Air conditioner

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Solution Overview

Problem

The refrigerant gas sensor in air conditioners using flammable refrigerants may deteriorate upon contact, leading to improper detection of gas leakage if not replaced, causing the air conditioner to continue operating with a faulty sensor.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a controlling unit that stops the compressor when a refrigerant gas sensor detects leakage and requires abnormality cancellation before restarting, with a notification system to inform users and a special operation for canceling the abnormality using a controller to prevent incorrect sensor replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the air conditioner allows automatic restart after compressor stoppage, then operational convenience is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential sensor deterioration from high-density refrigerant contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic restart convenienceVSAvoidsensor detection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controlling unit performs preliminary assessment by detecting whether the stoppage was caused by refrigerant gas leakage before allowing restart. This preliminary action prevents automatic restart when the sensor may be deteriorated, thereby maintaining safety while preserving automatic restart functionality for normal stoppages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the cause of compressor stoppage and using this information to determine whether automatic restart should be permitted. The controlling unit receives feedback from the refrigerant gas sensor and adjusts the restart behavior accordingly, preventing restart when sensor deterioration is detected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the refrigerant gas sensor continuously monitors for leakage, then safety is improved, but the sensor deteriorates due to contact with high-density refrigerant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas leakage detection capabilityVSAvoidsensor service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the sensor's monitoring behavior based on operating conditions. The controlling unit controls the sensor to detect refrigerant gas only when the compressor is stopped, rather than continuous monitoring during operation. This dynamic adjustment reduces the sensor's exposure to high-density refrigerant while maintaining safety during critical stoppage periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system permits abnormality cancellation without verification, then operational flexibility is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential operation with deteriorated sensor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabnormality cancellation flexibilityVSAvoidsensor functionality reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controlling unit performs preliminary verification by detecting whether the abnormality was caused by refrigerant gas leakage before permitting cancellation. This preliminary check ensures that cancellation is only allowed when the sensor is still functional, preventing operation with deteriorated sensors while maintaining cancellation flexibility for other abnormalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control for abnormality cancellation by verifying the cause of the abnormality before allowing cancellation. The controlling unit receives feedback about the abnormality cause and only permits cancellation when verification confirms the sensor is still reliable, thereby maintaining both flexibility and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Prevents the air conditioner from continuing operation with a deteriorated refrigerant gas sensor, ensures proper notification of the issue, and requires a valid sensor replacement operation to resume compressor function.

Implementation Method 1

a refrigerant gas sensor; and a controlling unit configured to stop the compressor at occurrence of abnormality, when the refrigerant gas sensor detects refrigerant gas while the compressor is being driven

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11248816B2Air conditioner

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

An air conditioner which continues driving with a deteriorated gas leakage sensor is provided. An air conditioner of the present invention includes an outdoor unit including a compressor and an indoor unit connected with the outdoor unit and uses flammable refrigerant. The air conditioner includes: a refrigerant gas sensor; and a controlling unit configured to stop the compressor at occurrence of abnormality, when the refrigerant gas sensor detects refrigerant gas while the compressor is being driven. After the compressor is stopped as the refrigerant gas sensor detects the refrigerant gas, the controlling unit does not start driving of the compressor until an operation to cancel the abnormality is performed.