Rotary Refrigerant Flow Valve for Dual Evaporator Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator systems, particularly those using capillary tubes for household refrigerators, have a fixed refrigerant flow rate that cannot be adjusted without changing compressor speed, leading to compromised performance and energy consumption when operating conditions diverge from designed conditions, and dual evaporator systems lack control over refrigerant flow rate into each evaporator.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant flow control device featuring a rotary valve and a stationary valve with cooperative openings, allowing for continuous or step-wise regulation of refrigerant flow from 100% to 0%, enabling precise control of refrigerant flow rates and directions through a microprocessor-controlled mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a capillary tube is used to regulate refrigerant flow in a household refrigerator, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the refrigerant flow rate cannot be adjusted when operating conditions diverge from designed conditions, leading to compromised performance and increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the static capillary tube with a dynamic expansion valve mechanism that can adjust its opening degree based on operating conditions. The valve includes a movable valve member that can change the flow area dynamically, allowing the system to adapt to varying refrigerant flow requirements while maintaining simple manufacturing through modular valve design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by enabling continuous adjustment of the refrigerant flow rate through the expansion valve. The valve opening degree, flow area, and refrigerant flow rate are all variable parameters that can be modified based on system conditions, transforming the fixed-parameter capillary tube into a variable-parameter control device that improves adaptability without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a three-way valve is used to control refrigerant flow in dual evaporator systems, then the ability to direct refrigerant to different evaporators is improved, but the flow rate into each evaporator cannot be controlled, only flow direction can be controlled by fully opening and fully closing the output ports
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the single three-way valve into multiple independent expansion valves, with each valve controlling the refrigerant flow to a specific evaporator. This segmentation allows each valve to independently regulate flow rate to its associated evaporator, providing both directional control and flow rate control capabilities that the original three-way valve lacked.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by replacing the on/off switching mechanism of the three-way valve with continuous adjustment capability through expansion valves. Each valve can dynamically adjust its opening degree to control the refrigerant flow rate, transforming the binary control system into a continuous control system that improves adaptability while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
3Device complexity
If the refrigerant flow rate is fixed by the capillary tube design, then the device complexity is minimized, but the performance and energy consumption are compromised when operating conditions diverge from designed conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by introducing an adjustable expansion valve that can modify the refrigerant flow rate based on actual operating conditions. The valve's movable components allow dynamic adjustment of the flow area, enabling the system to optimize refrigerant flow and minimize energy consumption under varying conditions while adding only moderate complexity through the valve mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by incorporating sensors that monitor system parameters such as temperature, pressure, and refrigerant flow rate. This feedback information is used by the control system to automatically adjust the expansion valve opening, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes energy consumption by matching refrigerant flow to actual cooling demands, thereby reducing energy losses.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus for refrigerant flow control are disclosed. One exemplary apparatus for controlling refrigerant flow comprises: at least one refrigerant inlet; at least one refrigerant outlet; a first valve coupled between the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet; and a second valve coupled between the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet; wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve is rotatable, and the first valve and the second valve comprise one or more cooperative openings to allow refrigerant to pass from the refrigerant inlet, through the first and second valves, and out of the refrigerant outlet.