Method and apparatus for handling refrigerant

Abstract

An apparatus for processing refrigerant includes a storage tank configured to store a recovered refrigerant mixture from an air conditioning system, a mixing container configured to blend refrigerants, material refrigerant tanks configured to supply single-component refrigerants to the mixing container, and a processor. The processor controls the storage tank to store the recovered refrigerant mixture from the air conditioning system, determines material refrigerants of an initial refrigerant mixture corresponding to the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank before deterioration, and a mixing ratio of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture, controls the material refrigerant tanks to supply the single-component refrigerants from the material refrigerant tanks to the mixing container according to the material refrigerants and the mixing ratio of the initial refrigerant mixture to form a blended refrigerant mixture, and controls the refrigerant pump to inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system .

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2025-0031621 filed on Mar. 11, 2025, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUNDTechnical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for processing refrigerant, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for recovering, processing, and injecting refrigerant of an air conditioning system.Technical Considerations

[0003] Conventional refrigerant processing techniques include processes for recovering refrigerant used in an air conditioning system for disposal or reuse. However, these refrigerant reuse methods are generally limited to recovering a single refrigerant, filtering or purifying impurities, replenishing a lost amount, and reinjecting the processed refrigerant into the air conditioning system.

[0004] Recently, mixed refrigerants using a mixture of two or more refrigerants have been introduced to improve the efficiency of air conditioning systems. However, in the case of mixed refrigerants, some components are altered or lost, preventing the refrigerant from fully exhibiting the performance of the initially supplied mixed refrigerant.SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a refrigerant processing apparatus and a refrigerant processing method capable of recovering, processing, and injecting refrigerant of an air conditioning system.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for processing refrigerant may be provided. The method may include: storing a recovered refrigerant mixture from an air conditioning system in a storage tank; determining material refrigerants of an initial refrigerant mixture corresponding to the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank before deterioration, and a mixing ratio of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture; supplying single-component refrigerants corresponding to the material refrigerants from at least one material refrigerant tank to a mixing container according to the material refrigerants and the mixing ratio of the initial refrigerant mixture to form a blended refrigerant mixture; and injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system.

[0007] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the method may further include: discharging the recovered refrigerant mixture from the storage tank to a discharge tank; and forming a vacuum in the storage tank from which the recovered refrigerant mixture has been discharged.

[0008] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the method further includes generating, using a compressor, a flow of the refrigerant mixture recovered from the air conditioning system and a flow of the refrigerant mixture discharged to the discharge tank.

[0009] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the recovered refrigerant mixture may be transferred from the air conditioning system to the storage tank through the compressor and at least one pipe connected to the compressor, and the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank may be transferred to the discharge tank through the compressor and a portion of the at least one pipe connected to the compressor.

[0010] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, determining the material refrigerants and the mixing ratio may include: analyzing material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture flowing into the storage tank or stored in the storage tank, and a mixing ratio of the analyzed material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture; identifying the initial refrigerant mixture based on the analyzed material refrigerants and the mixing ratio of the analyzed material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture; and determining the material refrigerants of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture and the mixing ratio of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture.

[0011] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, identifying the initial refrigerant mixture may include identifying the initial refrigerant mixture based on a gas refrigerant after the recovered refrigerant mixture has been discharged from the storage tank.

[0012] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the single-component refrigerants may be sequentially supplied to the mixing container in a descending order based on at least one of density, input amount, likelihood of vaporization, or likelihood of liquefaction.

[0013] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the method may further include performing a vacuum treatment on the air conditioning system at a preset time point after storing the recovered refrigerant mixture and before injecting the blended refrigerant mixture.

[0014] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the blended refrigerant mixture may be injected into the air conditioning system based on a pressure difference between the air conditioning system and the mixing container after the vacuum treatment.

[0015] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the blended refrigerant mixture may be injected into the air conditioning system through at least one selected from a low pressure line or a high pressure line of the air conditioning system by an operation of a refrigerant pump disposed on an injection pipe connecting the mixing container and the air conditioning system.

[0016] According to another embodiment, an apparatus for processing refrigerant may be provided. The apparatus may include: a storage tank configured to store a recovered refrigerant mixture recovered from an air conditioning system; a mixing container configured to blend refrigerants; at least one material refrigerant tank configured to supply single-component refrigerants to the mixing container; a refrigerant pump configured to supply a blended refrigerant mixture from the mixing container to the air conditioning system; and a processor configured to: control the storage tank to store the recovered refrigerant mixture from the air conditioning system; determine material refrigerants of an initial refrigerant mixture corresponding to the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank before deterioration, and a mixing ratio of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture; control the at least one material refrigerant tank to supply the single-component refrigerants from the at least one material refrigerant tank to the mixing container according to the material refrigerants and the mixing ratio of the initial refrigerant mixture to form the blended refrigerant mixture; and control the refrigerant pump to inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system.

[0017] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the apparatus may further include a discharge tank configured to store refrigerant. The processor may be further configured to: control discharge of the recovered refrigerant mixture from the storage tank to the discharge tank; and control formation of a vacuum in the storage tank from which the recovered refrigerant mixture has been discharged.

[0018] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the apparatus further includes a compressor configured to generate a flow of refrigerant. The processor may be further configured to control the compressor to generate a flow of the recovered refrigerant mixture recovered from the air conditioning system and a flow of the recovered refrigerant mixture discharged to the discharge tank.

[0019] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the processor may be configured to: control transfer of the refrigerant mixture from the air conditioning system to the storage tank through the compressor and at least one pipe connected to the compressor; and control transfer of the refrigerant mixture in the storage tank to the discharge tank through the compressor and a portion of the at least one pipe connected to the compressor.

[0020] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the processor may be further configured to: analyze material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture flowing into the storage tank or stored in the storage tank, and a mixing ratio of the analyzed material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture; identify the initial refrigerant mixture based on the analyzed material refrigerants and the mixing ratio of the analyzed material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture; and determine the material refrigerants of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture and the mixing ratio of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture.

[0021] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the processor may be further configured to identify the initial refrigerant mixture based on a gas refrigerant after the recovered refrigerant mixture has been discharged from the storage tank.

[0022] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the processor may be further configured to sequentially supply the single-component refrigerants to the mixing container in a descending order based on at least one of density, input amount, likelihood of vaporization, or likelihood of liquefaction.

[0023] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the processor may be further configured to perform a vacuum treatment on the air conditioning system at a preset time point after storing the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank and before injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system.

[0024] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the processor may be further configured to inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system based on a pressure difference between the air conditioning system and the mixing container after performing the vacuum treatment.

[0025] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the processor may be further configured to operate the refrigerant pump disposed on an injection pipe connecting the mixing container and the air conditioning system to inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system through at least one selected from a low-pressure line and a high-pressure line of the air conditioning system .

[0026] In some non-limiting embodiments, by blending refrigerants according to a mixing ratio of an initial refrigerant mixture before deterioration of a composition or component of a recovered refrigerant mixture and injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into an air conditioning system, performance of the air conditioning system may be maximized.

