Air-Conditioning System with Isolated Room Refrigerant Leak Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In central air-conditioning systems where an air conditioner is installed in an independent air-conditioning room, accurately determining refrigerant leakage and minimizing its impact on the living room is challenging due to higher refrigerant concentrations in the air-conditioning room.

Innovation Solution

The system includes a refrigerant concentration sensor, a state changer that switches between sending air-conditioning room air to the living room and isolating the air-conditioning room, and a leakage determination unit that assesses refrigerant leakage by measuring concentrations during the isolation state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the air-conditioning room air is continuously sent to the living room, then the living room receives adequate air-conditioning, but refrigerant leakage cannot be accurately detected and the living room is exposed to higher refrigerant concentrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant leakage detection accuracyVSAvoidair-conditioning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system periodically switches between first state (air-conditioning mode) and second state (detection mode). During the second state, the air-conditioning room is isolated and the refrigerant concentration is detected. This periodic switching enables accurate leakage detection without continuously interrupting air-conditioning service to the living room.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

Before detecting refrigerant concentration, the system preliminarily isolates the air-conditioning room by switching to the second state, stopping the air conditioner and closing the branch chamber. This preliminary isolation ensures that the detected concentration accurately reflects leakage conditions without dilution from continuous air flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the air conditioner operates continuously in the first state, then air-conditioning service is maintained, but refrigerant leakage detection is delayed or inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair-conditioning service continuityVSAvoidrefrigerant concentration measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control device periodically transitions between first state (air-conditioning operation) and second state (detection mode). This periodic action ensures both continuous air-conditioning service and regular refrigerant leakage detection, balancing operational convenience with measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the refrigerant concentration sensor to determine whether to switch between first and second states. When leakage is detected, the system adjusts operation accordingly, ensuring accurate measurement triggers appropriate operational responses while maintaining overall service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the refrigerant concentration is detected during air flow, then the system operates normally, but the detected concentration is diluted and inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant concentration detectionVSAvoiddetection time delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary isolation of the air-conditioning room before conducting refrigerant concentration detection. By switching to the second state and stopping air flow beforehand, the system ensures that the detected concentration is not diluted, achieving accurate measurement without excessive time delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic detection cycles where the air conditioner is temporarily stopped and the room is isolated for concentration measurement. This periodic approach balances the need for accurate detection with minimal interruption to overall system operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 approach allows for accurate detection of refrigerant leaks and reduces the influence on the living room by isolating and exhausting contaminated air-conditioning room air.

Implementation Method 1

a refrigerant concentration sensor that detects a concentration of a refrigerant contained in the air-conditioning room air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas detection:

Data Source

PatentUS20250164131A1Air-conditioning system

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

The air-conditioning system sends, to a living room, air-conditioning room air in an air-conditioning room independent of the living room. In the air-conditioning room, an air conditioner is installed. A refrigerant concentration sensor detects a concentration of a refrigerant contained in the air-conditioning room air. A state changer switches between a first state where the air-conditioning room air is sent to the living room and a second state where air coming in and out of the air-conditioning room is less than the air-conditioning room air in the first state. A leakage determination unit determines whether or not the refrigerant is leaking by acquiring the refrigerant concentration detected by the refrigerant concentration sensor in the second state.