Air conditioning system and method for calculating amount of filling refrigerants of the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioning systems face challenges in accurately calculating the refrigerant amount due to increased pipe length and complexity, leading to inefficiencies, high costs, and user inconvenience, especially in multi-air conditioning systems with multiple units and branch points.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioning system with a refrigerant amount calculation unit that calculates the required refrigerant based on the capacities of indoor and outdoor units, pipe length, and branch points, utilizing a length detection unit to determine pipe length through signal strength analysis and a thickness determination unit to adjust for pipe thickness, thereby optimizing refrigerant filling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of outdoor units and indoor units is increased or the distance between them becomes long, then the refrigerant pipe length must be increased, but this causes difficulty in properly maintaining a refrigerant amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidrefrigerant amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of pipe length and branch points during installation before refrigerant filling. The detection unit measures pipe length and identifies branch points, and the controller pre-calculates the required refrigerant amount based on these detected parameters, ensuring accurate refrigerant filling from the start

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates a detection unit that provides feedback about pipe length and branch point information to the controller. This feedback mechanism allows the controller to continuously monitor and calculate the appropriate refrigerant amount based on actual installation conditions, ensuring precision despite system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional techniques for filling refrigerants are directly applied to multi-air conditioning systems, then an error occurs in calculating a refrigerant amount according to installation conditions such as pipe length

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidrefrigerant amount calculation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-detection and self-calculation of refrigerant requirements. The detection unit automatically measures pipe length and identifies branch points, and the controller automatically calculates the required refrigerant amount based on these detected parameters, eliminating the need for manual calculation and reducing errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical measurement and calculation methods with automated detection and electronic calculation. The detection unit uses electronic signals to measure pipe length and identify branch points, and the controller uses electronic algorithms to calculate refrigerant requirements, improving both simplicity and precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If temperature and pressure are measured to determine refrigerant amount, then a larger number of temperature sensors or pressure sensors have to be installed as pipe length is increased, but this causes high costs and degrades reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant amountVSAvoidsensor quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the refrigerant amount determination problem from direct temperature and pressure measurement and solves it through alternative parameters. Instead of measuring temperature and pressure at multiple points, the system detects pipe length and branch points and calculates refrigerant amount based on these structural parameters, reducing sensor requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses pipe length and branch point information as intermediary parameters to determine refrigerant amount. Rather than directly measuring temperature and pressure, the system uses these intermediate structural characteristics that are easier to detect and more reliable for calculating the required refrigerant quantity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If an additional refrigerant amount is directly calculated by a user, then the user's convenience may be lowered and a refrigerant amount error may occur according to user's capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidrefrigerant amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic self-detection and self-calculation of refrigerant requirements. The detection unit automatically measures pipe length and identifies branch points, and the controller automatically calculates the precise refrigerant amount needed, eliminating the need for user intervention and ensuring accuracy regardless of user capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual user calculation with automated electronic detection and calculation. The electronic detection unit and controller perform the refrigerant amount determination through electronic measurements and algorithms, improving both user convenience and calculation precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution allows for precise refrigerant calculation before installation, reducing errors, saving time, and enhancing user convenience by automatically determining the necessary refrigerant amount based on installation conditions, thus improving system efficiency and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing a length detection unit to determine pipe length through signal strength analysis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSignal strength analysis:

Data Source

PatentEP2369270B1Air conditioning system and method for calculating amount of filling refrigerants of the same
Publication Date: 2020.02.05 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2369270B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2369270B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2369270B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An air conditioning system includes a plurality of indoor units and one or more outdoor units to drive the indoor units. The one or more outdoor units are coupled to the indoor units through refrigerant pipes that include one or more branch points. A calculator calculates an amount of filling refrigerant based on capacities of the indoor units and the one or more outdoor units and lengths of the refrigerant pipes.