Segmented Refrigerant Quantity Estimation in Air Conditioner Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for judging the adequacy of refrigerant quantity in air conditioner circuits require extensive calculations, are time-consuming, and often impractical with low-cost devices like microcomputers, leading to inaccuracies or impossibility in real-time assessment.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner divides its refrigerant circuit into portions and uses relational expressions between refrigerant quantity and operation state quantities to calculate and judge the adequacy of refrigerant quantity, reducing calculation load and improving accuracy by selectively incorporating important variables such as temperature, pressure, and air flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If simulation of refrigeration cycle characteristics is performed to judge refrigerant quantity, then judgment accuracy is improved, but calculation time increases and calculation load becomes enormous
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant circuit is divided into multiple portions (e.g., high-pressure side, low-pressure side, evaporator, condenser), and refrigerant quantity is calculated for each portion separately using simplified relational expressions based on local operation state quantities. This segmentation reduces the overall calculation complexity while maintaining judgment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential operation state quantities (temperature, pressure, flow rate at key locations) needed for refrigerant quantity calculation, rather than performing a complete simulation of all refrigeration cycle characteristics. This extraction of critical parameters reduces calculation load while preserving judgment accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If simulation of refrigeration cycle characteristics is performed to judge refrigerant quantity, then judgment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases making it impossible for low-cost devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex simulation algorithms with simple relational expressions that can be executed by low-cost microcomputers. These simplified calculation methods act as 'cheap' alternatives to expensive simulation software, enabling refrigerant quantity judgment in cost-effective air conditioner units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes complex computational mechanics (full refrigeration cycle simulation) with simplified mathematical relationships (relational expressions between operation state quantities and refrigerant quantity). This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining the essential function of refrigerant quantity assessment.
3Measurement precision
If full refrigeration cycle simulation is performed, then comprehensive refrigerant quantity assessment is achieved, but calculation load becomes too high for real-time operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs partial action by calculating refrigerant quantity only in essential circuit portions using targeted relational expressions, rather than simulating the entire refrigeration cycle. This partial approach achieves sufficient assessment comprehensiveness while dramatically improving calculation speed for real-time operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit, a refrigerant quantity calculating section, and a refrigerant quantity judging section. The refrigerant circuit is configured by the interconnection of a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an indoor heat exchanger. The refrigerant quantity calculating section uses a relational expression between the refrigerant quantity in each portion of the refrigerant circuit when the refrigerant circuit is divided into a plurality of portions and an operation state quantity of constituent equipment or refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit in order to calculate the refrigerant quantity in each portion from the operation state quantity of constituent equipment or refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant quantity judging section uses the refrigerant quantity in each portion calculated by the refrigerant quantity calculating section in order to judge the adequacy of the refrigerant quantity in the refrigerant circuit.