Outdoor Heat Exchanger Bypass for Air Conditioner Mode Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners suffer from reduced heat-exchange efficiency during both cooling and heating operations due to the same number and length of branch paths in the outdoor heat exchanger, leading to compromised condensation and evaporation efficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner incorporates a bypass tube with a bent structure extending from the lower header to the second inlet/outlet tube, allowing liquid refrigerant to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger during cooling and optimizing refrigerant flow paths for both cooling and heating operations, with the bypass tube's design preventing liquid refrigerant accumulation and enhancing heat exchange performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the same number and length of branch paths are used for both cooling and heating operations, then device complexity is reduced, but heat-exchange efficiency is compromised for both operations
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor heat exchanger is designed with multiple branch paths that can serve different functions depending on operational mode. The same heat exchanger structure can optimize for either evaporation (heating) or condensation (cooling) by switching between branch paths, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate heat exchangers for each operation mode
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different branch paths based on operational mode. During heating operation, the first branch path with shorter length and more branches is activated to reduce pressure loss and improve evaporation efficiency. During cooling operation, the second branch path with longer length and fewer branches is activated to improve condensation efficiency. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize performance for each operational state
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 improves heat-exchange efficiency by adjusting refrigerant flow paths based on operation mode, reducing pressure loss and enhancing condensation and evaporation efficiencies during cooling and heating cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a bypass tube extending from the lower header to the second inlet/outlet tube to guide a discharge of a liquid refrigerant existing in the lower header
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant is heat-exchanged with outdoor air while flowing in the refrigerant tubes 2
Implementation Method 3
The refrigerant is heat-exchanged with the outdoor air while flowing in the refrigerant tubes 2
Implementation Method 4
a check valve disposed between the upper header and the lower header to guide the refrigerant to flow in one direction
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes a compressor, a flow switching part, an outdoor heat exchanger including a plurality of refrigerant tubes for guiding the refrigerant heat exchanged with outdoor air, a main expansion valve disposed at one side of the outdoor heat exchanger, a first inlet/outlet tube extending from the flow switching part to the outdoor heat exchanger, and a second inlet/outlet tube extending from the outdoor heat exchanger to the main expansion valve. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a header defining a flow space for the refrigerant, the header including an upper header and a lower header, a check valve disposed between the upper header and the lower header to guide the refrigerant to flow in one direction, and a bypass tube extending from the lower header to the second inlet/outlet tube to guide a discharge of a liquid refrigerant existing in the lower header.