Refrigeration Circuit Layout for Flammable Refrigerant Fill Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration apparatuses using flammable hydrocarbon refrigerants face challenges in achieving desired refrigeration capacity while adhering to legal filling amount regulations, as conventional designs optimized for chlorofluorocarbons do not account for the lower filling capacity of flammable refrigerants, potentially leading to excessive refrigerant filling and inadequate cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
The refrigeration apparatus is designed with a refrigeration circuit volume set to 2200×10^-6 m^3 or smaller and a condenser volume set to 750×10^-6 m^3 or smaller, utilizing a vapor compression type circuit with a condenser of reduced size and parallel heat exchanger units to manage the refrigerant flow efficiently, ensuring compliance with legal filling limits while maintaining desired cooling capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional refrigeration apparatus design optimized for chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants is adopted, then the refrigeration capacity is maintained, but the filling amount of flammable refrigerant exceeds legal regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the refrigerant circuit volume and condenser volume to specific ranges (refrigerant circuit volume: 1.8-2.2 L, condenser volume: 0.65-0.75 L) to achieve the desired balance between refrigeration capacity and refrigerant filling amount compliance for flammable refrigerants
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of the expansion valve to optimize refrigerant flow and distribution throughout the system, enabling the apparatus to maintain desired refrigeration capacity while operating within legal refrigerant filling limits for flammable refrigerants
2Quantity of substance
If the refrigerant filling amount is reduced to comply with legal regulations, then the legal regulation is observed, but the refrigeration capacity becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes system parameters by optimizing the refrigerant circuit volume and condenser volume to specific ranges, which improves refrigeration efficiency and enables the system to achieve desired cooling capacity with reduced refrigerant filling amounts that comply with legal regulations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic control of the expansion valve to optimize refrigerant distribution and flow rates, allowing the system to maximize refrigeration capacity utilization with the limited refrigerant quantity required by legal regulations
3Quantity of substance
If the condenser volume is reduced to decrease refrigerant filling amount, then the refrigerant filling limit is complied with, but the heat exchange efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the condenser volume to a specific range (0.65-0.75 L) and configuring parallel heat exchanger units, which maintains effective heat exchange efficiency while reducing the overall refrigerant filling amount to comply with legal regulations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the heat exchange function by employing parallel heat exchanger units within the condenser, which distributes refrigerant flow more efficiently and maintains heat exchange performance despite the reduced condenser volume and lower refrigerant filling amount
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 ensures a desired cooling capacity while observing legal refrigerant filling limits, allowing for efficient refrigerant circulation and heat exchange, even with reduced volumes, achieving a refrigeration capacity equivalent to 1300 W per circuit while minimizing costs and maintaining compactness.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor
Implementation Method 2
a condenser
Implementation Method 3
a decompression means
Implementation Method 4
an evaporator
Implementation Method 5
heat exchange
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention is proposed to ensure a desired refrigeration capacity while observing a regulation on a filling amount of a flammable refrigerant required for a refrigeration circuit. A refrigeration circuit 34 includes a compressor CM, a condenser CD, an expansion valve EV and an evaporator EP each of which is connected by refrigerant pipes 32, and a flammable refrigerant is circulated therethrough. In the refrigeration circuit 34, volume per circuit is set equal to or smaller than 2200×10-6 m3, and volume of the condenser CD is set equal to or smaller than 750×10-6 m3. Thus, a filling amount of the flammable refrigerant required for one refrigeration circuit 34 can be suppressed to or below a specified value.