Air-Conditioning Heat Medium Sealing Using Soluble Gas to Displace Air
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In indirect air-conditioning systems, air masses remaining in pipes due to density and surface tension issues lead to heat transfer resistance, corrosion, and pump failure, and existing methods for purging air are inefficient or unsuitable for pipes made of resin.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning system with a heat medium sealing mechanism that uses a gas more soluble than air to displace air from the load side heat medium circuit, followed by sealing the heat medium, reducing flow path resistance and enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is sealed in the pipe without evacuating air, then the sealing process is simple and quick, but air mass remains in the pipe causing heat transfer resistance and potential corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing inert gas (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) into the pipe before sealing the water. This preliminary gas introduction displaces air from the pipe, particularly from inverted U-shaped sections, preventing air mass formation that would otherwise cause heat transfer resistance and corrosion. The gas serves as a preparatory step that ensures reliable heat transfer while maintaining a simple sealing process.
2Reliability
If air purge valves are installed in bent pipes to remove air mass, then heat transfer efficiency improves, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air removal function from the traditional air purge valve approach and replaces it with a chemical/gas-based solution. By introducing inert gas that is more soluble in water than air, the system removes the need for multiple air purge valves in bent pipes. The gas naturally displaces air through the water circulation system, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining effective air removal and heat transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inert gas (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) as an intermediary substance to facilitate air removal from the pipe. This intermediary gas serves as a mediator between the water sealing process and the air removal requirement, allowing air to be displaced without requiring complex mechanical air purge systems. The intermediary gas is subsequently absorbed by the water, completing the air removal process.
3Reliability
If high pressure is applied to push out air mass from the pipe, then air removal effectiveness improves, but the risk of pump failure and pipe damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter approach from high pressure mechanical forcing to low pressure gas displacement followed by dissolution. Instead of applying high pressure to push out air mass (which risks pump failure and pipe damage), the system introduces inert gas at low pressure, allows it to displace air, and then relies on the gas's solubility in water to remove it. This parameter change from pressure-based to solubility-based air removal eliminates the harmful effects while maintaining effectiveness.
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 proposed solution effectively reduces air mass in the load side heat medium circuit, minimizing flow path resistance and increasing heat transfer efficiency while preventing pump failure and corrosion, and is suitable for systems with pipes made of resin.
Implementation Method 1
a gas (carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen chloride, chlorine, or hydrogen sulfide) that is more soluble in water than is air is sealed in the pipe while pushing out the air
Implementation Method 2
a gas (carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen chloride, chlorine, or hydrogen sulfide) that is more soluble in water than is air is sealed in the pipe
Implementation Method 3
an air-conditioning system in which a heat medium transfers heating energy and cooling energy generated in a refrigerant circuit to a use side device
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning system includes a heat source side refrigerant circuit in which a heat source side heat exchanger is provided, a load side heat medium circuit in which a load side heat exchanger is provided, an intermediate heat exchanger, and a heat medium sealing. The heat medium sealing mechanism includes a supply port through which the heat medium and gas flow, the gas being more soluble in the heat medium than air, a discharge port through which the gas pushed by the heat medium is discharged, and a flow straightener that is connected to the load side heat medium circuit in such a manner that, when the gas is supplied, the gas flows from the supply port to the discharge port, and when the heat medium is supplied, the heat medium flows from the supply port to the discharge port.