Pilot-Operated Capacity Control Valve for High Refrigerant Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capacity control valves for variable displacement compressors in air conditioning systems face challenges in achieving high energy efficiency while maintaining a compact size, as they require larger solenoids and valve openings to increase refrigerant flow rate, leading to energy inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A capacity control valve design that includes a solenoid-driven pilot valve to reduce the driving electric power and increase the valve opening degree, featuring a CS valve body with a piston shape, a biasing member, and a pilot valve that lowers the pressure in a second space, allowing for adjustable opening and improved sealing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the solenoid, valve body, and valve opening diameter are enlarged to increase the refrigerant flow rate, then the refrigerant flow rate increases, but the energy efficiency deteriorates and the size of the capacity control valve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pilot valve as an intermediary component that uses a small solenoid to control a larger CS valve. The pilot valve creates a pressure difference that actuates the CS valve, allowing a small electromagnetic force to control a large refrigerant flow. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling high flow rate control without requiring a large solenoid, thus maintaining energy efficiency while achieving high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic principles by employing pressure differential control through the pilot valve. The small solenoid creates a pressure difference in the pilot valve, which then actuates the larger CS valve to open and close the main refrigerant flow path. This hydraulic/pneumatic amplification allows a small electromagnetic actuator to control a large flow rate, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and refrigerant flow rate.
2Productivity
If the solenoid, valve body, and valve opening diameter are enlarged to increase the refrigerant flow rate, then the refrigerant flow rate increases, but the size of the capacity control valve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pilot valve as an intermediary component that uses a small solenoid to control a larger CS valve. The pilot valve creates a pressure difference that actuates the CS valve, allowing a small electromagnetic force to control a large refrigerant flow. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling high flow rate control without requiring a large solenoid, thus maintaining energy efficiency while achieving high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the pilot valve is integrated within the larger capacity control valve assembly. The small pilot valve mechanism is contained within the valve housing, and it controls the larger CS valve that manages the main refrigerant flow. This nesting allows the compact integration of control mechanisms, achieving high flow rate control without proportionally increasing the overall valve size.
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 reduces the driving electric power of the solenoid, increases the valve opening degree, and enhances energy efficiency, enabling prompt and responsive control of refrigerant flow rate while maintaining a compact configuration.
Implementation Method 1
a pilot valve to be driven by the solenoid
Implementation Method 2
a CS valve formed of a CS valve body that partitions an inside of the valve housing into a first space and a second space and moves according to the suction pressure of the suction fluid and the control pressure of the control fluid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a capacity control valve having excellent energy efficiency and a large capacity. The capacity control valve includes valve housings 10 and 11 to which a suction fluid of a suction pressure Ps and a control fluid of a control pressure Pc are supplied; a solenoid 80; a CS valve 50 formed of a CS valve body 51 that partitions an inside of the valve housings 10 and 11 into a first space 15 and a second space 16 and moves according to the suction pressure Ps of the suction fluid and the control pressure Pc of the control fluid, and a CS valve seat 10a with which the CS valve body 51 is configured for coming into contact; a biasing member 54 that biases the CS valve body 51 in a valve closing direction of the CS valve 50; and a pilot valve 52 formed of a pilot valve body 53 to be driven by the solenoid 80 and a pilot valve seat 11a with which the pilot valve body 53 is configured for coming into contact. The control fluid flows into the first space 15, the control fluid flows into the second space 16 via an orifice 51c, and a fluid of the second space 16 is dischargeable to an outside by the pilot valve 52.