Flow Reversing Valve Pilot Pressure Control for Heat Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pump devices employing four-way reversing valves experience significant heat loss due to close proximity of high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant and low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant, leading to reduced thermal efficiency, and conventional electromagnetic three-way reversing valves suffer from flood backs, impact sounds, and high power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The use of two three-way reversing valves with a pressure regulating mechanism, where each valve part is configured as a two-way valve with a back pressure chamber and a flow regulating valve acting as a pilot, allowing for gradual pressure reduction to achieve gentle flow reversal and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a four-way reversing valve is used to achieve flow direction reversal, then the flow reversing function is provided, but heat loss increases due to close proximity of high-temperature and low-temperature refrigerants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single four-way reversing valve into two separate three-way reversing valves (first and second three-way valves). Each three-way valve handles a specific flow reversal task independently, which separates the high-temperature and low-temperature refrigerant paths. This segmentation eliminates the heat transfer problem that occurs when hot and cold refrigerants flow close together in a single four-way valve, thereby reducing heat loss while maintaining the flow reversing function.
2Speed
If electromagnetic type three-way reversing valves are used for fast reversing operation, then the reversing speed is fast, but flood backs and impact sounds occur causing system failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pressure regulating valve that operates before the main three-way reversing valve to gradually adjust the pressure differential across the refrigerant flow path. By preliminarily regulating the pressure, the system prepares for the flow reversal in a controlled manner, preventing sudden pressure changes that would cause flood backs and impact sounds. This preliminary pressure regulation action ensures that when the three-way valve switches, the refrigerant flow transitions smoothly, maintaining reliability while enabling fast reversing operation.
3Reliability
If electromagnetic valves are used for continuous current application after flow reversal, then the valve maintains its state, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pressure-regulating valve mechanism that uses the system's own refrigerant pressure differential to maintain the valve state after flow reversal. Once the pressure regulating valve adjusts the pressure balance, the pressure differential itself sustains the valve position without requiring continuous electromagnetic current. This self-service mechanism, where the refrigerant pressure maintains the valve state, eliminates the need for continuous power consumption while ensuring reliable valve state maintenance.
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 configuration effectively suppresses flood backs and impact sounds, enhances thermal efficiency by minimizing heat loss, and reduces power consumption compared to electromagnetic valves, while enabling smooth flow reversal operations in heat pump devices.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure regulating means that acts as a pilot valve for the main valve part and the sub valve part
Implementation Method 2
a valve closing spring that constantly biases the main valve member in the valve closing direction
Implementation Method 3
the amount of heat transferred (heat transfer amount) from the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant to the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant becomes greater
Data Source
AI summary
A flow reversing valve includes a reversing valve main body adapted to assume a first circulatory state where a first main valve part is in a fully-open state and a second main valve part is in a fully-closed state and a second circulatory state where the first main valve part is in a fully-closed state and the second main valve part is in a fully-open state; and a flow regulating valve adapted to regulate the pressures of the respective back pressure chambers and of the first main valve part and the second main valve part. The flow regulating valve places the reversing valve main body in the first circulatory state by gradually reducing the pressure of the back pressure chamber of the first main valve part, and in the second circulatory state by gradually reducing the pressure of the back pressure chamber of the second main valve part.