[0027] In some non-limiting embodiments, by precisely adjusting a mixing ratio of material refrigerants blended in a mixing container, refrigerant performance in the air conditioning system may be maintained, and system malfunction due to quality deterioration of the refrigerant mixture may be prevented.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of components of a refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating detailed components of a refrigerant processing unit in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of operations for performing refrigerant processing in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of operations for forming a vacuum in an air conditioning system in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating detailed operations of the refrigerant processing unit recovering refrigerant from a connected air conditioning system in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating detailed operations of the refrigerant processing unit performing a vacuum treatment on the connected air conditioning system in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating detailed operations of the refrigerant processing unit blending a new refrigerant in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating detailed operations of the refrigerant processing unit injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into the connected air conditioning system in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of operations for performing refrigerant discharge in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating detailed operations of the refrigerant processing unit discharging the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank to a discharge tank in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating forming a vacuum in the storage tank in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Various embodiments or aspects will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, since various changes may be made in the embodiments or aspects, the scope of the patent disclosure is not limited or restricted by these embodiments or aspects. It should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives for the embodiments or aspects are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, it is to be understood that the present disclosure may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following detailed description, are simply exemplary and non-limiting embodiments or aspects of the disclosed subject matter. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments or aspects disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.

[0041] No aspect, component, element, structure, act, step, function, instruction, and / or the like used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more” and “at least one.” Furthermore, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items, and / or the like) and may be used interchangeably with “one or more” or “at least one.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “include”, “includes”, “including”, “has,”“have,”“having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based at least partially on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. In addition, reference to an action being “based on” a condition may refer to the action being “in response to” the condition. For example, the phrases “based on” and “in response to” may, in some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, refer to a condition for automatically triggering an action (e.g., a specific operation of an electronic device, such as a computing device, a processor, and / or the like).

[0042] It will be understood that when a component is described as being “connected,”“combined” or “coupled” to another component, the component may be directly connected or coupled to another component, but it may be “connected,”“combined” or “coupled” to that component by an intervening component that may be present.

[0043] Further, in describing the components of the embodiment or aspect, the meaning of “or” may mean each of the components, may mean two or more of the components, or may mean all of the components. For example, it should be understood that the expressions “a, b or c” represent any one of “a,”“b,”“c,”“a and b,”“a and c,”“b and c,” and “a, b and c.”

[0044] As used herein, any directional terms as the terms “upper”, “lower”, “height”, “side”, or the like are used with reference to the respective directions or positions indicated by reference or shown in the drawings for representing a direction or positional relationship in the given context. Specifically, the terms “upper”, “lower”, or the like refer to a height direction with reference to the drawings.

[0045] Further, as used herein, the term “the processor is configured to” refers to a control of an operation of the refrigerant processing unit by the processor or an operation of the processor of data processing.

[0046] Components comprised in one embodiment or aspect and components comprising common functions will be described using the same names in other embodiments or aspects. The description given in one embodiment or aspect may be applied to other embodiments or aspects, and therefore will not be described in detail within the overlapping range, unless there is a description to the contrary.

[0047] The device and / or data processed by the device may be expressed in terms of ‘information’. Here, the information may be used as a concept comprising the data.

[0048] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerant processing method and a refrigerant processing apparatus. Herein, the apparatus (refrigerant processing apparatus) may be configured to recover, process, and inject refrigerant of an air conditioning system connected to the outside of the apparatus.

[0049] Herein, the air conditioning system connected to the outside of the apparatus may be described as an air conditioning system that performs cooling or heating using a refrigerant, such as an air conditioning system included in a building or a house, as well as a vehicle such as a car, a ship, or an airplane.

[0050] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the refrigerant recovered from the air conditioning system, newly blended, and injected into the air conditioning system may be described as a refrigerant mixture in which two or more material refrigerants are mixed.

[0051] Herein, the material refrigerant may include at least one of various refrigerants such as a natural refrigerant, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-based refrigerant, a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-based refrigerant, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerant, a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant other than the natural refrigerant, a halon, or a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based refrigerant.

[0052] In order to clearly describe embodiments of the present disclosure, the refrigerant mixture will be described using a zeotropic refrigerant in which two or more refrigerants are mixed, in which a composition ratio changes during condensation and evaporation processes due to a difference in physical properties such as vapor pressure, and a temperature glide may occur. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the refrigerant mixture may include an azeotropic refrigerant or may be composed of a refrigerant in which a composition ratio is maintained constant and a temperature glide does not appear during condensation and evaporation processes.

[0053] In order to describe the refrigerant processing method and the apparatus thereof, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates components of a refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates detailed components of a refrigerant processing unit in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 3 illustrates a flow of operations for performing refrigerant processing in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates a flow of operations for forming a vacuum in an air conditioning system in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates detailed operations of the refrigerant processing unit recovering refrigerant from a connected air conditioning system in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates detailed operations of the refrigerant processing unit performing a vacuum treatment on the connected air conditioning system in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 illustrates detailed operations of the refrigerant processing unit blending a new refrigerant in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 illustrates detailed operations of the refrigerant processing unit injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into the connected air conditioning system in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates a flow of operations for performing refrigerant discharge in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 illustrates detailed operations of the refrigerant processing unit discharging the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank to a discharge tank in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 illustrates forming a vacuum in the storage tank in the refrigerant processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus (refrigerant processing apparatus) 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of a processor 110, a storage 120, a communication unit 130, and a refrigerant processing unit 140.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may control an operation of the refrigerant processing unit 140. The storage 120 may store data for the operation of the processor 110. The communication unit 130 may perform communication with components inside the apparatus 100 or an external device (e.g., an air conditioning system, etc.) based on control by the processor 110. The refrigerant processing unit 140 may perform operations of recovering refrigerant from a connected air conditioning system, processing (e.g., blending) the recovered refrigerant mixture, and injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system, based on control by the processor 110.

[0056] The configurations and operations of the processor 110, the storage 120, the communication unit 130, or the refrigerant processing unit 140 will be described in detail.

[0057] First, the processor 110 is configured to include at least one processor, and may process various data for the operation of the apparatus 100 through at least one program (application, tool, plug-in, software, etc.).

[0058] The processor 110 may control operations or functions of components (e.g., the storage 120, the communication unit 130, or the refrigerant processing unit 140, etc.) included in the apparatus 100 (or connected to the apparatus 100). In this case, the processor 110 may transmit and receive data to and from the components through the communication unit 130.

[0059] The storage 120 may be configured to include a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, or a computer-readable recording medium. In this case, the computer-readable recording medium may store a computer program for the apparatus 100 to perform operations based on various embodiments.

[0060] For example, the storage 120 may store various data transferred or processed by at least one component (e.g., the processor 110 or the communication unit 130, etc.) of the apparatus 100. The data may include, for example, a program for processing control commands, data processed through the program, or input data and output data related thereto.

[0061] According to an embodiment, the storage 120 may store at least one program for controlling the operation of the refrigerant processing unit 140.

