Bypass Refrigerant Flow Comparison for Leakage 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 that calculates refrigerant flow rates using refrigeration cycle and fluid theories, allowing for real-time determination of leakage or charge deficiency without prior simulation, incorporating sensors to measure enthalpy and pressure for precise calculations.
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 detection accuracy is improved, but development time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores refrigerant flow rate characteristics under various operating conditions during the design phase, creating a lookup table that enables rapid detection without requiring time-consuming tests or simulations during development or operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual model of refrigerant flow characteristics through theoretical calculations and stores it as reference data, allowing the system to compare actual measurements against this pre-established model without requiring physical tests for each detection scenario
2Measurement precision
If refrigerant leakage or charge deficiency is detected by calculating optimum refrigerant quantity through test or simulation, then detection accuracy is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive physical tests and simulations with theoretical calculations and pre-computed reference data, significantly reducing development costs while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection approach from requiring extensive test data acquisition to using theoretically calculated reference values, transforming the problem from one requiring expensive empirical data to one solvable through computational methods
3Measurement precision
If refrigerant flow rate is calculated using refrigeration cycle theory and fluid theory, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates refrigerant flow rates under various operating conditions using refrigeration cycle theory and fluid theory, storing these as reference values in a lookup table, thereby moving the computational complexity from the detection phase to the design phase
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex real-time theoretical calculations with pre-computed reference data lookup and comparison, substituting the mechanical computation process with a simpler data retrieval and comparison operation
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 efficient and precise detection of refrigerant leakage or charge deficiency, reducing development time and costs by eliminating the need for extensive data acquisition and simulation.
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
AI summary
A refrigeration apparatus includes a primary circuit with a first expansion valve, a bypass circuit extending between branching and joining portions on the refrigerant primary circuit, a heat exchanger, a second expansion valve disposed upstream of the heat exchanger in the bypass circuit, first and second refrigerant flow rate calculating components, and a determining component. The primary circuit also includes a compressor, radiator, and evaporator. The heat exchanger includes first and second refrigerant flow paths disposed on the primary and bypass circuits, respectively, to cause heat between refrigerant flowing in the paths. The first and second refrigerant flow rate calculating components calculate first and second flow rates of refrigerant flowing through the bypass circuit based on refrigeration cycle theory and fluid theory, respectively. The determining component determines whether there is refrigerant leakage or refrigerant charge deficiency based on comparison of the first and second refrigerant flow rates.