A/C Refrigerant Recharging with On-Demand Pressure Conditioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automotive vehicle air conditioning systems face challenges in accurately recharging refrigerant due to variations in refrigerant pressure and temperature, leading to inconsistencies in the amount of refrigerant refilled, which affects system efficiency as systems decrease in size.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerant recovery unit with a storage vessel, fluid communication means, a controller for data communication and flow control, and a heating device to ensure accurate refrigerant filling by measuring ambient and refrigerant temperatures, pressures, and elapsed time to condition the refrigerant only when necessary, maintaining a consistent pressure differential for precise charging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If refrigerant is transferred from storage vessel to refrigerant system without conditioning, then charging speed is improved, but charge accuracy deteriorates due to pressure and temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging speedVSAvoidcharge accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary conditioning of the refrigerant by heating it in the storage vessel before transfer to establish a consistent pressure differential. This preliminary action ensures that the refrigerant is ready for accurate charging without requiring conditioning during the actual transfer process, thus maintaining both speed and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to monitor temperature and pressure conditions of the refrigerant and implements feedback control to determine when conditioning is necessary. The controller adjusts the heating element based on feedback from temperature and pressure sensors to maintain optimal conditions for accurate charging while minimizing unnecessary heating cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If refrigerant conditioning is performed continuously, then charge accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous conditioning, the system implements periodic conditioning only when necessary. The controller monitors temperature and pressure conditions and activates the heating element only when the refrigerant conditions fall outside acceptable ranges, thereby maintaining charge accuracy while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous conditioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the natural temperature and pressure conditions of the refrigerant to determine when conditioning is needed. By monitoring its own state through sensors and only conditioning when necessary, the system serves itself efficiently without wasteful continuous operation of the heating element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If refrigerant conditioning is performed frequently, then charge accuracy is improved, but charging time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge accuracyVSAvoidcharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary conditioning of the refrigerant before transfer to establish a consistent pressure differential. This preliminary action ensures that the refrigerant is ready for accurate charging without requiring conditioning during the actual transfer process, thus maintaining both speed and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If refrigerant pressure differential is not maintained consistently, then device complexity is reduced, but charge accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol complexityVSAvoidcharge accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution ensures accurate and consistent refrigerant charging by conditioning the refrigerant only when required, resulting in improved charge accuracy and efficiency, particularly in smaller systems where minor variations significantly impact performance.

Implementation Method 1

a heating device operatively coupled to the storage vessel and in communication with the controller constructed and arranged to heat the refrigerant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9207006B2Method for accurately recharging A/C systems

Publication Date: 2015.12.08 BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A refrigerant recovery unit for accurately filling a refrigerant system with a refrigerant is provided which includes a storage vessel for holding refrigerant, sensors to assist in determining the pressure of the refrigerant in the storage vessel, a controller to control the flow of refrigerant from the storage vessel to the refrigerant system to be serviced, and a heating device to heat the refrigerant, which is activated only if heating is required, as determined by data received by the controller.