Heat-Source Flow Valve Control for Water-Cooled Air Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In water-cooled air conditioning apparatuses, manually regulating the flow control valve by operators results in a lengthy process and significant variation due to differences in technical skills, leading to inefficiencies in setting the maximum and minimum opening degrees of the valve.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning apparatus with a controller that stores data for the defined maximum and minimum flow rates of the heat-source heat medium, allowing automatic regulation of the flow control valve, thereby reducing the time and variation in valve regulation across operators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual regulation of the flow control valve is performed by operators, then the valve can be adjusted according to technical expertise, but the regulation process becomes lengthy and shows significant variation between operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical regulation with an automated control system that uses a flow rate sensor to detect actual flow rate and a controller to automatically adjust the flow control valve opening degree, eliminating manual operation and achieving consistent, precise regulation without time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the flow rate sensor continuously monitors the actual flow rate of the heat-source heat medium and feeds this information back to the controller, which then automatically adjusts the flow control valve to maintain the desired flow rate within the predetermined range
2Ease of operation
If manual regulation of the flow control valve is performed by operators, then the valve can be adjusted based on operator skill, but the regulation results vary significantly between different operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical regulation with an automated control system that uses a flow rate sensor to detect actual flow rate and a controller to automatically adjust the flow control valve opening degree, eliminating manual operation and achieving consistent, precise regulation without time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-regulation by automatically detecting the actual flow rate through the flow rate sensor and adjusting the flow control valve independently, without requiring external operator intervention, thereby ensuring consistent and reliable regulation results
3Manufacturing precision
If the maximum and minimum opening degrees of the flow control valve are determined through trial operation, then the valve can be calibrated to system performance, but the calibration process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes the relationship between flow control valve opening degree and heat-source heat medium flow rate through prior experimentation or calculation, storing this data in the controller to enable direct determination of opening degrees without requiring time-consuming trial operations during installation or commissioning
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
The automatic regulation of the flow control valve by the controller significantly reduces the time required for valve adjustment and minimizes variations between operators, enhancing operational efficiency and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-source-side heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a heat-source heat medium
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, a heat medium circuit, and a controller. In the refrigerant circuit, a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion unit, and a load-side heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant pipes, and refrigerant flows. The compressor compresses the refrigerant. The heat-source-side heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a heat-source heat medium. The expansion unit expands the refrigerant. The load-side heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a load heat medium, and refrigerant flows. In the heat medium circuit, a flow control valve that regulates the flow rate of the heat-source heat medium and the heat-source-side heat exchanger are connected by a heat medium pipe, and the heat-source heat medium flows. The controller includes a storage unit that stores data indicating a defined maximum flow rate and a defined minimum flow rate of the heat-source heat medium that flows in the heat medium circuit.