Air conditioner
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners experience comfort impairment due to frequent compressor stoppages and indoor temperature fluctuations when the air conditioning load falls below the capacity at minimum rotational speed, leading to intermittent operation.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner incorporates a heat storage unit that performs heat exchange with the refrigerant, allowing excess capacity to be stored when the temperature difference between indoor and set temperatures falls below a predetermined value, thereby reducing the need for compressor shutdowns and stabilizing indoor temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the compressor rotational speed is decreased to reduce air conditioning capacity when indoor temperature approaches set temperature, then energy consumption is reduced, but the compressor stops frequently causing indoor temperature to fluctuate and comfort to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storage unit stores heat in advance during periods when cooling capacity exceeds load requirements. This preliminary heat storage enables the system to maintain cooling output during compressor stoppages without requiring frequent compressor restarts, thereby stabilizing indoor temperature while reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat storage unit acts as an intermediary between the compressor and the indoor space. It decouples the compressor operation from immediate cooling delivery, allowing the compressor to operate intermittently while the heat storage unit releases stored heat to maintain stable indoor temperature.
2Reliability
If the compressor operates at minimum rotational speed to maintain cooling capacity, then indoor temperature stability is improved, but energy consumption increases unnecessarily when cooling load is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heat storage in the heat storage unit when the compressor operates, creating a thermal buffer that can sustain indoor temperature stability during subsequent compressor stoppages. This allows the compressor to stop or run at minimum speed without compromising temperature stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat storage unit ensures continuous cooling action to the indoor space even when the compressor is stopped. By transferring stored heat to the indoor environment, the system maintains the continuity of useful cooling action without requiring continuous compressor operation.
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 solution suppresses discomfort by minimizing indoor temperature variations and preventing repeated compressor startups, ensuring consistent comfort levels.
Implementation Method 1
a heat storage unit that performs heat exchange with the refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner according to an embodiment includes a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, an indoor unit that performs heat exchange between air inside a room and the refrigerant, an outdoor unit that performs heat exchange between outdoor air and the refrigerant, a heat storage unit that performs heat exchange with the refrigerant, a room temperature sensor that detects an indoor temperature that is a temperature inside the room, and a control unit that drives the compressor based on a difference between the indoor temperature and a set temperature, and that also allows the heat storage unit to perform heat exchange when the difference of the set temperature falls below a predetermined value.