Refrigerant Channel Switching Layout to Prevent Pipe Stagnation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerant channel switching units face challenges in compactness and performance degradation due to refrigerant accumulation in narrow spaces, particularly when refrigerant is bypassed from the second pipe to the first pipe, leading to increased vertical length and stagnation issues.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerant channel switching unit design includes a third refrigerant pipe with a tilt part extending obliquely upwardly from the coupling portion, and a coupling portion with an inverted T shape, ensuring the second switch valve is higher than the first, preventing refrigerant accumulation by directing flow back to the first pipe, thus maintaining compactness and preventing performance degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the third refrigerant pipe downwardly extends from the coupling portion to achieve compact vertical length, then the casing vertical length is reduced, but refrigerant and oil accumulate within the third refrigerant pipe causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The third refrigerant pipe is inverted to upwardly extend from the coupling portion instead of downwardly extending. This inversion prevents refrigerant and oil accumulation by allowing gravity to drain condensate back toward the coupling portion, while still maintaining compact vertical length through the tilt part design
Solution Approach 2:
The third refrigerant pipe is configured with a tilt part that extends obliquely upwardly at a specific angle rather than vertically upward. This dimensional change optimizes both the prevention of refrigerant accumulation and the compactness of the overall unit by distributing the pipe configuration across multiple spatial dimensions
2Ease of operation
If switch valves are mounted to the first and second refrigerant pipes to enable refrigerant switching, then refrigerant flow control is achieved, but the unit requires more vertical space
Solution Approach 1:
The switch valves are mounted in a horizontal arrangement rather than vertical stacking, utilizing horizontal space for valve placement. The third refrigerant pipe connects to the bottom part of the coupling portion, allowing the valves to be positioned side-by-side, thereby maintaining ease of operation while reducing vertical length
3Productivity
If multiple refrigerant channel switching units are aggregated for convenience of construction, then installation efficiency is improved, but the overall unit size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple refrigerant channel switching units are aggregated into a single integrated unit with a common coupling portion and shared refrigerant pipes. This merging eliminates redundant components and connections, improving installation efficiency while keeping the overall unit size compact through shared infrastructure
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
This design inhibits refrigerant and oil accumulation within the third refrigerant pipe, maintaining system performance and compactness, even during deactivation of utilization units, by ensuring efficient flow and minimizing vertical and horizontal unit lengths.
Implementation Method 1
the third refrigerant pipe is configured and arranged to include a tilt part configured and arranged to extend from the bottom part toward the gas pipe side in an obliquely upwardly tilting posture
Data Source
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AI summary
A first unit (71) of a BS unit (70) includes a first part (R1), a second part (R2), a third part (R3), a coupling portion (J1), a first electric valve (Ev1) and a second electric valve (Ev2). The first electric valve (Ev1) is mounted to the first part (R1), and the first part (R1) is connected to a suction gas communicating pipe (12) through a second header (56). The second electric valve (Ev2) is mounted to the second part (R2), and the second part (R2) is connected to a high-low pressure gas communicating pipe (13) through a first header (55). A third part (R3) is connected to a gas pipe (GP). The coupling portion (J1) is connected to the first part (R1), the second part (R2) and the third part (R3) and couples these parts therethrough. The second electric valve (Ev2) is disposed in a higher position than the first electric valve (Ev1). The third part (R3) is connected to the coupling portion (J1) at a bottom part (B1) of the third part.