Cascade unit and refrigeration cycle apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration cycle apparatuses face challenges in efficiently managing thermal loads and heat recovery across multiple utilization units, leading to inefficiencies in cooling and heating operations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed cascade unit incorporates a cascade heat exchanger that facilitates heat exchange between a primary-side refrigerant circuit and a secondary-side refrigerant circuit, allowing for balanced thermal load management and heat recovery across multiple utilization units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat sink is provided in the electric component box and air flow is supplied to cool the electric component, then the electric component can be cooled effectively, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and air flow management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function for electric components with the existing refrigeration cycle system. The refrigerant circulating through the heat exchanger serves dual purposes: outdoor heat exchange and electric component cooling, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems and reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant circulation system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: outdoor heat exchange, indoor temperature control, and electric component cooling. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated cooling infrastructure and simplifies the overall system architecture
2Productivity
If thermal load management is implemented across multiple utilization units, then cooling and heating efficiency can be improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted. Heat generated by electric components and thermal loads from certain utilization units are recovered and utilized to offset cooling or heating demands in other units, improving overall efficiency without requiring complex external thermal management infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration cycle system automatically balances thermal loads across utilization units through its inherent heat exchange mechanisms. The system self-regulates by directing refrigerant flow to where it is most needed based on thermal conditions, reducing the need for complex external control systems
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 enhances the efficiency of cooling and heating operations by optimizing the thermal performance of the refrigeration cycle apparatus, enabling better load balancing and heat recovery.
Implementation Method 1
The cascade heat exchanger exchanges heat between the heat medium flowing through the first circuit and the refrigerant flowing through the second circuit
Implementation Method 2
The first heat exchanger causes a heat source and the heat medium to exchange heat with each other
Implementation Method 3
The second circuit includes a compressor and a second heat exchanger that exchanges heat with indoor air
Implementation Method 4
The cooling portion cools the electric component by the refrigerant flowing through the second circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A cascade unit and a refrigeration cycle apparatus are capable of cooling an electric component. A cascade unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a primary-side refrigerant circuit that includes a primary-side heat exchanger and through which a primary-side refrigerant flows, a secondary-side refrigerant circuit that includes a secondary-side compressor and a utilization-side heat exchanger and through which a secondary-side refrigerant flows, and a cascade heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the primary-side refrigerant and the secondary-side refrigerant, the cascade unit including the secondary-side compressor, the cascade heat exchanger, a first electric component that drives the secondary-side compressor, a first cooling portion that cools the first electric component with the secondary-side refrigerant flowing through the secondary-side refrigerant circuit, a cascade casing that accommodates the secondary-side compressor, the first electric component, and the first cooling portion.