Indoor-Outdoor Pipe Layout for Flammable Refrigerant Air Conditioners
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioners using flammable refrigerants like isobutane or propane, there is a high likelihood of refrigerant leakage occurring at the connection point between the indoor-side and outdoor-side connection pipes, posing safety risks due to potential fires from electric components.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner design includes an indoor-outdoor connection pipe configuration where the indoor-side connection pipe extends outside the indoor unit, keeping the connection point away from the indoor unit and room, thereby reducing the risk of refrigerant leakage and accumulation near ignition sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the connection point between indoor-side and outdoor-side connection pipes is located near the indoor unit, then installation and maintenance are more convenient, but the risk of refrigerant leakage causing fires increases due to proximity to electric components
Solution Approach 1:
The connection point between the indoor-side and outdoor-side connection pipes is extracted from the indoor unit and relocated to the outdoor unit. This separation removes the hazardous connection point (where refrigerant leakage is most likely) away from the indoor environment and electric components, thereby eliminating the fire risk while maintaining installation convenience through standardized outdoor connection interfaces
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the indoor-side connection pipe is extended outside the indoor unit, then safety against refrigerant leakage is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The indoor-side connection pipe is merged with the outdoor-side connection pipe at the outdoor unit, creating a single connection point outside the indoor unit. This merging eliminates the need for complex pipe routing through walls or floors, simplifies the overall system configuration, and maintains safety by keeping the connection point away from the indoor environment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An air conditioner according to the present disclosure includes an outdoor unit that includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor fan, and an expansion mechanism, and indoor unit (10) that includes an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan, and indoor-outdoor connection pipe (20). Indoor unit (10) and the outdoor unit form a refrigeration cycle circuit by being connected to each other with indoor-outdoor connection pipe (20). The refrigeration cycle circuit uses a flammable refrigerant. Indoor-outdoor connection pipe (20) includes indoor-side connection pipe (12) extending from indoor unit (10). Indoor-side connection pipe (12) extends to the outside of indoor unit (10).