Outdoor unit, indoor unit, and air conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems require control valves in indoor units for flexible operation, which increases complexity and cost, especially when multiple indoor units need to operate independently for cooling and heating.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a control unit that adjusts refrigerant pressure using control valves in the outdoor unit or a valve unit between the outdoor and indoor units, eliminating the need for control valves in indoor units by switching between two control modes based on system specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control valves are provided in indoor units to enable flexible operation, then individual cooling and heating operation for each indoor unit is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the control valve from the indoor unit and relocates it to the outdoor unit. Specifically, the outdoor unit is equipped with multiple control valves (first control valve, second control valve, third control valve) that correspond to different indoor units, while the indoor units themselves do not require control valves. This extraction eliminates the need for control valves in indoor units while maintaining the ability to independently control refrigerant flow to each indoor unit through the outdoor unit's control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The outdoor unit's control system serves multiple functions by controlling different control valves to manage refrigerant distribution to multiple indoor units. The control unit in the outdoor unit can selectively activate different control valves based on operational requirements, enabling a single outdoor unit to serve multiple indoor units with independent control capabilities without requiring each indoor unit to have its own control valve.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control valves are provided in indoor units for system flexibility, then multiple operation modes are supported, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve component is extracted from the indoor unit assembly and consolidated in the outdoor unit. This reduces the bill of materials for each indoor unit, eliminating the need to manufacture, stock, and install control valves in every indoor unit. The outdoor unit assumes the responsibility of refrigerant flow control, simplifying indoor unit manufacturing while maintaining system flexibility through centralized control.
3Device complexity
If control valves are omitted from indoor units to reduce complexity, then manufacturing cost decreases, but control flexibility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor unit acts as an intermediary between the refrigerant source and multiple indoor units. The control valves located in the outdoor unit serve as mediators that regulate refrigerant flow before it is distributed to different indoor units. This intermediary positioning allows centralized control while maintaining the ability to independently adjust refrigerant flow to each indoor unit, preserving operational flexibility without requiring control valves in the indoor units themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
An outdoor unit in an air conditioning system includes: a first control valve; and a control unit that controls the first control valve and that is configured to cause the air conditioning system to operate in a first control mode or a second control mode based on presence or absence of a valve unit that includes a second control valve and that is disposed between the outdoor unit and indoor units of the air conditioning system that are connected in parallel to the outdoor unit. In a case where the valve unit is absent from the air conditioning system, the control unit causes the air conditioning system to operate in the first control mode in which a pressure of a refrigerant to be supplied to the indoor units is adjusted by controlling the first control valve.