Indoor Unit Sensor Placement for Flammable Refrigerant Leak Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning apparatuses using flammable refrigerants face challenges in rapidly detecting refrigerant leakage during operation due to dispersion by the blower airflow, which can lead to delayed detection and increased safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioning apparatus is designed with a refrigerant sensor positioned on the downwind side of the heat exchanger and blower, optimizing airflow concentration to enhance detection precision, and includes a second sensor on the bottom surface for top-blow-type structures to address leakage during operation stoppage, with a control mechanism to disperse refrigerant when detected, preventing ignition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a refrigerant sensor is provided on the outer surface of the casing to detect refrigerant leakage, then the leakage can be detected, but the detection is delayed because the flammable refrigerant is dispersed by the blower airflow during operation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the sensor on the outer surface where refrigerant disperses with airflow, the patent inverts the approach by placing the sensor inside the casing on the downwind side of the heat exchanger. This position allows the sensor to detect refrigerant leakage before the blower disperses it, thereby reducing detection time while maintaining detection precision.
2Loss of time
If the refrigerant sensor is placed inside the casing on the downwind side of the heat exchanger, then rapid detection of refrigerant leakage during operation is achieved, but the sensor may be exposed to higher concentrations of flammable refrigerant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the sensor to detect refrigerant leakage at the earliest possible moment inside the casing, before the refrigerant reaches harmful concentrations. The control unit then activates the blower to disperse the refrigerant, preventing the situation from escalating to dangerous levels.
3Reliability
If multiple refrigerant sensors are provided at different positions within the casing, then detection coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically placing sensors at specific locations within the casing where refrigerant leakage is most likely to occur and where detection is most effective. Rather than uniformly distributing sensors, the placement is optimized for the specific operational characteristics of the air conditioning apparatus, achieving high reliability without excessive complexity.
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 enables rapid and precise detection of refrigerant leaks, reducing the risk of ignition by ensuring timely dispersion of the refrigerant, thereby improving safety and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchange is carried out between the flammable refrigerant and the intake air in the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
the blower is caused to rotate while a flammable refrigerant flows to the heat exchanger during an operation, an air is taken into the casing from the intake port, a heat exchange is carried out between the flammable refrigerant and the intake air in the heat exchanger, and the heat-exchanged air is blown out from the blow-off port
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning apparatus includes a casing, a heat exchanger and a blower. In the casing, an intake port is formed and a blow-off port is formed in a top surface section. The heat exchanger and the blower are housed in the casing. The blower is caused to rotate while a flammable refrigerant flows to the heat exchanger during an operation, an intake air is taken into the casing from the intake port, a heat exchange is carried out between the flammable refrigerant and the intake air in the heat exchanger, and the heat-exchanged air is blown out from the blow-off port to an exterior of the casing. A first refrigerant sensor that detects the flammable refrigerant is disposed on a downwind side of the heat exchanger inside the casing.