Refrigerant Temperature Mode Control for Multi-Unit Air Conditioners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning apparatuses struggle to balance energy conservation and comfort, as suppressing outdoor unit capacity to conserve energy leads to longer time in reaching set room temperatures, potentially compromising user comfort.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning apparatus with a refrigerant circuit connecting multiple indoor units to an outdoor unit, featuring a capacity controlling part and a target refrigerant temperature mode setting part that allows users to prioritize either energy conservation or comfort by adjusting the evaporation or condensation temperature settings through various modes, including changing and fixing modes, fast and slow changing modes, and automatic and high-sensitivity modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the air conditioning capacity of the outdoor unit is suppressed to conserve energy by changing the target evaporation temperature or condensation temperature, then energy conservation is improved, but the time required for room temperatures to reach set temperatures increases, compromising comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the target refrigerant temperature adjustable and variable based on operating conditions. The target evaporation temperature or condensation temperature is no longer fixed but can be dynamically changed according to the selected mode (energy conservation mode or comfort mode), allowing the system to adapt its behavior to different user preferences and operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly applies parameter changes by modifying the target evaporation temperature or condensation temperature parameters. In energy conservation mode, these parameters are changed to reduce capacity and save energy. In comfort mode, they are maintained at standard values to ensure rapid cooling/heating. This parameter adjustment mechanism allows the system to switch between different operational characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If the target evaporation temperature or condensation temperature is fixed to maintain maximum capacity, then comfort is improved through faster temperature reach, but energy conservation deteriorates due to excessive capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static fixed temperature approach to a dynamic adjustable approach. The target temperature parameters can now be changed based on the selected mode, allowing the system to be comfortable when needed (fixed mode) and energy-efficient when preferred (changing mode), making the system adaptable to different user situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing the target temperature setting mechanism to serve multiple functions. The same temperature control system can operate in different modes (energy conservation and comfort) depending on user selection, making the air conditioner universally applicable to different user preferences and scenarios without requiring separate systems.
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
Enables users to customize the system to prioritize either energy conservation or comfort based on their preferences, improving energy efficiency and control trackability while maintaining comfortable room temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
evaporation temperature or the condensation temperature of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit
Implementation Method 2
evaporation temperature or the condensation temperature of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit
Implementation Method 3
the operating capacity of the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning apparatus (1) has a refrigerant circuit (10) configured as a result of plural indoor units (4a, 4b) being connected to an outdoor unit (2), and the air conditioning apparatus has a capacity controlling part (81) and a target refrigerant temperature mode setting part (83). The capacity controlling part (81) is a part that controls the air conditioning capacity of the outdoor unit (2) in such a way that the evaporation temperature or the condensation temperature of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (10) becomes a target evaporation temperature or a target condensation temperature. The target refrigerant temperature mode setting part (83) is a part for setting a target refrigerant temperature mode to either of a target refrigerant temperature changing mode that changes the target evaporation temperature or the target condensation temperature and a target refrigerant temperature fixing mode that fixes the target evaporation temperature or the target condensation temperature.