Segmented AC Coil Operation for Airflow and Humidity Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Indoor air-conditioning units with small capacities face challenges in maintaining high airflow and efficient humidity removal in low-load, high-volume zones, leading to issues like overheating and short cycling.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an air-conditioning coil with an active portion for conditioning a portion of the return air and an inactive portion that allows unconditioned air to pass through, combining both to achieve sufficient airflow and moisture removal without overloading the unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the capacity of the refrigerant evaporator (DX) coil is reduced to lower the indoor unit capacity, then the unit can service smaller loads, but the latent removal capability deteriorates and humidity control becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The DX coil is segmented into multiple independent coil circuits (e.g., four circuits) that can be selectively activated. This allows the system to use only the necessary cooling capacity while maintaining the physical presence of a larger coil structure capable of effective humidity removal when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active coil circuits based on the cooling load requirements. The controller can activate 1, 2, 3, or 4 circuits depending on the zone load, enabling the unit to operate efficiently at various capacity levels while preserving latent removal capability when the full coil array is activated.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the airflow through the indoor unit is reduced to match the reduced capacity, then the unit operates more efficiently, but the air circulation capability deteriorates and cannot adequately service large zones
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts airflow based on the number of active coil circuits. When fewer circuits are active (lower cooling load), the airflow is reduced proportionally to maintain efficiency. When more circuits are active (higher cooling load), the airflow increases to maintain proper air circulation and temperature distribution throughout the zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures multiple coil circuits to be available for activation. This allows the unit to prepare for varying load conditions by having the coil infrastructure ready, and the controller can activate the appropriate number of circuits in advance of peak cooling demands while adjusting airflow accordingly.
3Power
If the coil size is kept the same but the average coil temperature is raised to reduce capacity, then the unit capacity decreases, but the humidity removal efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of raising the temperature of a single large coil, the system segments the coil into multiple circuits and selectively activates only the necessary number. This maintains the coil surface area and temperature conditions optimal for humidity removal in the active circuits, while achieving reduced overall capacity by leaving some circuits inactive.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by varying the number of active coil circuits rather than changing the temperature of the entire coil. This allows capacity adjustment through quantitative changes (number of active circuits) rather than qualitative changes (temperature increase), preserving the temperature conditions necessary for effective latent removal.
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 configuration maintains a high airflow and latent capacity, effectively servicing large zones by conditioning only a portion of the air while ensuring adequate moisture removal and air circulation, thus addressing the limitations of traditional units.
Implementation Method 1
an active portion including one or more operational air-conditioning coils configured to receive a first portion of the return air from the intermediate vent, to circulate a coolant, to condition the first portion of the return air by heat exchange with the coolant
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning unit is provided, comprising: an input vent for receiving return air; an intermediate vent; an output vent; a blower fan proximate to the input vent for moving the return air from the input vent to the intermediate vent; and an air-conditioner coil between the intermediate vent and the output vent including an active portion including one or more operational air-conditioning coils that receive a first portion of the return air from the intermediate vent, for circulating a coolant, condition the first portion of the return air by heat exchange with the coolant to create conditioned air, and pass the conditioned air to the output vent, and an inactive portion that does not circulate coolant and passes a second portion of the return air as unconditioned air to the output vent, wherein the conditioned air and the unconditioned air pass through the output vent as supply air.