AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an air conditioning system.

BACKGROUND

Typically, an air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator.

SUMMARY

An object of embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide an air conditioning system, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioning system, and thus saving energy.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system includes: an air conditioning subsystem including: a compressor, a first heat exchanger acting as one of a condenser and an evaporator, and a second heat exchanger acting as the other of the condenser and the evaporator, wherein the compressor, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are connected in sequence from the compressor through the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger; a phase change heat exchange subsystem including: a phase change material container, a phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container, and a heat exchange circuit provided in the phase change material container; and a cross-system heat exchanger including: a first circuit being connected to the air conditioning subsystem so that a heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem can selectively flow through the first circuit, and a second circuit being connected to the heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem so that a heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit and the heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger also serves as at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger also serves as the first heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger acts as the evaporator, the second heat exchanger acts as the condenser, and the cross-system heat exchanger can selectively release heat obtained from the phase change heat exchange subsystem in the second circuit.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger also serves as the second heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger acts as the condenser, the second heat exchanger acts as the evaporator, and the cross-system heat exchanger can selectively absorb cooling energy obtained from the phase change heat exchange subsystem in the second circuit.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger also serves as the first heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger acts as the condenser, the second heat exchanger acts as the evaporator, and the cross-system heat exchanger can selectively release heat obtained from the phase change heat exchange subsystem in the second circuit.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first circuit of the cross-system heat exchanger is connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger of the air conditioning subsystem, so that the heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor enters the cross-system heat exchanger after passing through one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and then enters the other of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heat exchange medium in the first circuit can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit in the cross-system heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air conditioning subsystem further includes an expansion device connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger of the air conditioning subsystem, so that the heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor enters the expansion device after passing through one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and then enters the other of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first heat exchanger acts as the condenser, the second heat exchanger acts as the evaporator, the first circuit of the cross-system heat exchanger is connected between the expansion device and the second heat exchanger acting as the evaporator of the air conditioning subsystem, and the phase change heat exchange subsystem reduces a temperature of the heat exchange medium expanded by the expansion device by the cross-system heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first heat exchanger acts as the condenser, the second heat exchanger acts as the evaporator, the first circuit of the cross-system heat exchanger is connected between the first heat exchanger acting as the condenser and the expansion device of the air conditioning subsystem, and the phase change heat exchange subsystem reduces a temperature of the heat transfer medium condensed by the condenser by the cross-system heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem includes a first heat exchange circuit and a second heat exchange circuit; the cross-system heat exchanger includes a first cross-system heat exchanger and a second cross-system heat exchanger, the first cross-system heat exchanger includes a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the air conditioning subsystem so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem can selectively flow through the first circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger, and the second circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger and the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container; and the second cross-system heat exchanger includes a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the air conditioning subsystem so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem can selectively flow through the first circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger, and the second circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the second heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger and the second heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container, and the heat exchange medium in the first circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger in the second cross-system heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem includes a first heat exchange circuit; the cross-system heat exchanger includes a first cross-system heat exchanger and a second cross-system heat exchanger, the first cross-system heat exchanger includes a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the air conditioning subsystem so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem can selectively flow through the first circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger, and the second circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger and the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container; and the second cross-system heat exchanger includes a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the air conditioning subsystem so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem can selectively flow through the first circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger, and the second circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the first circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem and the second heat exchange circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container, and the heat exchange medium in the first circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger in the second cross-system heat exchanger, the second circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger and the second circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger being connected in parallel to the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem further includes a third heat exchange circuit; the cross-system heat exchanger further includes a third cross-system heat exchanger, and the third cross-system heat exchanger includes a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the air conditioning subsystem so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem can selectively flow through the first circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger, and the second circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the third heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger and the third heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem further includes a second heat exchange circuit; the cross-system heat exchanger further includes a third cross-system heat exchanger, and the third cross-system heat exchanger includes a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the air conditioning subsystem so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem can selectively flow through the first circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger, and the second circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger being connected to the second heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger and the second heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air conditioning subsystem further includes an expansion device connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger of the air conditioning subsystem, so that the heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor enters the expansion device after passing through one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and then enters the other of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and the first circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger is connected between the expansion device and the second heat exchanger of the air conditioning subsystem, so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem can selectively flow through the first circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first cross-system heat exchanger also serves as the second heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger acts as the condenser, and the second heat exchanger acts as the evaporator.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first cross-system heat exchanger also serves as the second heat exchanger, and the third cross-system heat exchanger also serves as the first heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first heat exchanger acts as the evaporator, and the second heat exchanger acts as the condenser.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second cross-system heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air conditioning system further includes: a pump, connected between the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem and the second circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger and between the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem and the second circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger to promote a flow of the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem and the second circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger, and promote a flow of the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem and the second circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger also serves as the second heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger acts as the condenser, and the second heat exchanger acts as the evaporator, the heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem includes a first heat exchange circuit and a second heat exchange circuit, the second circuit of the cross-system heat exchanger is connected to the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem, so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit and the first heat exchange circuit can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container, and the second heat exchange circuit and the first circuit of the cross-system heat exchanger are connected in parallel to the air conditioning subsystem, so that the heat exchange medium in the air conditioning subsystem can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container by the second heat exchange circuit.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first cross-system heat exchanger also serves as the second heat exchanger, and the second cross-system heat exchanger also serves as the first heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air conditioning system, further includes: a pump, connected between the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem and the second circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger to promote a flow of the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the first heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem and the second circuit of the first cross-system heat exchanger; and a phase change heat exchange subsystem compressor and a phase change heat exchange subsystem expansion device, which are connected between the second heat exchanger of the phase change heat exchange subsystem and the second circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger to compress and expand the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem and the second circuit of the second cross-system heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger includes: a first heat exchange tube used to form the first circuit and a second heat exchange tube used to form the second circuit, wherein at least some of a plurality of sets of first heat exchange tubes and at least some of a plurality of sets of second heat exchange tubes are alternately arranged, each set of first heat exchange tubes includes at least one first heat exchange tube, and each set of second heat exchange tubes includes at least one second heat exchange tube.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heat exchange medium in the second circuit of the cross-system heat exchanger is water or ethylene glycol.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the condenser and the evaporator referred to are in the context of the air conditioning system under cooling working conditions.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the condenser and the evaporator referred to are in the context of the air conditioning system under heating working conditions.

