Air conditioning tower
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional split-type air conditioning systems are inefficient due to low Coefficient of Performance (C.O.P), energy loss during refrigerant circulation, and complex installation and maintenance, especially with extensive piping networks and separate indoor and outdoor units.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning tower with a single casing structure, incorporating a compressor, heat exchanger, evaporative cooling system, and multiple-effect evaporative condensers, which uses a pumping device to circulate cooling water through heat exchanging pipes and fill material units for efficient heat exchange, eliminating the need for extensive piping networks and simplifying installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a split-type air conditioning system with separate indoor and outdoor units is used, then installation flexibility is improved, but device complexity and piping requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the compressor unit and evaporative cooling system into a single integrated air conditioning tower structure. The compressor (20) and evaporative cooling system (400) are housed together in one unit with shared refrigerant circulation, eliminating the need for separate indoor and outdoor units connected by extensive piping. This reduces device complexity while maintaining installation flexibility through the tower's modular design that can be positioned in various locations.
2Area of stationary object
If extensive piping networks are used to connect indoor and outdoor units, then cooling coverage area is improved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the evaporative cooling function as a separate subsystem (evaporative cooling system 400) with its own water circulation loop independent from the refrigerant circulation system. The cooling water (410) flows through fill material (420) and heat exchanging pipes (62, 72) in a dedicated evaporative cooling cycle, while refrigerant circulation handles the actual cooling delivery. This separation reduces energy loss by optimizing each loop's function independently.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate indoor and outdoor units are used, then system modularity is improved, but maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the compressor (20), heat exchanger (30), and evaporative cooling system (400) into a single accessible tower unit. All major components requiring maintenance are housed in one location with unified access points, eliminating the problem of technicians being unable to access outdoor compressor units blocked by obstacles. The integrated design maintains modularity through standardized component interfaces while improving maintenance accessibility.
4Temperature
If conventional evaporative cooling with single pass water flow is used, then cooling effect is achieved, but heat exchange efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous water circulation system where cooling water (410) is constantly pumped through the evaporative cooling system, passing repeatedly over the fill material (420) and through heat exchanging pipes (62, 72). The water circulation pump (43) maintains continuous flow, ensuring sustained evaporative cooling action and maximizing heat exchange efficiency through repeated contact between cooling water and ambient air, rather than single-pass flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces fill material (420) as an intermediary substance between the cooling water (410) and ambient air. The fill material provides a large surface area for water to spread and evaporate, enhancing the heat exchange process. Water flows through or over the fill material, which acts as a mediator to maximize contact between cooling water and air, significantly improving evaporative cooling efficiency compared to direct water spray methods.
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 air conditioning tower provides a high-efficiency cooling effect to large areas with reduced energy loss and simplified installation, as it uses a single unit with integrated components for efficient heat exchange and refrigerant circulation, enhancing cooling performance and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a predetermined amount of refrigerant circulating between the compressor, the heat exchanger, and the evaporative cooling system, the refrigerant from the heat exchanger being arranged to flow through the first heat exchanging pipes of the first cooling unit and the second heat exchanging pipes of the second cooling unit in such a manner that the refrigerant is arranged to perform highly efficient heat exchanging process with the cooling water for lowering a temperature of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a predetermined amount of air being drawn from the air inlet side for performing heat exchange with the cooling water flowing through the first fill material unit and the second fill material unit for lowering a temperature of the cooling water
Implementation Method 3
a predetermined amount of air being drawn from the air inlet side for performing heat exchange with the cooling water flowing through the first fill material unit and the second fill material unit
Implementation Method 4
an pumping device provided at the bottom portion of the tower casing and adapted for pumping a predetermined amount of cooling water at a predetermined flow rate
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning tower includes a tower casing, a compressor provided in the tower casing, a heat exchanger provided in the tower casing and connected to the compressor, an evaporative cooling system which includes at least one multiple-effect evaporative condenser, and a centrifugal fan. The multiple-effect evaporative condenser includes a pumping device, a first cooling unit, a second cooling unit, and a bottom water collecting basin. The first cooling unit includes a first water collection basin, a plurality of first heat exchanging pipes, and a first fill material unit. The second cooling unit includes a second water collection basin, a plurality of second heat exchanging pipes, and a second fill material unit.