Emission canister system for a HVACandR system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emission canisters in HVAC&R systems become saturated quickly and inefficiently remove refrigerant, leading to decreased operational efficiency and temporary shutdowns during regeneration cycles, as they rely on time-based saturation indicators and require substantial cooldown times.
Innovation Solution
The emission canister system incorporates silica gel as the adsorbent material, equipped with dual heating elements and a baffled divider for even heat distribution, and a method to determine saturation points using temperature and weight monitoring, allowing continuous operation and improved regeneration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing emission canisters are used with time-based saturation indicators, then the system can operate without continuous monitoring, but the canisters become saturated quickly and require temporary shutdowns for regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through load cells that continuously monitor the weight of the adsorbent material and temperature sensors that track the thermal state of the canister. This real-time feedback enables the system to detect saturation points accurately and initiate regeneration only when necessary, eliminating the need for conservative time-based shutdowns and enabling continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/time-based saturation indication system with an electronic sensing system using load cells and temperature sensors. This substitution allows for precise, real-time monitoring of the adsorbent's state, enabling the system to operate continuously by detecting actual saturation conditions rather than relying on predetermined time intervals.
2Quantity of substance
If existing emission canisters remove refrigerant inefficiently, then the refrigerant recovery is poor, but the system structure remains simple
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the adsorbent material by implementing heating elements that raise the temperature of the adsorbent during regeneration. This parameter change (temperature increase) alters the adsorption characteristics of the material, enabling efficient refrigerant desorption and recovery without requiring complex mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite approach by combining the adsorbent material with heating elements and load cell sensors within the canister structure. This composite system integrates multiple functions (adsorption, heating, monitoring) into a unified device that achieves high refrigerant recovery efficiency while managing system complexity through functional integration.
3Measurement precision
If the adsorbent material is heated for regeneration, then the saturation point can be determined accurately, but additional heating components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical saturation detection methods with electronic sensing systems. Load cells electronically measure weight changes to detect saturation points, and temperature sensors monitor thermal states. This substitution achieves high measurement precision while managing device complexity through the use of standard electronic sensors rather than complex mechanical mechanisms.
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
The system effectively adsorbs a larger quantity of refrigerant, reduces cooldown times, and enables continuous operation of the vapor compression system by determining saturation points accurately, enhancing the overall efficiency and prolonging the adsorbent's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
an adsorbent material disposed on the base, where the adsorbent material is configured to adsorb a refrigerant flowing through the emission canister
Implementation Method 2
equipped with dual heating elements and a baffled divider for even heat distribution
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a purge system for a vapor compression system including an emission canister. The emission canister includes a load cell disposed in an interior of the emission canister, a base supported by the load cell, and an adsorbent material disposed on the base. The adsorbent material is configured to adsorb a refrigerant flowing through the emission canister, and the load cell is configured to monitor a weight of the adsorbent material and the refrigerant within the emission canister.