Multi-Circuit Air Conditioning Layout for Refrigerant Leak Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-chamber type air conditioning apparatuses with a single refrigerant circuit face issues where refrigerant leaks into indoor spaces can exceed allowable concentrations, posing risks due to toxicity and combustibility, while apparatuses with separate refrigerant circuits still face challenges in controlling refrigerant leakage.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a system with an outdoor unit, multiple indoor units, and relay units, utilizing a heat source-side refrigerant circuit and user-side refrigerant circuits that include intermediate heat exchangers and flow rate control devices, allowing for independent cooling or heating operations and circulating water or antifreeze solutions to manage refrigerant concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single refrigerant circuit is used in multi-chamber type air conditioning apparatus, then the system structure is simplified and cost is reduced, but refrigerant leakage into indoor spaces can exceed allowable concentrations posing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the refrigerant circuit into multiple independent circuits: a heat source-side refrigerant circuit containing the compressor and outdoor heat exchanger, and multiple user-side refrigerant circuits each serving specific indoor units. This segmentation isolates refrigerant to specific zones, preventing system-wide leakage and controlling concentration in occupied spaces while maintaining operational simplicity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate heat exchangers as mediator components that facilitate heat transfer between the heat source-side refrigerant circuit and user-side refrigerant circuits. These intermediaries enable thermal coupling between circuits while maintaining refrigerant isolation, allowing efficient heat exchange without direct refrigerant mixing and thus preventing concentration buildup in indoor spaces.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate refrigerant circuits are used to control refrigerant leakage, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat source-side refrigerant circuit with multiple user-side refrigerant circuits through intermediate heat exchangers, creating an integrated system where thermal energy is transferred between circuits. This merging approach allows separate refrigerant circuits for safety while maintaining system cohesion through thermal coupling, avoiding the need for completely independent systems and reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat source-side refrigerant circuit serves multiple functions: it acts as the primary refrigerant circulation system, provides thermal energy to multiple user-side circuits through intermediate heat exchangers, and enables both cooling and heating operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems, simplifying the overall configuration while maintaining safety through circuit separation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If intermediate heat exchangers and flow rate control devices are added to manage refrigerant concentration, then refrigerant leakage control is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flow rate control devices that utilize hydraulic principles to regulate refrigerant flow through the intermediate heat exchangers and user-side circuits. By using pressure-driven flow control mechanisms rather than complex electronic systems, the patent achieves precise refrigerant concentration control while keeping manufacturing costs relatively low through the use of well-established hydraulic control technologies.
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 effectively prevents refrigerant leakage into occupied spaces by controlling the concentration of refrigerant, enabling simultaneous cooling and heating operations while ensuring safety and compliance with international standards.
Implementation Method 1
a heat source-side refrigerant circulating in the heat source-side refrigerant circuit and a user-side refrigerant circulating in the user-side refrigerant circuits perform a heat exchange with each other in intermediate heat exchangers
Data Source
AI summary
A heat source-side refrigerant circuit A including a compressor 11, an outdoor heat exchanger 13, a first refrigerant branch portion 21 connected to the compressor 11, a second refrigerant branch portion 22 and a third refrigerant branch portion 23 connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 13, a first refrigerant flow rate control device 24 provided between branch piping 40 and the second refrigerant branch portion 22, intermediate heat exchangers 25n connected at one side thereof to the first refrigerant branch portion 21 and the third refrigerant branch portion 23 via three-way valves 26n and connected at the other side thereof to the second refrigerant branch portion 22, and second refrigerant flow rate control devices 27n provided between the respective intermediate heat exchangers 25n and the second refrigerant branch portion 22, and user-side refrigerant circuits Bn having indoor heat exchangers 31n connected respectively to the intermediate heat exchangers 25n are provided, and at least one of water and an antifreeze solution circulates in the user-side refrigerant circuits Bn.