By adopting the air conditioning system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioning system can be improved, and thus saving energy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioning subsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows only an air conditioning subsystem 10, FIGS. 2 to 10 show various air conditioning systems according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 11 to 12 show a heat exchanger according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, arrows on the air conditioning subsystem 10 indicate a flow direction of a heat exchange medium under a cooling working condition of the air conditioning subsystem 10. In FIGS. 3 and 6, arrows on the air conditioning subsystem 10 indicate a flow direction of the heat exchange medium under a heating working condition of the air conditioning subsystem 10. In FIGS. 11 and 12, arrows indicate flow directions of the heat exchange mediums in two circuits of the heat exchanger. The air conditioning system of the present disclosure may have only one working condition, such as a single cooling air conditioning system, or it may be a heat pump air conditioning system with two working conditions of cooling and heating.

FIGS. 2 to 6 schematically show a principle of the air conditioning system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not limited to how energy is charged into a phase change heat exchange subsystem 20. Several ways of charging the energy into the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 are disclosed in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 to 10. For example, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the energy is charged into the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 by the air conditioning subsystem 10; and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a compressor 25 and an expansion device 26 are added to form an energy charging circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, an air conditioning system 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure includes: an air conditioning subsystem 10, a phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and a cross-system heat exchanger 30. The air conditioning subsystem 10 includes: a compressor 11; a first heat exchanger 12A acting as one of a condenser and an evaporator; and a second heat exchanger 12B acting as the other of the condenser and the evaporator. The compressor 11, the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B are connected in a sequence from the compressor 11 through the first heat exchanger 12A to the second heat exchanger 12B. The phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 includes: a phase change material container 21; a phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21; and a heat exchange circuit 22 provided in the phase change material container 21. The heat exchange circuit 22 may be a heat exchange tube or a heat exchange channel. The heat exchange medium flows in the heat exchange tube or the heat exchange channel. An outer wall of the heat exchange tube or the heat exchange channel is in contact with the phase change material, so that heat exchange is performed between the heat exchange medium and the phase change material in a similar manner to that of the heat exchanger. The cross-system heat exchanger 30 includes a first circuit 31A and a second circuit 31B, the first circuit 31A is connected to the air conditioning subsystem 10 so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively flow through the first circuit 31A, and the second circuit 31B is connected to the heat exchange circuit 22 of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit 31B and the heat exchange circuit 22 can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21. In some examples of the present disclosure, the heat exchange medium in the first circuit 31A can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit 31B, in the cross-system heat exchanger 30. In addition, the air conditioning system 100 further includes: a valve, a pipe and a controller, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 8 and 10, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the heat exchange circuit of the air conditioning subsystem 10 and the heat exchange circuit 22 of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 are separated. The heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 is, for example, a refrigerant, and the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange circuit 22 of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 may be ethylene glycol or other medium.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 6 to 10, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger 30 also serves as at least one of the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the cross-system heat exchanger 30 also serves as the first heat exchanger 12A. Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 9, one cross-system heat exchanger 30, 30A also serves as the second heat exchanger 12B.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, the cross-system heat exchangers 30A, 30B also serve as the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B. According to the examples of the present disclosure, under the cooling working condition of the air conditioning subsystem 10, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the condenser and the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the evaporator, and under the heating working condition of the air conditioning subsystem 10, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the evaporator and the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the condenser.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the cross-system heat exchanger 30, 30C also serves as the first heat exchanger 12A. Under the heating working condition of the air conditioning subsystem 10, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the evaporator, the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the condenser, the cross-system heat exchanger 30, 30C acts as the evaporator, and the cross-system heat exchanger can selectively release heat obtained from the phase change heat exchange subsystem in the second circuit 31B.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the cross-system heat exchanger 30, 30C also serves as the first heat exchanger 12A. Under the heating working condition, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the evaporator, the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the condenser, and the cross-system heat exchanger 30, 30C can selectively release heat obtained from the phase change heat exchange subsystem in the second circuit 31B. The phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 is used in a heat pump system, and the first heat exchanger 12A acting as an outdoor unit operates at a temperature below the dew point and is prone to frost. By using the heat exchanger shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the heat exchange medium with a temperature higher than the dew point in the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 eliminates the frost generated on a surface of the first heat exchanger 12A, the frosting and defrosting cycle can be greatly shortened, and even uninterrupted heating and timely defrosting can be achieved.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first circuit 31A of the cross-system heat exchanger 30, 30B is connected between the heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B of the air conditioning subsystem 10, so that the heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor 11 enters the cross-system heat exchanger 30, 30B after passing through one of the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B, and then enters the other of the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 and 7 to 10, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the air conditioning subsystem 10 further includes an expansion device 13, which is connected between the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B of the air conditioning subsystem 10, so that the heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor 11 enters the expansion device 13 after passing through one of the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B, and then enters the other of the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, taking the air conditioning subsystem 10 being in the cooling working condition as an example, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the condenser, the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the evaporator, and the cross-system heat exchanger 30 also serves as the second heat exchanger 12B. The cross-system heat exchanger 30 can selectively absorb cooling energy obtained from the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 in the second circuit 31B. When the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 starts working, the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 releases energy, thereby improving the cooling capacity of the air conditioning system 100 and improving the energy efficiency ratio of the air conditioning system 100. When the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 stops working, the air conditioning subsystem 10 works normally.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, taking the air conditioning subsystem 10 being in the heating working condition as an example, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the condenser, the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the evaporator, and the cross-system heat exchanger 30 also serves as the first heat exchanger 12A. The cross-system heat exchanger can selectively release heat obtained from the phase change heat exchange subsystem in the second circuit. When the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 stops working, the air conditioning subsystem 10 works normally, and the first heat exchanger 12A is only used in the air conditioning subsystem 10, effectively utilizing the heat exchange area between the first heat exchanger 12A and air. When the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 starts working, the air conditioning subsystem 10 may not work. Therefore, the heating capacity of the air conditioning system 100 may be improved, and the energy efficiency ratio and the comfort of the air conditioning system 100 may be improved.

