Vehicle Expansion Valve With Dual Orifices for Evaporator Flow Split
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Solution Overview
Problem
The multiple-effect evaporation system for vehicle air conditioners faces limitations in cooling efficiency due to the inability to differently control refrigerant flow rates to the two evaporators, leading to uneven load distribution and inefficiency, and existing solutions with dual expansion valves are complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A single expansion valve with first and second orifices and valves, controlled by a single shaft, branches and expands refrigerant to provide different flow rates to each evaporator part, enhancing cooling efficiency while reducing component count and manufacturing expenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single expansion valve with multiple orifices is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to differently control refrigerant flow rates to each evaporator is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single expansion valve is segmented into multiple independent orifices (first orifice and second orifice), each capable of independently controlling refrigerant flow to different evaporators. This segmentation allows differentiated flow control without requiring multiple separate expansion valves, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single expansion valve body is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating multiple orifices that can be independently controlled. This multi-functional design allows one component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components, achieving both complexity reduction and flow rate differentiation.
2Productivity
If dual expansion valves are used to control refrigerant flow rates, then cooling efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple expansion valve functions are merged into a single integrated valve body with multiple orifices. This merging reduces the total number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while still providing differentiated refrigerant flow control to multiple evaporators for improved cooling efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple expansion valves are installed, then refrigerant flow control is enhanced, but system structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion valve system is segmented at the orifice level rather than requiring separate valve bodies. Each orifice can be independently controlled, providing adaptability for different refrigerant flow rates, while the segmented design within a single valve body avoids the structural complexity of multiple separate valves.
4Device complexity
If a single shaft controls multiple valves, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Each orifice is equipped with its own valve (first valve and second valve) that can be independently positioned along the single shaft. This local quality assignment ensures that each refrigerant flow path can be precisely controlled independently, maintaining control precision while using a simplified single-shaft structure to reduce overall device 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 solution allows for improved cooling efficiency by varying refrigerant flow rates to each evaporator part, reducing the number of components and manufacturing costs, and simplifying the system structure.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure sent from the condenser 2 is rapidly expanded by a throttling action of the expansion valve 3 and sent to the evaporator 4 in a saturated vapor state of low temperature and low pressure
Implementation Method 2
the evaporator 4 heat-exchanges the refrigerant received from the expansion valve 3 with the air blown to the interior of the vehicle by a blower (not shown)
Implementation Method 3
cooling the air discharged to the interior of the vehicle in a cooled state through the latent heat of the liquid refrigerant circulating in the evaporator 4
Implementation Method 4
the compressor 1 is first operated by engine power to thereby inhale and compress refrigerant gas of low temperature and low pressure and send the refrigerant gas to the condenser 2 in a high temperature and high pressure state
Implementation Method 5
the condenser 2 heat-exchanges the refrigerant gas with the outside air to thereby condense it into liquid refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An expansion valve and an air conditioner for vehicles having the same, the expansion valve comprising a main body having an inflow channel, first and second discharge channels and first and second orifices to expand refrigerant branched from the inflow channel to the first and second discharge channels; first and second valves to control flow rates of refrigerant passing through the first and second orifices by controlling the degree of opening of the first and second orifices respectively; and a shaft slidably mounted inside the main body for varying positions of the first and second valves simultaneously so that the first and second orifices are opened or closed at the same time by the movement of the shaft.