Air Conditioner Bypass Flow Passage for Compressor Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners face instability in operation due to mismatched compressor and indoor unit loads, leading to frequent compressor turn-ons and turn-offs, and freezing issues in outdoor heat exchangers, especially in low outdoor temperatures and high humidity conditions, which affect heat exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner system with a flow switching unit, bypass valve, and sensors to adjust refrigerant flow based on compressor and indoor unit loads, and a bypass flow passage that includes a lower heat exchanging part to prevent freezing, allowing for efficient refrigerant bypass and load balancing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the compressor capacity is increased to handle the load of multiple indoor units, then the compressor can serve more indoor units, but the compressor becomes excessively large for individual indoor unit loads causing frequent on/off cycling
Solution Approach 1:
A bypass flow passage is introduced as an intermediary pathway that allows refrigerant to bypass the indoor units and return directly to the compressor suction side. This mediator enables the compressor to maintain continuous operation by providing an alternative route for refrigerant flow when indoor unit load is insufficient, preventing frequent on/off cycling while maintaining the ability to serve multiple indoor units.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the compressor capacity is increased to handle multiple indoor units, then the system can accommodate more indoor units, but the high pressure of the refrigeration cycle increases to abnormal levels
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass flow passage acts as a pressure relief intermediary by providing an alternative pathway for refrigerant to return to the compressor suction side without passing through the high-pressure condensation process in indoor units. This prevents abnormal pressure buildup in the refrigeration cycle while maintaining the system's ability to connect multiple indoor units.
3Reliability
If defrosting operation is performed to remove frozen defrost water from the outdoor heat exchanger, then freezing is removed, but the defrost water is generated and collected in the lower portion and frozen again due to low outdoor temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass flow passage enables continuous refrigerant circulation through the outdoor heat exchanger even during defrosting operations. By maintaining continuous refrigerant flow, the system prevents defrost water from accumulating and refreezing in the lower portion of the outdoor heat exchanger, eliminating the cycle of freezing and defrosting while maintaining heat exchange efficiency.
4Reliability
If a bypass flow passage is added to balance compressor and indoor unit loads, then continuous operation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass flow passage is designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall system complexity. It serves multiple purposes: balancing compressor load, preventing abnormal pressure buildup, enabling continuous operation, and facilitating proper refrigerant circulation during defrosting operations. By consolidating these functions into a single bypass pathway, the system achieves continuous operation without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 system achieves stable operation by balancing compressor and indoor unit loads, preventing freezing in outdoor heat exchangers, and maintaining efficient heat exchange, even in adverse environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a bypass valve installed in the bypass flow passage to adjust the amount of refrigerant flowing through the bypass flow passage
Implementation Method 2
an outdoor heat exchanger provided in an outdoor unit performs a condenser function
Implementation Method 3
an indoor heat exchanger provided in an indoor unit performs an evaporator function
Implementation Method 4
a compressor for compressing refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
an expansion device and an evaporator, and may cool or heat the predetermined space by performing a refrigeration cycle for performing compression, condensing, expansion and evaporation of refrigerant
Implementation Method 6
a flow switching unit or flow switch installed at an outlet side of the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner and a control method for an air conditioner are provided. The air conditioner may include a compressor, a flow switch installed at an outlet side of the compressor, a first guide pipe extending from the flow switch to an outdoor heat exchanger, a second guide pipe extending from the flow switch to an indoor unit, a third guide pipe extending from the outdoor heat exchanger to the indoor unit, a bypass passage extending from the second guide pipe to the third guide pipe to allow at least a portion of the refrigerant in the second guide pipe to be bypassed to the third guide pipe or to allow at least a portion of the refrigerant in the third guide pipe to be bypassed to the second guide pipe, and a bypass valve installed on the bypass passage.