Refrigeration cycle apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigeration cycle systems with multiple distribution units connected via a distribution pipe, uneven refrigerant distribution due to pipe inclination leads to uneven air-conditioning capacities among units, resulting in inadequate cooling or heating performance.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration cycle apparatus with a heat source unit, first and second distribution units, and a distribution pipe that adjusts the degree of subcooling at the outlet of the heat exchanger in the distribution unit receiving high-quality refrigerant to correct capacity unevenness, using a controller to manage the subcooling target values based on detected capacity differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the distribution pipe is inclined with respect to the horizontal, then the refrigerant flows through the pipe, but the refrigerant is distributed unevenly into the distribution units with uneven proportion of gas and liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermodynamic parameters of the refrigerant by adjusting the degree of subcooling at the heat exchanger outlet. By increasing subcooling for distribution units receiving high-quality refrigerant (more liquid), the system compensates for uneven distribution caused by pipe inclination, thereby balancing the refrigerant proportion across all units without requiring horizontal pipe installation
Solution Approach 2:
The control device monitors the degree of subcooling and the operation states of distribution units, then automatically adjusts the subcooling degree for each unit based on feedback information. This closed-loop control enables real-time compensation for uneven refrigerant distribution, allowing the system to adapt to pipe inclination conditions while maintaining uniform refrigerant proportion across distribution units
2Ease of manufacture
If the refrigerant is unevenly distributed into the distribution units, then the installation is simpler, but the air-conditioning capacities become uneven with one unit failing to supply necessary capacity
Solution Approach 1:
By dynamically adjusting the degree of subcooling parameter for each distribution unit based on its received refrigerant quality, the system ensures that even units receiving high-quality refrigerant (which would otherwise have excessive cooling capacity) operate at reliable and balanced capacities, preventing any unit from failing to supply necessary air-conditioning capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The control device uses feedback from operation state detection to continuously monitor and adjust subcooling degrees, ensuring that each distribution unit maintains reliable air-conditioning capacity despite uneven refrigerant distribution. This real-time adjustment prevents capacity deficiency in any unit while accommodating simpler installation configurations
3Manufacturing precision
If the degree of subcooling is increased at the heat exchanger outlet, then the capacity unevenness is corrected, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing subcooling for all distribution units, the patent applies local quality by adjusting the degree of subcooling only for specific units that receive high-quality refrigerant. This targeted approach corrects capacity unevenness in affected units while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption in units that already have adequate refrigerant distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The control device optimizes energy consumption by using feedback to determine which distribution units require subcooling adjustment. By selectively increasing subcooling only where needed based on real-time operation state information, the system achieves capacity uniformity while minimizing overall energy consumption compared to blanket subcooling increases
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
Ensures even capacity distribution among distribution units by increasing subcooling in the unit with high-quality refrigerant, effectively addressing the issue of uneven refrigerant distribution caused by pipe inclination without reconfiguring the pipe, thereby maintaining consistent air-conditioning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a degree of subcooling at an outlet of the heat exchanger of one of the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit of which the distributed refrigerant is of high quality is increased
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a heat source unit configured to supply refrigerant, a first distribution unit and a second distribution unit respectively connected to the heat source unit, and a distribution pipe located between the heat source unit and the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit for distributing the refrigerant flowing from the heat source unit into the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit. Further, the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit individually include a heat exchanger configured to serve as a condenser. Further, if the refrigerant flowing through the distribution pipe is unevenly distributed into the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit, a degree of subcooling at an outlet of the heat exchanger of one of the first distribution unit and the second distribution unit of which the distributed refrigerant is of high quality is increased.