Refrigerant Bypass Air Conditioning With Liquid Pump Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air conditioners for communication equipment rooms consume high power due to continuous operation of the compressor, and existing methods to utilize outdoor cold sources for energy-saving either increase fan power consumption, fail to control humidity, or compromise indoor cleanliness.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner design incorporating an evaporator, condenser, compressor, liquid pump, and valves to bypass refrigerant flow, allowing the liquid pump to operate efficiently and reducing compressor usage, while maintaining temperature and humidity control without introducing outdoor fresh air, thus minimizing energy consumption and ensuring cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the compressor operates continuously to maintain refrigeration in communication equipment rooms, then the refrigeration effect is ensured, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by switching between compressor operation and liquid pump operation. The controller alternates between compressing refrigerant vapor (compressor mode) and pumping liquid refrigerant (liquid pump mode), allowing the compressor to rest periodically while maintaining refrigeration through the liquid pump's direct liquid injection into the evaporator.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state parameter of refrigerant by using both vapor-phase (compressor) and liquid-phase (liquid pump) refrigerant circulation. The liquid pump directly pumps liquid refrigerant from the liquid accumulator to the evaporator, bypassing the vapor compression cycle, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining refrigeration effect.
2Use of energy by moving object
If outdoor cold source is used for energy-saving, then power consumption is reduced, but fan power consumption increases and indoor cleanliness cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary function of outdoor cold source utilization (cooling effect) while eliminating the harmful aspects (direct outdoor air introduction). The liquid pump system achieves cooling by circulating liquid refrigerant through the evaporator, completely avoiding the need to introduce outdoor air, thus maintaining indoor cleanliness while reducing power consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the liquid pump is used to pump liquid refrigerant directly to the evaporator, then the compressor operating period is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by having the liquid pump serve dual purposes: (1) pumping liquid refrigerant from the liquid accumulator to the evaporator during liquid pump operation mode, and (2) acting as a bypass for the refrigerant liquid during compressor operation mode. This universal application reduces the need for additional components while enabling the compressor to operate less frequently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the liquid pump function with the existing refrigerant circulation system. The liquid pump is integrated into the refrigeration cycle, combining its pumping function with the bypass function during compressor operation, thereby reducing system complexity compared to having separate independent systems for each mode.
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
Significant energy-saving by reducing power consumption, ensuring normal operation of compressor and liquid pump, and maintaining indoor cleanliness and humidity control, with the liquid pump consuming far less power than the compressor at the same flow rate.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a liquid pump, and a liquid accumulator
Implementation Method 2
exchanges heat with the warm air in the equipment room
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a liquid pump, and a liquid accumulator
Implementation Method 4
an outlet of the condenser is coupled to an inlet of the liquid accumulator
Implementation Method 5
a compressor, a liquid pump, and a liquid accumulator
Implementation Method 6
an inlet of the compressor is coupled to an outlet of the evaporator
Implementation Method 7
a liquid pump, and a liquid accumulator
Implementation Method 8
an outlet of the liquid pump is coupled to an inlet of the throttling device
Implementation Method 9
a throttling device
Implementation Method 10
an outlet of the liquid pump is coupled to an inlet of the throttling device via the second flow directional control valve element
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner is disclosed. The compressor has an entrance coupled to an exit of the evaporator via the first ON/OFF valve; and an exit coupled to an entrance of the condenser via the first flow-direction valve. The liquid pump has an entrance coupled to an exit of the liquid accumulator via the second ON/OFF valve; and an exit coupled to an entrance of the throttling device via the second flow-direction valve. An exit of the condenser is coupled to an entrance of the liquid accumulator; an exit of the throttling device is coupled to an entrance of the evaporator. The compressor's bypass pipe has an entrance coupled to an exit of the evaporator; and an exit coupled to an entrance of the condenser. The liquid pump's bypass pipe has an entrance coupled to an exit of the liquid accumulator; an exit coupled to an entrance of the throttling device.