Dual Refrigerant Circuit Control Using Segmented Controller Boards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration apparatuses with dual refrigeration cycles require large controllers to manage multiple sensors and components, leading to increased size and cost due to the need for numerous input and output terminals.
Innovation Solution
The refrigeration apparatus features separate controller boards for each refrigerant circuit, connected via a transmission line, allowing for shared temperature and pressure information to adjust compressor, expansion valve, and fan operations, reducing the number of terminals and components needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If one controller manages both high temperature side and low temperature side refrigerant circuits, then control functions are integrated, but the controller size and number of terminals increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is divided into two independent controller boards: a first controller board for controlling the high temperature side refrigerant circuit, and a second controller board for controlling the low temperature side refrigerant circuit. Each controller board manages only its dedicated circuit, reducing the number of terminals and complexity on each individual board while maintaining overall system control functionality.
2Device complexity
If separate controller boards are used for each refrigerant circuit, then controller size is reduced, but system integration and coordination become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second controller boards are connected to each other, enabling them to exchange control signals and operational status information. This feedback mechanism allows the distributed controller system to coordinate operations between the high temperature side and low temperature side refrigerant circuits, achieving system-level integration without requiring a single large centralized controller.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigeration apparatus 100 includes a high temperature side refrigerant circuit controller board 24 and a low temperature side refrigerant circuit controller board 26, which are implemented using identical boards and are connected to each other by a transmission line 36.