Vehicle Air Conditioner High-Pressure Protection Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle air conditioners, the discharge of refrigerant into the cabin occurs when the refrigerant pressure exceeds a predetermined level, posing a challenge for systems with air conditioning units containing a compressor, radiator, and evaporator installed within the cabin.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a high-pressure protection device that discharges the refrigerant outside the cabin through a dedicated communication portion when the refrigerant pressure exceeds a predetermined reference pressure, preventing its entry into the cabin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the air conditioning unit is installed within the cabin, then the vehicle can provide cooling function, but refrigerant may discharge into the cabin when pressure exceeds reference pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the discharge protection function into separate components: the high-pressure protection device detects pressure conditions and the outside communication portion provides a dedicated discharge path. This segmentation allows the cooling unit to remain in the cabin while refrigerant discharge is directed outside through controlled pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The outside communication portion acts as an intermediary between the high-pressure protection device and the external environment. It provides a controlled interface that allows necessary refrigerant discharge while preventing uncontrolled release into the cabin, thus mediating between safety requirements and cabin environment protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a high-pressure protection device is added, then refrigerant discharge into cabin is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the high-pressure protection device and outside communication portion into an integrated protection system. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies installation while maintaining the dual function of pressure protection and controlled discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The outside communication portion serves multiple functions: it acts as a discharge path for the high-pressure protection device, provides structural support, and maintains cabin sealing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
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 effectively suppresses the discharge of refrigerant into the cabin, ensuring safe operation and maintaining cabin comfort while the air conditioning unit is installed within the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor for compressing and discharging a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a radiator for radiating heat of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor
Implementation Method 3
a decompression device for decompressing the refrigerant passing through the radiator
Implementation Method 4
an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant passing through the decompression device
Implementation Method 5
one of the radiator and the evaporator functions as a use-side heat exchanger that generates the conditioned air by heat exchange between refrigerant and air
Implementation Method 6
a high-pressure protection device for discharging the refrigerant to the outside when a pressure of the refrigerant flowing through the high-pressure refrigerant passage exceeds a predetermined reference pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes an air conditioning unit installed in a cabin, and a supply unit supplying air conditioned by the air conditioning unit to the cabin. The air conditioning unit includes a refrigeration cycle device having a compressor, a radiator, a decompression device, and an evaporator. One of the radiator and the evaporator functions as a use-side heat exchanger that generates conditioned air by heat exchange between refrigerant and air. The refrigeration cycle device has a high-pressure protection device that discharges the refrigerant to the outside when the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through a passage, which is defined from a refrigerant discharge side of the compressor to a refrigerant inlet side of the decompression device, exceeds a predetermined reference pressure. The high-pressure protection device is configured to discharge the refrigerant to the outside through an outside communication portion communicated with the outside of the cabin.