Refrigerating and air-conditioning device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigeration and air-conditioning apparatuses face difficulties in accurately calculating the inner volume of refrigerant extension piping, requiring special operations and significant work, which complicates the calculation of the total refrigerant amount and detection of refrigerant leakage.

Innovation Solution

A method that calculates the inner volume of refrigerant extension piping using operation data during normal operation, eliminating the need for special operations and allowing for accurate calculation of the total refrigerant amount and detection of leaks in both new and existing systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a special extension piping inner volume determining operation is executed to calculate the inner volume of refrigerant extension piping, then the calculation accuracy of refrigerant amount is improved, but the operation complexity and work required increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinner volume calculation accuracyVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of the extension piping inner volume during the initial installation phase by executing a determining operation that establishes the inner volume value to be stored in memory. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated special operations during normal operation, reducing subsequent operational complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own normal operation data (running time, power consumption, refrigerant circulation amount) to automatically calculate and determine the extension piping inner volume without requiring external measurement tools or special manual operations. The refrigeration and air-conditioning apparatus serves itself to obtain the necessary measurement data during regular operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If a special extension piping inner volume determining operation is executed during installation, then the refrigerant amount calculation becomes accurate, but the installation time and work required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant amount calculation accuracyVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the inner volume determination as a preliminary setup step during installation, storing the determined value in memory for future use. This one-time preliminary action during installation eliminates the need for repeated special operations later, making the initial time investment worthwhile by enabling accurate refrigerant amount calculation without recurring time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system determines the extension piping inner volume during normal operation phases (cooling or heating operation) rather than requiring a separate special operation. By utilizing continuous normal operation data (running time, power consumption, refrigerant circulation), the system integrates the measurement process into regular operations, reducing additional installation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If operation data is collected during normal operation to calculate inner volume, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of measurement may be compromised due to varying operating conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidmeasurement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects and switches between cooling operation data and heating operation data based on the current operating mode. The control unit determines which type of operation data to use for calculating the extension piping inner volume, adapting the measurement approach to the dynamic operating conditions while maintaining measurement reliability through context-appropriate data selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters used for calculation based on operating conditions - using different data sets (cooling vs. heating operation data) and different calculation approaches depending on the current mode. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain measurement reliability across varying operating conditions while keeping operations simple and integrated into normal system function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 accurate calculation of the inner volume of refrigerant extension piping and detection of refrigerant leakage without additional work, improving the reliability and efficiency of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems by using operation data from normal operating conditions.

Implementation Method 1

calculating the change in amount of refrigerant in the two operating state other than the refrigerant in the refrigerant extension piping, and by dividing the amount of change by amount of density change in the refrigerant extension piping

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDensity change:

Data Source

PatentEP2472203B1Refrigerating and air-conditioning device
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP2472203B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2472203B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2472203B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

When an operating state indicated by a set of operation data measured during normal operation becomes a state satisfying an operation data obtaining condition, the set of operation data at the time is obtained as a set of operation data for initial learning, and an inner volume of a refrigerant extension piping is calculated based on the obtained set of operation data for initial learning. A total amount of refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit 10 is calculated based on the calculated inner volume of the refrigerant extension piping and the current set of operation data, and the calculated total refrigerant is compared with a reference amount of refrigerant to determine a presence or absence of refrigerant leakage.