Heat Pump Cycle Device with Adjustable Bypass for Stable Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pump cycle devices for vehicles face challenges in adjusting the heating capability of blown air in the inside heat exchanger due to fixed throttle mechanisms, leading to instability in operation when trying to increase the refrigerant discharging capability to enhance heating.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a target pressure difference determining unit to control the operation of the compressor and other components, allowing for adjustment of the pressure difference to optimize the work amount of the compressor and achieve proper heating, using a branching unit, heating unit, bypass passage, and bypass flow-rate adjusting unit to manage refrigerant flow and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the refrigerant discharging capability of the compressor is increased to enhance heating, then the heating capability of blown air is improved, but the operation stability of the heat pump cycle deteriorates due to fixed throttle mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the throttle mechanism adjustable rather than fixed. The bypass flow-rate adjusting unit dynamically changes the throttle opening degree based on operating conditions, allowing the system to adapt to different heating demands while maintaining stable operation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both high heating capability and operational stability through dynamic adjustment of refrigerant flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of throttle opening degree from fixed to variable. By controlling the bypass flow-rate adjusting unit to modify the throttle opening degree according to actual operating conditions, the system can optimize refrigerant flow to achieve both enhanced heating capability and maintained operation stability, directly resolving the technical contradiction.
2Productivity
If the compressor work amount is increased to improve heating performance, then the heating capability is enhanced, but the system cannot easily adjust to different heating requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass flow-rate adjusting unit provides dynamic adjustment capability that allows the system to adapt to different heating requirements. By changing the throttle opening degree in real-time based on control signals, the system can optimize compressor work amount for various heating scenarios, resolving the contradiction between enhanced heating performance and reduced adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives information about actual operating conditions and adjusts the bypass flow-rate adjusting unit accordingly to achieve target pressure difference. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to different heating requirements while maintaining optimal heating capability, resolving the contradiction between fixed performance and needed versatility.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed throttle mechanism is used to simplify the system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to adjust heating capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamically adjustable bypass flow-rate adjusting unit that replaces the fixed throttle mechanism. This adjustment mechanism allows the system to maintain relative simplicity while gaining the ability to adapt heating capability to different requirements, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and adaptability.
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 approach stabilizes the operation of the heat pump cycle during heating modes by allowing precise adjustment of the compressor work amount, ensuring effective heating of the blown air without compromising system stability.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (11) that compresses a refrigerant and discharges the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
an outside heat exchanger (15) that causes the refrigerant to evaporate
Implementation Method 3
an inside heat exchanger (13) that causes the refrigerant to condense
Data Source
AI summary
A heat pump cycle device includes a compressor, a branching unit, a heating unit, a heating-unit-side depressurizing unit, a bypass passage, a bypass flow-rate adjusting unit, a mixing unit, and a target pressure difference determining unit. The target pressure difference determining unit determines a target pressure difference as a target value of a pressure difference determined by subtracting a suctioned refrigerant pressure from a discharge refrigerant pressure. An operation of at least one of the compressor, the heating-unit-side depressurizing unit, or the bypass flow-rate adjusting unit is controlled so that the pressure difference comes close to the target pressure difference.