Phase change heat pump systems and terminal equipment

Abstract

This application discloses a phase change heat pump system and terminal equipment, belonging to the field of mechanical design technology. The phase change heat pump system includes a reversing device, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a compressor, and a phase change heat pump. The compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger are connected through the reversing device. The phase change heat pump includes a first housing and a phase change material. The phase change material is filled in the first housing, and the phase change heat pump is in contact with and thermally connected to the first heat exchanger. When the reversing device is in a first operating state, the intake port is connected to the first heat exchanger, and the exhaust port is connected to the second heat exchanger. When the reversing device is in a second operating state, the intake port is connected to the second heat exchanger, and the exhaust port is connected to the first heat exchanger. Using this scheme, the first heat exchanger can actively heat the phase change material, significantly shortening the regeneration time of the phase change material compared to related technologies, which is beneficial to improving the working efficiency of the phase change heat pump system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of heat pump system design technology, and in particular to a phase change heat pump system and terminal equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Phase change materials are used in heat pump systems because they have high thermal conductivity, high specific heat capacity, the ability to store or release a lot of heat, and can be reused.

[0003] In heat pump systems, phase change materials (PCMs) are typically combined with an evaporator. During operation, the evaporator absorbs the heat stored in the PCM, which then releases this heat, changing from a liquid to a solid state. As the heat in the PCM decreases, the evaporator's efficiency declines. Once the PCM has solidified, the evaporator usually needs to be stopped, and the PCM needs to be reheated.

[0004] However, the methods used to heat phase change materials are usually passive heating, such as natural wind heating or circulating water heating. Passive heating is inefficient, as it takes a long time for the phase change material to change from a solid to a liquid state, ultimately leading to low efficiency of the heat pump system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a phase change heat pump system and terminal device, which solves the problem of low operating efficiency of heat pump systems caused by the passive heating method for phase change materials in related technologies. The technical solution is as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a phase change heat pump system, the phase change heat pump system comprising: a reversing device, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a compressor, and a phase change heat pump;

[0007] The reversing device has a first reversing port, a second reversing port, a third reversing port and a fourth reversing port;

[0008] The first heat exchanger has a first heat exchange port and a second heat exchange port, and the first heat exchange port is connected to the first reversing port;

[0009] The second heat exchanger has a third heat exchange port and a fourth heat exchange port, the third heat exchange port being connected to the second heat exchange port, and the fourth heat exchange port being connected to the second reversing port;

[0010] The compressor has an air intake port and an air exhaust port. The air intake port is connected to the third reversing port, and the air exhaust port is connected to the fourth reversing port.

[0011] The phase change heat exchanger includes a first housing and a phase change material, wherein the phase change material is located in the first housing and is used to exchange heat with the first heat exchanger;

[0012] When the reversing device is in the first working state, the air intake is connected to the first heat exchanger and the exhaust port is connected to the second heat exchanger. When the reversing device is in the second working state, the air intake is connected to the second heat exchanger and the exhaust port is connected to the first heat exchanger.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the first heat exchanger is located in the first housing, the phase change material is located in a first space between the first heat exchanger and the first housing, and at least a portion of the first heat exchanger is immersed in the phase change material.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the phase change heat pump system further includes a water circulation subsystem, which includes a water tank, a second housing, a circulating water pump, and a spray arm.

[0015] The water tank, the second housing, and the circulating water pump are interconnected, and the second housing is thermally connected to the second heat exchanger.

[0016] When the reversing device is in the first working state, the water tank is not connected to the circulating water pump, and the circulating water pump is connected to the spray arm. When the reversing device is in the second working state, the water tank is connected to the circulating water pump, and the circulating water pump is not connected to the spray arm.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the water circulation subsystem further includes a reversing valve, which is connected to the water tank, the circulating water pump, and the spray arm, respectively.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the water circulation subsystem further includes a third housing;

[0019] The third housing is connected to the circulating water pump and is also connected to the water tank;

[0020] When the reversing device is in the first working state, the water tank is not connected to the third box. When the reversing device is in the second working state, the third box is connected to the water tank.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the water circulation subsystem further includes a second check valve, which is connected to the water tank and the third housing, respectively.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the circulating water sprayed by the spray arm flows back to the water tank, and the water circulation subsystem further includes a drain pump and a drain pipe;

[0023] The drainage pump is connected to the water tank and the drainage pipe respectively, and at least a portion of the drainage pipe passes through the third housing.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the phase change heat exchanger further includes an auxiliary heat exchange component, which includes a fourth housing and a heat exchange medium, with the heat exchange medium filling the fourth housing. The auxiliary heat exchange component is used to exchange heat with the phase change heat exchanger.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the first housing is located inside the fourth housing, and a third space is formed between the first housing and the fourth housing, the heat exchange medium is filled in the third space, and at least a portion of the first housing is immersed in the heat exchange medium.

