Accumulator-Assisted Supercooling in Air Conditioner Refrigerant Loops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners with both cooling and heating functions face inefficiencies during cooling operations, as they do not effectively utilize the cold and heat of an accumulator to enhance refrigerant efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a circulating pump to forcibly circulate refrigerating fluid through a supercooling heat-exchange hub and accumulator jacket during cooling operations, and an injection module to manage refrigerant flow between heat-exchangers, allowing for overcooling and efficient refrigerant management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the air conditioner uses a conventional cooling operation without utilizing the accumulator's cold and heat, then the system structure remains simple, but the refrigerant efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the accumulator's cold and heat utilization with the conventional cooling operation by integrating a supercooling heat exchanger and a refrigerating fluid circulation system. The accumulator, supercooling heat exchanger, circulating pump, and expansion valve work together as a combined system to supercool the refrigerant, thereby improving refrigerant efficiency without requiring a completely separate system.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulator serves multiple functions: it not only separates liquid and gas refrigerant but also provides cold and heat for supercooling the refrigerant during cooling operations. The circulating pump enables the refrigerating fluid to serve both cooling and supercooling purposes, making the system multi-functional and improving overall efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Productivity
If the air conditioner incorporates a supercooling heat-exchange hub and circulating pump to utilize accumulator cold and heat, then refrigerant efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulating pump pre-cools the refrigerating fluid by circulating it through the accumulator jacket before the refrigerant enters the supercooling heat exchanger. This preliminary cooling action prepares the refrigerating fluid to effectively absorb heat from the refrigerant, enhancing the supercooling effect and improving cooling efficiency without requiring excessive additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerating fluid acts as an intermediary medium between the accumulator's cold and heat and the refrigerant. The circulating pump moves this intermediary fluid through the accumulator jacket and supercooling heat exchanger, enabling efficient heat transfer from the refrigerant to the refrigerating fluid, thereby improving cooling efficiency with minimal additional components.
3Temperature
If the circulating pump operates continuously to circulate refrigerating fluid, then supercooling efficiency is maximized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulating pump operates periodically rather than continuously, being activated during cooling operations when supercooling is needed and deactivated during heating operations. This periodic operation maintains effective refrigerant supercooling when required while significantly reducing the pump's energy consumption during periods when supercooling is not necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the circulating pump's operation based on operational conditions (cooling vs. heating modes). The pump operates at high speed during cooling to maximize supercooling efficiency, and is stopped or operates at minimal speed during heating, creating a dynamic energy consumption pattern that optimizes the balance between refrigerant temperature control and energy usage.
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 improves refrigerant efficiency by supercooling during cooling operations, reduces refrigerant mass and flow rate to the indoor heat-exchanger, and can be applied to all systems regardless of refrigerant type, enhancing overall air conditioner performance.
Implementation Method 1
a circulating pump that forcibly circulates the refrigerating fluid flowing in the supercooling heat-exchange hub and the accumulator jacket
Implementation Method 2
a supercooling heat-exchange hub connected to the accumulator jacket to store the refrigerating fluid absorbing cold and heat of the accumulator and disposed between the outdoor heat-exchanger and the indoor heat-exchanger to supercool the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
an accumulator disposed between the compressor and the four-way valve to separate the refrigerant into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
store the refrigerating fluid absorbing cold and heat of the accumulator
Implementation Method 5
an expansion valve disposed between the outdoor heat-exchanger and the supercooling heat-exchange hub to expand the refrigerant flowing from the outdoor heat-exchanger
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes a compressor, an outdoor heat-exchanger, an indoor heat-exchanger, a converting valve, an accumulator, an accumulator jacket, and a supercooling heat-exchange hub. The accumulator jacket is disposed on a surface of the accumulator and contains a refrigerating fluid flowing therein. The refrigerating fluid exchanges heat with the accumulator to be cooled. The supercooling heat-exchange hub is connected to the accumulator jacket to store the cooled refrigerating fluid and overcools the refrigerant flowing between the outdoor heat-exchanger and the indoor heat-exchanger.