Supercooling Flow Path Switching for Quiet Low-Loss Air Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning apparatuses face challenges in suppressing pressure loss and refrigerant sound generation, with current supercooling heat exchanger designs either increasing cost or allowing refrigerant to become gas phase at the expansion valve, leading to noise and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning apparatus with a main circuit that includes a supercooling heat exchanger and flow path switching valve, allowing the refrigerant flow path between the indoor heat exchanger and compressor to be switched based on refrigerant flow rate, using a bypass circuit to control the refrigerant flow through the supercooling heat exchanger, thereby managing pressure loss and refrigerant sound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the supercooling heat exchanger is increased in size to suppress pressure loss, then pressure loss is reduced, but the cost for the supercooling heat exchanger increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the flow path configuration adjustable based on operating conditions. The flow path switching valve dynamically changes the refrigerant flow path between two configurations (first and second flow paths) depending on the cooling load, allowing the system to optimize between pressure loss reduction and cost-effective design without requiring a constantly oversized heat exchanger.
2Loss of energy
If part of the mainstream refrigerant passes through the supercooling heat exchanger as bypass flow to reduce pressure loss, then pressure loss is suppressed, but the flow rate of mainstream refrigerant becomes too small at low cooling loads, causing refrigerant to become gas phase and generate refrigerant sound
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the refrigerant flow path based on cooling load conditions. At high cooling loads, the first flow path is used where refrigerant passes through the supercooling heat exchanger to reduce pressure loss. At low cooling loads, the second flow path is used where refrigerant bypasses the heat exchanger to maintain sufficient flow rate and prevent gas phase formation, thereby eliminating refrigerant sound.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow path configuration parameter based on the cooling load parameter. By switching between two discrete flow path configurations, the system adapts to different operating conditions, ensuring optimal refrigerant flow rate and pressure characteristics for each load condition.
3Temperature
If the flow path between indoor heat exchanger and compressor extends through the supercooling heat exchanger, then supercooling is achieved, but pressure loss in the flow path is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic control over the refrigerant flow path. The flow path switching valve enables the refrigerant to selectively pass through or bypass the supercooling heat exchanger based on system requirements, allowing supercooling to be achieved only when necessary while minimizing pressure loss in other operating conditions.
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
The solution effectively suppresses pressure loss and refrigerant sound generation by adjusting the refrigerant flow path and using a bypass circuit to manage heat absorption, maintaining efficiency and reducing costs associated with supercooling heat exchanger size.
Implementation Method 1
a supercooling heat exchanger configured to supercool the refrigerant flowing in the first flow path
Implementation Method 2
a supercooling heat exchanger configured to supercool the refrigerant flowing in the first flow path
Implementation Method 3
exchanging heat between low-pressure bypass flow refrigerant and high-pressure mainstream refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning apparatus includes: a supercooling heat exchanger configured to supercool refrigerant flowing in a first flow path between an outdoor heat exchanger and an expansion valve; a flow path switching valve configured to switch a flow path between an indoor heat exchanger and a compressor to one of a second flow path that does not extend through the supercooling heat exchanger and a third flow path that extends through the supercooling heat exchanger; a bypass circuit that is branched from the first flow path and extends through the supercooling heat exchanger; and a bypass regulating valve provided in the bypass circuit; and a controller. In a cooling operation, when a load is not low, the controller selects the second flow path and opens the bypass regulating valve, whereas when the load is low, the controller selects the third flow path and closes the bypass regulating valve.