Apparatus using refrigerant, and method for installing apparatus using refrigerant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for air-conditioning and refrigeration units using combustible refrigerants face safety challenges during manufacturing, shipping, storage, and installation, with limited techniques to prevent fires, and existing solutions increase workload and risk of refrigerant release during installation.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus where an incombustible refrigerant is initially sealed in the refrigerant circuit of outdoor units during manufacturing, and a combustible or slightly combustible refrigerant is added during installation, ensuring safety without the need for refrigerant recovery, thus minimizing the risk of fires and workload during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an incombustible refrigerant is sealed into the refrigerant circuit during storing and conveying processes, then safety is improved by preventing fire accidents, but installation workload increases due to the need to recover the incombustible refrigerant and adds risk of releasing refrigerant into the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by sealing the incombustible refrigerant into the refrigerant circuit before shipping and storage, so that safety measures are already in place before the apparatus is installed. This preliminary preparation prevents fire accidents during transport while the installation process simply requires adding the combustible refrigerant later, avoiding the need to recover the incombustible refrigerant.
2Reliability
If the incombustible refrigerant is recovered during installation, then safety is maintained, but the risk of releasing refrigerant into the atmosphere increases and global warming potential is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the recovering principle by retaining the incombustible refrigerant already sealed in the refrigerant circuit and only adding the required amount of combustible refrigerant. This approach recovers the benefit of having safety refrigerant in place while avoiding the need to discard and release it into the atmosphere, thus reducing global warming potential.
3Productivity
If a combustible refrigerant is sealed into the refrigerant circuit during storing or conveying process, then the apparatus is ready for operation, but safety deteriorates due to the risk of fire accidents from refrigerant leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the refrigerant filling process into two separate stages: first sealing the incombustible refrigerant during manufacturing for safe transport, then adding the combustible refrigerant during installation at the final location. This segmentation allows the apparatus to be transported safely while still achieving full operational readiness after installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-sealing the incombustible refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit before shipping, creating a safe baseline state. The combustible refrigerant is then added as a preliminary step during installation, ensuring the apparatus is ready for operation while maintaining safety through controlled timing of refrigerant addition.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
An apparatus using refrigerant is provided. The apparatus includes, a refrigerant circuit including, a refrigerant circuit component part of an outdoor unit including a compressor (1), an outdoor heat exchanger (3), a decompressor (4), and a liquid reservoir (5), in which an incombustible refrigerant is sealed before factory shipment, and a load-side apparatus which is connected to the refrigerant circuit component part of the outdoor unit by way of extension pipes, and a refrigerant sealing connecting port which is provided in the refrigerant circuit and which seals a combustible refrigerant or a slightly combustible refrigerant, wherein, when setting the outdoor unit and the load-side apparatus at a place of use, the combustible refrigerant or the slightly combustible refrigerant is additionally sealed in the refrigerant circuit from the refrigerant sealing connecting port while the incombustible refrigerant is sealed in the refrigerant circuit component part of the outdoor unit.