Heat Medium Relay Layout for Low-Leakage Building Air Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning apparatuses for buildings face issues such as refrigerant leakage risks, high energy consumption due to long circulation paths, complex and costly installations, and inefficient energy use, particularly in systems with multiple indoor units and extensive piping configurations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed air-conditioning apparatus features a refrigerant circuit with a heat medium relay unit and heat medium regulating units that shorten the circulation path of the heat medium, reducing the number of pipings and enhancing safety and energy efficiency, while allowing for flexible operation modes and ease of installation by utilizing existing chiller piping configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the refrigerant is circulated to indoor units, then heating or cooling can be performed, but refrigerant leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat medium (water or antifreeze solution) as an intermediary substance that carries thermal energy between the outdoor heat source unit and indoor units. This heat medium circulates through dedicated piping systems, allowing heat transfer without requiring refrigerant circulation to indoor units, thereby eliminating refrigerant leakage risks while maintaining heating and cooling functionality
2Ease of operation
If the circulation path of heat medium is made long to reach indoor units, then heating or cooling can be provided, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the building into multiple zones with separate indoor units, each equipped with its own heat medium circulation system. This segmentation allows each indoor unit to independently control heat medium circulation, reducing the need for long circulation paths and minimizing conveyance power consumption while still providing comprehensive heating and cooling coverage
3Adaptability or versatility
If four water pipings are arranged to allow simultaneous cooling and heating, then operational flexibility is improved, but construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the heat medium piping system with multi-functionality, where the same piping infrastructure can accommodate both cooling and heating operations. By configuring the system with strategic piping arrangements and control mechanisms, the patent enables dual operational modes without requiring four separate piping systems, thus reducing construction complexity while maintaining operational flexibility
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 reduces energy consumption, enhances safety by minimizing refrigerant exposure, simplifies installation, and improves construction ease by reducing piping complexity, thereby achieving energy savings and practicality in building air-conditioning systems.
Implementation Method 1
The outdoor unit and the heat medium relay unit are connected with the heat exchanger related to heat medium arranged in the heat medium relay unit
Implementation Method 2
the heat medium relay unit exchanges heat between the heat source side refrigerant and the heat medium
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide an air-conditioning apparatus capable of achieving energy saving. In an air-conditioning apparatus 100, a first housing (an outdoor unit 1) that accommodates a compressor 10 and a heat source side heat exchanger 12; a second housing (a heat medium relay unit 3) that accommodates a heat exchanger related to heat medium 15, an expansion device 16, and a pump 21; a third housing (a heat medium regulating unit 14) that accommodates a first heat medium flow switching device 22, a second heat medium flow switching device 23, and a heat medium flow control device 25; and a fourth housing (indoor unit 2) that accommodates a use side heat exchanger 26 have separately different casings.