Air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioners face issues with refrigerant pipe damage, difficulty in servicing, and noise generation, which affect their performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner design includes a refrigerant pipe system with a first and second sub-pipe connected to a heat exchanger and a main pipe, along with a charging pipe that is closer to the heat exchanger than the compressor, enhancing protection and ease of servicing, and incorporates noise-reducing features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the charging pipe is connected to the refrigerant pipe near the compressor, then the refrigerant can be charged effectively, but the charging pipe and refrigerant pipe are more susceptible to damage from compressor vibrations and heat
Solution Approach 1:
A separate charging pipe is introduced as an intermediary component that connects to the refrigerant pipe at a distant location (first location) rather than directly at the compressor (second location). This charging pipe serves as a mediator to deliver refrigerant to the refrigerant pipe, isolating the critical refrigerant pipe-compressor connection from direct charging operations and associated damages.
2Device complexity
If the refrigerant pipe is directly connected to the compressor, then the system is simpler, but the pipe is more prone to damage from vibration and thermal stress
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant transport function is segmented into multiple components: the refrigerant pipe connected to the compressor at a distant location, and the charging pipe connected at a separate first location. This segmentation allows the refrigerant pipe to be positioned away from high-stress compressor areas while maintaining functional connectivity through the charging infrastructure.
3Productivity
If the charging pipe outlet is closer to the compressor, then refrigerant charging is more efficient, but noise from the charging operation is amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant charging operation is extracted from the compressor vicinity and relocated to a distant first location along the refrigerant pipe. By separating the charging operation from the compressor area, the noise generated during charging is spatially isolated from the main system, reducing overall noise impact while maintaining charging efficiency through the dedicated charging pipe pathway.
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 design effectively reduces refrigerant pipe damage, simplifies maintenance, and minimizes noise, improving the overall performance and reliability of the air conditioner.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger disposed inside the housing and configured to exchange heat with outdoor air
Implementation Method 2
a second heat exchanger disposed inside the housing and configured to exchange heat with indoor air
Implementation Method 3
a compressor disposed inside the housing and configured to compress a refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes: a housing, a compressor disposed inside the housing and configured to compress a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger disposed inside the housing and configured to exchange heat with outdoor air, a second heat exchanger disposed inside the housing and configured to exchange heat with indoor air, a refrigerant pipe connecting the compressor and the second heat exchanger and configured to allow the refrigerant to flow therein, and a charging pipe configured to charge the refrigerant pipe with the refrigerant. The refrigerant pipe includes a first sub-pipe and a second sub-pipe connected to the second heat exchanger to receive the refrigerant passed through the second heat exchanger. The refrigerant pipe includes a main pipe connected to the compressor to allow the refrigerant passed through the first sub-pipe and the second sub-pipe to be combined. The charging pipe may be configured to be connected to the first sub-pipe.