Air-conditioning apparatus with regulated flow of a heat medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
In water-cooled air conditioning apparatuses, manually regulating the flow control valve by operators leads to a lengthy process and varying results due to differences in technical skills, making it inefficient to set the maximum and minimum opening degrees of the valve.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus with a controller that stores data for the defined maximum and minimum flow rates of the heat-source heat medium, allowing automatic regulation of the flow control valve, reducing the time and variation in regulation processing among operators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual regulation of the flow control valve is performed by operators, then the maximum and minimum opening degrees can be set, but the process takes a long time and results vary due to differences in operator technical skills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical regulation process with an automated control system. The controller automatically adjusts the flow control valve based on predetermined flow rate data, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and ensuring consistent, precise regulation without time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-regulation by automatically controlling the flow control valve based on stored flow rate data. The controller independently determines and adjusts the valve opening degrees without requiring external operator input, thereby eliminating both time consumption and variability associated with manual regulation.
2Ease of operation
If manual regulation of the flow control valve is performed by operators, then the opening degrees can be adjusted, but the results vary from one operator to another due to different technical skills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual operator judgment and adjustment with an automated control system that uses predetermined flow rate data. This substitution eliminates the variability introduced by different operator technical skills while maintaining simple operation through automatic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller monitors the actual flow rate and automatically adjusts the flow control valve to match the target flow rate. This closed-loop control ensures consistent and reliable regulation results regardless of operator skill levels.
3Loss of energy
If the flow rate of heat-source heat medium is regulated to match air-conditioning load, then energy efficiency is improved, but complex control is required to determine maximum and minimum flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing predetermined maximum and minimum flow rate data in advance. This pre-programmed data eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations and control decisions, simplifying the control process while maintaining energy efficiency through appropriate flow rate regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system simplifies control by changing from complex real-time parameter optimization to using predetermined flow rate parameters. The controller selects from pre-defined maximum and minimum flow rates based on operational conditions, reducing control complexity while still achieving energy-efficient operation.
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 automatic regulation of the flow control valve by the controller significantly reduces the time required for setting the opening degrees and minimizes variations among operators, enhancing the efficiency and consistency of the air conditioning process.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-source-side heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a heat-source heat medium
Implementation Method 2
a load-side heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a load heat medium
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, a heat medium circuit, and a controller. In the refrigerant circuit, a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion unit, and a load-side heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant pipes, and refrigerant flows. The heat-source-side heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a heat-source heat medium. The load-side heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a load heat medium, and refrigerant flows. In the heat medium circuit, a flow control valve that regulates the flow rate of the heat-source heat medium and the heat-source-side heat exchanger are connected by a heat medium pipe, and the heat-source heat medium flows. The controller includes a storage unit that stores data indicating a defined maximum flow rate and a defined minimum flow rate of the heat-source heat medium that flows in the heat medium circuit.