Air conditioner outdoor unit and control method

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-connected air conditioners with high-power outdoor units, the driving modules of the compressors operate at different temperatures due to varying heat generation, leading to imbalanced heat dissipation, which can cause condensation and short-circuiting issues.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a heat conduction member to connect adjacent heat exchange blocks and a circulation system with adjustable electronic expansion valves to balance temperature differences between driving modules, using a U-shaped refrigerant pipe and copper-aluminum materials for efficient heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single refrigerant pipe is used to cool multiple driving modules, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature balance between driving modules deteriorates causing condensation and short-circuit risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant pipe configurationVSAvoidcircuit board short-circuit risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single refrigerant pipe is segmented into multiple independent refrigerant channels, with each channel dedicated to a specific driving module. This segmentation allows independent temperature control for each module, preventing condensation on circuit boards while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular channel design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different refrigerant flow rates and cooling intensities are applied to different driving modules based on their individual heat generation characteristics. The system adjusts local cooling parameters for each module rather than using uniform cooling, thereby preventing temperature imbalance and condensation issues on specific circuit boards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Power

If refrigerant flow rate is increased to improve heat dissipation efficiency, then the temperature control precision deteriorates causing excessive cooling and condensation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidtemperature control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerant flow rate for each driving module is dynamically adjusted based on real-time temperature feedback from temperature sensors. The control system varies the flow rate within a range rather than maintaining a fixed high flow rate, thereby achieving both efficient heat dissipation and precise temperature control to prevent condensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Temperature sensors monitor the temperature of each driving module and circuit board in real-time, and this feedback is used by the control system to adjust refrigerant flow rates. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that cooling efficiency is maintained while preventing excessive cooling that would cause condensation and short-circuits.

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

This solution effectively balances heat transfer between driving modules, preventing condensation and short-circuiting, ensuring stable operation by maintaining safe temperature ranges through PID-controlled refrigerant flow adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

a heat conduction member to connect adjacent heat exchange blocks and a circulation system with adjustable electronic expansion valves to balance temperature differences between driving modules

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The driving module is cooled by a refrigerant heat dissipation system, so as to prevent a temperature of the driving module from rising too high

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

heat dissipation by refrigerant has advantages of high heat dissipation efficiency and easy to be controlled

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4043809B1Air conditioner outdoor unit and control method
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 QINGDAO HISENSE HITACHI AIR CONDITIONING SYST
  • EP4043809B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4043809B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4043809B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

An air conditioner outdoor unit and a control method. The air conditioner outdoor unit comprises: a housing in which at least two compressors (550) are provided; at least two drive modules (400), each drive module respectively correspondingly driving one compressor (550); heat exchange blocks (100) of which different parts are respectively connected to different drive modules (400) in a thermal conductive mode; and a refrigerant pipe (200) in which a refrigerant is comprised, the refrigerant pipe being inserted into the heat exchange blocks (100) and capable of cooling the heat exchange blocks (100). The problem that a condensation phenomenon is easy to occur because the temperature of the drive modules (400) of multiple compressors (550) is not balanced is solved.