Refrigerant flow passage switching device and air-conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing refrigerant flow path switching devices are too large due to their vertical configuration, which poses installation challenges in spaces with reduced vertical dimensions, such as hotel or building ceilings.
Innovation Solution
The device is designed with header pipes and valves aligned linearly, allowing for a reduction in casing length and size, with valves positioned perpendicular to the header pipes' extension direction, enabling closer placement of pipes for easier maintenance and inspection, and incorporating filters within the refrigerant tubes to minimize size and optimize space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the plurality of valves is aligned anteroposteriorly and the second header pipe and the third header pipe are disposed below the plurality of valves, then the refrigerant flow path switching device can be configured to switch among refrigerant flow paths, but the vertical length of the device becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement from a vertical stacking configuration to a horizontal linear alignment configuration. The first, second, and third header pipes are aligned linearly in a horizontal direction rather than being stacked vertically, which transforms the device's dimensional footprint from vertical to horizontal, thereby reducing vertical length while maintaining all necessary flow path switching functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric spatial arrangement where the header pipes are positioned at different heights relative to each other in the vertical direction while being aligned horizontally, creating an asymmetric three-dimensional layout that optimizes space utilization and reduces the overall vertical envelope of the device.
2Length of stationary object
If the header pipes are aligned linearly to reduce casing length, then the device size is reduced, but the valves must be repositioned perpendicular to the header pipe extension
Solution Approach 1:
The valves are repositioned from an anteroposterior alignment to a lateral arrangement perpendicular to the header pipe extension direction. This dimensional repositioning allows the valves to connect to the linearly aligned header pipes while maintaining compact spacing, thereby reducing casing length without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
3Ease of repair
If the utilization gas pipe and liquid pipe extend beyond the header pipes, then pipes can be closely disposed for easier maintenance, but the device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The utilization gas pipe and liquid pipe are extended locally beyond the header pipes only at the necessary connection points, rather than extending the entire pipe length. This localized extension provides sufficient maintenance accessibility at critical areas while minimizing the overall device footprint.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure provides a refrigerant flow path switching device including a first header pipe (55) connectable to a high and low-pressure gas connection pipe (13) of a heat source unit (110), a second header pipe (56) connectable to a sucked gas connection pipe (12), a third header pipe (57) connectable to a liquid connection pipe (11), a switching unit (70) provided correspondingly to each of a plurality of utilization units (120) and including a plurality of valves (EV1, EV2, EV3) each configured to control a refrigerant flow, and a casing (131) accommodating the first to third header pipes (55 to 57) and the switching unit (70), in which the first header pipe (55), the second header pipe (56), and the third header pipe (57) have end parts projecting outward from the casing (131) and aligned linearly in a first direction (Z), and the plurality of valves (EV1, EV2, EV3) in the switching unit (70) is disposed apart from the end part of the first header pipe (55) in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the first direction (Z) and a direction (X) in which the end part extends.