Referring to FIG. 4, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the condenser, the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the evaporator, the first circuit 31A of the cross-system heat exchanger 30 is connected between the expansion device 13 and the second heat exchanger 12B acting as the evaporator of the air conditioning subsystem 10, and the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 reduces a temperature of the heat exchange medium expanded by the expansion device 13 through the cross-system heat exchanger 30, to reduce a dryness of the heat exchange medium. The cross-system heat exchanger 30 may be a plate heat exchanger.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 participates in the operation of the air conditioning subsystem 10. The cross-system heat exchanger 30 positioned in an upstream of the second heat exchanger 12B (i.e., the evaporator), reduces the temperature of the expanded heat exchange medium by the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20, which may reduce the dryness of the heat exchange medium, thereby causing a two-phase flow to be distributed more evenly in the second heat exchanger 12B acting as the evaporator, even causing the heat exchange medium to become a single-phase liquid heat exchange medium, which then enters the second heat exchanger 12B acting as the evaporator, thereby avoiding the distribution problem of the two-phase heat exchange medium.

Referring to FIG. 5, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the condenser, the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the evaporator, the first circuit 31A of the cross-system heat exchanger 30 is connected between the first heat exchanger acting as the condenser and the expansion device 13 of the air conditioning subsystem 10, and the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 reduces the temperature of the heat exchange medium condensed by the condenser through the cross-system heat exchanger 30 to increase a degree of supercooling of the heat exchange medium. The cross-system heat exchanger 30 may be a plate heat exchanger.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 participates in the operation of the air conditioning subsystem 10. The cross-system heat exchanger 30 is positioned in a downstream of the first heat exchanger 12A (i.e., the condenser). Sufficient degree of supercooling of the heat exchange medium is obtained by the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20, thereby reducing the design requirements of the condenser and the compressor.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first heat exchanger 12A in FIG. 7 is modified according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, that is, the heat exchange circuit 22 of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 further includes a third heat exchange circuit; and the cross-system heat exchanger 30 further includes a third cross-system heat exchanger including the first circuit and the second circuit, the first circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger is connected to the air conditioning subsystem 10 so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively flow through the first circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger, and the second circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger is connected to the third heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit of the third cross-system heat exchanger and the third heat exchange circuit of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the heat exchange circuit 22 of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 includes a first heat exchange circuit 22A and a second heat exchange circuit 22B. The cross-system heat exchanger 30 includes a first cross-system heat exchanger 30A and a second cross-system heat exchanger 30B. The first cross-system heat exchanger 30A includes a first circuit 31A and a second circuit 31B, the first circuit 31A of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A is connected to the air conditioning subsystem 10 so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively flow through the first circuit 31A of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A, and the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A is connected to the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A and the first heat exchange circuit 22A can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21. The second cross-system heat exchanger 30B includes a first circuit 31A and a second circuit 31B, the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B is connected to the air conditioning subsystem 10 so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively flow through the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B, and the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B is connected to the second heat exchange circuit 22B of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B and the second heat exchange circuit 22B of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21, and the heat exchange medium in the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B in the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B. In some examples of the present disclosure, the heat exchange medium in the first circuit 31A of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A in the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A.

In the examples of the present disclosure, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the air conditioning subsystem 10 further includes an expansion device 13, which is connected between the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B of the air conditioning subsystem 10, so that the heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor 11 enters the expansion device 13 after passing through one of the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B, and then enters the other of the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B. The first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B is connected between the expansion device 13 and the second heat exchanger 12B of the air conditioning subsystem 10, so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively flow through the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B. The second cross-system heat exchanger 30B may be a plate heat exchanger.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A also serves as the second heat exchanger 12B, the second heat exchanger 12B serves as an evaporator, the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A may use the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 for cooling, and the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B may use the air conditioning subsystem 10 to reduce the temperature of the phase change material of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 accommodated in the phase change material container 21. In the air conditioning system 100 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the air conditioning subsystem 10 or the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 may be selectively operated for cooling.

Referring to FIG. 10, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A also serves as the second heat exchanger 12B, and the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B also serves as the first heat exchanger 12A. Referring to FIG. 10, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the air conditioning system 100 further includes: a pump 51, which is connected between the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A to promote a flow of the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A; and a phase change heat exchange subsystem compressor 25 and a phase change heat exchange subsystem expansion device 26, which are connected between the second heat exchange circuit 22B of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B to compress and expand the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second heat exchange circuit 22B of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B. The phase change heat exchange subsystem compressor 25, the phase change heat exchange subsystem expansion device 26, the second heat exchange circuit 22B of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20, and the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B compose a refrigeration system to cool the phase change material of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 accommodated in the phase change material container 21.

