Air Conditioner Bypass Routing for Heat Exchanger Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioners with a single heat exchange portion connected to multiple indoor devices, the heat exchange portion is easily overloaded, leading to durability issues and frequent repairs, especially when supplying desired cooling or heating temperatures to indoor spaces.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner employs multiple compressors and heat exchangers connected in parallel, with a bypass system that allows for selective operation of heat exchangers based on load conditions, redirecting condensed refrigerant to a gas liquid separator during low load operations to maintain refrigerant availability and reduce heat exchanger load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single heat exchange portion is used to serve multiple indoor devices, then device complexity is reduced, but the heat exchange portion becomes overloaded and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single heat exchange portion into multiple separate heat exchangers (first heat exchanger and second heat exchanger). Each heat exchanger can be independently controlled and operated, preventing any single unit from being overloaded. This segmentation directly addresses the durability issue by distributing the thermal load across multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control through the controller that selectively operates different heat exchangers based on load conditions. The controller can activate only one heat exchanger during low-load conditions and both during high-load conditions, optimizing both reliability and energy efficiency. This dynamic operation prevents overloading while maintaining system adaptability.
2Productivity
If all heat exchangers operate simultaneously to meet high cooling/heating demand, then cooling and heating efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts the operation of heat exchangers based on real-time cooling or heating demand. During low-demand periods, only one heat exchanger operates, reducing energy consumption. During high-demand periods, both heat exchangers operate simultaneously to maintain high cooling and heating efficiency. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between productivity and energy use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (which heat exchangers are active) based on load conditions. By switching between different operational states (single heat exchanger mode vs. dual heat exchanger mode), the system optimizes the balance between cooling/heating efficiency and energy consumption according to actual demand.
3Productivity
If the heat exchange portion operates at high capacity to meet peak demand, then cooling and heating efficiency is improved, but the heat exchange portion is overloaded and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the heat exchange capacity into multiple independent heat exchangers, the system can distribute the peak load across multiple units. Each heat exchanger operates at a lower individual capacity, avoiding overloading while collectively meeting the peak demand requirement. This maintains both durability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically manages the operational status of heat exchangers to prevent any single unit from being overloaded. During peak demand, the system activates multiple heat exchangers to share the load, ensuring that each operates within safe capacity limits while collectively providing high cooling and heating efficiency.
4Reliability
If refrigerant is redirected to gas liquid separator during low load operation, then heat exchanger load is reduced and durability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass system is pre-configured with the gas liquid separator ready to receive refrigerant when needed. During low-load operations, the controller activates the bypass to redirect refrigerant to the gas liquid separator before it would otherwise overload the heat exchanger. This preliminary preparation ensures smooth load management and protects heat exchanger durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas liquid separator acts as an intermediary component that temporarily handles refrigerant during low-load conditions. By introducing this intermediate element, the system can redirect refrigerant flow away from the heat exchanger without causing overload, thereby protecting durability while managing the additional complexity through a well-defined intermediary function.
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 enhances cooling and heating efficiency by optimizing the use of refrigerant and reducing the load on heat exchangers, preventing refrigerant shortages and extending the lifespan of the heat exchange components.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor that compresses a refrigerant to a high pressure
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of heat exchange portions that condenses the refrigerant compressed in the compressor
Implementation Method 3
a bypass unit that controls a flow of a liquid refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
an expansion device that expands a liquid refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant expanded in the expansion device
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner is provided that may include at least one compressor that compresses a refrigerant to a high pressure; a plurality of heat exchanger that condenses the refrigerant compressed in the at least one compressor; a plurality of outdoor valves, respectively, provided at an outlet side pipe of the plurality of heat exchangers; a gas liquid separator that separates the refrigerant into gas and liquid refrigerants and supplies the gas refrigerant to the at least one compressor; and one or more bypass devices connected to the outlet side pipe of one or more of the plurality of heat exchangers and an inlet side pipe of the gas liquid separator, the one or more bypass devices controlling a flow of the liquid refrigerant. During a cooling low load operation in which a portion of the plurality of heat exchangers is operating, a liquid refrigerant loaded into a heat exchanger of the plurality of heat exchangers, which is not operated, may flow through the one or more bypass device.