Bypass Refrigerant Flow Comparison for Leak Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration apparatuses require extensive data acquisition and simulation to determine refrigerant leakage or charge deficiency, leading to increased development time and costs.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration apparatus with a bypass circuit and sensors that calculate refrigerant flow rates using refrigeration cycle and fluid theories, allowing for real-time determination of refrigerant leakage or charge deficiency without prior simulation, thereby reducing development time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If refrigerant leakage or charge deficiency is detected by calculating optimum refrigerant quantity through test or simulation, then determination accuracy is improved, but development time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the determination logic from complex simulation-based methods and implements it through a dedicated determining component that uses simplified calculation formulas. This component directly computes refrigerant leakage or charge deficiency status by processing sensor data through predetermined formulas, eliminating the need for extensive simulation tests while maintaining determination accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration apparatus performs self-diagnosis by automatically determining refrigerant leakage or charge deficiency using its own sensor data and the determining component. The system serves itself by comparing actual refrigerant quantities against expected values calculated from operational parameters, without requiring external simulation tests or manual assessment.
2Measurement precision
If refrigerant leakage or charge deficiency is detected by calculating optimum refrigerant quantity through test or simulation, then determination accuracy is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the determination logic from expensive simulation-based methods and implements it through a dedicated determining component that uses simplified calculation formulas. This component directly computes refrigerant leakage or charge deficiency status by processing sensor data through predetermined formulas, eliminating the need for extensive simulation tests while maintaining determination accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive simulation testing with a cost-effective determining component that uses simple calculation formulas based on readily available sensor data. This approach uses inexpensive computational methods rather than costly simulation software and testing infrastructure, significantly reducing manufacturing and development costs.
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
Enables precise detection of refrigerant leakage or charge deficiency with reduced man-hours and costs by calculating flow rates through the bypass circuit using refrigeration cycle and fluid theories, allowing for immediate determination and assessment of leakage or deficiency extent.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchanger configured and arranged to cause the refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant flow path and the refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant flow path to exchange heat
Implementation Method 2
The second expansion valve configured and arranged to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a refrigeration apparatus that detects refrigerant leakage or refrigerant charge deficiency while restraining costs increasing. An air conditioning system (100) is equipped with a subcooling heat exchanger (16), a second outdoor expansion valve (15), a first refrigerant flow rate computing component (55), a second refrigerant flow rate computing component (56), and a refrigerant quantity determining component (57). The subcooling heat exchanger (16) includes a first flow path (161) disposed on a refrigerant primary circuit (RC1) and a second flow path (162) disposed on a bypass circuit (RC2). The second outdoor expansion valve (15) is disposed on an upstream side of the subcooling heat exchanger (16) in the bypass circuit (RC2). The first refrigerant flow rate computing component (55) calculates, as a first refrigerant flow rate (Fr1) on the basis of refrigeration cycle theory, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass circuit (RC2). The second refrigerant flow rate computing component (56) calculates, as a second refrigerant flow rate (Fr2) on the basis of fluid theory, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass circuit (RC2). The refrigerant quantity determining component (57) determines refrigerant leakage or refrigerant charge deficiency on the basis of a result of a comparison of the first refrigerant flow rate (Fr1) and the second refrigerant flow rate (Fr2).