Referring to FIG. 8, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger 30 includes a first cross-system heat exchanger 30A and a second cross-system heat exchanger 30B. The first cross-system heat exchanger 30A includes a first circuit 31A and a second circuit 31B, the first circuit 31A of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A is connected to the air conditioning subsystem 10 so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively flow through the first circuit 31A of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A, and the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A is connected to the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A and the first heat exchange circuit 22A can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21. The second cross-system heat exchanger 30B includes a first circuit 31A and a second circuit 31B, the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B is connected to the air conditioning subsystem 10 so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively flow through the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B, and the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B is connected to the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the heat exchange subsystem 20 so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the first circuit 31A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and the second heat exchange circuit 22B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21. The heat exchange medium in the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B in the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B, and the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A and the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B are connected in parallel to the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20. Referring to FIG. 8, according to the example of the present disclosure, the air conditioning system 100 further includes a pump 51, which is connected between the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A and between the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B to promote a flow of the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A, and to promote a flow of the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B. In some examples of the present disclosure, the heat exchange medium in the first circuit 31A of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A in the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the heat exchange circuit 22 of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 can use the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 and the second heat exchanger 12B (i.e., the evaporator) for cooling, and can use the air conditioning subsystem 10 and the first heat exchanger 12A (i.e., the condenser) to reduce the temperature of the phase change material of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 accommodated in the phase change material container 21. The phase change heat exchange subsystem compressor 25 and the phase change heat exchange subsystem expansion device 26 can use electric energy at power consumption valleys to cool the phase change material in the phase change material container 21, so as to utilize the phase change material in the phase change material container 21 for cooling at power consumption peaks. In addition, the phase change material in the phase change material container 21 can be cooled by electric energy generated by solar energy during the day.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A also serves as the second heat exchanger 12B, and under the cooling working condition of the air conditioning subsystem 10, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the condenser and the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the evaporator.

Referring to FIG. 8, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the heat exchange circuit 22 of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 includes a first heat exchange circuit 22A and a second heat exchange circuit 22B. The cross-system heat exchanger 30 includes: a first cross-system heat exchanger 30A; a second cross-system heat exchanger 30B; and a third cross-system heat exchanger 30C. The first cross-system heat exchanger 30A includes a first circuit 31A and a second circuit 31B, the first circuit 31A of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A is connected to the air conditioning subsystem 10 so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively flow through the first circuit 31A of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A, and the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A is connected to the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A and the first heat exchange circuit 22A can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21. The second cross-system heat exchanger 30B includes a first circuit 31A and a second circuit 31B, the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B is connected to the air conditioning subsystem 10 so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively flow through the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B, and the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B is connected to the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B and the second heat exchange circuit 22B of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21. The heat exchange medium in the first circuit 31A of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B in the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B, and the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A and the second circuit 31B of the second cross-system heat exchanger 30B are connected in parallel to the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20. The third cross-system heat exchanger 30C includes a first circuit 31A and a second circuit 31B, the first circuit 31A of the third cross-system heat exchanger 30C is connected to the air conditioning subsystem 10 so that the heat exchange medium of the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively flow through the first circuit 31A of the third cross-system heat exchanger 30C, and the second circuit 31B of the third cross-system heat exchanger 30C is connected to the second heat exchange circuit 22B of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit 31B of the third cross-system heat exchanger 30C and the second heat exchange circuit 22B of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21. In some examples of the present disclosure, the heat exchange medium in the first circuit 31A of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit 31B of the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A in the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A. In some examples of the present disclosure, the heat exchange medium in the first circuit 31A of the third cross-system heat exchanger 30C can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium in the second circuit 31B of the third cross-system heat exchanger 30C in the third cross-system heat exchanger 30C.

According to the examples of the disclosure, the first cross-system heat exchanger 30A also serves as the second heat exchanger 12B, and the third cross-system heat exchanger 30C also serves as the first heat exchanger 12A. Under the heating working condition of the air conditioning subsystem 10, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the evaporator, and the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the condenser.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the cross-system heat exchanger 30A may use the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 for cooling, the cross-system heat exchanger 30B can use the air conditioning subsystem 10 to reduce the temperature of the phase change material of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 accommodated in the phase change material container 21, and the cross-system heat exchanger 30C can use the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 to defrost the first heat exchanger 12A under the heating working condition of the air conditioning subsystem 10.

