Air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners have identical evaporation pressures for multiple indoor heat exchangers performing cooling operations, making it difficult to adjust the blowdown temperature for each indoor space to meet occupant needs.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner employs adjustable electronic expansion valves to set different evaporation pressures for each indoor heat exchanger by controlling the opening degree of these valves, allowing for independent adjustment of the refrigerant's inlet temperature to achieve distinct blowdown temperatures for each space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional air conditioners use identical evaporation pressures for multiple indoor heat exchangers, then the system structure is simple, but the blowdown temperature cannot be adjusted for each indoor space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single evaporator system into multiple independent indoor heat exchangers, each with its own expansion valve. This segmentation allows each heat exchanger to operate with different evaporation pressures and blowdown temperatures, enabling independent temperature control for different indoor spaces while maintaining a unified outdoor unit structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs electronic expansion valves that can dynamically adjust their opening degrees based on control signals. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to vary evaporation pressures and blowdown temperatures for different indoor heat exchangers according to real-time cooling demands, transforming a static system into an adaptable dynamic system.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple indoor heat exchangers operate with the same evaporation pressure, then the control system is simple, but the temperature control precision for each space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different evaporation pressures to different indoor heat exchangers based on their specific cooling requirements. Each heat exchanger receives refrigerant at a locally optimized pressure level, enabling precise temperature control tailored to each indoor space's needs rather than applying a uniform pressure across all units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the evaporation pressure parameter for each indoor heat exchanger independently by adjusting the opening degrees of respective electronic expansion valves. This parameter differentiation allows each heat exchanger to achieve its target blowdown temperature with high precision, transforming a single-parameter system into a multi-parameter controlled system.
3Productivity
If the air conditioner uses a single evaporation pressure for all indoor heat exchangers, then the refrigerant flow is simple, but unnecessary pressure drops occur reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the opening degrees of electronic expansion valves in advance to set appropriate evaporation pressures for each indoor heat exchanger before refrigerant flow begins. This preliminary configuration optimizes the refrigerant flow path and pressure distribution, preventing unnecessary pressure drops and efficiency losses that would occur with uniform pressure distribution.
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 enables the air conditioner to set different blowdown temperatures for each indoor space, improving temperature control and preventing unnecessary pressure drops and efficiency reductions.
Implementation Method 1
adjustable electronic expansion valves to set different evaporation pressures for each indoor heat exchanger by controlling the opening degree of these valves
Implementation Method 2
evaporation pressures of a plurality of indoor heat exchangers performing the cooling operation
Implementation Method 3
processes of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation of a refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
an air conditioner refers to a device that heats or cools a room through processes of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation of a refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
indoor heat exchangers through which the refrigerant passed through the plurality of expansion valves flows
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner may include a controller; a compressor that compresses a refrigerant; an outdoor heat exchanger through which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows; a plurality of expansion valves that expands the refrigerant passed through the outdoor heat exchanger; a plurality of indoor heat exchangers through which the refrigerant passed through the plurality of expansion valves flows; a plurality of connection pipes that connects the plurality of indoor heat exchangers and the compressor; and a plurality of variable valves installed in the plurality of connection pipes. An opening degree of each of the plurality of variable valves may be adjustable via the controller.