[0062] In addition, the storage 120 may include an artificial intelligence algorithm based on at least a part of an artificial neural network algorithm, a blockchain algorithm, a deep learning algorithm, a regression analysis algorithm, and mechanisms, operators, language models, and big data related thereto for processing control commands.

[0063] The communication unit 130 may perform establishment of a wired communication channel or a wireless communication channel between components inside the apparatus 100 and / or between the apparatus 100 and at least one other device (e.g., a user device or a server), and may support communication through the established communication channel.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the refrigerant processing unit 140 will be described in more detail.

[0065] First, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may be configured to include a storage tank (ST) configured to recover and store refrigerant from the air conditioning system, a mixing container (MC) configured to blend refrigerant according to a mixing ratio before components of the recovered refrigerant mixture are deteriorated, a refrigerant pump (RP) configured to inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system, and a discharge tank (DT) configured to store the refrigerant discharged from the storage tank (ST).

[0066] According to an embodiment for describing the refrigerant processing unit 140 in more detail, the refrigerant processing unit 140 includes a recovery pipe (P1) configured to recover refrigerant from the air conditioning system. The recovery pipe (P1) may be configured such that the refrigerant recovered from the air conditioning system passes through a stabilization chamber (DOA chamber) (DOA) configured to stabilize a state of the refrigerant, a compressor (M1) configured to compress the refrigerant to high temperature and high pressure, and a condenser (CDS) configured to phase-change the gaseous refrigerant into liquid, and is stored in the storage tank (ST).

[0067] In describing various embodiments of the present disclosure, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may be configured to include various pipes. In this case, the pipe may be composed of a hard pipe such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, carbon steel, copper, or PVC, or a soft pipe such as rubber, Teflon, nylon, silicone, synthetic resin, or metal braid. In addition, the pipe may include a pipe formed by mixing a hard pipe and a soft pipe (or by mixing materials thereof).

[0068] In addition, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may further include an internal discharge pipe (P7) configured to move the recovered refrigerant mixture (stored refrigerant) of the storage tank (ST) to the stabilization chamber (DOA), and an external discharge pipe (P8) configured to move the refrigerant to the discharge tank (DT). The refrigerant processing unit 140 may be configured such that the recovered refrigerant mixture from the storage tank (ST) is stored in the discharge tank (DT) by operating the compressor (M1).

[0069] In addition, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may include at least one material refrigerant tank (MT) in which a material refrigerant for blending a new refrigerant is stored, a mixing pipe (P4) connecting the material refrigerant tank (MT) and the mixing container (MC), and the mixing container (MC) configured to mix refrigerants. The refrigerant processing unit 140 may be configured such that the material refrigerant of the material refrigerant tank (MT) is blended (mixed) in the mixing container (MC).

[0070] In addition, the refrigerant processing unit 140 includes an injection pipe (P2) connected to the mixing container (MC), and the injection pipe (P2) may be configured to inject the blended refrigerant mixture of the mixing container (MC) into the air conditioning system through the refrigerant pump (RP).

[0071] As described above, in order to effectively perform at least some operations among refrigerant recovery, vacuum treatment of the air conditioning system, refrigerant blending, refrigerant injection, and refrigerant discharge, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may be configured to further include at least one component.

[0072] To describe in more detail, the recovery pipe (P1) may be connected to the air conditioning system through a low side pipe (LSP) and / or a high side pipe (HSP).

[0073] According to an embodiment, the recovery pipe (P1) may be connected to the low side pipe (LSP) through a low side manifold valve (V1). The low side manifold valve (V1) may be configured to control the flow of refrigerant in the low side pipe (LSP) (or a low pressure line of the air conditioning system).

[0074] In the low side pipe (LSP), one end may be connected to the low side manifold valve (V1) as described above, and the other end may be configured to include a low side service coupling (SC1) connected to the low pressure line of the air conditioning system. In addition, the low side pipe (LSP) may be configured to include a low side pressure gauge (G1) measuring the refrigerant pressure of the low side pipe (LSP) (or the low pressure line of the air conditioning system).

[0075] In addition, the recovery pipe (P1) may be connected to the high side pipe (HSP) through a high / low solenoid valve (SV8) and a high side manifold valve (V2). The high side manifold valve (V2) may be configured to control a flow of refrigerant in the high side pipe (HSP) (or a high pressure line of the air conditioning system).

[0076] In the high side pipe (HSP), one end may be connected to the high side manifold valve (V2), and the other end may be configured to include a high side service coupling (SC2) connected to the high pressure line of the air conditioning system. In addition, the high side pipe (HSP) may be configured to include a high side pressure gauge (G2) measuring a refrigerant pressure of the high side pipe (HSP) (or the high pressure line of the air conditioning system).

[0077] In addition, the high side pipe (HSP) may be connected to the injection pipe (P2) through the high side manifold valve (V2). Also, the injection pipe (P2) may be connected to the low side pipe (LSP) through the high / low solenoid valve (SV8) and the low side manifold valve (V1).

[0078] The high / low solenoid valve (SV8) may be configured to control (e.g., block or open) a flow of refrigerant between the recovery pipe (P1) and the high side pipe (HSP), or control (e.g., block or open) a flow of refrigerant between the injection pipe (P2) and the low side pipe (LSP).

[0079] To describe in more detail, the high / low solenoid valve (SV8) may control the connection between the low side pipe (LSP) and the high side pipe (HSP) to recover the refrigerant of the air conditioning system through the low side pipe (LSP) or through both the low side pipe (LSP) and the high side pipe (HSP) in a process of recovering the refrigerant of the air conditioning system through the recovery pipe (P1).

[0080] Also, the high / low solenoid valve (SV8) may control the connection between the low side pipe (LSP) and the high side pipe (HSP) to inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system through the high side pipe (HSP) or through both the low side pipe (LSP) and the high side pipe (HSP) in a process of injecting the refrigerant into the air conditioning system through the injection pipe (P2).

[0081] The recovery pipe (P1) may be configured to include at least one of a low pressure switch (LP) configured to detect a state of the low pressure line of the air conditioning system (e.g., whether the refrigerant pressure drops below a preset pressure, etc.) through the low side pipe (LSP) and / or block the flow of refrigerant, a recovery solenoid valve (SV1) configured to control the flow of refrigerant, a check valve 1 (CV1) configured to prevent backflow of refrigerant, and a regulator (RG) configured to control the pressure of the refrigerant flowing in the low side pipe (LSP).

[0082] In addition, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may include a vacuum pump (VP) for discharging air and moisture of the air conditioning system. Here, the refrigerant processing unit 140 includes a vacuum pump pipe (or vacuum pump pipe) (P3) connecting the recovery pipe (P1) and the vacuum pump (VP) between the low pressure switch (LP) and the recovery solenoid valve (SV1). The vacuum pump pipe (P3) may be configured to include a vacuum pump solenoid valve (SV2) controlling an operation of the vacuum pump (VP).

