Air-conditioning apparatus

The air-conditioning apparatus addresses the issue of low-temperature refrigerant flowing into the heat medium heat exchanger by incorporating a bypass system and strategically oriented pipes, preventing freezing and potential tube damage.

US20250102205A1Pending Publication Date: 2025-03-27MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
US18/728292
Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-03-16
Publication Date
2025-03-27

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In air-conditioning apparatuses, low-temperature heat source side refrigerant can flow into the heat medium heat exchanger, causing the heat medium to freeze and potentially leading to freezing puncture of the heat transfer tubes.

Method used

The air-conditioning apparatus includes a bypass pipe and a bypass valve in the heat source side refrigerant cycle circuit, allowing the refrigerant to bypass the heat medium heat exchanger during defrosting. The merging portion of the pipes is designed such that the heat medium heat exchanger side pipe is connected with its axis oriented upward, preventing liquid-phase refrigerant from flowing back into the heat medium heat exchanger.

Benefits of technology

This configuration effectively prevents low-temperature liquid-phase heat source side refrigerant from entering the heat medium heat exchanger, thereby preventing the heat medium from freezing and avoiding freezing puncture of the heat transfer tubes.

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Abstract

An air-conditioning apparatus includes: a heat medium cycle circuit; and a heat source side refrigerant cycle circuit in which a compressor, a heat source side heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a heat medium heat exchanger are connected by pipes, wherein the heat source side refrigerant cycle circuit has a bypass pipe, a bypass valve, and a merging portion, the heat medium heat exchanger side pipe having one end connected to the heat medium heat exchanger, the compressor side pipe having one end connected to a heat source side refrigerant suction side of the compressor, and the heat medium heat exchanger side pipe in the merging portion is connected to the compressor side pipe and the bypass pipe with a pipe axis thereof being upwardly inclined relative to a horizontal direction or being oriented upward in a vertical direction when viewed from the merging portion.
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Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Air conditioner

    US20110113802A1

  • Air-conditioning apparatus

    US20190162454A1

  • Air conditioning apparatus

    US20200326092A1

  • Air conditioning apparatus

    WO2021014644A1