IP Library Granted Patent US 11,226,112
Granted Patent B2
US 11,226,112 · App. 17/190,229 · Granted Jan 18, 2022

Air-conditioning system

Inventors: Masanori Ukibune (Osaka, JP); Kouichi Yasuo (Osaka, JP); Masao Ohno (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
F24F1/0068F24F11/83
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,226,112
App. No.
17/190,229
Granted
Jan 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an air-conditioning system including a thermal storage heat exchanger, a refrigerant circuit is configured such that an indoor heat exchanger and a receiver communicate with the thermal storage heat exchanger when an operational mode of the refrigerant circuit is switched to a cooling operation in which the thermal storage heat exchanger serves as a radiator and the indoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator.

Claims (47)

1. An air-conditioning system having a refrigerant circuit to which a thermal storage heat exchanger is connected, the air-conditioning system comprising:

a refrigerant container capable of introducing a liquid refrigerant, wherein

the refrigerant circuit is configured such that the refrigerant container and an indoor heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit are connected in parallel with respect to the thermal storage heat exchanger when an operational mode is switched to a first cooling operation in which the thermal storage heat exchanger serves as a radiator and the indoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator, such that parts of the refrigerant flowing out of the thermal storage heat exchanger dividedly flow into the refrigerant container and the indoor heat exchanger, respectively.

2. The air-conditioning system of claim 1 , further comprising

a first valve configured to open and close a refrigerant introduction pipe connected to the thermal storage heat exchanger and the refrigerant container.

3. The air-conditioning system of claim 1 , further comprising

a first valve configured to open and close a refrigerant introduction pipe connected to the thermal storage heat exchanger and the refrigerant container, wherein

the refrigerant container includes a venting pipe releasing a gas refrigerant out of the refrigerant container, and

in the first cooling operation, the venting pipe is connected to a low-pressure pipe of the refrigerant circuit via a second valve.

4. The air-conditioning system of claim 2 , further comprising

a control unit configured to adjust the valve so as to open the first valve when the operational mode is switched to the first cooling operation.

5. The air-conditioning system of claim 3 , further comprising

a control unit configured to adjust only the first valve so as to open the first valve, or adjust both the first valve and the second valve so as to open both the first valve and the second valve when the operational mode is switched to the first cooling operation.

6. The air-conditioning system of claim 4 , wherein

the first valve has an opening degree that is adjustable, and

the control unit is configured to control the opening degree of the first valve such that a pressure of a refrigerant in the thermal storage heat exchanger reaches a target value.

7. The air-conditioning system of claim 4 , wherein

the first valve has an opening degree that is adjustable, and

the control unit is configured to control the opening degree of the first valve such that a degree of subcooling of a refrigerant on an outlet side of the thermal storage heat exchanger reaches a target value.

8. The air-conditioning system of claim 5 , wherein

at least one of the first valve and the second valve has an opening degree that is adjustable, and

the control unit is configured to control the opening degree of the at least one of the first valve and the second valve such that a pressure of a refrigerant in the thermal storage heat exchanger reaches a target value.

9. The air-conditioning system of claim 5 , wherein

at least one of the first valve and the second valve has an opening degree that is adjustable, and

the control unit is configured to control the opening degree of the at least one of the first valve and the second valve such that a degree of subcooling of a refrigerant on an outlet side of the thermal storage heat exchanger reaches a target value.

10. The air-conditioning system of claim 1 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes a receiver connected to an intermediate portion of a high-pressure liquid pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the receiver serves as the refrigerant container.

11. The air-conditioning system of claim 1 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes an accumulator connected to an intermediate portion of a low-pressure gas pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the accumulator serves as the refrigerant container.

12. The air-conditioning system of claim 2 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes a receiver connected to an intermediate portion of a high-pressure liquid pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the receiver serves as the refrigerant container.

13. The air-conditioning system of claim 3 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes a receiver connected to an intermediate portion of a high-pressure liquid pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the receiver serves as the refrigerant container.

14. The air-conditioning system of claim 4 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes a receiver connected to an intermediate portion of a high-pressure liquid pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the receiver serves as the refrigerant container.

15. The air-conditioning system of claim 5 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes a receiver connected to an intermediate portion of a high-pressure liquid pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the receiver serves as the refrigerant container.

16. The air-conditioning system of claim 6 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes a receiver connected to an intermediate portion of a high-pressure liquid pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the receiver serves as the refrigerant container.

17. The air-conditioning system of claim 7 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes a receiver connected to an intermediate portion of a high-pressure liquid pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the receiver serves as the refrigerant container.

18. The air-conditioning system of claim 2 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes an accumulator connected to an intermediate portion of a low-pressure gas pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the accumulator serves as the refrigerant container.

19. The air-conditioning system of claim 3 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes an accumulator connected to an intermediate portion of a low-pressure gas pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the accumulator serves as the refrigerant container.

20. The air-conditioning system of claim 4 , wherein

the refrigerant circuit includes an accumulator connected to an intermediate portion of a low-pressure gas pipe of the refrigerant circuit, and the accumulator serves as the refrigerant container.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UKIBUNE, MASANORI; YASUO, KOUICHI; OHNO, MASAO
To: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 055489/0279 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-184275 · Sep 28, 2018 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2019037656 · Sep 25, 2019
Related Publication 20210180802A1 · Jun 17, 2021