Referring to FIG. 9, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger 30 also serves as the second heat exchanger 12B. Under the cooling working condition of the air conditioning subsystem 10, the first heat exchanger 12A acts as the condenser, and the second heat exchanger 12B acts as the evaporator. The heat exchange circuit 22 of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 includes a first heat exchange circuit 22A and a second heat exchange circuit 22B, the second circuit 31B of the cross-system heat exchanger 30 is connected to the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 so that the heat exchange medium in a circuit composed of the second circuit 31B and the first heat exchange circuit 22A can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21. The second heat exchange circuit 22B and the first circuit 31A of the cross-system heat exchanger 30 are connected in parallel to the air conditioning subsystem 10 so that the heat exchange medium in the air conditioning subsystem 10 can selectively exchange heat with the phase change material accommodated in the phase change material container 21 through the second heat exchange circuit 22B.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the first heat exchange circuit 22A of the heat exchange circuit 22 of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 can use the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 for cooling, and can use the air conditioning subsystem 10 to reduce the temperature of the phase change material of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 accommodated in the phase change material container 21, and the second heat exchange circuit 22B of the heat exchange circuit 22 of the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 can use the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 to defrost the first heat exchanger 12A under the heating working condition of the air conditioning subsystem 10.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger 30 includes: a first heat exchange tube 32A used to form the first circuit 31A and a second heat exchanger tube 32B used to form the second circuit 31B, at least some of a plurality of sets of first heat exchange tubes and at least some of a plurality of sets of second heat exchange tubes are alternately arranged, each set of first heat exchange tubes includes at least one first heat exchange tube 32A, and each set of second heat exchange tubes includes at least one second heat exchange tube 32B. The cross-system heat exchanger 30 further includes a header 33 and fins arranged alternately with the heat exchange tubes. In the case that the cross-system heat exchanger 30 also serves as the first heat exchanger 12A and the second heat exchanger 12B, the cross-system heat exchanger 30 may adopt the heat exchanger shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the cross-system heat exchanger 30 is a plate heat exchanger. In the case that the cross-system heat exchanger 30 does not serve as the first heat exchanger 12A or the second heat exchanger 12B, the cross-system heat exchanger 30 may be a plate heat exchanger. The heat exchange medium in the second circuit 31B of the cross-system heat exchanger 30 may be water or ethylene glycol.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the efficiency of the heat exchanger may be effectively improved, and at the same time, the electric energy at power consumption valleys can be used to cool or heat the phase change material in the phase change material container 21, so as to use the phase change material in the phase change material container 21 for cooling or heating at power consumption peaks. In addition, the phase change material in the phase change material container 21 can be cooled or heated by electric energy generated by solar energy during the day, so as to use the phase change material in the phase change material container 21 for cooling or heating at night, thereby achieving the grid-independent air conditioning system.

In addition, the air conditioning system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure improves the distribution of the heat exchange medium in the evaporator, and can effectively use the phase change material in the phase change material container 21 to defrost the heat exchanger under the heating working conditions, and reduces the load of the compressor when the exhaust temperature is too high.

The air conditioning system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure improves the heat exchange efficiency, thereby saving energy. Since existing components of conventional air conditioning systems are used as much as possible and these components are used efficiently, the air conditioning system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may reduce the cost of the system. Due to the use of the heat exchanger shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the air conditioning system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may save space. Furthermore, the air conditioning system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure improves the uniformity of the two-phase heat exchange medium distribution in the evaporator, and may reduce the design requirements of the compressor and the heat exchanger to a certain extent, so that the system has greater inclusiveness.

Due to the use of the heat exchanger shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the air conditioning system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure can effectively use the heat transfer area of the heat exchanger and improve the heat transfer efficiency because all the heat transfer area (fins) of the heat exchanger with air is used for the air conditioning subsystem 10 when the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 stops working; and similarly, all the heat exchange area (fins) of the heat exchanger with the air is used for the phase change heat exchange subsystem 20 when the air conditioning subsystem 10 stops working.