Heating assembly and air conditioner having same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioners face challenges in rapidly increasing refrigerant heat in low-temperature environments, leading to slow heating speeds and inadequate indoor temperature rise, due to system limitations and poor sealing and safety issues with electric heating methods.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioner employs an electromagnetic coil disk that heats the refrigerant through a heat transfer plate, avoiding direct contact and ensuring safety, with a simple structure for efficient production and rapid heat transfer, along with a supporting plate for easy assembly and disassembly, and additional features like insulation and temperature sensing for enhanced performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If an electric heating wire is mounted in a copper tube to directly heat the refrigerant, then the heating efficiency of the refrigerant is improved, but the sealing performance and reliability of the junction deteriorate, and electrical safety problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidsealing performance and electrical safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an electromagnetic heating assembly as an intermediary device between the power source and the refrigerant. This assembly includes an electromagnetic coil that generates a magnetic field to induce eddy currents in a conductive plate, which then heats the refrigerant indirectly. This mediator approach avoids direct electrical contact with the refrigerant while maintaining efficient heating, thus resolving the contradiction between heating efficiency and electrical safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical heating wire system with an electromagnetic field-based heating system. Instead of using resistive heating wires that require physical insertion and electrical contact, the system uses electromagnetic induction to generate heat in a conductive plate that contacts the refrigerant. This substitution eliminates the sealing and electrical safety issues while maintaining heating efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Speed

If a heating assembly with complex structure is used to rapidly heat the refrigerant, then the heating speed is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating speedVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the heating assembly into distinct functional modules: an electromagnetic coil assembly, a conductive plate, and a support structure. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simple processes, then assembled together. The modular design achieves rapid heating through coordinated operation of these simple components without requiring complex integrated structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes heating speed by adjusting parameters such as the number of turns in the electromagnetic coil, the material and thickness of the conductive plate, and the gap between components. By carefully selecting these parameters, the system achieves rapid heating with a relatively simple structure, avoiding the need for complex designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If the electromagnetic coil disk is positioned close to the heat transfer plate for efficient heat transfer, then the heat transfer effect is improved, but the risk of direct contact and safety issues increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidsafety and sealing
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a conductive plate as an intermediary between the electromagnetic coil and the refrigerant. The electromagnetic coil generates a magnetic field that induces eddy currents in the conductive plate, which then transfers heat to the refrigerant. This intermediary structure ensures that the coil never directly contacts the refrigerant, eliminating electrical safety risks while maintaining efficient heat transfer through optimized positioning and thermal contact of the plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enables rapid refrigerant heating, improving indoor heating efficiency, meeting user requirements while ensuring safety and reducing production costs, with effective heat transfer and reliable sealing.

Implementation Method 1

the electromagnetic coil disk may generate heat to heat the refrigerant in the refrigerant heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

an electromagnetic induction-heating unit are placed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInduction heating: Induction Heating

Implementation Method 3

The heat generated by the electromagnetic coil disk may be better transferred to the refrigerant through the heat transfer plate, so as to quickly increase a temperature of the refrigerant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3926244B1Heating assembly and air conditioner having same
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 GD MIDEA HEATING & VENTILATING EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3926244B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3926244B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3926244B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A heating assembly (100) includes a refrigerant heat exchanger (1), an electromagnetic heating body subassembly (2), a heat transfer plate (3) and a supporting plate (4), the refrigerant heat exchanger (1) having a refrigerant passage defined therein, the electromagnetic heating body subassembly (2) being provided on a side of the refrigerant heat exchanger (1), the electromagnetic heating body subassembly (1) including an electromagnetic coil disk (21) and being capable of heating a refrigerant in the refrigerant passage, the heat transfer plate (3) being provided between the refrigerant heat exchanger (1) and the electromagnetic heating body subassembly (2), and the supporting plate (4) being provided at another side of the refrigerant heat exchanger (1).