Multi-Chamber Flash Tank for Staged Compressor Air Replenishment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing flash tank designs lack multiple air replenishment stages and a throttle device, making it difficult to meet the requirements of multi-stage compressors and accurately control air flow.
Innovation Solution
A flash tank with multiple flash chambers and air replenishment openings, along with throttle hole plates and a throttle device, such as an electronic expansion valve, is designed to provide staged air replenishment and precise flow control, enabling efficient operation with a multi-stage compressor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single air replenishment opening is provided in the flash tank, then the structure is simple, but the requirements of multi-stage compressor and multi-stage air replenishment unit cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The flash tank is divided into multiple flash chambers (first, second, and third flash chambers) with each chamber having its own air replenishment opening. This segmentation allows the system to provide staged air replenishment to multi-stage compressors, enabling each compression stage to receive appropriate amounts of refrigerant vapor at different points in the system, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and adaptability to multi-stage compression.
2Measurement precision
If no throttle device is provided in the flash tank, then the structure is simple, but accurate control of air discharge flow from the air replenishment opening is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Throttle devices (such as electronic expansion valves or throttle valves) are introduced as intermediary components in the liquid refrigerant passage between flash chambers. These throttle devices precisely control the flow of liquid refrigerant to each flash chamber, which in turn regulates the amount of vapor generated and discharged through each air replenishment opening, achieving accurate flow control without overly complicating the overall system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple flash chambers are provided to meet multi-stage air replenishment demand, then flow control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flash tank is segmented into multiple flash chambers connected in series, with each chamber serving a specific stage of the compression process. This segmentation enables independent control of refrigerant flow to each compression stage while maintaining a relatively compact and integrated structure, balancing the need for multi-stage capability with structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each flash chamber serves multiple functions: it acts as a separation chamber for liquid-vapor refrigerant, provides an air replenishment point for the compressor, and serves as a throttling zone. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving multi-stage air replenishment capability.
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 solution allows for accurate air replenishment to multi-stage compressor chambers, improving energy efficiency and flow management within the air conditioner system.
Implementation Method 1
High-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerants coming from a condenser enter the flash chamber 1′ by the flash tank liquid inlet 11′, a small number of liquid refrigerants become air under an action of flash evaporation
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a flash tank and an air conditioner having the same. The flash tank includes a flash tank liquid inlet (11) and a flash tank liquid outlet (12). The flash tank further includes: a plurality of flash chambers, wherein the flash chambers are arranged in sequence, every two adjacent flash chambers communicating; and a plurality of air replenishment openings (14), the air replenishment openings (14) and the flash chambers corresponding one to one and communicating with each other. The flash tank liquid inlet (11) communicates with the first flash chamber of the flash chambers, and the flash tank liquid outlet (12) communicates with the last flash chamber of the flash chambers. The flash tank may meet an air replenishment demand of a multi-stage compressor.