[0083] The stabilization chamber (DOA) may include a filter (or damper) configured to filter impurities such as air, oil, and fine particles introduced together with the refrigerant during a refrigerant recovery process. For example, the stabilization chamber (DOA) may include an oil separator (discharge oil (or de-oiling) accumulator) configured to separate and discharge oil included in the refrigerant.

[0084] In addition, the stabilization chamber (DOA) may include a heat exchanger stabilizing a state of the refrigerant. Here, the heat exchanger of the stabilization chamber (DOA) may be configured to stabilize the refrigerant state, such as partially separating gas and / or liquid refrigerant therein, uniformly adjusting the temperature, adjusting a flow rate so that the refrigerant flowing to the compressor has a uniform flow, or mitigating the occurrence of shock (i.e., pressure spike).

[0085] In addition, in order to discharge the separated oil to the outside of the apparatus 100, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may be configured to include at least some of an oil drain solenoid valve (SV6) configured to discharge the oil separated from the stabilization chamber to the outside of the apparatus 100, an oil pressure switch (OP) configured to monitor the pressure of the separated oil and control the oil drain solenoid valve (SV6) according to a preset pressure, and a third check valve (CV3) configured to prevent the oil discharged through the oil drain solenoid valve (SV6) from flowing back to the stabilization chamber (DOA). Here, the oil drain solenoid valve (SV6), the oil pressure switch (OP), or the third check valve (CV3) may be configured inside or outside the stabilization chamber (DOA).

[0086] In addition, between the stabilization chamber (DOA) and the compressor (M1), at least some of a moisture filter (F1) configured to remove moisture and / or impurities included in the recovered refrigerant mixture flowing in a direction of the compressor (M1), an oil separator (OS) configured to filter oil and / or impurities of the refrigerant, and a compressor equalization solenoid valve (SV4) configured to maintain an equilibrium state of an internal pressure of the compressor may be included.

[0087] In addition, between the stabilization chamber (DOA) and the storage tank (ST), at least some of a first check valve (CV1) configured to prevent the refrigerant flowing from the stabilization chamber (DOA) in a direction of the condenser (CDS) from flowing back to the stabilization chamber (DOA), a high pressure switch (HP) configured to detect a pressure rise occurring in a flow of refrigerant (e.g., a flow of refrigerant after the compressor (M1)) and control an internal pressure of a pipe, a tank pressure gauge (G3) measuring an internal pressure of the storage tank (ST), and a tank vapor pipe (P5) connecting the condenser (CDS) and the storage tank (ST) and configured to move liquid refrigerant from the condenser (CDS) to the storage tank (ST) and move gaseous refrigerant to the condenser (CDS) may be included.

[0088] Here, a purge pipe (P6) transferring air to an outlet configured to discharge air (and / or gas) of the storage tank (ST) is connected to the storage tank (ST), and an air purge solenoid valve (SV7) for discharging a part of the air (and / or gas) may be connected to the purge pipe (P6).

[0089] In addition, the storage tank (ST) may be configured with an inlet through which refrigerant flows in and an outlet through which refrigerant is discharged at an upper portion thereof. Here, the inlet of the upper portion of the storage tank (ST) is connected to the tank vapor pipe (P5), and an inlet solenoid valve (SV9) controlling the flow of refrigerant introduced from the tank vapor pipe (P5) may be configured. Also, the outlet of the upper portion of the storage tank (ST) is connected to the internal discharge pipe (P7), and an outlet solenoid valve (SV10) controlling the flow of refrigerant discharged to the internal discharge pipe (P7) may be configured.

[0090] In addition, the storage tank (ST) may be configured to include the inlet solenoid valve (SV9) controlling the flow of refrigerant introduced from the tank vapor pipe (P5), and the outlet solenoid valve (SV10) controlling the flow of refrigerant discharged to the discharge pipe (P7).

[0091] In addition, the recovered refrigerant mixture of the storage tank (ST) may be configured to move to the discharge tank (DT) through the discharge pipe (P7).

[0092] To describe in more detail, in the refrigerant processing unit 140, at least some of the pipes (e.g., the recovery pipe (P1), the tank vapor pipe (P5), etc.) used to recover the refrigerant from the air conditioning system and move the refrigerant to the storage tank (ST) may be used to move the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank (ST) to the discharge tank (DT). For example, a path (e.g., a refrigerant discharge line) may be configured such that the recovered refrigerant mixture of the storage tank (ST) flows to the discharge tank (DT) by passing through the internal discharge pipe (P7), the stabilization chamber (DOA), the compressor (M1), the condenser (CDS), and the external discharge pipe (P8).

[0093] Here, the external discharge pipe (P8) may be connected between the high pressure switch (HP) and the tank pressure gauge (G3). According to another embodiment, the external discharge pipe (P8) may be connected between the high pressure switch (HP) and the tank vapor pipe (P5).

[0094] Here, the external discharge pipe (P8) between the high pressure switch (HP) and the discharge tank (DT) may be configured to include a discharge manifold valve (V4) controlling the flow of refrigerant so that the recovered refrigerant mixture passing through the high pressure switch (HP) flows to the external discharge pipe (P8), a discharge pressure gauge (G4) measuring an internal pressure of the external discharge pipe (P8) (and / or a discharge line) through which the recovered refrigerant mixture flows, and a discharge service coupling (SC3) connecting the external discharge pipe (P8) to the discharge tank (DT).

[0095] In addition, the material refrigerant of the at least one material refrigerant tank (MT) may be configured to move to the mixing container (MC) through the mixing pipe (P4).

[0096] To describe in more detail, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may be configured to include a 3-way valve (3-way v / v) connecting the mixing pipe (P4) between the at least one material refrigerant tank (MT) and the mixing container (MC). Here, the 3-way valve (3-way v / v) may control the movement of the material refrigerant from the at least one material refrigerant tank (MT) in a direction of the mixing container (MC).

[0097] In addition, a solenoid valve (SV) controlling the flow of the material refrigerant may be included between the at least one material refrigerant tank (MT) and the 3-way valve (3-way v / v).

[0098] Here, when the at least one material refrigerant tank (MT) is composed of a plurality of tanks, a check valve (or solenoid valve) between the plurality of tanks (MT) and the 3-way valve (3-way v / v) may be configured in each of the plurality of tanks (MT). In this case, the mixing pipe (P4) may be integrated into one pipe (i.e., common pipe) from the solenoid valves and connected to the 3-way valve (3-way v / v).

[0099] Each of the single-component refrigerants serving as components of the refrigerant mixture may be stored in each of the plurality of material refrigerant tanks.

[0100] In addition, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may include a flow meter (FM) measuring a flow rate of the refrigerant (e.g., material refrigerant) flowing into the mixing container (MC).

[0101] In addition, the injection pipe (P2) may be configured to include the refrigerant pump (RP) generating (or supporting) a flow of the blended refrigerant mixture injected from the mixing container (MC) to the high pressure line of the air conditioning system.

