Flow Rate Adjustment Valve With Dynamic Evaporation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration cycle systems face challenges in efficiently regulating refrigerant flow and evaporation pressure, leading to issues such as increased vented air temperature, reduced cooling capacity, and refrigerant leakage, especially during switching between cooling and heating modes.
Innovation Solution
A flow regulating valve that functions as both an electric evaporation pressure regulator and an expansion valve, with an inlet flow control valve and an outlet flow regulating valve connected through a connecting shaft, allowing for simultaneous adjustment of refrigerant pressure and flow rate to prevent frost formation and optimize cooling capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring type evaporation pressure regulator is used to maintain constant evaporation pressure, then frost formation is prevented, but cooling capacity is reduced when air temperature is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static spring-type pressure regulator with a dynamic electric pressure regulator that can adjust evaporation pressure in real-time based on operating conditions. The regulator uses an actuator to control valve opening degree, enabling dynamic pressure adjustment that maintains frost prevention while optimizing cooling capacity according to ambient temperature and load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from fixed spring pressure to electrically controllable valve opening degree. By varying the valve opening degree as a control parameter, the system can adjust evaporation pressure dynamically, allowing lower pressure (and thus lower temperature) operation when ambient conditions permit, thereby improving cooling capacity while maintaining frost prevention through active pressure control.
2Productivity
If refrigerant flow rate is increased to improve cooling capacity, then cooling performance improves, but evaporation pressure drops causing frost formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the electric pressure regulator continuously monitors evaporation pressure and adjusts valve opening degree accordingly. When pressure drops due to high flow rate, the regulator increases valve opening to maintain pressure above the frost point, enabling high flow rate operation without frost formation. This closed-loop feedback allows independent optimization of both cooling capacity and frost prevention.
3Measurement precision
If multiple valves are used for flow and pressure control, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the electric pressure regulator multi-functional by enabling it to perform both pressure control and flow rate control functions. The single regulator uses valve opening degree as a dual control parameter: it directly controls evaporation pressure while also regulating refrigerant flow rate to the evaporator. This eliminates the need for separate flow control and pressure control valves, reducing component count while maintaining control precision through the actuator's precise positioning 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
This solution enables efficient regulation of refrigerant flow and pressure, improving cooling capacity, reducing energy consumption, and preventing refrigerant leakage, while simplifying the system by integrating functions and reducing the number of components.
Implementation Method 1
an inlet flow control valve (19a) which is connected to an inlet side of the inside evaporator (20) and functions as an expansion valve which reduces a pressure of and expands a refrigerant which flows into the inside evaporator
Implementation Method 2
an outlet flow regulating valve (19b) which is connected to an outlet side of the inside evaporator (20) and functions as an evaporation pressure regulator which adjusts the pressure to a predetermined target pressure where no frost forms
Implementation Method 3
the inside evaporator absorbs heat from the fan air for a dehumidifying action
Implementation Method 4
the inside condenser reheats the fan air and vents it to the inside for a heating and dehumidifying action
Data Source
AI summary
A flow rate regulation valve is used for a refrigeration cycle device for air conditioning. The flow rate regulation valve is constituted by: an inlet flow rate control valve connected to the inlet side of an inside evaporator and functioning in the refrigeration cycle device as an expansion valve for depressurizing and expanding a refrigerant flowing into the inside evaporator; and an outlet flow rate adjustment valve connected to the outlet side of the inside evaporator and functioning as an evaporation pressure adjustment valve for adjusting evaporation pressure in the inside evaporator to a predetermined target pressure at which frost is not formed. The flow rate regulation valve is characterized in that, when the opening of one of the inlet flow rate control valve and the outlet flow rate adjustment valve increases, the flow rate regulation valve displaces so that the opening of the other decreases.