Heat Cycle Pressure Relief Using a Fragile Rupture Part
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Solution Overview
Problem
The self-decomposition of trifluoroethylene in heat cycle systems can lead to sudden pressure increases, causing large-scale damage due to its instability at high temperatures or high pressures, which existing methods attempt to mitigate by widening valves or turning off power, but these measures are inadequate in preventing apparatus breakage.
Innovation Solution
A heat cycle system design incorporating a fragile part within the circulation flow path or condenser with a pressure resistance strength lower than the surrounding components, which breaks to release pressure when self-decomposition occurs, thereby minimizing damage. This fragile part is strategically placed in areas where the pressure is highest, such as between the compressor and condenser or expansion valve, and is made from materials with lower tensile strength and smaller thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If trifluoroethylene is used as a working fluid to improve environmental performance, then ozone layer protection and global warming reduction are improved, but self-decomposition at high temperature or high pressure causes system damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful self-decomposition reaction into a beneficial pressure relief mechanism by intentionally designing a fragile part that breaks at a controlled location when decomposition occurs, transforming an uncontrolled dangerous reaction into a controlled safety feature that prevents larger system damage
Solution Approach 2:
The fragile part acts as an intermediary element between the high-pressure refrigerant circuit and the external environment. It mediates the pressure buildup from self-decomposition by breaking at a predetermined weak point, allowing controlled pressure release and preventing direct transmission of decomposition forces to critical system components
2Reliability
If countermeasures such as mixing with other components are taken to prevent self-decomposition, then safety is improved, but the working fluid composition becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the safety function from the working fluid composition itself and places it in a separate structural component (the fragile part). This allows the working fluid to maintain its simple and effective composition for environmental protection while the safety function is independently provided by the deliberately designed weak point in the system
3Reliability
If emergency measures such as completely opening control valves are taken to prevent self-decomposition, then reaction prevention is improved, but system control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning a fragile part at a predetermined location in the refrigerant circuit before any self-decomposition occurs. This eliminates the need for complex real-time control valve operations, as the safety mechanism is already in place and will automatically activate when decomposition pressure builds up, simplifying the control system
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 suppresses damage from self-decomposition reactions by allowing pressure release through the fragile part, preventing large-scale breakages and maintaining system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
trifluoroethylene is known to undergo self-decomposition with an ignition source at high temperature or under high pressure
Implementation Method 2
the fragile part is broken by a pressure generated when self-decomposition reaction of trifluoroethylene occurs in the circulation flow path to release the pressure to the outside of the circulation flow path
Data Source
AI summary
The heat cycle system of the present invention is a heat cycle system which employs a working fluid containing trifluoroethylene, comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, and further having a circulation flow path and a fragile part. The circulation flow path connects the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve and the evaporator and circulates the working fluid. The fragile part is provided in the circulation flow path or to the condenser and has a pressure resistance strength lower than the pressure resistance strength of the circulation flow path and the condenser.