Multi-Zone VRF Unit Layout for Low-Refrigerant Zone Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multi-zone air conditioning systems require additional heating or cooling mediums and often result in dispersed refrigerant lines, leading to increased refrigerant charge, electrical costs, and maintenance challenges, as well as difficulties in complying with refrigerant standards.

Innovation Solution

A multi-zone variable refrigerant flow (VRF) unit that consolidates refrigerant piping and electrical wiring, using a variable refrigerant flow system to provide simultaneous heating and cooling to individual zones without additional heat sources, and includes a mode control unit to manage refrigerant flow to evaporating coils, allowing for independent zone control and reduced refrigerant exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional multi-zone air conditioning systems use additional heating or cooling mediums and dispersed refrigerant lines, then heating and cooling capabilities are provided to multiple zones, but refrigerant charge increases, electrical costs increase, and maintenance complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating and cooling capabilitiesVSAvoidrefrigerant charge

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates multiple refrigerant lines into a single refrigerant line that serves multiple zones. The system merges the functions of separate heating and cooling mediums by using a single variable refrigerant flow system that can dynamically switch between heating and cooling modes for different zones, thereby reducing refrigerant charge while maintaining full adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The variable refrigerant flow system serves multiple functions by providing both heating and cooling to different zones through a single refrigerant circuit. The system can simultaneously heat one zone while cooling another, eliminating the need for separate heating and cooling mediums and reducing overall refrigerant requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional multi-zone air conditioning systems use dispersed refrigerant lines, then heating and cooling are provided to individual zones, but electrical costs and maintenance challenges increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent zone controlVSAvoidmaintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple dispersed refrigerant lines into a single centralized refrigerant line that distributes refrigerant to multiple zones. This consolidation reduces the complexity of refrigerant distribution while maintaining independent zone control through a variable refrigerant flow system that can dynamically adjust refrigerant allocation to each zone as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional multi-zone air conditioning systems use additional heating or cooling mediums, then heating and cooling capabilities are enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating and cooling capabilitiesVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The variable refrigerant flow system performs multiple functions using a single refrigerant circuit. It can simultaneously provide heating to some zones while cooling others, and can switch modes dynamically based on zone requirements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating and cooling mediums, reducing device complexity while enhancing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 reduces refrigerant charge and electrical costs, simplifies maintenance, and enhances compliance with refrigerant standards by containing refrigerant within a housing, while providing efficient and flexible heating and cooling capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

The coils may allow heat transfer between supply air from a supply fan and the refrigerant in the coils to reduce the temperature of the supply air for various zones in a cooling mode of operation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The mode control unit may supply refrigerant from the VRF unit to two or more evaporating coils ('coils') through a thermal or thermostatic expansion valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS10088178B2Multi-zone variable refrigerant flow heating/cooling unit

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 MJC

AI summary

A method for air conditioning including installing an air conditioning unit at a desired location. The air conditioning unit includes a housing that has air supply inlets and exhaust air outlets. The housing encloses a mode control unit that switches a zone coil associated with a zone from a cooling mode to a heating mode by switching from a cooling medium to a heating medium flowing through the zone coil. The zone coil receives the heating or cooling medium and conditions incoming air from a supply fan to be exhausted in a zone associated with the zone coil. A variable refrigerant flow cooling/heating unit provides a cooling medium or a heating medium at varying rates to control a temperature of a zone.