Air-conditioning apparatus and method for installing air-conditioning apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioning systems face safety and power consumption challenges, with flammable or toxic refrigerants requiring additional safety measures and increased power usage in variable refrigerant flow systems due to larger relay units and higher pump power demands.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus with an outdoor unit, a first indoor unit for refrigerant circulation, a relay unit for heat exchange with a harmless heat medium, and a second indoor unit for heat medium circulation, where the first indoor unit is installed in a large space to maintain safe refrigerant concentration and the second indoor unit is installed in smaller spaces to reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flammable or toxic refrigerant is circulated in the indoor unit, then cooling or heating performance is improved, but safety is compromised requiring additional safety measures and increased cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different heat transfer media in different indoor units based on their installation locations. First indoor units in large spaces use refrigerant for efficient heat transfer, while second indoor units in small spaces use harmless heat medium (water or antifreeze) to eliminate safety concerns. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between safety and performance by matching the media type to the specific spatial context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the indoor units into two distinct types: first indoor units that handle refrigerant directly and are installed in large spaces, and second indoor units that handle only heat medium and are installed in small spaces. This segmentation allows each type to be optimized for its specific safety requirements, eliminating the need for comprehensive safety measures across all indoor units.
2Reliability
If a relay unit with heat medium circulation is used to ensure safety, then safety is improved, but power consumption increases due to pump requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing heat medium circulation only in second indoor units installed in small spaces where refrigerant circulation would pose safety risks. First indoor units in large spaces continue to use direct refrigerant circulation without requiring pump-based heat medium systems, thereby eliminating unnecessary power consumption while maintaining safety where needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If many indoor units are connected to the relay unit in a VRF system, then versatility is improved, but the size of the relay unit and pump power increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the indoor unit network into two independent systems: first indoor units connected directly to the outdoor unit via refrigerant pipes, and second indoor units connected to the outdoor unit via the relay unit through heat medium pipes. This segmentation allows the relay unit to serve only second indoor units in small spaces, preventing its size and pump power from increasing proportionally with the total number of indoor units in the system.
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 ensures safety by maintaining safe refrigerant concentrations and reduces power consumption by minimizing the number of second indoor units and pump power requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a relay unit including a relay heat exchanger through which the refrigerant exchanges heat with a heat medium different from the refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning apparatus includes: an outdoor unit including a compressor, and an outdoor heat exchanger; a first indoor unit including a first indoor heat exchanger; a relay unit including a relay heat exchanger through which the refrigerant exchanges heat with a heat medium different from the refrigerant, and a pump; and a second indoor unit including a second indoor heat exchanger, wherein the first indoor unit is installed in a first air-conditioned space, the second indoor unit is installed in a second air-conditioned space, the first air-conditioned space has a volume such that a concentration of the refrigerant in the first air-conditioned space is lower than a reference value even when a total amount of the refrigerant filled in the refrigerant circuit leaks in the first air-conditioned space, and a volume of the second air-conditioned space is smaller than the volume of the first air-conditioned space.