Adjustable Working Fluid Reservoir for HVAC Mode-Specific Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC systems face operational inefficiencies due to an ill-suited amount of working fluid circulating through the vapor compression circuit, particularly when the capacities of heat exchangers differ, leading to reduced efficiency in both cooling and heating modes.
Innovation Solution
An HVAC system with a working fluid reservoir and adjustable component within the enclosure, controlled by a system to adjust the volume of the chamber based on operating modes, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the working fluid circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a fixed amount of working fluid is used in the vapor compression circuit, then the system structure is simple, but the HVAC system efficiency decreases when heat exchanger capacities differ between cooling and heating modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the working fluid reservoir volume adjustable rather than fixed. The reservoir incorporates a movable partition or piston that can dynamically change the reservoir volume based on whether the system is in cooling or heating mode, allowing optimization of working fluid distribution to match the different capacity requirements of heat exchangers in each mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical state or configuration parameters of the reservoir system. Specifically, the reservoir volume parameter is changed between two states (larger volume for cooling mode, smaller volume for heating mode) through mechanical adjustment, thereby changing the working fluid distribution parameters to optimize system efficiency for different operating conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the working fluid reservoir volume is fixed, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different operating modes (cooling and heating) is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is designed with dynamic adjustability, incorporating a movable partition or piston mechanism that allows the reservoir volume to be changed based on operating mode. This dynamic structure enables the system to adapt between cooling and heating modes by adjusting the working fluid storage capacity accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it can operate in a first configuration for cooling mode with a larger volume, and in a second configuration for heating mode with a smaller volume. This multi-functionality allows a single reservoir structure to adapt to different operating requirements without requiring separate reservoirs for each mode.
3Quantity of substance
If the chamber volume is increased to store more working fluid, then the working fluid availability increases, but the working fluid circulation amount decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition or piston mechanism dynamically adjusts the reservoir volume based on system needs. When more working fluid storage is required, the reservoir volume increases; when higher circulation is needed, the reservoir volume decreases. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between storage capacity and circulation rate.
Data Source
AI summary
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a working fluid reservoir having an enclosure defining a chamber configured to fluidly couple to a working fluid circuit, where the chamber is configured to receive and store working fluid from the working fluid circuit. The HVAC system also includes an actuator configured to adjust a component disposed within the enclosure to adjust a volume of the chamber and a control system configured to instruct the actuator to adjust a position of the component disposed within the enclosure to increase the volume of the chamber, to reduce the volume of the chamber, or both based on an operating mode of the HVAC system.