Refrigerant Distributor Bypass Layout for Low-Pressure-Loss HVAC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems face installation complexity and reliability issues due to numerous welding points and pressure loss during simultaneous heating and cooling operations, which affect performance.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioning system incorporates a gas/liquid separation unit and a bypass valve system, allowing for separate connections between the outdoor unit and distributor, and adjustable bypassing of refrigerant to reduce pressure loss and improve reliability, with a controller adjusting the bypass valve based on discharge temperature or overheating degree.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the outdoor device and distributors are connected through three tubes (low-pressure gas tube, liquid tube, and high-pressure gas tube), then the refrigerant distribution function is achieved, but the installation becomes complicated and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the refrigerant distribution system into separate functional components: an outdoor device, multiple distributors, and indoor devices. Each distributor is independently connected to the outdoor device through separate tubes, allowing modular installation and maintenance while maintaining reliable refrigerant distribution to multiple indoor units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces distributors as intermediary components between the outdoor device and indoor devices. These distributors act as intermediate distribution points that receive refrigerant from the outdoor device and allocate it to multiple indoor units, simplifying the overall system architecture and installation process.
2Reliability
If the number of welding portions to connect tubes and outdoor device increases, then the refrigerant distribution network is established, but installation reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into modular components (outdoor device, distributors, indoor devices) that can be installed and connected separately. This reduces the number of welding operations required at any single location and allows for easier troubleshooting and maintenance of individual segments without affecting the entire system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If refrigerant flows through multiple tubes and distributors during simultaneous heating and cooling operations, then multiple indoor devices can operate simultaneously, but pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant flow path is segmented into separate tubes for different refrigerant states (low-pressure gas, liquid, high-pressure gas) and separate paths for heating and cooling operations. This segmentation allows optimized flow paths that minimize pressure loss while enabling simultaneous operation of multiple indoor devices in different modes.
Solution Approach 2:
Different tubes are designed with specific qualities suited to their function: the low-pressure gas tube, liquid tube, and high-pressure gas tube each have optimized characteristics for their respective refrigerant states. This local optimization of tube properties reduces pressure loss in each segment while maintaining overall system versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system may include an outdoor device disposed in an outdoor space, the outdoor device including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor devices disposed in an indoor space, the plurality of indoor devices including an indoor heat exchanger, and a distributor that distributes and introduces a refrigerant into the plurality of indoor devices. The outdoor device may include an outdoor branch branched into a plurality of refrigerant paths, a first outdoor tube that extends from the outdoor branch to guide the refrigerant to a first heat exchanger of the outdoor heat exchanger, a second outdoor tube that extends from the outdoor branch to guide the refrigerant to a second heat exchanger of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a bypass tube that extends from the outdoor branch to allow the refrigerant to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby guiding the refrigerant to the compressor.