[0102] In addition, between the mixing container (MC) and the refrigerant pump (RP) of the injection pipe (P2), at least some of a charging solenoid valve (SV3) controlling the flow of the refrigerant discharged from the mixing container (MC), a sight glass (SG) installed to visually check a state of the refrigerant at a side of the injection pipe (P2), and a check valve 2 (CV2) preventing the blended refrigerant mixture from flowing back in a direction of the mixing container (MC) from the refrigerant pump (RP) may be included.

[0103] In addition, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may include a reservoir (RSV) storing oil to supply oil (or lubricant) required for an operation of the refrigerant (e.g., a flow of refrigerant in the air conditioning system, etc.). To this end, between the mixing container (MC) and the refrigerant pump (RP), at least some of an oil injection valve (V3) for injecting the oil of the reservoir (RSV) into the injection pipe (P2), and a third check valve (CV3) preventing the oil from flowing back in a direction of the reservoir (RSV) may be included.

[0104] The configuration of the refrigerant processing unit 140 has been described with reference to FIG. 2. In describing operations of the refrigerant processing apparatus 100 with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 9,, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may be described by dividing it into a refrigerant recovery unit 201, a vacuum treatment unit 203, a refrigerant blending unit 205, a refrigerant injection unit 207, and a refrigerant discharge unit 209 as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11.

[0105] Here, the refrigerant recovery unit 201, the vacuum treatment unit 203, the refrigerant blending unit 205, the refrigerant injection unit 207, and the refrigerant discharge unit 209 may be distinguished based on operations of refrigerant recovery of the refrigerant processing unit 140, vacuum treatment of the air conditioning system, refrigerant blending, refrigerant injection, and refrigerant discharge.

[0106] The refrigerant processing unit 140, the refrigerant recovery unit 201, the vacuum treatment unit 203, the refrigerant blending unit 205, the refrigerant injection unit 207, and the refrigerant discharge unit 209 configured in the refrigerant processing unit 140, or respective components thereof may operate based on control of the processor 110.

[0107] The operations in which the apparatus 100 recovers refrigerant from the air conditioning system, blends a new refrigerant, and injects the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3-8.

[0108] First, the low side service coupling (SC1) of the refrigerant processing unit 140 may be in a state connected to a low pressure line (e.g., a low pressure line coupling) of the air conditioning system, and the high side service coupling (SC2) may be in a state connected to a high pressure line (e.g., a high pressure line coupling) of the air conditioning system.

[0109] Referring to the refrigerant recovery unit 201 of FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, an operation of recovering refrigerant from the air conditioning system may be described. According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may recover refrigerant from the air conditioning system and store the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank (operation 301).

[0110] To describe in more detail, the processor 110 may operate the compressor (M1) to generate a refrigerant flow for recovering refrigerant from the air conditioning system, and recover the refrigerant of the air conditioning system through the low side pipe (LSP).

[0111] Also, the processor 110 may open the high / low solenoid valve (SV8) to recover the refrigerant of the air conditioning system through the low side pipe (LSP) and / or the high side pipe (HSP).

[0112] Here, while the recovered refrigerant mixture passes through the stabilization chamber (DOA), oil and impurities may be removed. Also, by exchanging heat between the incoming refrigerant and the refrigerant compressed into a high-temperature and high-pressure gas by the compressor in the recovery operation, a state of the refrigerant flowing into the compressor is converted into a gaseous state, so that only the gaseous refrigerant may be delivered to the compressor (M1). In addition, in this process, the refrigerant may pass through a moisture filter, and moisture included in the refrigerant may be removed.

[0113] The processor 110 may compress the recovered refrigerant mixture through the compressor (M1), and transfer the refrigerant converted into a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous state during the compression process to the condenser (CDS).

[0114] The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant introduced into the condenser (CDS) releases heat and condenses into a liquid state, and the condensed refrigerant may be introduced into and stored in the storage tank (ST).

[0115] A flow meter (not shown) measuring a flow rate of the refrigerant introduced into the storage tank may be disposed at an inlet of the storage tank (ST). Through this, the processor 110 may measure an amount (e.g., mass) of the recovered refrigerant mixture introduced into the storage tank (ST).

[0116] The processor 110 may measure an internal pressure of the storage tank (ST) through the tank pressure gauge (G3), and control the air purge solenoid valve (SV7) to discharge air inside the storage tank (ST) when the internal pressure of the storage tank (ST) exceeds a preset pressure.

[0117] According to an embodiment, the refrigerant processing unit 140 may be configured to include at least one component analyzer (CA) analyzing components of the refrigerant. For example, a component analyzer capable of analyzing gas components may be disposed (or connected) inside the storage tank (ST). The processor 110 may discharge gas (e.g., carbon dioxide (CO2) (R744) gas) introduced into the storage tank (ST) based on information (e.g., type and / or amount (e.g., mass) of gas refrigerant) on the gas refrigerant obtained through the component analyzer.

[0118] The processor 110 may discharge CO2 gas together while discharging the air inside the storage tank (ST). In this case, the processor 110 may measure an amount (e.g., mass) of the discharged CO2 gas and set it as a CO2 gas loss amount of the recovered refrigerant mixture.

[0119] According to the above description, it has been described that the processor 110 records the discharge amount of CO2 gas, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a discharge amount for a gas (e.g., propane (C3H8) (R290), isobutane (C4H10) (R600a), etc.) capable of becoming a material of the refrigerant mixture may be measured, and the measured discharge amount may be recorded.

[0120] Accordingly, the recovered refrigerant mixture in a liquid state may be stored in the storage tank (ST).

[0121] Thereafter, referring to the vacuum treatment unit 203 of FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, an operation of performing a vacuum treatment on the air conditioning system may be described. According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may perform the vacuum treatment of the air conditioning system using the low side pipe (LSP) and the high side pipe (HSP) (operation 401).

[0122] To describe in more detail, the processor 110 may operate the vacuum pump (VP) in a state where the recovery solenoid valve (SV1) blocks a flow of refrigerant in a direction of the stabilization chamber (DOA) and the high / low solenoid valve (SV8) is opened.

[0123] Through this, a state of the low side pipe (LSP) and the high side pipe (HSP), a part of the recovery pipe (P1) connected to the low side pipe (LSP) and / or the high side pipe (HSP), and a refrigerant circulation line (a refrigerant circulation line including a high pressure line and a low pressure line) of the air conditioning system may be formed into a vacuum.

[0124] In the vacuum treatment process, impurities (e.g., gas, fine particles, moisture, etc.) inside the air conditioning system, the low side pipe (LSP) in which a vacuum is formed, and the high side pipe (HSP) may be discharged to the outside of the apparatus 100 through the vacuum pump (VP) (or the air purge solenoid valve (SV7), etc.).

[0125] At a time point when the vacuum treatment ends, a vacuum state for the air conditioning system, the low side pipe (LSP) and the high side pipe (HSP) between the air conditioning system and the vacuum pump (VP), and at least a part of the recovery pipe (P1) and / or the injection pipe (P2) may be maintained based on the structure and the operation of at least one valve (e.g., the first check valve (CV1), the second check valve (CV2), etc.).

