Liquid receiver and condenser using the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid receiver in car air conditioners requires a long time to fill with refrigerant, leading to a narrow stable range for the degree of supercooling, as the refrigerant inflow and outflow holes are positioned far apart, causing inefficiencies in refrigerant charging and supercooling stability.
Innovation Solution
A liquid receiver design with a tubular base member, tank member, and plug configuration where the refrigerant inflow and outflow holes are positioned closer together on the base member, allowing for faster filling and a wider stable range of supercooling, featuring a female screw on the base member and a male screw on the plug for secure sealing and efficient refrigerant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the refrigerant inflow hole and outflow hole are positioned far apart in the vertical direction, then the liquid receiver can separate gas and liquid phases effectively, but the time required to fill the internal space with liquid-phase refrigerant increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement of the inflow and outflow holes from a vertical configuration to a horizontal configuration on the same base member. This dimensional change allows the holes to be positioned closer together while still maintaining effective phase separation through the liquid receiver's internal structure and refrigerant flow dynamics.
2Reliability
If the refrigerant inflow hole is positioned low in the body portion, then phase separation is improved, but the distance from the lower end to the inflow hole increases charging time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the inflow hole and outflow hole positions onto the same base member, allowing both holes to be positioned in a location that optimizes both phase separation and charging speed. This integration eliminates the need for the inflow hole to be positioned low in the body portion, thereby reducing charging time while maintaining separation effectiveness.
3Ease of manufacture
If the liquid receiver structure is simplified with fewer components, then manufacturing cost and weight are reduced, but sealing reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The base member serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, contains both the inflow and outflow holes, and incorporates the sealing interface with the cap. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining sealing reliability through the integrated design and sealing member.
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 design enables quicker refrigerant charging and a broader stable range for supercooling, enhancing stability against load fluctuations and refrigerant leakage, while allowing for weight and cost reduction through optimized component thickness and manufacturing simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
gas-liquid-mixed-phase refrigerant flowing out of the condensation section into the liquid receiver is separated into gas-phase refrigerant and liquid-phase refrigerant in the liquid receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid receiver is composed of a tubular base member having open upper and lower ends, a tubular tank member having a closed upper end and an open lower end and joined to the base member, and a plug fitted into the base member. A female screw is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the base member, and refrigerant inflow and outflow holes are formed in a portion of the base member above the female screw such that the former is located above the latter. A male screw to be screwed into the female screw is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the plug to be located below the refrigerant outflow hole. Sealing is established between a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the base member located below the female screw and a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the plug located below the male screw.