Sealed heat pump housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pump housings using flammable refrigerants face challenges in maintaining pressure-tightness, which can lead to dangerous pressure buildup and accessibility issues during maintenance or repairs, as conventional methods either weld or glue parts together, making it difficult to safely open or remove the housing in case of a leak.
Innovation Solution
A plug-in system using extruded profile struts and corner connectors forms a cuboid base frame with screw-on sheets and slide rails, allowing for easy access and maintenance, while screw-in valves can manage pressure and refrigerant leaks, reducing risks to service personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing is welded or glued together to ensure pressure-tightness, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the ease of repair and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple separable parts (first housing part and second housing part) that can be disconnected from each other. The refrigeration circuit is also segmented into components that can be accessed independently. This allows the housing to be opened for maintenance without damaging the structure, resolving the contradiction between sealed integrity and repairability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing transitions from a static sealed structure to a dynamic system where the housing parts can be connected and disconnected as needed. The locking mechanism and sealing elements are designed to maintain pressure-tightness when closed but allow easy separation when maintenance is required, enabling the housing to adapt between operational and maintenance states.
2Ease of repair
If the housing is bolted together with sealing elements to allow disassembly, then the ease of repair is improved, but the pressure-tightness deteriorates due to pressure buildup during leaks
Solution Approach 1:
Pressure relief openings are pre-provided in the housing structure, positioned to allow pressure equalization before the housing is opened. This preliminary pressure relief action prevents dangerous pressure buildup during leak incidents, enabling safe disassembly while maintaining the housing's pressure-tightness during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure relief openings act as an intermediary mechanism between the sealed housing interior and the exterior environment. They provide a controlled pathway for pressure equalization without compromising the overall sealing integrity, allowing the housing to safely transition from pressurized to atmospheric pressure before opening.
3Reliability
If the housing is made completely sealed to prevent refrigerant escape, then the safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to access components
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into separable parts with locking mechanisms that maintain sealed integrity during operation but allow easy separation for servicing. The refrigeration circuit components are arranged to be accessible when housing parts are separated, resolving the contradiction between complete sealing and operational accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides pressure-tight containment during normal operation, allows safe pressure relief during leaks, and enables easy disassembly for maintenance. The sealing elements and locking mechanisms are designed to fulfill multiple roles across different operational states, making the housing both safely sealed and easily serviceable.
Data Source
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AI summary
Plug-in system for a sealed heat pump casing, comprising a rectangular base frame (1) formed by struts (2) made of extruded profiles and corner connectors (4) with a rectangular cross-section, the struts (2) each having two sides facing inwards to the interior of the base frame (1) and two sides facing outwards to the exterior of the base frame (1), the struts (2) of the base frame (1) being connected by corner connectors (4), and the base frame (1), struts (2) and corner connectors (4) together forming the basic shape of a cuboid, and the base frame enclosing a volume, the struts (2) having a plurality of outwards standard screw connections (10) along their length on two adjacent sides facing outwards to the exterior of the base frame (1), and inwards recesses for seals being provided in the struts (2) on the same two adjacent sides and seals (5) being inserted therein,Sheets (6) can be screwed onto the sides of all struts (2) of the base frame (1) facing the outside of the base frame (1), completely enclosing the contents of the volume enclosed by the base frame (1), the heat pump components of the refrigeration circuit within the base frame (1) are attached to the inside of the struts (2), and the weight of the refrigeration circuit is transferred from the base frame (1) to the heat pump housing surrounding the base frame.