System and methods for introducing POE lubricant into an automotive air-conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for introducing lubricants into environmentally friendly refrigerant systems, such as those using HFO-1234yf, are inefficient and require manual injection, leading to lubricant adhesion in hoses and incomplete delivery due to the lack of automatic injection capabilities in existing recovery, recycle, recharge machines.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize the refrigerant to convey lubricants and additives through the A/C system, ensuring miscibility and preventing adhesion by packaging them in a container with a suitable refrigerant ratio, allowing for efficient delivery via a typical aftermarket recharging hose, even in electric vehicle systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If manual injection method is used to introduce lubricant into the A/C system, then the lubricant can be delivered into the system, but the lubricant adheres to the hose walls and delivery is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses refrigerant as an intermediary carrier to transport the lubricant through the hose. The lubricant is mixed with refrigerant in a container, and the refrigerant-gas flow carries the lubricant into the A/C system without the lubricant adhering to the hose walls. This resolves the adhesion problem by using a gaseous intermediary medium instead of direct liquid injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and flow parameters of the lubricant delivery system. Instead of injecting pure liquid lubricant, the system uses a two-phase mixture where refrigerant evaporates to create gas flow that carries the lubricant. The container maintains specific temperature and pressure parameters to ensure proper mixing and atomization, preventing adhesion during transport.
2Productivity
If automatic injection capability is added to R/R/R machines, then lubricant delivery efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service automatic injection system where the R/R/R machine automatically controls the injection process without requiring separate manual lubricant injection equipment. The system uses the existing refrigerant circulation to automatically carry the lubricant into the system, eliminating the need for complex separate lubricant injection mechanisms while maintaining high delivery efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If refrigerant is used to convey lubricant, then lubricant adhesion is prevented and delivery is improved, but miscibility requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls temperature and pressure parameters in the container to ensure proper miscibility between refrigerant and lubricant. The system maintains specific thermal conditions that allow the two substances to mix uniformly in the two-phase state, preventing separation while enabling effective lubricant conveyance through the refrigerant-gas flow.
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 approach ensures more lubricant is introduced into the system without adhesion, improving the efficiency and convenience of lubricant delivery, particularly in electric vehicle air conditioning systems, by using the refrigerant to atomize and convey the lubricant additives effectively.
Implementation Method 1
using the refrigerant to atomize and convey the lubricant additives effectively
Implementation Method 2
ensuring miscibility and preventing adhesion by packaging them in a container with a suitable refrigerant ratio
Data Source
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AI summary
Compositions, systems and methods for introducing lubricants, and additives, that are designed to work with environmentally friendly refrigerants into vehicle heat management systems including passenger compartment air conditioning (A/C) systems are disclosed. Methods for charging lubricants and specific additives using environmentally desirable (low GWP) refrigerant or refrigerant blend compositions into an environmentally friendly system, such as a system that uses HFO-1234yf, are also disclosed.