Outdoor Heat Exchanger Flow Layout for Cooling and Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor air conditioner heat exchangers face inefficiencies in both cooling and heating operations due to complex structures and increased manufacturing costs, with pressure losses and reduced heat exchange efficiency being significant issues.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor device incorporates a multi-stage refrigerant distribution structure with three heat exchangers connected in series during cooling and in parallel during heating, utilizing adjustable valves and distributors to optimize refrigerant flow paths and reduce pressure losses, eliminating the need for separate variable paths and valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the number of branch paths is increased and length of each path is decreased for heating operation, then pressure loss is reduced and evaporation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring separate variable paths and valves
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor heat exchanger is designed with a universal structure that can operate in both heating and cooling modes without requiring separate variable paths. The same heat exchanger structure adapts its function based on the operational mode, eliminating the need for additional valves and complex switching mechanisms while maintaining optimized refrigerant flow paths for each mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heating and cooling flow paths into a single integrated heat exchanger structure. By combining the functions of what would traditionally require separate paths and valves into one unified structure, the system reduces complexity while maintaining the ability to optimize refrigerant flow for both heating (multiple short paths) and cooling (fewer long paths) operations.
2Productivity
If the number of branch paths is decreased and length of each path is increased for cooling operation, then condensation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring separate variable paths and valves
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor heat exchanger serves as a universal component for both condensation (cooling) and evaporation (heating) processes. The structure is designed to optimize condensation efficiency during cooling operation with fewer, longer paths while maintaining evaporation efficiency during heating operation with multiple, shorter paths, all within a single fixed structure without requiring complex switching mechanisms.
3Productivity
If separate variable paths and valves are added to optimize refrigerant flow for different operations, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is designed as a universal component that maintains high heat exchange efficiency for both heating and cooling operations without requiring additional valves or complex flow control mechanisms. The optimized refrigerant flow paths are achieved through the inherent structure of the heat exchanger itself, reducing manufacturing costs while preserving thermal performance.
4Ease of operation
If complex structures with separate variable paths are implemented, then operation efficiency is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to increased manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor heat exchanger is designed as a universal structure that achieves high operation efficiency in both heating and cooling modes without requiring complex variable paths or additional control valves. The optimized refrigerant flow characteristics for different operations are built into the fundamental structure, maintaining ease of manufacture while ensuring efficient operation.
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 configuration enhances heat exchange efficiency by varying refrigerant flow paths based on operation mode, improving condensation and evaporation efficiency while reducing manufacturing costs and pressure losses.
Implementation Method 1
To improve a condensation efficiency of the refrigerant, a number of branch paths which are branched into the outdoor heat exchanger may decrease, and a length of each of the branch paths may increase. As a flow path of the refrigerant increases in length, a flow speed of the refrigerant may increase. Thus, as a condensation pressure is reduced, the condensation efficiency, that is, a rate at which the refrigerant changes into a liquid phase may be improved.
Implementation Method 2
When the air conditioner performs the heating operation, the refrigerant introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger may have a two-phase state. To reduce a pressure loss of the refrigerant, the number of branch paths which are branched into the outdoor heat exchanger may increase, and a length of each of the branch paths may decrease. Thus, when the flow path of the refrigerant decreases, and the number of branch paths increases, the pressure loss, that is, a loss in evaporation pressure may be prevented, improving the evaporation efficiency.
Implementation Method 3
When the air conditioner performs a cooling operation, an outdoor heat-exchanger provided in an outdoor unit or device may serve as a condenser, and an indoor heat-exchanger provided in an indoor unit or device may serve as an evaporator. On the other hand, when the air conditioner performs a heating operation, the indoor heat-exchanger may serve as the condenser, and the outdoor heat-exchanger may serve as the evaporator.
Data Source
AI summary
An outdoor device for an air conditioner is provided that may include a compressor, a flow switch provided at an outlet-side of the compressor to switch a flow direction of a refrigerant according to a cooling operation or a heating operation, and an outdoor heat exchanger connected to the flow switch. The outdoor heat exchanger may include first to third heat exchangers, each of which may include a refrigerant tube through which the refrigerant may flow, the first to third heat exchangers being connected to each other in parallel during a heating operation and in series during a cooling operation, a first branch that branches the refrigerant into a first distribution tube, which may be directed to the first and second heat exchangers, and a second distribution tube which may be directed to the third heat exchanger, a second branch that branches the refrigerant branched from the first branch into a first branch tube, which may be directed to the first heat exchanger and a second branch tube, which may be directed to the second heat exchanger, and a first valve provided in the first distribution tube.