when the rotor 9 rotates. The second angle may be an angle that forms an outer air flow from the second space 59 to the first space 57 in the outer ventilation passage 7 when the rotor 9 rotates.

[0030] The second rotor 27 may include a second inner ring 93, a second outer ring 95, and a second intermediate ring 97 between the second inner ring 93 and the second outer ring 95, similar to the first rotor 19. The second inner ring 93 may have an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the rotor 9 so as to fit into the rotor 9. The second outer ring 95 may have an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tube 3 so as to be spaced apart from the outer tube 3. The second intermediate ring 97 may have an inner diameter equal to the inner diameter of the inner tube 5 and an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the inner tube 5.

[0031] The second rotor 27 may further include a plurality of second inner wings 99 connected between the second inner ring 93 and the second intermediate ring 97, and a plurality of second outer wings 101 connected between the second outer ring 95 and the second intermediate ring 97. The plurality of second inner wings 99 are disposed in the inner ventilation passage 11. The plurality of second outer wings 101 are disposed in the outer ventilation passage 7.

[0032] Each of the multiple second inner wings 99 may have a third angle with respect to the central axial direction 2 of the outer tube 3. Each of the multiple second outer wings 101 may have a fourth angle with respect to the central axial direction 2 of the outer tube 3 that is different from the third angle. The third angle may be an angle that forms an inner air flow from the first space 57 to the second space 59 in the inner ventilation passage 11 when the rotor 9 rotates. The fourth angle may be an angle that forms an outer air flow from the second space 59 to the first space 57 in the outer ventilation passage 7 when the rotor 9 rotates.

[0033] 1, the first stators 17, 21 may have a structure similar to that of the first rotor 19. However, since the first stators 17, 21 are connected to the outer tube 3 and are separated from the rotor 9, they differ from the first rotor 19 in the inner diameter of the first inner ring 83 and the outer diameter of the first outer ring 85. The second stators 25, 29 are also similar to the first stators 17, 21.

[0034] As described above, the inner ventilation passage 11 has the inner intake port 41 and the inner exhaust port 43. The outer ventilation passage 7 has the outer intake port 45 and the outer exhaust port 47. The inner intake port 41 may open in the central axis direction 2 of the outer pipe 3. The inner exhaust port 43 may open in the central axis direction 2 of the outer pipe 3. The outer intake port 45 may open in the radial direction of the outer pipe 3. The outer exhaust port 47 may open in the radial direction of the outer pipe 3. The difference in the opening direction of the inner exhaust port 43 and the outer intake port 45 helps to reduce air circulation between the inner exhaust port 43 and the outer intake port 45. Similarly, the difference in the opening direction of the outer exhaust port 47 and the inner intake port 41 helps to reduce air circulation between the outer exhaust port 47 and the inner intake port 41.

[0035] The air conditioning system 1 may further include a diffuser 49, 53 in the inner air passage 11. The air conditioning system 1 may further include a diffuser 51, 55 in the outer air passage 7. The diffusers 49, 51, 53, 55 are suitable for adjusting the direction of the air flow.

[0036] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. In particular, the multiple modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.

[0037] For example, in order to simplify the structure, the expansion stage 23 in the outer air passage 7 may be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1: air conditioning system, 3: outer pipe, 5: inner pipe, 7: outer ventilation duct, 9: rotor, 11: inner ventilation duct, 15: compression stage, 23: expansion stage, 31: heat exchanger, 61: partition wall, 63: first channel, 65: second channel

Claims

1. An outer tube, an inner tube arranged coaxially within the outer tube, the inner tube forming an outer ventilation passage between the outer tube and the inner tube; a rotor coaxially disposed within the inner tube, the rotor defining an inner ventilation passage between the inner tube and the rotor; a compression stage disposed at a first position in a central axial direction of the outer tube, the compression stage including a first rotor coupled to the rotor; an expansion stage disposed at a second position different from the first position in the central axis direction, the expansion stage including a second rotor coupled to the rotor; a heat exchanger disposed between the compression stage and the expansion stage in the central axis direction, the heat exchanger including a plurality of partition walls isolating a first channel and a second channel from each other, the first channel being inserted into the inner air passage and the second channel being inserted into the outer air passage; An air conditioning system equipped with:

2. the first channel includes a plurality of first sub-channels; the second channel includes a plurality of second sub-channels; The plurality of first sub-channels and the plurality of second sub-channels are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction of the outer tube.

2. The air conditioning system of claim 1.

3. a first inner blocking member disposed in the inner air passage and between the compression stage and the heat exchanger, the first inner blocking member including a plurality of first inner lid portions respectively blocking the plurality of second sub-channels; a first outer blocking member disposed in the outer air passage and between the compression stage and the heat exchanger, the first outer blocking member including a plurality of first outer lid portions respectively blocking the plurality of first sub-channels; a second inner blocking member disposed in the inner air passage between the expansion stage and the heat exchanger, the second inner blocking member including a plurality of second inner lid portions respectively blocking the plurality of second sub-channels; a second outer blocking member disposed in the outer air passage between the expansion stage and the heat exchanger, the second outer blocking member including a plurality of second outer lid portions respectively blocking the plurality of first sub-channels; The air conditioning system of claim 2 further comprising:

4. each of the plurality of first inner lids includes a vertical surface facing the compression stage and an inwardly facing angled surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of second sub-channels; each of the plurality of second outer lids includes a vertical surface facing the expansion stage and an inwardly facing inclined surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of first sub-channels; 4. An air conditioning system according to claim 3.

5. each of the plurality of first outer lids includes a vertical surface facing the compression stage and an inwardly facing angled surface of a respective one of the plurality of first sub-channels; each of the plurality of second inner lids includes a vertical surface facing the expansion stage and an inwardly facing inclined surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of second sub-channels; 5. An air conditioning system according to claim 4.

6. The first rotor includes: A first inner ring; A first outer ring; a first intermediate ring between the first inner ring and the first outer ring; a plurality of first inner vanes coupled between the first inner ring and the first intermediate ring; a plurality of first outer wings coupled between the first outer ring and the first intermediate ring; each of the first inner wings has a first angle with respect to the central axis direction; each of the first outer wings has a second angle with respect to the central axis direction that is different from the first angle; 2. The air conditioning system of claim 1.

7. The second rotor includes: A second inner ring; A second outer ring; a second intermediate ring between the second inner ring and the second outer ring; a plurality of second inner vanes coupled between the second inner ring and the second intermediate ring; a plurality of second outer wings coupled between the second outer ring and the second intermediate ring; each of the second inner wings has a third angle with respect to the central axis direction; each of the second outer wings has a fourth angle with respect to the central axis direction that is different from the third angle; 7. An air conditioning system according to claim 6.

8. The inner ventilation passage has an inner intake port and an inner exhaust port, the inner intake port opens in the central axis direction, and the inner exhaust port opens in the central axis direction, The outer ventilation passage has an outer intake port and an outer exhaust port, the outer intake port opens in a radial direction of the outer pipe, and the outer exhaust port opens in a radial direction of the outer pipe.

2. The air conditioning system of claim 1.

9. The air conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising a motor coupled to the rotor.

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