[0126] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the processor 110 may maintain the vacuum state by controlling at least one valve (e.g., the recovery solenoid valve (SV1) of the recovery pipe (P1), the vacuum pump solenoid valve (SV2), etc.) required for maintaining the vacuum state of the air conditioning system and the low side pipe (LSP) and the high side pipe (HSP) between the air conditioning system and the vacuum pump (VP), or by controlling elements such as the refrigerant pump (RP) of the injection pipe (P2).

[0127] When the operation 401 is performed, the processor 110 may end the embodiment of FIG. 4.

[0128] The vacuum treatment operation (401) of the air conditioning system described above may be performed after recovering the refrigerant from the air conditioning system in operation 301. However, the vacuum treatment operation may be performed at a preset time point after recovering the refrigerant (after operation 301) and before injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system (before operation 307) to be described later.

[0129] Thereafter, referring to the refrigerant blending unit 205 of FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, an operation of blending a new refrigerant based on the refrigerant recovered from the air conditioning system may be described. According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may obtain material refrigerants and a mixing ratio of an initial refrigerant mixture corresponding to the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank before deterioration (operation 303).

[0130] According to an embodiment, the recovered refrigerant mixture may be a refrigerant in a state where at least some components among material refrigerants constituting the refrigerant are deteriorated, or at least some of the material refrigerants are lost (and / or missing, referred to as 'lost').

[0131] Here, the recovered refrigerant mixture is a refrigerant mixture as described above, and the material refrigerant thereof may be a single-component refrigerant or a compound refrigerant generated by a chemical reaction of at least two or more refrigerants.

[0132] Therefore, at least some material refrigerants constituting the recovered refrigerant mixture may be decomposed due to a decrease in chemical stability, causing deformation, or some material refrigerants may be lost due to structural stability of the air conditioning system, so that a mixing ratio of the recovered refrigerant mixture may be in a state deviating from a mixing ratio (a mixing ratio of the initial refrigerant mixture) set for the refrigerant in a state before deterioration (the initial refrigerant mixture).

[0133] Accordingly, the processor 110 may obtain material refrigerants constituting the refrigerant before deterioration (the initial refrigerant mixture) of the recovered refrigerant mixture and a mixing ratio of the material refrigerants in order to blend a new refrigerant to be injected into the air conditioning system by replacing the recovered refrigerant mixture.

[0134] According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may determine material refrigerants constituting the refrigerant before deterioration (the initial refrigerant mixture) of the recovered refrigerant mixture (the refrigerant mixture) and a mixing ratio (a mixing ratio of the material refrigerants), based on a user input received through an input unit (not shown).

[0135] When the processor 110 obtains an identification code of the refrigerant before deterioration (e.g., an identification code of the refrigerant mixture) through the user input, the processor 110 may identify the initial refrigerant mixture corresponding to the obtained identification code through a refrigerant mixture mixing ratio list, and determine the material refrigerants constituting the initial refrigerant mixture and the mixing ratio (the mixing ratio of the material refrigerants).

[0136] To this end, the refrigerant mixture mixing ratio list may be stored in the storage 120. Here, the refrigerant mixture mixing ratio list may be in a state where at least some information among a plurality of refrigerant mixtures, identification codes for the refrigerant mixtures, material refrigerants for each of the refrigerant mixtures, mixing ratios of the material refrigerants, and a deterioration (or loss) possibility (e.g., deterioration rate or loss rate) of the material refrigerants is stored.

[0137] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the processor 110 may identify the initial refrigerant mixture based on the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank (ST). To this end, the processor 110 may check (or determine) a mixing ratio of the refrigerant flowing into (or in a state of having flowed into) the storage tank (ST).

[0138] To this end, a component analyzer (CA) configured to analyze components of the recovered refrigerant mixture may be disposed in (or connected to) the storage tank (ST).

[0139] Here, the component analyzer (CA) may analyze components of the refrigerant stored inside the storage tank (ST). To describe in more detail, the component analyzer (CA) may be configured to analyze components of liquid refrigerant. However, the component analyzer (CA) may be configured to analyze components of gas refrigerant, or may be configured as a multi-phase component analyzer analyzing components for various phases such as a liquid state and a gaseous state.

[0140] Based on this, the processor 110 may check material refrigerants and a mixing ratio of the material refrigerants for the refrigerant in a state of being recovered in the storage tank (ST).

[0141] Here, as described above, the component analyzer configured for gas discharge may be the component analyzer (CA) inside the storage tank (ST). However, the component analyzer for gas discharge may be configured independently of the component analyzer (CA) inside the storage tank (ST). For example, the component analyzer for gas discharge may be disposed in the purge pipe (P6) or at an outlet connected to the purge pipe (P6) in the storage tank (ST).

[0142] Also, the component analyzer (CA) may be configured to analyze components of the refrigerant (e.g., liquid refrigerant) introduced into the storage tank (ST) from the tank vapor pipe (P5).

[0143] When the processor 110 checks the mixing ratio of the recovered refrigerant mixture, the processor 110 may identify the initial refrigerant mixture of the recovered refrigerant mixture by checking a mixing ratio most similar to the mixing ratio of the recovered refrigerant mixture from the refrigerant mixture mixing ratio list.

[0144] In addition, the processor 110 may identify the initial refrigerant mixture by checking specific material refrigerants set to have a high possibility of deterioration (or loss) among the material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture, and calculating a predicted amount (e.g., mass) of deterioration (or loss) according to the possibility of deterioration (or loss) of the specific material refrigerants.

[0145] In this case, when the gaseous material refrigerant is discharged while the recovered refrigerant mixture is stored in the storage tank (ST), the initial refrigerant mixture may be identified by including a discharge amount of the gaseous material refrigerant in the amount of deterioration (or loss).

[0146] Thereafter, as described above, the processor 110 may provide single-component refrigerants corresponding to the material refrigerants from at least one material refrigerant tank to the mixing container according to material refrigerants and a mixing ratio of material refrigerants of the refrigerant before deterioration (i.e., the initial refrigerant mixture) (operation 305). Here, the at least one material refrigerant tank (MT) may be disposed at a height higher than a height of the mixing container.

[0147] To describe in more detail, the processor 110 may select tanks in which corresponding material refrigerants are stored among the material refrigerant tanks (MT) according to the material refrigerants constituting the initial refrigerant mixture, and control a valve (e.g., solenoid valve (SV)) for each tank to provide the material refrigerant to the mixing container (MC).

[0148] The processor 110 may sequentially provide the material refrigerants determined to be blended to the mixing container (MC) according to an order (i.e., descending order) of density, input amount (i.e., ratio in the mixing ratio of the initial refrigerant mixture), a refrigerant with a high possibility of vaporization (e.g., a refrigerant having a low boiling point and high possibility of existing in a gaseous state at room temperature), or a refrigerant having high pressure characteristics and being difficult to liquefy (e.g., CO2 refrigerant).

[0149] In this case, the processor 110 may measure an amount (e.g., mass) of each of the material refrigerants provided to the mixing container (MC) through the flow meter (FM), and control the valve (e.g., solenoid valve (SV)) of the material refrigerant tank (MT) so that the calculated amount is accurately introduced into the mixing container (MC) to satisfy the mixing ratio of the initial refrigerant mixture.

