Air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners with multiple outdoor units and connection pipes face challenges in efficiently managing cooling and heating operations, particularly when the sum of cooling operation loads exceeds heating operation loads.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner incorporates a heat-source-side unit, multiple use-side units, an intermediate unit with an ejector and gas-liquid separator, and two connection pipes. The intermediate unit switches the use-side heat exchangers to function as either evaporators or radiators, and the ejector pressurizes refrigerant during cooling-heating mixed operations mainly for cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional air conditioners with multiple outdoor units are used, then the system can serve multiple zones, but the complexity of managing cooling and heating operations increases when cooling loads exceed heating loads
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate unit is introduced between the heat-source-side unit and use-side units to manage refrigerant distribution. This intermediary component simplifies the control complexity by centralizing the switching logic for heat exchanger configuration, allowing the system to efficiently handle mixed cooling-heating operations without increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchangers are designed to function universally as either evaporators or radiators depending on operational mode. This multi-functionality is achieved through the intermediate unit's switching mechanism, which reconfigures the heat exchanger connections based on whether cooling or heating is required, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for each function
2Productivity
If an ejector is added to pressurize refrigerant during cooling operations, then power recovery efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector utilizes the kinetic energy of the refrigerant flow itself to pressurize and recover power during cooling operations. By positioning the ejector within the existing refrigerant circulation path and utilizing the natural pressure differential between high-pressure and low-pressure sides, the system achieves power recovery without requiring external power sources or additional complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector function is merged with the existing intermediate unit that already performs heat exchanger switching. This integration allows the ejector to be controlled by the same switching mechanism that manages the heat exchanger configurations, eliminating the need for separate control systems and reducing overall device complexity despite adding the pressurization capability
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 allows for efficient power recovery during cooling main operations, effectively managing cooling and heating loads by utilizing the ejector's pressurization capability, thereby enhancing the air conditioner's operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate unit has an ejector and a gas-liquid separator. The ejector pressurizes the refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator by using a driving flow.
Implementation Method 2
The ejector pressurizes the refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator
Implementation Method 3
The refrigerant flowing out from the ejector flows into the gas-liquid separator.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes: a heat-source-side unit including a compressor and a heat-source-side heat exchanger; use-side units each including a use-side heat exchanger; an intermediate unit that causes the use-side heat exchanger of each of the use-side units to individually function as an evaporator or a radiator of a refrigerant; and two connection pipes that each connect the heat-source-side unit and the intermediate unit. The intermediate unit includes: an ejector that is configured to pressurize the refrigerant evaporated in the use-side heat exchanger that functions as the evaporator by using a driving flow; and a gas-liquid separator into which the refrigerant flowing out from the ejector flows.