Accumulator Oil Return Control for Air-Conditioning Pipeline Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning technologies face challenges in preventing foreign material, mainly used refrigerating machine oil, from returning to the compressor during pipeline cleaning, and in efficiently collecting this material due to limitations in valve design and suction force, leading to potential compressor damage and prolonged collection times, especially at low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves an air-conditioning apparatus with an accumulator and a collecting container connected by an oil return pipeline with a flowing amount adjusting device, where the device is closed during cleaning operations to prevent foreign material from returning to the compressor and utilizes a degassing pipe with a throttled section to enhance suction force, ensuring efficient collection of foreign material without overflowing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a U-shaped pipe with an oil return hole is used in the accumulator outlet, then refrigerating machine oil can be returned to the compressor, but foreign material can also return to the compressor causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet pipeline is divided into two separate pipelines: one for refrigerating machine oil return and another for foreign material discharge. This segmentation allows selective return of oil while preventing foreign material from entering the compressor, resolving the contradiction between oil return and foreign material prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful function of the U-shaped pipe is extracted and eliminated. Instead of using a U-shaped pipe with an oil return hole that allows foreign material passage, the patent extracts the oil return function and implements it through a dedicated oil return pipeline with a flow control valve, while foreign material is discharged through a separate pipeline.
2Reliability
If an electromagnetic valve is provided in the outlet pipeline to prevent foreign material return, then foreign material can be blocked, but the valve is expensive and the pipeline may break due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive electromagnetic valve with a simple flow control valve that can be manually operated. This simpler, more durable valve design eliminates the complexity and cost issues associated with electromagnetic valves while maintaining the ability to control oil return and prevent foreign material entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the suction force generated by the compressor itself to draw refrigerating machine oil through the oil return pipeline. No additional power source or complex control mechanism is needed - the compressor's own operation provides the suction force required for oil return, simplifying the overall system.
3Reliability
If the flowing amount adjusting device is fully closed during pipeline cleaning, then foreign material is prevented from returning to the compressor, but the collection time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control valve on the oil return pipeline is designed to be dynamically adjustable. During pipeline cleaning operations, it can be fully closed to prevent foreign material return. During normal operation, it can be opened to allow refrigerating machine oil return. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between protection and collection efficiency.
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
This configuration effectively prevents foreign material from returning to the compressor and allows for rapid collection of used refrigerating machine oil, enhancing operational efficiency and safety by minimizing the risk of compressor damage and reducing collection time, even at low temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a degassing pipe with a throttled section to enhance suction force
Implementation Method 2
utilizes a degassing pipe with a throttled section to enhance suction force, ensuring efficient collection of foreign material
Implementation Method 3
an accumulator and a collecting container connected by an oil return pipeline, where the device is closed during cleaning operations to prevent foreign material from returning to the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerating air-conditioning apparatus, at least provided with no possibility that a foreign material returns to a compressor from an accumulator at a time of the pipeline-cleaning operation firstly, and provided with a possibility to perform a collecting operation for the foreign material in a short time secondary, is provided.The heat-source side unit includes an accumulator provided with a function to separate and collect the foreign material in an existing pipeline, a collecting container for collecting the foreign material separated by the accumulator, and an oil return pipeline for returning refrigerating machine oil to the compressor via a flow amount adjusting device, installed at a lower portion of the accumulator, and at a time of ordinary cooling or heating operation, the refrigerating machine oil is caused to flow into the oil return pipeline, and at a time of pipeline cleaning and foreign material-collecting operations, the flow amount adjusting device is fully closed.