Method for manufacturing heat source unit and method for manufacturing refrigeration cycle apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration systems do not effectively utilize recycled refrigerants, particularly R32, due to contamination with water, acid, or oil, which affects the quality and global warming potential of the refrigerant mix when blended with R1234yf.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to recycle R32 by removing water, acid, and oil, then mixing it with R1234yf, incorporating an acid scavenger to manage potential acid generation, and ensuring a composition analysis to achieve a refrigerant mix with a low global warming potential, such as R454C or R455A, for use in heat source units and refrigeration cycle apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If R32 is recovered and reused directly from existing facilities, then the quantity of recycled refrigerant increases, but the quality deteriorates due to contamination with water, acid, or oil
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes contaminants (water, acid, and oil) from the recovered R32 refrigerant through a recycling process. This extraction of harmful impurities allows the R32 to be reused while maintaining quality standards, resolving the contradiction between quantity of recycled refrigerant and its quality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If R32 is mixed with R1234yf to create low GWP refrigerant mix, then the global warming potential decreases, but the reliability deteriorates due to acid generation from R1234yf decomposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an acid scavenger as an intermediary substance in the refrigerant mix. This acid scavenger neutralizes the acid generated by R1234yf decomposition, allowing the low GWP benefits of the R32-R1234yf mixture to be realized while maintaining system reliability through acid control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful acid generation from R1234yf decomposition into a manageable condition by using acid scavengers that specifically target and neutralize the acid. This transforms the potential reliability issue into a controlled parameter that can be managed through the recycling and mixing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If recycling process removes water, acid, and oil from R32, then the quality of recycled refrigerant improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the recycling process into distinct functional steps: water removal, acid removal, and oil removal. Each contaminant type is addressed by a specific removal mechanism, allowing complex purification to be broken down into manageable, modular operations that can be implemented systematically.
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 enhances the quality of the refrigerant mix, reduces global warming impact, and allows for the reuse of recycled R32, contributing to more effective and environmentally friendly refrigeration systems by maintaining a low global warming potential.
Implementation Method 1
the mixing step includes a step of further mixing an acid scavenger. In the mixing step, even if R1234yf is decomposed to generate an acid, the acid scavenger can trap the acid
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for manufacturing a refrigeration cycle apparatus (1) is a method for manufacturing a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a heat source unit (2), utilization units (3a and 3b), and connection pipe (4, 5). The connection pipe (4, 5) connect the heat source unit (2) and the utilization units (3a and 3b). A method for manufacturing a refrigeration cycle apparatus (101) includes a generating step (S40) and a sealing step (S50). The generating step (S40) connects the heat source unit (2) in which a refrigerant including R1234yf has been sealed to the connection pipe (4, 5) connected to the utilization units (3a and 3b) and generates a refrigerant circuit (10). The sealing step (S50) fills the refrigerant circuit (10) with R32 recovered and recycled from an existing facility and seals a mixed refrigerant including at least R32 and R1234yf.