Air-conditioning apparatus and air-conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional outside-air processing devices for air-conditioning systems increase power consumption and manufacturing costs due to the use of electrothermal heaters or heating coils for reheating, and require additional components like shutters and deflecting units to control air flow, which raises costs further.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus with a total heat exchanger that exchanges heat between outdoor and return air, an indoor heat exchanger, a joining unit to combine supply and indoor outlet air, an opening-closing unit controlled by temperature-detecting sensors to optimize air mixing and distribution, minimizing the need for reheating and reducing component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electrothermal heater or heating coil is used for reheating outlet air, then comfort of residents is improved, but power consumption is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the cooling function of the air conditioner itself to provide reheating. The indoor unit cools the return air, and this cooled air is then mixed with the cold outlet air from the outside-air processing device. The system serves its own reheating need through its existing cooling components, eliminating the need for separate heating elements and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of excessively cold outlet air into a beneficial feature. Instead of discarding the cold outlet air or using additional heating to compensate, the system utilizes the temperature difference between the cold outlet air and the cooled return air to create a controlled mixing process. The cold return air acts as a heat sink that can be precisely controlled to achieve the desired outlet temperature, turning the cooling function into a reheating solution.
2Temperature
If electrothermal heater or heating coil is used for reheating outlet air, then comfort of residents is improved, but manufacturing cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the indoor unit's cooling function serve dual purposes: cooling the room and providing reheating for the outlet air. The indoor heat exchanger and fan are used for both traditional cooling and for preparing the return air that will be mixed with outlet air. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating components, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing components (indoor heat exchanger, fan, and ductwork) to provide the reheating function. No additional heating elements, controls, or infrastructure are needed. The system serves its own reheating requirement through its existing cooling infrastructure, minimizing manufacturing cost.
3Productivity
If shutter and deflecting unit are added to control air flow, then air conditioning efficiency is improved, but number of components and manufacturing cost are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air flow control function into the existing ductwork system. The joining unit combines the outlet air duct and return air duct into a single mixing chamber, eliminating the need for separate shutters and deflecting units. The mixing process itself provides the flow control function that would otherwise require additional mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of air flow control from the complex mechanical components (shutters and deflecting units) and implements it through the simplified mixing chamber design. The joining unit provides passive flow control through its structure, removing the need for active mechanical control components while maintaining air conditioning efficiency.
4Temperature
If valves and expansion valves are added for reheating, then outlet air temperature control is improved, but manufacturing cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing expansion device and refrigerant circulation system to provide temperature control for the reheating function. The refrigerant expansion and heat exchange processes, already present for cooling, are utilized to control the temperature of the return air that will be mixed with outlet air. No additional valves or temperature control components are needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the existing refrigerant system serve dual purposes: cooling the room and controlling the temperature of the return air for reheating. The expansion valves and heat exchangers are used for both traditional refrigeration cycles and for preparing the return air at the desired temperature, eliminating the need for separate temperature control components.
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
Enhances resident comfort while minimizing cost increases by effectively controlling air temperature and flow without the need for additional reheating components, thus reducing energy consumption and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a total heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between outdoor air and return air
Implementation Method 2
an indoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the return air and refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning apparatus includes an outside-air processing device including a total heat exchanger exchanging heat between outdoor air and return air, and blowing out the outdoor air from a supply-air outlet port into a room as supply air, an indoor unit including an indoor heat exchanger exchanging heat between the return air and refrigerant, and blowing out the return air from an indoor outlet port as indoor outlet air, a joining unit connecting the supply-air outlet port and the indoor outlet port to join the supply air and the indoor outlet air, an opening-closing unit arranged in the joining unit and opening and closing the joining unit, a supply-air temperature detecting unit detecting a supply-air temperature of the supply air, an indoor outlet temperature detecting unit detecting an indoor outlet temperature of the indoor outlet air, and a control unit controlling an operation of the opening-closing unit based on the supply-air temperature and the indoor outlet temperature.