Receiver Bypass Control for Air Conditioning Cycle Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air-conditioning apparatus experiences a decrease in refrigeration cycle efficiency due to gas refrigerant accumulation in the receiver, leading to increased flow rate and pressure loss in the evaporator, and reduced heat exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus with a refrigeration cycle configuration that includes a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator connected by refrigerant pipes, featuring a suction pipe, a receiver, a first bypass pipe, a flow control valve, and a heat recovery portion to manage refrigerant flow and superheat, controlling the opening degree of the flow control valve based on refrigerant superheat levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas refrigerant flows out of the receiver through the downstream pipe, then refrigerant circulation is maintained, but gas refrigerant accumulates in the receiver causing decreased refrigeration cycle efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the refrigerant flow path by introducing a bypass pipe that creates an alternative route for gas refrigerant. The bypass pipe connects the upstream side of the receiver to the downstream side, separating gas refrigerant removal from the main liquid refrigerant flow path. This segmentation allows independent control of gas refrigerant accumulation without affecting liquid refrigerant supply to the evaporator.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass pipe acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the receiver and the suction side of the compressor. It provides a dedicated pathway for gas refrigerant to be removed from the receiver and discharged to the suction side, preventing gas accumulation in the receiver while maintaining proper refrigerant circulation through the evaporator.
2Stress or pressure
If gas refrigerant accumulates in the receiver, then refrigerant circulation continues, but pressure loss in the evaporator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass pipe segments the refrigerant flow to create a separate gas removal pathway. This segmentation ensures that gas refrigerant is removed before it can increase pressure loss in the evaporator, while liquid refrigerant continues to flow normally through the evaporator without additional pressure loss.
3Productivity
If gas refrigerant flows into the evaporator, then refrigerant flow rate increases, but heat exchange efficiency in the evaporator decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass pipe segments the refrigerant phases by providing a separate pathway for gas refrigerant removal. This segmentation prevents gas refrigerant from mixing with liquid refrigerant in the evaporator, ensuring that only liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator through the expansion valve, thereby maintaining optimal heat exchange efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass pipe serves as an intermediary that intercepts gas refrigerant before it can reach the evaporator. By removing gas refrigerant through the bypass pipe and discharging it to the suction side, the system ensures that the evaporator receives primarily liquid refrigerant, maintaining efficient heat exchange.
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 effectively controls the decrease in refrigeration cycle efficiency by managing gas refrigerant accumulation, reducing pressure loss, and enhancing heat exchange efficiency in the evaporator.
Implementation Method 1
a heat recovery portion disposed downstream of a portion of the suction pipe connected to the first bypass pipe, and configured to exchange heat between refrigerant flowing into the suction pipe from the evaporator and the first bypass pipe and refrigerant in the receiver
Data Source
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AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide an air-conditioning apparatus that can control a decrease in efficiency of a refrigeration cycle. The air-conditioning apparatus includes a suction pipe having one end connected to a suction side of a compressor and an other end connected to an evaporator, a receiver connected to a refrigerant pipe connecting the evaporator and a condenser to each other, a first bypass pipe having one end connected to the receiver and an other end connected to the suction pipe and configured to supply refrigerant from the receiver to the suction pipe, a flow control valve provided to the first bypass pipe, a heat recovery portion disposed downstream of a portion of the suction pipe connected to the first bypass pipe and configured to exchange heat between refrigerant flowing into the suction pipe from the evaporator and the first bypass pipe and refrigerant in the receiver, and a control device configured to control an opening degree of the flow control valve based on a degree of superheat of refrigerant in the heat recovery portion.