Outdoor unit for refrigeration cabinet and refrigeration cabinet

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Solution Overview

Problem

In refrigeration cabinets, the limited outdoor installation space often necessitates the use of long, costly copper pipes between the outdoor and indoor units, complicating installation and potentially affecting refrigerant performance due to exposure and two-phase refrigerant issues.

Innovation Solution

The outdoor unit is designed with two installation modes: one where components are adjacent and connected through a short pipeline, and another where they are spaced apart, using a regenerative heat exchanger to manage refrigerant phase changes, and an integrated electrical cable for flexible installation and efficient refrigerant management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the outdoor unit components are installed adjacent to each other with short pipelines, then installation complexity and costs are reduced, but installation flexibility is limited when outdoor space is constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation complexity and costsVSAvoidinstallation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The outdoor unit is divided into two separate units: a first unit containing the compressor and a second unit containing the condenser. These units can be installed adjacent to each other with short pipelines when space permits, or separated by longer pipelines when outdoor installation space is constrained, thus providing installation flexibility while maintaining ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic configuration of the distance between the first unit and second unit. The pipeline length can be adjusted based on actual installation conditions, enabling the system to adapt between close-proximity installation (reducing complexity and cost) and spaced-apart installation (increasing flexibility)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If long pipelines are used to connect outdoor and indoor units, then installation flexibility is improved, but installation costs and complexity increase due to large-diameter copper pipes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidinstallation costs and complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the outdoor unit into separate first and second units, the system can use shorter pipelines when installed adjacent to each other, reducing the need for long, large-diameter copper pipes and thereby lowering installation costs and complexity while maintaining flexibility through alternative installation configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the outdoor unit components are spaced apart, then installation flexibility is improved, but refrigerant performance may deteriorate due to exposure and two-phase refrigerant issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidrefrigerant performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A regenerative heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary component between the first unit and second unit. This heat exchanger recovers heat from the refrigerant, managing phase changes and preventing two-phase refrigerant issues that could arise from spaced-apart installation, thus maintaining refrigerant performance while allowing installation flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides flexible installation options, reduces installation complexity and costs, and ensures efficient refrigerant handling by mitigating two-phase refrigerant impacts on the indoor load, enhancing overall system performance.

Implementation Method 1

the regenerative heat exchanger comprises a first pipeline and a second pipeline... the first outlet port connected to an exhaust port of the compressor... the second end of the second pipeline of the regenerative heat exchanger is connected to a suction port of the compressor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP4491972A1Outdoor unit for refrigeration cabinet and refrigeration cabinet
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 CARRIER CORP
  • EP4491972A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4491972A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4491972A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An outdoor unit for a refrigeration cabinet comprises: a first unit (1) comprising a compressor; a second unit (2) comprising a condenser; wherein, the outdoor unit is configured to be installed in a first mode or a second mode; where in the first mode, the first unit (1) and the second unit (2) are installed adjacent to each other and connected with each other through fasteners, and the first unit and the second unit are connected through a first fluid pipeline passing through an adjacent surface between the first unit and the second unit; where in the second mode, the first unit (1) and the second unit (2) are respectively installed at a first position and a second position spaced apart from each other, and the first unit and the second unit are connected through a second fluid pipeline extending between the first position and the second position. The outdoor unit and refrigeration cabinet according to the embodiments of the present invention provide more flexible installation options for outdoor units, where the outdoor units can be installed according to different on-site conditions.