Air-conditioning unit having a coil with an active portion and an inactive portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small capacity indoor air-conditioning units face challenges with overheating, short cycling, and inadequate humidity control due to limitations in reducing capacity while maintaining sufficient airflow and moisture removal in low-load, high-volume zones.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an air-conditioning unit with an active and inactive portion of the coil, where the active portion conditions a portion of the return air, and the inactive portion passes unconditioned air, allowing for a higher total airflow and maintaining latent capacity, enabling effective moisture removal and airflow in large zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the capacity of the refrigerant evaporator coil is reduced to lower the indoor unit capacity, then the indoor unit capacity is reduced, but the latent removal capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator coil is segmented into multiple independent coil circuits (first coil circuit, second coil circuit, third coil circuit, etc.), each capable of operating independently. This segmentation allows selective activation of coil circuits based on cooling load requirements while maintaining sufficient latent removal capability through the combined capacity of multiple coils, resolving the contradiction between reduced unit capacity and maintained humidity control.
2Power
If the airflow through the indoor unit is reduced to match the reduced capacity, then the capacity matches the low-load zone requirements, but the air circulation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs variable speed control for both the blower fan and refrigerant expansion valves, allowing dynamic adjustment of airflow rate and refrigerant flow independently. The blower can maintain high airflow rates for adequate air circulation while the refrigerant flow is modulated to match the low cooling load, resolving the contradiction between capacity reduction and airflow maintenance.
3Reliability
If multiple coil circuits are used to maintain latent capacity, then the moisture removal capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator coil is divided into multiple independent coil circuits with individual expansion valves for each circuit. This segmentation enables independent control of each coil's refrigerant flow, allowing the system to maintain latent removal capability through combined coil capacity while managing complexity through modular, standardized circuit designs that can be controlled independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses electronic expansion valves with variable opening degrees for each coil circuit, allowing precise control of refrigerant flow parameters to each coil. By changing the flow distribution parameters dynamically, the system optimizes latent removal capability across multiple coils while maintaining manageable control complexity through electronic regulation rather than mechanical complexity.
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 allows for efficient moisture removal and adequate airflow in low-load, high-volume zones, addressing the limitations of traditional units by maintaining sufficient capacity and airflow while optimizing energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
one or more operational air-conditioning coils configured to receive a first portion of the return air from the intermediate vent, to circulate a coolant, to condition the first portion of the return air by heat exchange with the coolant to create conditioned air
Implementation Method 2
a blower fan configured to move the return air from the input vent to the intermediate vent
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning unit is provided, comprising: an input vent for receiving return air; an intermediate vent; an output vent; a blower fan proximate to the input vent for moving the return air from the input vent to the intermediate vent; and an air-conditioner coil between the intermediate vent and the output vent including an active portion including one or more operational air-conditioning coils that receive a first portion of the return air from the intermediate vent, for circulating a coolant, condition the first portion of the return air by heat exchange with the coolant to create conditioned air, and pass the conditioned air to the output vent, and an inactive portion that does not circulate coolant and passes a second portion of the return air as unconditioned air to the output vent, wherein the conditioned air and the unconditioned air pass through the output vent as supply air.