Air management system for climate control unit of a transport climate control system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport climate control systems face the challenge of working fluid leaks pooling and diluting within the condenser and evaporator compartments, potentially leading to flammable or toxic conditions.
Innovation Solution
The system periodically exhausts air from the condenser and evaporator units to prevent pooling of leaked working fluid, using automated dampers and blowers to manage airflow and dissipate any leaked fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the condenser and evaporator compartments are sealed to maintain climate control efficiency, then climate control performance is improved, but working fluid leaks can pool and create flammable or toxic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful working fluid from the sealed compartment by introducing an air management system with blower and exhaust pathway that actively removes leaked fluid before it can pool to hazardous levels, while maintaining the sealed compartment structure for climate control efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary substance that mixes with leaked working fluid in the compartment, then uses the air management system to exhaust this mixture through designated pathways, preventing fluid accumulation without compromising compartment sealing
2Object-affected harmful factors
If working fluid is allowed to leak into the compartment, then the leak can be contained within the sealed space, but the fluid may pool and dilute within the air creating flammable or toxic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where leak detection sensors monitor the compartment for working fluid presence, and when leaked, the air management system is activated to exhaust the fluid-laden air, creating a closed-loop safety system that responds to leak conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful pooled fluid into a manageable condition by using the air management system to continuously circulate and exhaust air, transforming the static hazard of fluid pooling into a dynamic controlled atmosphere that prevents hazardous accumulation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the air management system operates continuously to exhaust air from the compartments, then working fluid pooling is prevented, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by operating the air management system intermittently based on leak detection sensor inputs rather than continuously, activating the blower and exhaust pathways only when working fluid leakage is detected, thus preventing fluid pooling while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using the air management system selectively in response to specific leak conditions rather than maintaining constant operation, providing sufficient exhaust capability when needed while reducing overall energy usage during normal operation
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 effectively mitigates the risk of flammable or toxic fluid accumulation, enhancing safety and reducing the risk of hazardous situations.
Implementation Method 1
a blower configured to move air from the condenser and evaporator compartments through ducts to the atmosphere
Data Source
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AI summary
Technologies are provided for preventing a working fluid leak from pooling and thus diluting any leaked working fluid from air within a condenser and/or evaporator compartment of the CCU. This includes a computer-readable medium that stores executable instructions that, upon execution by a climate-control unit (CCU), prevent a working fluid leak from pooling within the CCU of a transport climate control system. These instructions include detecting fulfillment of activation threshold conditions in connection with the CCU, activating a fan in at least one of a condenser unit and an evaporator unit included in the CCU to dilute leaked working fluid from air within the CCU, detecting fulfillment of de-activation threshold conditions and de-activation of an activated fan.