According to GlobalData’s company profile on Fujitsu General, Smart climate control systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Fujitsu General's grant share as of September 2023 was 15%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Refrigeration cycle apparatus with acid-capturing filter

A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230296299A1) describes a refrigeration cycle apparatus that includes a unique filter member designed to capture acid contained in the refrigerant. The apparatus features a refrigerant circuit with a flow channel through which the refrigerant flows in a liquid single-phase state. The filter member is positioned within the flow channel to effectively capture the acid as the refrigerant passes through.

In addition to the filter member, the refrigeration cycle apparatus includes several other components. On the upstream side of the flow direction of the refrigerant, there is a supercooler that converts the refrigerant from a gas-liquid two-phase state to a supercooling refrigerant in a liquid single-phase state. This supercooled refrigerant then flows through the filter member.

Furthermore, the refrigerant circuit is equipped with a gas-liquid separator that separates the refrigerant in the liquid single-phase state from the refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state. The refrigerant in the liquid single-phase state is directed to the filter member for acid capture.

The apparatus also includes a receiver, which is positioned upstream of the supercooler. The receiver separates the refrigerant in the liquid single-phase state from the refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state and sends the former to the supercooler.

The filter member itself consists of a first filter member and a second filter member. The refrigerant circuit features detour flow channels that connect the upstream and downstream sides of each filter member. During heating and cooling operations performed by the connected indoor unit, the refrigerant passes through only one of the filter members at a time.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus utilizes a bridge circuit, where a single piece of the filter member is provided. The refrigerant flows in only one direction with respect to the filter member.

Lastly, the refrigerant used in this apparatus is an R466A refrigerant.

Overall, this patent describes a refrigeration cycle apparatus with a specialized filter member designed to capture acid in the refrigerant. The apparatus includes various components such as a supercooler, gas-liquid separator, and receiver to ensure efficient refrigerant flow and separation. The use of detour flow channels and a bridge circuit further enhances the functionality of the apparatus.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.