Method for fabricating a pipe unit and a method for installing an air conditioning device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioner installation processes require extensive on-site piping and heat insulation work, necessitating many skilled workers and long working hours, with a high risk of fire accidents and increased costs due to the need for numerous fittings and site-based brazing.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerant circuit is partially unitized by fixing liquid and gas pipes together with a heat insulator, allowing for factory-based fabrication and assembly, reducing on-site work and eliminating on-site brazing, thus simplifying the installation process and enhancing safety and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pipe connection and heat insulation work are performed on site, then the refrigerant circuit can be installed in the building, but the installation process takes many days and requires a great number of skilled workers
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid pipe and gas pipe are fixed together to form a single-piece pipe body before installation. The heat insulator is attached to the pipe body in the factory before shipment, performing heat insulation work in advance rather than on-site during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid pipe and gas pipe are merged into a single-piece pipe body through fixed connection. The pipe body and heat insulator are combined into an integrated assembly that is installed as one unit, reducing the number of separate installation steps.
2Reliability
If on-site brazing and pipe connection work are performed, then the refrigerant circuit can be assembled, but the risk of fire accidents increases and costs increase due to numerous fittings
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid pipe and gas pipe are fixed together in the factory before installation, performing the connection work in advance in a controlled environment rather than on-site, thereby eliminating on-site brazing operations and reducing fire accident risk.
3Manufacturing precision
If heat insulation work is performed on site, then the pipe body can be insulated, but the accuracy of heat insulation decreases and moisture condensation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulator is attached to the pipe body in the factory before installation, performing heat insulation work in advance in a controlled environment, ensuring accurate and reliable insulation that prevents moisture condensation.
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 approach significantly reduces installation time, minimizes the risk of fire accidents, and lowers costs by reducing the need for fittings and improving heat insulation accuracy, while preventing moisture condensation through reliable factory-based assembly and testing.
Implementation Method 1
a heat insulator (54) covering an outer periphery of the pipe body (53)
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe unit is provided for a refrigerant circuit which performs a vapor compression refrigeration cycle by circulating a refrigerant. The pipe unit includes a pipe body having a liquid pipe through which a liquid refrigerant for the refrigerant circuit flows and a gas pipe through which a gaseous refrigerant for the refrigerant circuit flows; and a heat insulator covering each of the liquid pipe and the gas pipe separately. The liquid pipe and the gas pipe, each of which is covered with the heat insulator, are fixed together to form a single piece. Such partial unitization of the refrigerant circuit allows for reduction in the number of days required for installation of an air conditioner.