Chilling Unit Machine Room Layout with Inclined Air Heat Exchangers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing chilling units have limited space inside the housing due to equal lateral widths of the upper and lower housings, restricting the layout of devices forming the refrigerant circuit and routing of pipes.
Innovation Solution
A chilling unit with a machine room unit of an elongated box shape and inclined air heat exchangers, allowing for increased space by having a greater top width than the heat-exchanger bottom width, enabling more freedom in the layout of devices and pipe routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the lateral width of the lower housing is made equal to the lateral width of the bottom face of the upper housing, then the structural stability is improved, but the available space inside the housing for accommodating devices and routing pipes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lower housing is designed with a larger lateral width than the upper housing, creating an asymmetric structure. This allows the lower housing to extend beyond the upper housing in the lateral direction, providing additional space for accommodating the compressor and routing pipes without compromising the overall structural stability of the chilling unit.
2Volume of moving object
If the lateral width of the lower housing is reduced to increase internal space, then the available space for device layout is improved, but the structural support and stability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric design where the lower housing is wider than the upper housing allows the structure to maintain stability through the broader base, while simultaneously providing the necessary internal space for device accommodation and pipe routing.
3Volume of moving object
If the air heat exchangers are made vertical, then the space utilization is improved, but the layout flexibility and maintenance accessibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air heat exchangers are arranged at an inclination angle rather than vertically or horizontally, utilizing the inclined dimension to optimize space utilization while maintaining accessibility for maintenance and flexibility in layout design.
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 provides sufficient space to accommodate the compressor and other devices, enhancing the layout flexibility and maintenance accessibility of the refrigerant circuit and pipe routing within the chilling unit.
Implementation Method 1
air heat exchangers forming a refrigerant circuit together with the compressor and the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
air heat exchangers placed on top of the machine room unit
Data Source
AI summary
A chilling unit includes a machine room unit to accommodate a compressor and a heat exchanger, and a plurality of air heat exchangers placed on top of the machine room unit. The air heat exchangers include a pair of air heat exchangers including two air heat exchangers opposite to each other in a lateral direction. They are inclined such that respective upper end portions of the two air heat exchangers have a spacing between each other greater than a spacing between respective lower end portions of the two air heat exchangers. In the lateral direction, the machine room unit has a top width greater than a heat-exchanger bottom width, the top width is one between side walls in a top face portion of the machine room unit, the bottom width is defined as a width between outer side faces of the respective lower end portions of the two air heat exchangers.