Air conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioning systems using flammable refrigerants, there is a need to enhance safety measures for early detection and prevention of refrigerant leaks, particularly at the connection portions between the heat exchanger and refrigerant connection pipes, to prevent potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioning system design includes a burner unit and a heat exchanger unit with a specific casing configuration and air inlet placement to reduce the risk of flammable refrigerant ignition, utilizing a flammable refrigerant like R32, and incorporating a gas sensor for leak detection and a controller to manage the indoor fan for agitation, ensuring safer operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the air inlet is provided on the first surface of the first casing, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the refrigerant may be directly drawn into the combustion unit increasing ignition risk
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet is relocated from the first surface (front surface) to the second surface (side surface) of the first casing. This dimensional change in position prevents refrigerant that may leak from the connection portion from being directly drawn into the combustion unit, as the air inlet is now positioned laterally away from the refrigerant leak path while still maintaining simple manufacturing processes.
2Device complexity
If the connection portion is disposed on the first surface of the first casing, then the refrigerant connection is simplified, but the leaked refrigerant can be directly drawn into the combustion unit
Solution Approach 1:
The connection portion is relocated from the first surface (front surface) to the second surface (side surface) of the first casing. This positional change in another dimension maintains simple refrigerant connection while preventing leaked refrigerant from being directly drawn into the combustion unit, as the air inlet on the first surface is now spatially separated from the refrigerant leak path.
3Productivity
If the air inlet is positioned close to the connection portion, then the air supply efficiency is improved, but the refrigerant concentration near the burner increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet is positioned on the second surface (side surface) of the first casing rather than on the first surface near the connection portion. This spatial relocation in another dimension maintains effective air supply to the combustion unit while preventing refrigerant that leaks from the connection portion from being directly drawn into the combustion unit, thus reducing refrigerant concentration near the burner.
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
The configuration effectively reduces the risk of the combustion unit serving as an ignition source for leaked refrigerant, enhancing safety by directing air flow to minimize refrigerant concentration near the burner, thereby preventing ignition and ensuring safe operation with flammable refrigerants.
Implementation Method 1
a controller configured to control operation of the indoor fan to agitation when the gas sensor detects the refrigerant leak
Implementation Method 2
The air inlet is provided in a surface that is other than the second portion and is at least one of a plurality of surfaces adjacent to the first surface
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system includes: a burner unit having a burner and a first casing housing the burner and having an air inlet; and a heat exchanger unit having a heat exchanger through which flammable refrigerant passes, a second casing housing the heat exchanger, and a connection portion connected to a refrigerant connection pipe extending from a heat source unit. The first casing has a first surface, the second casing is disposed to overlap a part of the first surface, the first surface includes a first portion that overlaps the second casing and a second portion not overlapping the second casing. The connection portion is disposed in the second casing to project onto the second portion of the first casing. The air inlet is provided on a surface that is other than the second portion and is at least one of a plurality of surfaces adjacent to the first surface.