Bypass Piping for Outdoor Heat Exchanger Refrigerant Recirculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In air conditioning systems, refrigerant accumulation in the outdoor heat exchanger can lead to insufficient refrigerant circulation during heating mode, especially at low outdoor temperatures, affecting system stability and performance.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioning system includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a refrigerant heating device, and specific piping and valve configurations that allow for the bypass of compressed refrigerant to the outdoor heat exchanger, ensuring that refrigerant accumulated in the outdoor heat exchanger is re-circulated and preventing insufficient refrigerant circulation by using a refrigerant heating device to heat the refrigerant before it is transferred to the compressor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If refrigerant is evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger during heating mode, then heat exchange between refrigerant and outdoor air is achieved, but refrigerant accumulation occurs in the outdoor heat exchanger leading to insufficient refrigerant circulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidrefrigerant circulation amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the refrigerant circulation path into multiple segments by introducing a bypass pipe that creates an alternative flow path. This segmentation allows refrigerant to be divided into two streams: one continuing through the normal evaporation path and another being redirected back to the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby preventing accumulation and ensuring continuous circulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass pipe acts as an intermediary component that mediates refrigerant flow between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger. By introducing this intermediate flow path, the system can redirect compressed refrigerant back to the outdoor heat exchanger to prevent accumulation, while the four-way valve serves as another intermediary to control and switch flow directions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If refrigerant heating device is used to heat refrigerant at low outdoor temperatures, then refrigerant evaporation is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional piping and valve configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant temperatureVSAvoidpiping and valve configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass pipe and four-way valve are designed to serve multiple functions: they control refrigerant flow direction during heating mode to prevent accumulation, and also enable the refrigerant heating function by directing compressed refrigerant back to the outdoor heat exchanger. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the refrigerant circulation control function with the refrigerant heating function by integrating the bypass pipe and four-way valve into the existing system architecture. These components simultaneously manage both the prevention of refrigerant accumulation and the heating of refrigerant at low temperatures, combining multiple functions into a unified control mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration allows for stable operation of the air conditioning system by ensuring adequate refrigerant circulation and preventing refrigerant accumulation, thereby maintaining efficient heat exchange cycles even at low outdoor temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

while refrigerant is evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and outdoor air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

while the compressed refrigerant is condensed at the indoor heat exchanger, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and indoor air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

the refrigerant is compressed to a high-temperature and high-pressure state by the compressor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 4

the refrigerant is heated before the refrigerant is transferred to the compressor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9127865B2Air conditioning system including a bypass pipe

Publication Date: 2015.09.08 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

An air conditioning system includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger that discharges evaporated refrigerant, and a first pipe coupling the outdoor heat exchanger and the compressor, where the first pipe allows the outdoor heat exchanger to receive at least a portion of the compressed refrigerant from the compressor.