Cascade Unit Electric Component Cooling Using Shared Air Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration cycle apparatuses face challenges in efficiently managing heat loads and heat recovery between different units, particularly in outdoor units where electric components require effective cooling and heating solutions.
Innovation Solution
A cascade unit is introduced in the refrigeration cycle apparatus, comprising a first circuit with a heat exchanger and a compressor, a second circuit with a compressor and heat exchanger, and a cascade heat exchanger for heat exchange between the two circuits, along with a fan and casing to manage air flow and accommodate electric components, allowing for simultaneous cooling and heating operations and heat recovery between units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a fan is provided to supply air flow to the outdoor heat exchanger for cooling electric components, then the cooling effect of electric components is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function for electric components with the existing air flow system used for the outdoor heat exchanger. The fan that supplies air to the heat exchanger also directs air flow to cool electric components, merging two cooling functions into a single system rather than adding a separate cooling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The outdoor unit is designed to perform multiple functions using the same components. The fan and air flow path serve dual purposes: cooling the outdoor heat exchanger and cooling electric components simultaneously, making the system more versatile without increasing complexity.
2Loss of energy
If heat recovery is implemented between outdoor units and indoor units, then energy efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cascade heat exchanger acts as an intermediary between the first circuit (outdoor unit) and the second circuit (indoor unit). It enables heat recovery by transferring heat between the heat medium in the first circuit and the refrigerant in the second circuit, facilitating energy exchange without direct connection between the units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers waste heat from the outdoor unit and uses it to preheat or precool the refrigerant in the indoor unit, allowing the system to serve itself by utilizing its own waste heat rather than requiring external energy input for heating or cooling.
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
The cascade unit enables efficient heat management and recovery, balancing heat loads across multiple utilization units, enhancing the overall performance and efficiency of the refrigeration cycle apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
The cascade heat exchanger exchanges heat between the heat medium flowing in the first circuit and the refrigerant flowing in the second circuit
Implementation Method 2
The fan generates an air flow around the electric component
Implementation Method 3
The first heat exchanger causes a heat source and the heat medium to exchange heat with each other
Implementation Method 4
a second heat exchanger that exchanges heat with indoor air
Data Source
AI summary
A cascade unit and a refrigeration cycle apparatus are capable of cooling an electric component. The cascade unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a primary-side refrigerant circuit that includes a primary-side heat exchanger and in which a primary-side refrigerant flows, a secondary-side refrigerant circuit that includes a secondary-side compressor and a utilization-side heat exchanger and in which a secondary-side refrigerant flows, and a cascade heat exchanger that causes the primary-side refrigerant and the secondary-side refrigerant to exchange heat with each other, the cascade unit including the secondary-side compressor, the cascade heat exchanger, a first electric component, a second electric component, a third electric component, and an electric component fan, and a cascade casing that accommodates the secondary-side compressor, the first electric component, and the electric component fan.