Multi-zone variable refrigerant flow heating/cooling unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-zone air conditioning systems are inefficient in providing simultaneous heating and cooling to individual zones without using additional heat mediums and often require extensive refrigerant and electrical infrastructure, leading to higher costs and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
A multi-zone variable refrigerant flow (VRF) unit that consolidates refrigerant piping and electrical wiring, using a mode control unit to manage refrigerant flow to evaporating coils, allowing for independent heating or cooling of zones and reducing the need for additional heat sources, while containing refrigerant within a housing to comply with safety standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional multi-zone air conditioning systems are used to provide simultaneous heating and cooling to individual zones, then heating and cooling functionality is achieved, but extensive refrigerant piping and electrical infrastructure are required, leading to higher costs and maintenance challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions (heating, cooling, refrigerant distribution) into a single integrated VRF unit with a common refrigerant chamber. Multiple evaporating coils for different zones share a common refrigerant supply, eliminating the need for separate refrigerant piping for each zone while enabling simultaneous heating and cooling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The VRF unit is designed as a universal system that can provide both heating and cooling to multiple zones simultaneously through a single device. The mode control unit manages refrigerant flow distribution to enable different zones to operate in different modes (heating/cooling) at the same time, reducing the need for zone-specific infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If zone dampers are used to mix heated and chilled air in conventional MZ systems, then independent zone temperature control is achieved, but the flow of mixed air to each zone is kept approximately constant, reducing system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical zone damper mixing system with a refrigerant-based temperature control system. Instead of mixing heated and chilled air mechanically through dampers, the system uses the mode control unit to regulate refrigerant flow to evaporating coils, providing more precise and efficient temperature control for each zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter from air flow mixing ratios (in conventional systems) to refrigerant flow rates (in VRF system). The mode control unit adjusts refrigerant flow parameters to each zone's evaporating coil based on thermal requirements, enabling more efficient and responsive temperature control compared to constant air flow mixing.
3Reliability
If refrigerant is contained within a housing to comply with safety standards, then safety compliance is improved, but access to refrigerant components for maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The VRF unit is designed with a segmented housing structure that contains refrigerant components in a controlled chamber while providing access points for maintenance. The housing is divided into sections that allow technicians to access refrigerant components without compromising the sealed containment, balancing safety requirements with maintenance needs.
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 solution enables efficient, cost-effective, and maintenance-friendly simultaneous heating and cooling of multiple zones with reduced refrigerant and electrical requirements, improving compliance with safety standards and minimizing condensate issues within the conditioned space.
Implementation Method 1
The coils may allow heat transfer between supply air from a supply fan and the refrigerant in the coils to reduce the temperature of the supply air for various zones in a cooling mode of operation
Implementation Method 2
The mode control unit may supply refrigerant from the VRF unit to two or more evaporating coils ("coils") through a thermal or thermostatic expansion valve
Data Source
AI summary
A method for air conditioning including installing an air conditioning unit at a desired location. The air conditioning unit includes a housing that has air supply inlets and exhaust air outlets. The housing encloses a mode control unit that switches a zone coil associated with a zone from a cooling mode to a heating mode by switching from a cooling medium to a heating medium flowing through the zone coil. The zone coil receives the heating or cooling medium and conditions incoming air from a supply fan to be exhausted in a zone associated with the zone coil. A variable refrigerant flow cooling/heating unit provides a cooling medium or a heating medium at varying rates to control a temperature of a zone.