Outdoor Heat Exchanger Water Injection for Air Conditioner Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners face reduced cooling and energy efficiency due to inadequate heat exchange capacity in outdoor units, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner system with an outdoor unit equipped with an injection device that injects water into the outdoor heat exchanger based on condenser operating frequency and fan RPM information, optimizing water injection to enhance heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water injection is applied to outdoor heat exchanger, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An injection device is introduced as an intermediary component that sprays water onto the outdoor heat exchanger surface. This mediator enhances heat exchange efficiency by facilitating evaporative cooling without requiring fundamental changes to the heat exchanger structure itself, thus improving productivity while adding only a relatively simple auxiliary device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and parameters of the heat exchanger surface by introducing water spray. The water injection alters the thermal parameters of the heat exchanger surface, enabling evaporative heat transfer that significantly improves heat exchange efficiency. The controller adjusts water injection based on operational parameters to optimize the effect.
2Loss of energy
If dynamic water injection control is implemented, then energy consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives feedback signals from sensors that monitor operational parameters such as condenser temperature, ambient temperature, and humidity. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts the water injection amount and timing, ensuring optimal energy efficiency. The feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to changing conditions and minimize energy consumption without requiring overly complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The water injection system transitions from a static, fixed-rate injection to a dynamic control system that continuously adjusts injection parameters based on real-time operational conditions. The controller modulates the water injection rate according to varying load conditions, ambient temperature, and humidity, optimizing energy efficiency across different operating scenarios while maintaining manageable system complexity.
3Productivity
If water injection amount is increased, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial water injection rather than excessive injection. The controller precisely controls the water injection amount to be just sufficient for enhancing heat exchange efficiency under current operating conditions. By avoiding excessive water injection, the system prevents unnecessary energy consumption associated with pumping and evaporating excess water, while still achieving the desired heat exchange improvement through optimized partial injection.
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 improves heat exchange efficiency and reduces energy consumption by dynamically adjusting water injection according to the outdoor unit's operational state, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the air conditioner.
Implementation Method 1
The air cooling method facilitates thermal convection and radiation from the heat exchanger... The injection device which injects water to the outdoor unit... control a water injection operation of the nozzle to inject water to the outdoor heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
The outdoor unit of the air conditioner uses an air cooling method that uses wind generated from a fan to decrease a temperature of a heat exchanger of the outdoor unit. The air cooling method facilitates thermal convection and radiation from the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 3
The air cooling method facilitates thermal convection and radiation from the heat exchanger.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit comprising an outdoor heat exchanger; and an injection device configured to inject water to the outdoor unit, the injection device including a water tank configured to store water; a nozzle configured to inject the water to the outdoor heat exchanger; a communication interface; a memory storing at least one instruction; and at least one processor configured to: obtain state information of the outdoor unit, wherein the obtained state information includes at least one of condenser operating frequency information or fan revolution per minute information of the outdoor unit, and control a water injection operation of the nozzle to inject water to the outdoor heat exchanger, in accordance with the at least one of the condenser operating frequency information or the fan revolution per minute (RPM) information of the outdoor unit included in the obtained state information.