V-Shaped Heat Source Unit With Independent Refrigeration Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-type air conditioners and heat pump systems, parallel-connected compressors experience pressure differences leading to uneven lubricating oil distribution, causing potential compressor burnout and requiring costly upgrades and complex oil balancing systems, while also limiting reliability due to the need to stop all compressors in case of a fault.
Innovation Solution
The system employs independent refrigeration cycles with shared water heat exchangers, eliminating the need for oil balancing pipes and allowing individual compressor maintenance without affecting the entire unit, enhancing reliability and reducing costs by maintaining compressing ability and allowing continuous operation of other cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a plurality of compressors are connected in parallel in one refrigeration cycle, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the lubricating oil distribution becomes uneven causing compressor burnout risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single refrigeration cycle into multiple independent refrigeration cycles, with each compressor operating in its own independent cycle. This segmentation eliminates the oil distribution problem caused by parallel connection while maintaining the cumulative cooling capacity of multiple compressors.
2Reliability
If oil balancing pipes and resisting members are added to equalize oil distribution, then the compressor reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic connection between compressors by making each compressor operate independently in its own refrigeration cycle. This eliminates the need for oil balancing pipes and resisting members, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable oil distribution to each compressor.
3Power
If the compressing ability is increased to compensate for forced pressure loss, then the cooling capacity is maintained, but the compressor cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the forced pressure loss caused by oil balancing resistance, the patent eliminates the need to overspecify compressors. Each compressor operates at its designed compressing ability without additional pressure losses, reducing the required compressor size and cost while maintaining the needed cooling capacity.
4Reliability
If all compressors are stopped for maintenance or fault handling, then the oil distribution is reset, but the productivity and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the refrigeration system into independent cycles, allowing individual compressor maintenance without stopping the entire system. Each compressor can be serviced independently while others continue operating, maintaining high system availability and productivity.
5Device complexity
If a single refrigeration cycle with multiple compressors is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the system reliability decreases due to cascading failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into multiple independent refrigeration cycles, where each cycle contains one compressor. This segmentation provides fault isolation, preventing cascading failures while the modular structure keeps overall system complexity manageable.
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 ensures balanced lubricating oil distribution, prevents compressor burnout, reduces costs, and maintains system reliability by allowing independent operation of refrigeration cycles, ensuring continued functionality even if one compressor fails.
Implementation Method 1
a water heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
air heat exchangers arranged in the heat exchanging chamber
Implementation Method 3
blowers configured to supply air to the air heat exchangers
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a heat source unit apparatus includes air heat exchangers, each includes a plurality of fins arranged at prescribed intervals, heat exchanging pipes penetrating the fins, and bent strips extending at sides and bent in the same direction, and a heat exchange module includes two air heat exchangers, each having the bent strips opposed to those of the other air heat exchanger, the air heat exchangers being inclined such that lower edges are close to each other and upper edges are spaced apart, whereby the heat exchange module is shaped like a letter V as seen from side.