V-Shaped Heat Source Unit Layout for Compact Multi-Cycle HVAC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat source units for multi-type air conditioners, heat pump hot-water supplying apparatus, and refrigerating apparatus face challenges in efficiency, installation space, and reliability due to shared refrigeration cycle components and parallel compressor configurations, which affect cooling and heating performance and increase maintenance complexity.
Innovation Solution
The heat source unit is designed with multiple independent refrigeration cycles and water heat exchangers, allowing each cycle to operate independently, reducing the need for oil balancing and enabling efficient cooling and heating by sharing water heat exchangers, while optimizing air heat exchanger configuration to minimize installation space and enhance maintenance accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple compressors are arranged in parallel in a single refrigeration cycle, then the cooling and heating capacity is increased, but the system complexity and maintenance difficulty increase due to shared refrigeration cycle components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the refrigeration system into multiple independent refrigeration cycles, where each compressor operates in a separate cycle with its own refrigerant circuit. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex shared components and oil balancing mechanisms while maintaining high cooling and heating capacity through parallel operation of multiple cycles.
2Device complexity
If a single refrigeration cycle with shared components is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases when one compressor fails
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into independent refrigeration cycles, the patent ensures that failure of one compressor does not affect the operation of other compressors. Each cycle is self-contained with separate refrigerant circuits, allowing individual components to fail independently without causing system-wide shutdowns.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple air heat exchangers are arranged to face each other in a V-shape, then the installation space is optimized, but the maintenance accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air heat exchangers into pairs that face each other in a V-shaped arrangement, optimizing space utilization. The segmentation allows each heat exchanger pair to be independently positioned and accessed, improving maintenance accessibility while maintaining compact installation footprint.
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 enhances cooling and heating efficiency, reduces the risk of system failure, and simplifies maintenance by allowing individual compressor repair without affecting other cycles, thus improving reliability and reducing installation space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a water heat exchanger... The water heat exchanger has a water passage and a refrigerant passage
Implementation Method 2
air heat exchangers arranged in the heat exchanging chamber... Two air heat exchangers are provided in one unit
Implementation Method 3
a compressor... Any heat source unit of this type, a plurality of compressors are arranged in parallel
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Air heat exchangers (3), each comprising a plurality of fins (F) arranged at prescribed intervals, heat exchanging pipes (P) penetrating the fins (F), and bent strips (3b) extending at sides and bent in the same direction, and a heat exchange module (M) comprising two air heat exchangers (3, 3), each having the bent strips (3b) opposed to those of the other air heat exchanger(3), the air heat exchangers (3, 3) being inclined such that lower edges are close to each other and upper edges are spaced apart, whereby the heat exchange module (M) is shaped like a letter V as seen from side.