Heat Medium Circulation Layout for Refrigerant Leak Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heat pump systems using low GWP refrigerants like carbon dioxide face efficiency issues and high costs due to high water entry temperatures and pressures, while combustible refrigerants like propane require enhanced safety measures to prevent leaks and ensure safety, especially around control substrates.
Innovation Solution
A heat medium circulation device design with a partitioned outdoor unit where the compressor, use-side heat exchanger, and pressure reducing means are in one chamber, and the heat source-side heat exchanger and air blower are in another, using a combustible refrigerant with greater specific gravity than air, and the control substrate is housed in a power source box above the air blower, preventing refrigerant entry into the control substrate compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If combustible refrigerant (propane) is used to improve heating and cooling efficiency, then system performance is improved, but safety risk increases due to potential refrigerant leakage near control substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor unit is divided into separate chambers: a first chamber containing the compressor and refrigerant circuit components, and a second chamber containing the control substrate. This spatial segmentation prevents combustible refrigerant from reaching the control substrate, eliminating the safety hazard while maintaining system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control substrate is extracted from the refrigerant-containing chamber and placed in a separate chamber. This extraction removes the control substrate from the hazardous environment where combustible refrigerant could accumulate, thereby ensuring safety without compromising the refrigerant circuit's performance.
2Device complexity
If control substrate is placed in communication with interior machine chamber to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but safety is compromised due to potential refrigerant entry into control substrate compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into distinct chambers with a partition wall separating the refrigerant-containing first chamber from the control substrate housing second chamber. This segmentation creates physical isolation that prevents refrigerant migration while maintaining structured organization of components.
Solution Approach 2:
A partition wall acts as an intermediary barrier between the first chamber and the second chamber. This partition prevents direct communication between the chambers, blocking the path for combustible refrigerant to reach the control substrate while allowing independent operation of both systems.
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 enhances safety and durability by preventing combustible refrigerant leaks from reaching the control substrate, maintaining system efficiency, and ensuring long-term consistent performance while using environmentally friendly refrigerants.
Implementation Method 1
an air blower for emitting air wind to exchange heat with the heat source-side heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant is combustible refrigerant having specific gravity which is greater than that of air
Implementation Method 3
combustible refrigerant having specific gravity which is greater than that of air
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
Combustible refrigerant having specific gravity which is greater than that of air is used as refrigerant, a control substrate 16 is accommodated in a power source box 21, the power source box 21 is placed above an air blower 11, and an interior of the power source box 21 is not in communication with an interior machine chamber 18. According to this, it is possible to ensure safety when refrigerant leaks from a heat pump type heat medium circulation device using combustible refrigerant having low GWP, and it is possible to provide a safe heat medium circulation device having long lifetime, capable of lowering temperature of the control device.