Vapor compression air-conditioning system equipped with energy efficiency booster
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vapor compression air-conditioning systems face challenges in maintaining optimal energy efficiency ratios due to a fixed refrigerant charge, which cannot be adjusted to adapt to changing conditions between refrigeration and heat pump modes, leading to suboptimal performance and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vapor compression air-conditioning system with a continuously adjustable refrigerant circulation loop, incorporating a variable-volume container and actuator, allows for dynamic adjustment of the average refrigerant density by changing the volume of the circulation loop, enabling optimal condensing and evaporating temperatures to be maintained across varying conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed refrigerant charge is used in conventional vapor compression air-conditioning systems, then the system structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the energy efficiency ratio deteriorates when operating conditions change between refrigeration and heat pump modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing a variable-volume container that can dynamically adjust the refrigerant charge volume in the circulation loop. The container's volume changes from a fixed state to an adjustable state, allowing the system to adapt refrigerant density to different operating conditions (refrigeration vs. heat pump modes), thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical parameter of refrigerant charge volume through the variable-volume container. By changing the volume parameter of the container, the average density of refrigerant in the circulation loop is adjusted, enabling optimal energy efficiency ratio under different temperature and operational conditions while maintaining a relatively simple system structure.
2Productivity
If the refrigerant charge is increased to optimize refrigeration performance, then the energy efficiency ratio improves in refrigeration mode, but the system performance deteriorates in heat pump mode due to excessive refrigerant
Solution Approach 1:
The variable-volume container enables dynamic adjustment of refrigerant charge based on operational mode. In refrigeration mode, the container maintains optimal refrigerant volume for high energy efficiency ratio; when switching to heat pump mode, the container adjusts the refrigerant volume to prevent excess refrigerant, thereby optimizing performance in both modes without compromising adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of refrigerant charge volume dynamically. During refrigeration operation, the refrigerant charge is optimized for cooling performance; during heat pump operation, the charge volume is adjusted to suit heating requirements. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between optimizing for one mode versus maintaining performance in the other mode.
3Productivity
If the refrigerant charge is decreased to optimize heat pump performance, then the energy efficiency ratio improves in heat pump mode, but the system performance deteriorates in refrigeration mode due to insufficient refrigerant
Solution Approach 1:
The variable-volume container provides dynamic control over refrigerant charge, allowing the system to have sufficient refrigerant during refrigeration mode for optimal cooling performance, and adjusted refrigerant volume during heat pump mode for optimal heating performance. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between the two opposing performance requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If variable-frequency adjustment and expansion valve adjustment are used to respond to condition changes, then the system can adapt to temperature variations, but the energy efficiency ratio deteriorates because the average density of refrigerant cannot be changed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new adjustment parameter - the average density of refrigerant in the circulation loop - by using the variable-volume container. This complements the existing variable-frequency and expansion valve adjustments, creating a three-dimensional adjustment capability that enables the system to maintain optimal energy efficiency ratio while responding to various operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable-volume container adds a dynamic element to refrigerant charge management, working in conjunction with variable-frequency compressors and adjustable expansion valves. This combination of dynamic adjustments allows the system to optimize both adaptability to condition changes and energy efficiency ratio simultaneously.
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 solution significantly enhances the energy efficiency ratio, allowing the system to operate at optimal performance even when conditions change, surpassing the efficiency of conventional systems by maintaining an energy efficiency ratio of approximately 4 and improving operational performance seasonally.
Implementation Method 1
the volume of the container is changed from a fixedly unchanged state to an adjustable state, so that an average density of the refrigerant in the system changes from a fixedly unchanged state to an adjustable state
Implementation Method 2
after the temperature is increased by a compressor through compression
Implementation Method 3
The refrigerant of the vapor compression air-conditioning system absorbs heat from a low-temperature medium
Implementation Method 4
heat is released to a high-temperature medium
Data Source
AI summary
A vapor compression air-conditioning system equipped with an energy efficiency booster (6) in a working fluid circulation loop of the system. The energy efficiency booster (6) comprises a variable volume container (61) and an actuator mechanism (62) for changing the volume of the container. The energy efficiency booster (6) is capable of utilizing the variable volume container (61) to receive a working fluid in the loop of the system and to change the average density of the working fluid, thus allowing the system to be at the optimal energy efficiency ratio, and improving the operational performance of the air-conditioning system.