[0150] Based on this, a refrigerant mixture (blended refrigerant mixture) having the same mixing ratio as the mixing ratio of the initial refrigerant mixture may be generated in the mixing container (MC).

[0151] Thereafter, referring to the refrigerant injection unit 207 of FIGS. 2, 3, and 8, an operation of injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system may be described. According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may inject the generated blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system (operation 307).

[0152] To describe in more detail, the processor 110 may operate the refrigerant pump (RP) to transfer the blended refrigerant mixture stored in the mixing container (MC) to the air conditioning system.

[0153] In this case, the processor 110 may control at least one valve disposed between the mixing container (MC) and the air conditioning system (e.g., control the charging solenoid valve (SV3) to be open and the high / low solenoid valve (SV8) to be open).

[0154] Through this, the blended refrigerant mixture of the mixing container (MC) may be injected into the air conditioning system through the low side pipe (LSP) and the high side pipe (HSP).

[0155] In this case, in order to prevent the blended refrigerant mixture injected into the air conditioning system from flowing in a direction of the stabilization chamber (DOA) and / or the vacuum pump (VP), the processor 110 may control at least some valves among the recovery solenoid valve (SV1) and the vacuum pump solenoid valve (SV2) to be in a closed state, or control a valve (not shown) configured to control the flow of refrigerant between the low side manifold valve (V1) and the low pressure switch (LP) to be in a closed state.

[0156] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the processor 110 may inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system through the high side service coupling (SC2) by controlling the high / low solenoid valve (SV8) to be closed.

[0157] In this case, the processor 110 may selectively open or close the high / low solenoid valve (SV8) based on a flow rate or pressure of the blended refrigerant mixture flowing through the injection pipe (P2), or an internal pressure received from the air conditioning system.

[0158] As described above, the processor 110 may inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system through the high side pipe (HSP), or inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system through the low side pipe (LSP) and the high side pipe (HSP), by opening or closing the high / low solenoid valve (SV8).

[0159] As described above, the blended refrigerant mixture may be smoothly injected into the circulation line of the air conditioning system according to a pressure difference formed between the air conditioning system and the mixing container (MC) due to the opening of the charging solenoid valve (SV3) while the air conditioning system is in a vacuum state, and forced pressure feeding of the blended refrigerant mixture due to the operation of the refrigerant pump (RP).

[0160] In addition, the processor 110 may open the oil injection valve (V3) according to the flow of the blended refrigerant mixture to add oil from the reservoir (RSV) to the blended refrigerant mixture. Through this, in a process where the blended refrigerant mixture is injected into the air conditioning system, a pressure difference is formed with the reservoir (RSV) due to the flow of the blended refrigerant mixture, and the oil stored in the reservoir (RSV) may be introduced into the injection pipe (P2). The oil introduced into the injection pipe (P2) may be mixed with the blended refrigerant mixture and injected into the air conditioning system.

[0161] The processor 110 may measure an amount (e.g., mass) of the refrigerant introduced into the air conditioning system while the blended refrigerant mixture is being injected into the air conditioning system, and control the blended refrigerant mixture to be injected by a set amount. To this end, a flow meter measuring the amount of refrigerant injected into the air conditioning system may be disposed in the injection pipe (P2).

[0162] Based on this, the blended refrigerant mixture may be uniformly distributed inside the air conditioning system. In this process, the processor 110 may receive an internal pressure of the air conditioning system measured through a pressure gauge of the air conditioning system, and control the air conditioning system to operate stably by adjusting an injection speed of the refrigerant as necessary.

[0163] According to the above description, the pipe connected from the mixing container (MC) to the high side service coupling (SC2) has been described as the high side pipe (HSP), but a section including a pipe from the mixing container (MC) to the refrigerant pump (RP) may be defined and described as the injection pipe.

[0164] After the refrigerant injection is completed, the processor 110 may control at least one valve (e.g., the vacuum pump solenoid valve (SV2), the charging solenoid valve (SV3), or the oil injection valve (V3), etc.) to block the connection between the mixing container (MC) and the air conditioning system, thereby preventing backflow of the refrigerant.

[0165] When the processor 110 performs the operation 307, the processor 110 may end the embodiment of FIG. 3.

[0166] According to various embodiments, the processor 110 may move the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank (ST) to the discharge tank (DT). Here, the discharge tank (DT) may be configured to be detachable for disposal or reprocessing of the recovered refrigerant mixture. In addition, the processor 110 may treat the storage tank (ST) into a vacuum state after the recovered refrigerant mixture is discharged.

[0167] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 9 to 11, operations in which the apparatus 100 moves the refrigerant from the storage tank (ST) to the discharge tank (DT) and performs a vacuum treatment on the storage tank (ST) may be described in more detail.

[0168] Referring to the refrigerant discharge unit 209 of FIGS. 2, 9, and 10, an operation of discharging the recovered refrigerant mixture of the storage tank (ST) to the discharge tank (DT) may be described. According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may discharge the recovered refrigerant mixture of the storage tank to the discharge tank (operation 901).

[0169] To describe in more detail, the processor 110 may operate the compressor (M1) in a state where the inlet solenoid valve (SV9) of the storage tank (ST) is closed and the outlet solenoid valve (SV10) is open.

[0170] In this case, the recovered refrigerant mixture inside the storage tank (ST) flows to the stabilization chamber (DOA) through the internal discharge pipe (P7) according to the operation of the compressor (M1), passes through the compressor (M1), the stabilization chamber (DOA), and the condenser (CDS), flows into the external discharge pipe (P8), and may be transferred to the discharge tank (DT) by passing through the discharge manifold valve (V4) and the discharge service coupling (SC3).

[0171] Accordingly, the apparatus 100 may perform an operation of transferring the recovered refrigerant mixture of the storage tank (ST) to the discharge tank (DT) by using configurations of the compressor (M1) and the recovery pipe (P1) for recovering the refrigerant from the air conditioning system.

[0172] Thereafter, referring to the refrigerant discharge unit 209 of FIGS. 2, 9, and 11, an operation of forming a vacuum in the storage tank (ST) may be described. According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may form a vacuum in the storage tank from which the refrigerant has been discharged (operation 903).

[0173] To this end, the processor 110 may confirm (or determine) that all of the refrigerant stored in the storage tank (ST) has been transferred to the discharge tank (DT) based on an internal pressure of the storage tank (ST) or an internal pressure of a discharge pipe (e.g., the internal discharge pipe (P7) or the external discharge pipe (P8)).

[0174] To describe in more detail, when the processor 110 determines that the internal pressure of the storage tank (ST) drops below a preset minimum reference pressure, the processor 110 may determine that the transfer of the refrigerant of the storage tank (ST) is completed. Also, when the processor 110 determines that internal pressures of the internal discharge pipe (P7) and the external discharge pipe (P8) sequentially drop below a preset minimum reference pressure, the processor 110 may determine that the transfer of the refrigerant of the storage tank (ST) is completed.

