Pipe unit or air conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioning systems, the installation of traps in connection pipes is often required to prevent uneven flow and refrigerant residence, especially when indoor units have different installation levels or are inclined, leading to inefficiencies and increased work time for service personnel in narrow spaces.
Innovation Solution
A pipe unit with a main pipe and branch pipes that intersect to form a trap, allowing for easy connection and formation of a trap in the connection pipe, reducing the need for complex pipe bending and installation time in narrow spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traps are provided in the connection pipe to prevent refrigerant residence and uneven flow, then refrigerant flow reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the trap function into the branch pipe structure itself by configuring the branch pipe to extend downward and then upward, creating an integrated trap portion. This eliminates the need for separate trap components while maintaining the refrigerant flow control function, thus improving reliability without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The branch pipe is designed to serve multiple functions: it distributes refrigerant to indoor units and simultaneously acts as a trap to prevent refrigerant residence. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the system while ensuring reliable refrigerant flow management.
2Reliability
If traps are installed in narrow spaces above ceilings, then refrigerant residence is prevented, but installation time and effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The trap structure is pre-formed as an integral part of the branch pipe during manufacturing, with the downward and upward extending portions already configured. This preliminary action eliminates the need for service personnel to perform complex bending and shaping operations on-site in narrow spaces, significantly reducing installation time while ensuring proper refrigerant flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The branch pipe is divided into distinct functional segments: a downward extending portion that forms the trap, an upward extending portion that connects to the indoor unit, and connection portions for joining to the connection pipe. This segmentation allows for standardized pre-fabricated components that are easy to install in confined spaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If branch pipes are installed at different levels or with downward inclination, then installation flexibility is improved, but refrigerant may flow into operation-stopped indoor units causing refrigerant shortage
Solution Approach 1:
The downward extending portion of the branch pipe creates a trap that equalizes the refrigerant level across different branch pipes regardless of their installation heights or inclinations. This equipotential effect prevents refrigerant from flowing into operation-stopped indoor units by maintaining a consistent refrigerant level, thus ensuring reliable refrigerant distribution while allowing installation flexibility.
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
Facilitates improved work efficiency by simplifying the installation of traps in connection pipes, ensuring correct refrigerant flow and preventing refrigerant shortage in operating units, even in challenging installation environments.
Implementation Method 1
The second part extends in a second direction. The second direction intersects the first direction. The first direction is a horizontal direction in the installed state. The second direction is a vertical direction in the installed state.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe unit allows refrigerant to divide or merge and includes: branch pipes; and a main pipe. The pipe unit is connected to a connection pipe, and the pipe unit and the connection pipe together form a liquid-side refrigerant channel between an outdoor unit and indoor units. The main pipe communicates with each of the branch pipes, forms a channel through which the refrigerant flows to or from each of the branch pipes, and is disposed, in an installed state, on an outdoor unit side of the branch pipes in the liquid-side refrigerant channel. The main pipe includes a first part that extends in a first direction, at least one of the branch pipes includes a second part that extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the first direction is horizontal in the installed state, and the second direction is vertical in the installed state.