Refrigerant Branch Piping Layout for Stable Air Conditioner Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

The efficiency of outdoor air conditioner units is affected by manufacturing variations in header pipe posture, leading to uneven refrigerant distribution and heat exchange performance, resulting in individual differences and reduced unit efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioner design featuring a vertically disposed first piping connected to an expansion valve, a branch pipe, and multiple distributors to evenly distribute refrigerant flow to heat exchangers, minimizing the impact of manufacturing variations and ensuring consistent refrigerant distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the header pipe is disposed in different postures due to manufacturing variations, then the installation flexibility is improved, but the refrigerant distribution uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidrefrigerant distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the refrigerant from liquid to gas phase before distribution. By vaporizing the refrigerant in the vaporizing section, the distribution becomes insensitive to header pipe posture, eliminating the harmful effect of manufacturing variations while maintaining installation flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a vaporizing section as an intermediary component between the liquid refrigerant source and the distribution header. This intermediary transforms the refrigerant into gas phase, acting as a buffer that decouples the distribution uniformity from the header pipe orientation, thereby resolving the contradiction between installation flexibility and distribution precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the header pipe is vertically disposed to improve refrigerant distribution, then the refrigerant distribution uniformity is improved, but the installation flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant distribution uniformityVSAvoidinstallation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the phase parameter of the refrigerant from liquid to gas. This parameter change makes the refrigerant distribution independent of gravitational effects, allowing the header pipe to be installed in any orientation while maintaining uniform distribution, thus resolving the contradiction between distribution uniformity and installation flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the refrigerant is distributed in gas-liquid two-phase state, then the heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the distribution stability deteriorates due to gravity influence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoiddistribution stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary vaporization of the refrigerant before distribution. By completely vaporizing the refrigerant in advance in the vaporizing section, the system eliminates the instability caused by gas-liquid two-phase flow and gravity separation, ensuring stable single-phase gas distribution while maintaining heat exchange efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 stabilizes refrigerant distribution and enhances air conditioner efficiency by maintaining uniform heat exchange performance across units, reducing the influence of manufacturing variations and ensuring high-quality, consistent performance.

Implementation Method 1

an expansion valve (104) for decompressing a refrigerant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure reduction through expansion valve: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchanger (105, 106) for heat exchange between the refrigerant and air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

a plurality of distributors (107, 108) connected to the second piping for further branching the refrigerant flow path to the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow distribution:

Data Source

PatentUS10054377B2Air conditioner

Publication Date: 2018.08.21 HITACHI JOHNSON CONTROLS AIR CONDITIONING INC

AI summary

Task: To provide a high quality air conditioner with high efficiency and stability, preventing adverse effect of manufacturing variation on the refrigerant distribution.Solution: The air conditioner having an expansion valve for decompressing a refrigerant, and a heat exchanger for heat exchange between the refrigerant and air. The air conditioner includes a first linearly shaped piping that is connected to the expansion valve and vertically disposed, a branch pipe connected to the first piping for branching a refrigerant flow path into a plurality of sections, a plurality of second pipings connected to the branch pipe, and a plurality of distributors connected to the second piping for further branching the refrigerant flow path to the heat exchanger.