Air conditioner having compressor bypass and evaluation of volume of connecting pipe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for evaluating the length of pipes in air conditioners are inaccurate, especially during low-air-temperature periods or before additional refrigerant is enclosed, and are influenced by factors such as pipe shape, diameter, and thermal capacities, making it difficult to determine pipe length accurately.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner system with a bypass path and an on-off valve that allows refrigerant to circulate from the compressor's discharge side to its suction side, even when the compressor is stopped, using pressure changes and time measurements to evaluate pipe volume without requiring a proper amount of refrigerant or detailed pipe specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods are used to evaluate pipe length based on pressure loss or temperature change during cooling operation, then pipe length can be estimated, but the measurement precision deteriorates during low-air-temperature periods or before additional refrigerant is enclosed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary refrigerant accumulation in the discharge side of the compressor before evaluation. By accumulating a predetermined amount of refrigerant in advance, the method ensures sufficient refrigerant is available for accurate pressure change measurement, even during low-air-temperature periods or before additional refrigerant would normally be enclosed.
Solution Approach 2:
The method changes the evaluation parameters by using pressure change rate and accumulated pressure change amount during bypass opening, rather than relying on traditional pressure loss or temperature change methods. This parameter change enables accurate evaluation under conditions where conventional methods fail.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a bypass path is introduced to enable refrigerant circulation during compressor stop, then pipe volume evaluation becomes possible under more conditions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass path serves multiple functions: it enables refrigerant circulation during compressor stop for evaluation purposes, allows pressure equalization, and facilitates the accumulation of refrigerant in the discharge side. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural element.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass path acts as an intermediary channel that mediates between the discharge side and suction side of the compressor, enabling controlled refrigerant flow and pressure changes necessary for accurate pipe volume evaluation without requiring the compressor to be running.
3Measurement precision
If evaluation is performed during cooling operation with compressor running, then pressure loss data can be obtained, but the measurement is influenced by pipe shape, diameter, and thermal capacities
Solution Approach 1:
The method extracts the pipe volume evaluation from the complex cooling operation context by performing evaluation during bypass opening with the compressor stopped. This isolation removes the confounding influences of pipe shape, diameter, and thermal capacities that affect cooling operation measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass opening creates an inert evaluation environment where refrigerant flows only through the bypass path and connected pipes without the complex thermal exchanges and flow dynamics of normal cooling operation. This inert environment eliminates harmful influences from pipe characteristics and thermal capacities.
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 method allows for accurate evaluation of pipe volume and length using fewer parameters, reducing the influence of external factors and enabling evaluation even without proper refrigerant or at low temperatures, thus enhancing the reliability of pipe length assessment.
Implementation Method 1
refrigerant circulates, through the bypass path, from the discharge side of the compressor in a refrigerant storage state in which refrigerant is stored to the suction side of the compressor in a substantially vacuum state
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner including an outdoor device that includes a bypass path connecting a discharge side of the compressor and a suction side of the compressor, an on-off valve configured to open/close the bypass path, and a control device configured to control the compressor, the decompression device, and the on-off valve. The control device opens the on-off valve in a state in which the compressor is stopped to execute such bypass opening that refrigerant circulates, through the bypass path, from the discharge side of the compressor in a refrigerant storage state in which refrigerant is stored to the suction side of the compressor in a substantially vacuum state, and evaluates a volume of the pipe.