[0175] When the operation of transferring the refrigerant of the storage tank (ST) to the discharge tank (DT) is completed, the processor 110 may open the inlet solenoid valve (SV9) of the storage tank (ST) and close the outlet solenoid valve (SV10).

[0176] In addition, the processor 110 may operate the vacuum pump (VP) in a state where the recovery solenoid valve (SV1) (and / or the low side manifold valve (V1), the high side manifold valve (V2), etc.) is closed. Accordingly, a vacuum is formed in a path from the storage tank (ST) to the vacuum pump (VP) including the internal discharge pipe (P7) and the vacuum pump pipe (P3), and the storage tank (ST) may be formed into a vacuum state.

[0177] In the vacuum treatment process, impurities (e.g., gas, fine particles, moisture, etc.) inside the storage tank (ST) may be discharged to the outside of the apparatus 100 through the vacuum pump (VP) (or the air purge solenoid valve (SV7), etc.).

[0178] When the processor 110 performs the operation 903, the processor 110 may end the embodiment of FIG. 9.

[0179] At least some operations among the refrigerant discharge operation (operation 901) and the vacuum treatment operation of the storage tank (ST) (operation 903) described above may be performed at a preset time point after recovering the refrigerant (after operation 301) and before the vacuum treatment of the air conditioning system (before operation 401). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and at least some operations among the refrigerant discharge operation (operation 901) and the vacuum treatment operation of the storage tank (ST) (operation 903) may be performed after injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system (after operation 307).

[0180] According to various embodiments, by blending refrigerants according to a mixing ratio of an initial refrigerant mixture before deterioration when a composition or component of a recovered refrigerant mixture is deteriorated and injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into an air conditioning system, performance of the air conditioning system may be maximized.

[0181] According to various embodiments, by precisely adjusting a mixing ratio of material refrigerants blended in a mixing container, refrigerant performance in the air conditioning system may be maintained, and system malfunction due to quality deterioration of the refrigerant mixture may be prevented.

[0182] The contents described above are merely examples applying the principles of the present disclosure, and other configurations may be further included without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, at least some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure described above may be combined.

Claims

1. A method for processing refrigerant, comprising:storing a recovered refrigerant mixture recovered from an air conditioning system in a storage tank;determining material refrigerants of an initial refrigerant mixture corresponding to the recovered refrigerant mixture before deterioration, and a mixing ratio of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture;supplying single-component refrigerants corresponding to the material refrigerants from at least one material refrigerant tank to a mixing container according to the material refrigerants and the mixing ratio of the initial refrigerant mixture to form a blended refrigerant mixture; andinjecting the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:discharging the recovered refrigerant mixture from the storage tank to a discharge tank; andforming a vacuum in the storage tank from which the recovered refrigerant mixture has been discharged.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein discharging the recovered refrigerant mixture and storing the recovered refrigerant mixture are performed using a same compressor to generate a flow of the recovered refrigerant mixture.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein: the recovered refrigerant mixture from the air conditioning system is transferred to the storage tank through the compressor and at least one pipe connected to the compressor, andthe recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank is transferred to the discharge tank through the compressor and a portion of the at least one pipe connected to the compressor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the material refrigerants and the mixing ratio comprises:analyzing material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture flowing into the storage tank or stored in the storage tank, and a mixing ratio of the analyzed material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture;identifying the initial refrigerant mixture based on the analyzed material refrigerants and the mixing ratio of the analyzed material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture; anddetermining the material refrigerants of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture and the mixing ratio of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying the initial refrigerant mixture comprises identifying the initial refrigerant mixture based on a gaseous refrigerant after the recovered refrigerant mixture has been discharged from the storage tank.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the single-component refrigerants are sequentially supplied to the mixing container in a descending order based on at least one of density, input amount, likelihood of vaporization, or likelihood of liquefaction.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:performing a vacuum treatment on the air conditioning system at a preset time point after storing the recovered refrigerant mixture and before injecting the blended refrigerant mixture.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the blended refrigerant mixture is injected into the air conditioning system based on a pressure difference between the air conditioning system and the mixing container after the vacuum treatment.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the blended refrigerant mixture is injected into the air conditioning system through at least one selected from a low pressure line and a high pressure line of the air conditioning system by an operation of a refrigerant pump disposed on an injection pipe connecting the mixing container and the air conditioning system.

11. An apparatus for processing refrigerant, comprising:a storage tank configured to store a recovered refrigerant mixture recovered from an air conditioning system;a mixing container configured to blend refrigerants;at least one material refrigerant tank configured to supply single-component refrigerants to the mixing container;a refrigerant pump configured to supply a blended refrigerant mixture from the mixing container to the air conditioning system; anda processor configured to:control the storage tank to store the recovered refrigerant mixture recovered from the air conditioning system;determine material refrigerants of an initial refrigerant mixture corresponding to the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank before deterioration, and a mixing ratio of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture;control the at least one material refrigerant tank to supply the single-component refrigerants from the at least one material refrigerant tank to the mixing container according to the material refrigerants and the mixing ratio of the initial refrigerant mixture to form the blended refrigerant mixture; andcontrol the refrigerant pump to inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a discharge tank configured to store refrigerant,wherein the processor is further configured to:control discharge of the recovered refrigerant mixture from the storage tank to the discharge tank; andcontrol formation of a vacuum in the storage tank from which the recovered refrigerant mixture has been discharged.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a compressor configured to generate a flow of refrigerant;wherein the processor is further configured to control the compressor to generate a flow of the recovered refrigerant mixture from the air conditioning system and a flow of the recovered refrigerant mixture discharged to the discharge tank.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:control transfer of the refrigerant mixture from the air conditioning system to the storage tank through the compressor and at least one pipe connected to the compressor; andcontrol transfer of the refrigerant mixture in the storage tank to the discharge tank through the compressor and a portion of the at least one pipe connected to the compressor.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:analyze material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture flowing into the storage tank or stored in the storage tank, and a mixing ratio of the analyzed material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture;identify the initial refrigerant mixture based on the analyzed material refrigerants and the mixing ratio of the analyzed material refrigerants of the recovered refrigerant mixture; anddetermine the material refrigerants of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture and the mixing ratio of the material refrigerants of the initial refrigerant mixture.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the initial refrigerant mixture based on a gaseous refrigerant after the recovered refrigerant mixture has been discharged from the storage tank.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to sequentially supply the single-component refrigerants to the mixing container in a descending order based on at least one of density, input amount, likelihood of vaporization, or likelihood of liquefaction.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to perform a vacuum treatment on the air conditioning system at a preset time point after storing the recovered refrigerant mixture in the storage tank and before injecting the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system based on a pressure difference between the air conditioning system and the mixing container after performing the vacuum treatment.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to operate the refrigerant pump disposed on an injection pipe connecting the mixing container and the air conditioning system to inject the blended refrigerant mixture into the air conditioning system through at least one selected from a low-pressure line and a high-pressure line of the air conditioning system.

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