CO2 Vehicle Air Conditioning With Work-Doing Expansion

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the thermodynamic parameters of the carbon dioxide refrigeration cycle. Specifically, it introduces a pre-cooling stage before the main compression process, where the carbon dioxide is cooled to lower temperatures before entering the compressor. This parameter modification allows the system to maintain higher coefficient of performance at high ambient temperatures while still using carbon dioxide as the refrigerant, thus resolving the contradiction between environmental compatibility and energy efficiency.

The patent applies segmentation by separating the expansion machine and main compressor into distinct functional units. Rather than integrating them into a single complex mechanism, the system uses the expansion machine to pre-cool the carbon dioxide before it enters the main compressor. This segmentation approach reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while achieving the desired thermodynamic efficiency, as each component can be manufactured and maintained independently.

The patent applies merging by combining the expansion machine's work output with the compression process. The expansion machine performs work during the expansion of carbon dioxide, and this work is used to drive the main compressor. By merging these two functions into a coupled system where the expansion machine directly powers the compressor, the overall energy efficiency improves while the device complexity is managed through functional integration rather than mechanical integration.