Integrated Heat Medium Flow Switching for Multi-Unit Air Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning apparatus require multiple heat medium flow switching devices for each indoor unit, leading to increased space and energy consumption, as well as reduced maintenance ease due to higher device complexity.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus with a refrigerant circuit and heat medium circuit that includes a plurality of intermediate heat exchangers, where heat medium flow switching devices are integrated to share a single driving device, reducing the number of driving devices and improving space and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heat medium flow switching devices are arranged for each indoor unit, then heating or cooling can be individually selected for each indoor unit, but the number of driving devices increases leading to increased space consumption and energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple heat medium flow switching devices into a single integrated switching device that can control multiple indoor units. This consolidation reduces the number of driving devices from multiple individual drivers to one shared driver, thereby reducing the mounting space required while maintaining the capability to individually select heating or cooling for each indoor unit through the integrated device's multiple outlets or ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated heat medium flow switching device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it can direct heat medium flow to multiple different indoor units and can control both heating and cooling operations through a single device. This multi-functionality allows one driving device to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate driving devices, reducing space consumption while maintaining individual control capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heat medium flow switching devices are arranged for each indoor unit, then individual heating or cooling operation is enabled, but the number of driving devices increases leading to increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple driving functions into a single driving device that controls the integrated heat medium flow switching device, the total energy consumption is reduced. The single driving device consumes less energy than multiple separate driving devices would consume, while still enabling individual heating or cooling operation for each indoor unit through the integrated device's ability to direct flow to different outlets based on control signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The single driving device is designed with universal functionality to control multiple indoor units for both heating and cooling operations. This multi-functional design allows one driving device to perform the work of multiple driving devices, thereby reducing total energy consumption while maintaining the adaptability for individual unit control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of heat medium flow switching devices increases, then individual control for each indoor unit is achieved, but the probability of maintenance need increases reducing ease of maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heat medium flow switching devices into one integrated device, which directly reduces the number of components that require maintenance. Instead of maintaining multiple separate switching devices, only one integrated device needs to be maintained, thereby improving ease of maintenance while still providing individual control capability for each indoor unit through the integrated device's multiple control ports.
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 integrated heat medium flow switching device reduces the number of driving devices needed, enhancing energy and space savings while simplifying maintenance by allowing for shared operation and reduced component replacement frequency.
Implementation Method 1
heat source-side refrigerant is circulated between the outdoor unit and the relay unit to generate heating energy or cooling energy
Implementation Method 2
A heat exchanger arranged in the relay unit exchanges heat between the heat source-side refrigerant and the heat medium to heat or cool the heat medium
Implementation Method 3
a heat medium such as water is circulated between the relay unit and the indoor unit
Implementation Method 4
A heat exchanger arranged in the relay unit exchanges heat between the heat source-side refrigerant and the heat medium to heat or cool the heat medium
Implementation Method 5
a plurality of heat medium flow switching devices, which are provided correspondingly to each of the plurality of use-side heat exchangers, the plurality of heat medium flow switching devices to switch a passage for the heat medium by connecting the use-side heat exchangers to any one of the plurality of intermediate heat exchangers
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
For each of a plurality of use-side heat exchangers (35a to 35d), a plurality of heat medium flow switching devices (32a to 32d, 33a to 33d) respectively corresponding to the plurality of use-side heat exchangers (35a to 35d) are entirely or partially integrated, and the thus obtained integrated heat medium flow switching device (40) is driven by a single driving device 41 (41 a to 41 d).