Apparatus and method for determining the quantity of dissolved refrigerant in oil recovered from an air conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning service units inaccurately measure refrigerant and oil recovery due to neglecting the amount of refrigerant dissolved in the oil, leading to improper recharging of air conditioning systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that collect and measure the refrigerant-oil mixture, calculate the amount of dissolved refrigerant using a predetermined relationship between the rate of oil drain and ambient temperature, and correct the measured amounts of recovered refrigerant and oil to account for dissolved refrigerant, ensuring precise recharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional service methods measure refrigerant and oil recovery without accounting for dissolved refrigerant in oil, then the measurement process is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates leading to inaccurate recovery amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct physical measurement of dissolved refrigerant with a mathematical model that calculates the amount based on oil mass and temperature. Instead of using complex separation and measurement equipment, the system uses the relationship expressed in Equation 1 to compute the dissolved refrigerant amount, thereby maintaining measurement precision while avoiding device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mathematical model (Equation 1) that mediates between measurable parameters (oil mass, temperature) and the target parameter (dissolved refrigerant amount). This intermediary relationship allows accurate determination of recovery amounts without directly measuring the dissolved refrigerant, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity
2Reliability
If the amount of dissolved refrigerant in recovered oil is not accounted for, then the recovery process is faster, but the reliability deteriorates leading to improper recharging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by establishing the mathematical relationship (Equation 1) before the actual recovery process. The model is pre-developed based on fundamental thermodynamic principles, allowing rapid calculation of dissolved refrigerant amounts during recovery without time-consuming experimental determination, thus improving reliability while minimizing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses readily available measurements (oil mass from scale, temperature from sensor) that are already part of the recovery process to calculate the dissolved refrigerant amount. No additional time-consuming measurements or interventions are needed, as the system self-determines the correction amount using existing data and the pre-established model
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 enhances the accuracy of refrigerant and oil recovery determination, improving the efficiency and durability of air conditioning systems by ensuring correct amounts are recharged, thus maintaining system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the oil from the compressor is entrained in the refrigerant and circulated through the air conditioning system. During servicing of the air conditioning system, the oil entrained refrigerant from the air conditioning system is drained into an ACS unit, where the oil is separated from the refrigerant during a recycling/purification process
Implementation Method 2
the oil is separated from the refrigerant during a recycling/purification process. The recovered, separated oil is then drained from the ACS unit into a bottle
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning service unit and method of using same provide increased accuracy in determining respective amounts of refrigerant and oil recovered during service of an air conditioning system by taking into account the quantity of dissolved refrigerant in oil recovered from the system.