Electric Valve Initialization Feedback to Reduce Control Start Delay

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Solution Overview

Problem

In refrigeration cycle systems, the initialization process of electric valves controlled by stepping motors leads to a start delay due to the lack of feedback on the valve's absolute opening degree, causing the system to wait for the completion of the initialization process, which disrupts the control of the refrigerant flow rate.

Innovation Solution

An electric valve control device that outputs a signal indicating the end or interruption of the initialization operation, allowing the system control device to check the status and initiate the valve opening degree control immediately after the initialization is complete or interrupted, thereby reducing the waiting period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an initialization process is performed to position the valve body, then the valve opening degree control can be started, but a start delay occurs due to the lack of feedback on the valve's absolute opening degree

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve positioning accuracyVSAvoidinitialization waiting time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by having the electric valve control device output a signal indicating the end or interruption of initialization operation. This allows the system control device to detect when initialization is complete and immediately start valve opening degree control, eliminating the need to wait for a predetermined time period and thus resolving the start delay problem while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the system waits for the completion of the initialization process, then the valve can be properly positioned, but the refrigerant flow rate control is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve opening degree control precisionVSAvoidrefrigerant flow adjustment speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback mechanism allows the system control device to receive real-time status information about the initialization process. When the signal indicates initialization is complete or interrupted, the system immediately transitions to valve opening degree control, maintaining control precision while enabling continuous refrigerant flow adjustment without unnecessary waiting periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on the initialization status. Instead of following a fixed sequence with predetermined waiting periods, the system transitions from initialization to control mode as soon as the feedback signal indicates readiness, optimizing both precision and responsiveness of refrigerant flow control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3299748B1Electric valve control device and electric valve device including the same
Publication Date: 2020.09.30 FUJIKOKI CORP
  • EP3299748B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3299748B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3299748B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

[Object] An electric valve control device capable of preventing a start delay of an electric valve control (an opening degree control) by shortening a waiting period of a system control device and an electric valve device including the same are provided. [Solving Means] An electric valve control device 11 outputs a signal indicating an end or an interruption of an initialization operation to an air conditioner ECU 16 after the initialization operation of the electric valve 9 ends or is interrupted.