Multi-Air Conditioner Buffer Tank for Refrigerant Leak Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-air conditioners face challenges in minimizing refrigerant leakage and ensuring user safety due to unpredictable leakage positions and the inability to effectively collect leaked refrigerant, especially when the length of indoor pipes increases.
Innovation Solution
A multi-air conditioner system with a buffer unit and strategically positioned leakage blocking valves outside the room, which includes a buffer tank, low-pressure, and high-pressure buffer pipes to collect and manage refrigerant leaks, minimizing the amount of refrigerant that leaks into the room.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a blocking valve is installed indoors to stop refrigerant flow when leakage occurs, then the refrigerant flow can be blocked, but the leaked refrigerant remains in the room and cannot be collected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer tank as an intermediary device between the indoor unit and the room environment. When refrigerant leakage occurs, the blocking valve stops the flow, and the buffer tank collects the leaked refrigerant, preventing it from remaining in the room. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing both flow blocking and refrigerant collection functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the refrigerant management system into distinct functional components: a blocking valve for stopping refrigerant flow and a buffer tank for collecting leaked refrigerant. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively, with the blocking valve preventing further leakage and the buffer tank containing the already leaked refrigerant.
2Area of stationary object
If the length of indoor pipes is increased to extend cooling/heating coverage, then the coverage area is improved, but the amount of refrigerant that can leak increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of extended pipe length (increased leakage risk) into a manageable situation by providing a buffer tank that actively collects leaked refrigerant. The longer pipes enable greater coverage area, and when leakage occurs, the buffer tank captures the leaked refrigerant, transforming the potential harm into a controlled scenario where the refrigerant is contained rather than lost to the environment.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a blocking valve is positioned far from the indoor unit to cover more leakage positions, then more leakage positions can be blocked, but the refrigerant has more time to leak into the room before blocking occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tank acts as an intermediary safety device that immediately contains leaked refrigerant regardless of where the leakage occurs in the extended pipe system. This eliminates the time delay problem because the buffer tank is positioned to receive refrigerant from all directions in the indoor unit, providing immediate containment while the blocking valve operates to stop further leakage.
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 system significantly reduces the total amount of refrigerant leakage by collecting it in the buffer tank, minimizing damage and user exposure, and optimizes the blocking valve's position to prevent further leakage, thereby enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a buffer unit which is installed on the refrigerant pipe between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and collects refrigerant leaking from the refrigerant pipe
Implementation Method 2
a low pressure buffer pipe which is connected to a bottom side of the buffer tank and sets a low pressure in the buffer tank; and a high-pressure buffer pipe which is connected to an upper side of the buffer tank and sets a high pressure in the buffer tank
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-air conditioner for heating/cooling operation may include: at least one indoor unit which is installed in a room, and includes an indoor heat exchanger; an outdoor unit which is connected to the indoor unit through a refrigerant pipe, and includes an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, an outdoor expansion valve, and a four-way valve; at least one leakage blocking valve which is formed on the refrigerant pipe, and blocks a refrigerant flow in the refrigerant pipe when a refrigerant leak occurs from the refrigerant pipe in the room; and a buffer unit which is installed on the refrigerant pipe between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and collects refrigerant leaking from the refrigerant pipe. Accordingly, when the refrigerant leaks into the room, it is possible to minimize the amount of the leaking refrigerant by collecting the refrigerant in the buffer tank.