Compressor Speed Boost for Rapid Cooling in Small-Room Air Conditioners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioners experience slow temperature adjustments during powerful operation, resulting in inadequate quick cooling and heating performance due to limited capacity distribution among indoor units.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioner design where a low-capacity indoor unit can operate at a higher capacity than normal, with the compressor running at a speed greater than the maximum during powerful operation, and includes a preheating capability for the outdoor unit to prevent oil issues, allowing the low-capacity unit to prioritize capacity over others for rapid temperature changes in small spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the low-capacity indoor unit operates in normal mode with capacity determined based on target set temperature and indoor temperature, then the system maintains stable operation, but the quick cooling and heating performance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequick cooling and heating performanceVSAvoidcompressor rotational speed
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the compressor's rotational speed based on operational mode. In powerful operation mode, the compressor rotational speed is increased beyond the maximum speed of normal operation, enabling the low-capacity indoor unit to achieve rapid cooling and heating performance when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If the compressor is operated at higher rotational speed for powerful operation, then the quick cooling and heating performance improves, but the risk of compressor running out of oil increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressor rotational speedVSAvoidcompressor oil supply
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary heating of the compressor before powerful operation begins. This preheating action ensures that the compressor oil is at the appropriate temperature and viscosity to lubricate the compressor effectively during high-speed operation, preventing oil starvation and maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3742064B1Air conditioner
Publication Date: 2022.03.16 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3742064B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3742064B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3742064B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air conditioner includes an outdoor unit (10) to which a plurality of indoor units (20A to 20C) are connectable. One of the plurality of indoor units (20A to 20C) to be connected to the outdoor unit (10) is a low-capacity indoor unit (20C) lower in capacity than the other indoor units (20A, 20B). When the low-capacity indoor unit (20C) is put into powerful operation with a capacity higher than a maximum capacity in normal operation, a compressor (1) of the outdoor unit (10) is started at a rotational speed higher than the maximum rotational speed applied at the start of the normal operation.