Heat Pump Outdoor Unit Venting for Downward Refrigerant Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump systems face challenges in efficiently evacuating refrigerant gas from the outdoor unit, as the gas tends to sink and can flow back into the gas-liquid separator or accumulate inside the unit, posing risks of explosion.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor unit incorporates an air purge valve connected to an air discharge path that directs refrigerant gas downward from the air purge valve to an opening in the housing, taking advantage of the refrigerant's density to ensure safe and controlled evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the air discharge path is arranged horizontally or slightly inclined towards the outlet, then the path between the gas-liquid separator and the refrigerant outlet is direct, but the refrigerant flows back into the gas-liquid separator and accumulates between the outlet and the separator
Solution Approach 1:
The air discharge path is inverted from a horizontal or upward inclination to a downward inclination. The path extends downward from the discharge port of the air purge valve to the opening of the housing, utilizing gravity to prevent refrigerant from flowing back into the gas-liquid separator while maintaining efficient evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation parameter of the air discharge path is changed from horizontal/slightly inclined to downward inclined. This parameter change exploits the density difference between refrigerant and air, allowing the heavier refrigerant to flow downward and exit through the opening without accumulating or flowing back.
2Productivity
If the refrigerant outlet is disposed above the ventilation element near the center of the unit, then the path for refrigerant evacuation is shortened, but the refrigerant being heavier than air causes it to sink and accumulate inside the housing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of disposing the refrigerant outlet at the top center and relying on upward flow, the invention inverts the approach by having the air discharge path extend downward from the discharge port to the housing opening. This inversion uses gravity to assist refrigerant evacuation and prevents accumulation inside the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful property of refrigerant being heavier than air (which causes it to sink) is converted into a benefit. The downward-oriented air discharge path exploits this density difference to guide the refrigerant naturally downward toward the opening, facilitating efficient evacuation without requiring additional energy input.
3Reliability
If the air purge valve is connected to an opening in the housing, then the refrigerant can be expelled from the outdoor unit, but the refrigerant may pool inside the housing before evacuation
Solution Approach 1:
The air discharge path is pre-configured to extend downward from the discharge port to the housing opening. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when refrigerant is purged, it immediately follows the downward path toward the opening, preventing it from pooling inside the housing in the first place.
Solution Approach 2:
The density characteristic of refrigerant being heavier than air is converted into a beneficial force. The downward-oriented discharge path harnesses gravity to drive the refrigerant toward the opening, preventing accumulation and eliminating the explosion hazard associated with refrigerant pooling inside the housing.
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 solution effectively prevents refrigerant accumulation inside the unit, reduces the risk of explosion, and ensures safe and controlled evacuation of leaked refrigerant, enhancing the safety and performance of the heat pump system.
Implementation Method 1
The air discharge path is arranged so that it faces downward from the discharge port of the air purge valve to the opening of the housing. Such arrangement advantageously permits taking advantage of the density of the refrigerant which, being denser than air, will drift down and leave the outdoor unit without the risk of this refrigerant floating back up and inside of said unit.
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant gas evacuated from the heat exchanger via the air purge valve does not pool inside said housing where it could build up to a concentration which would propitiate an explosion. Said refrigerant is instead, and very advantageously, conveyed and expelled from the interior of the outdoor unit by means of discharge path.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention concerns an outdoor unit containing at least part of a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium circuit in thermal communication with each other by means of heat exchanger. The heat medium circuit is advantageously provided with an air purge valve in order to discharge any refrigerant which may leak into the heat medium circuit. The safety and performance of the outdoor unit according to the invention is further, and greatly, enhanced by a discharge path directed towards the outside of the housing of the outdoor unit following a substantially downwards path from an air purge valve disposed to the heat medium circuit. This advantageously permits take advantage of the density of the refrigerant, which being denser than air, will naturally flow downwards and away from the outdoor unit.