Hybrid multi-air conditioning system and method for controlling a hybrid multi-air conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hybrid multi-air conditioning systems face issues such as compressor damage, reduced cooling capacity, and inefficient refrigerant flow due to condensation temperature increases and two-phase refrigerant entry, leading to cycle hunting and insufficient cooling.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a hot water supply heat exchanger that directly exchanges heat with a water tank, using electronic expansion valves to control refrigerant flow and prevent two-phase refrigerant entry, and employs a four-way valve to switch refrigerant paths for various operation modes, allowing for efficient heat exchange and refrigerant management without a separate hydro kit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a water tank and outdoor device side heat exchanger are operated by a condenser and divided into two with expansion valves installed at water tank outlet and outdoor device outlet, then hot water supply and cooling operations can be performed simultaneously, but excessive pressure loss occurs and two-phase refrigerant enters the expansion valve when the opening is too small
Solution Approach 1:
A receiver is introduced as an intermediary component between the condenser and expansion valve. The receiver stores liquid refrigerant and ensures stable refrigerant supply to the expansion valve, preventing two-phase refrigerant entry and excessive pressure loss while enabling simultaneous hot water supply and cooling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver pre-cools and pre-pressurizes the refrigerant before it reaches the expansion valve, ensuring that the refrigerant is in the correct liquid state and pressure range before expansion. This preliminary preparation prevents operational issues during simultaneous hot water supply and cooling modes
2Ease of operation
If the opening of the expansion valve is made small to control refrigerant flow, then refrigerant flow rate can be regulated, but excessive pressure loss occurs and two-phase refrigerant enters the expansion valve
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver acts as an intermediary that maintains refrigerant pressure and ensures liquid refrigerant supply to the expansion valve. This allows the expansion valve to operate with a smaller opening for precise flow control without causing excessive pressure loss or two-phase refrigerant entry, as the receiver compensates for pressure drops
3Productivity
If condensation temperature on water tank side increases, then hot water supply efficiency improves, but compressor damage occurs due to increased condensation temperature and reduced cooling capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into separate control zones for the water tank condenser and outdoor device condenser, with independent expansion valves and refrigerant flow paths. This segmentation allows the water tank side to operate at higher condensation temperatures for improved hot water supply efficiency, while the outdoor device side maintains appropriate temperatures to protect the compressor from damage
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 cooling and hot water supply efficiency, prevents compressor damage, and stabilizes the refrigeration cycle by optimizing refrigerant flow and supercooling, allowing for simultaneous operation of hot water supply and cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a hot water supply heat exchanger that exchanges heat with water accommodated in a water tank
Implementation Method 2
using electronic expansion valves to control refrigerant flow
Implementation Method 3
employs a four-way valve to switch refrigerant paths for various operation modes
Implementation Method 4
stabilizes the refrigeration cycle by optimizing refrigerant flow and supercooling
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid multi-air conditioning system and a method for controlling a hybrid multi-air conditioning system are provided. The hybrid multi-air conditioning system may include a hot water supply unit including a hot water supply heat exchanger that exchanges heat between refrigerant and water accommodated in a water tank and a first hot water supply expansion valve that blocks or allows refrigerant condensed in the hot water supply heat exchanger to flow through a first hot water supply discharge pipe; at least one indoor device installed indoors and including an indoor heat exchanger and at least one indoor expansion valve; an outdoor device connected to the at least one indoor device and the hot water supply unit through a refrigerant pipe and including an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an outdoor expansion valve; a second hot water supply discharge pipe having a first side branched from the first hot water supply discharge pipe, which connects the hot water supply heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and a second side that joins a first discharge pipe, which connects the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger; and a second hot water supply expansion valve installed on the second hot water supply discharge pipe.