[0026] In a second aspect, this application provides a terminal device, characterized in that the terminal device includes a phase change heat pump system as described in any of the first aspect and its possible implementations.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the terminal device is a washing device, which further includes a base, a housing, and a partition.

[0028] The partition is located between the base and the outer shell, forming a receiving cavity between the partition and the base. The phase change heat pump system is located within the receiving cavity. A washing cavity is formed between the partition and the outer shell, and the washing cavity is used to wash the target object.

[0029] The beneficial effects of the technical solutions provided in this application are:

[0030] In the solution provided in this application embodiment, the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger are connected through a reversing device. By adjusting the operating state of the reversing device, the connection path between the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger can be adjusted to achieve the switching of functions between the first and second heat exchangers. When the reversing device is in the first operating state, and the phase change material releases heat from a liquid state to a solid state, the reversing device can be adjusted to the second operating state, changing the first heat exchanger from an evaporator to a condenser, thereby actively heating the phase change material using the first heat exchanger. Compared with passive heating methods (natural wind heating, circulating water heating, air heating, etc.) in related technologies, this method of actively heating the phase change material by the first heat exchanger has higher heating efficiency and significantly shortens the regeneration time of the phase change material, thus improving the operating efficiency of the phase change heat pump system.

[0031] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 6 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 7 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0041] Legend

[0042] 1. Reversing device; 2. First heat exchanger; 3. Second heat exchanger; 4. Compressor; 5. Phase change heat exchanger; 6. Water circulation subsystem;

[0043] 11. First reversing port; 12. Second reversing port; 13. Third reversing port; 14. Fourth reversing port; 21. First heat exchange port; 22. Second heat exchange port; 31. Third heat exchange port; 32. Fourth heat exchange port; 4A. Inlet; 4B. Outlet; 51. First housing; 52. Phase change material; 53. Auxiliary heat exchange assembly; 61. Water tank; 62. Second housing; 63. Circulating water pump; 64. Spray arm; 65. Reversing valve; 66. Third housing; 67. Second check valve; 68. Drain pump; 69. Drain pipe;

[0044] 531. Fourth chamber; 532. Heat exchange medium. Detailed Implementation

[0045] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and similar terms used in this patent application specification and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, the terms “an” or “a” and similar terms do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one. The terms “comprising” or “including” and similar terms mean that the element or object preceding “comprising” or “including” encompasses the element or object listed following “comprising” or “including” and its equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects. The terms “connected” or “linked” and similar terms are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. The terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” etc., are used only to indicate relative positional relationships, and these relative positional relationships may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described object changes.

[0046] A heat pump system typically includes components such as a compressor, condenser, and evaporator. These components are interconnected. The compressor draws in low-temperature, low-pressure gas from the evaporator and delivers high-temperature, high-pressure gas to the condenser. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas condenses into a liquid in the condenser and releases heat to the outside. The condensed liquid flows into the evaporator and absorbs heat to evaporate, forming a low-temperature, low-pressure gas. To ensure the evaporator's efficiency, a heat exchange medium is usually installed to provide heat to the evaporator. Phase change materials (PCMs) are used as heat exchange media in heat pump systems because they have high thermal conductivity, high specific heat capacity, the ability to store or release significant amounts of heat, and are reusable.

[0047] In a heat pump system, the evaporator absorbs heat stored in a phase change material (PCM) during operation. The PCM then releases this heat, changing from a liquid to a solid state. As the heat in the PCM decreases, the evaporator's efficiency declines. Once the PCM solidifies, it can no longer provide heat to the evaporator, preventing it from evaporating the condensed liquid into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas. In this situation, the entire heat pump system cannot operate normally. Therefore, the PCM needs to be heated to change it back from a solid to a liquid state to store the heat needed for the evaporator to function.

[0048] However, the methods used to heat phase change materials in related technologies are usually passive heating, such as natural wind heating or circulating water heating. When using passive heating, the phase change material takes a long time to change from solid to liquid, such as 10 hours, 12 hours, or even 24 hours, which seriously affects the working efficiency of heat pump systems that use phase change materials.

[0049] Therefore, this application provides a phase change heat pump system that can significantly shorten the time required for phase change materials to change from a solid to a liquid state, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the heat pump system. To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 As shown, the phase change heat pump system provided in this application embodiment includes: a commutation device 1, a first heat exchanger 2, a second heat exchanger 3, a compressor 4, and a phase change heat pump 5.

[0051] The reversing device 1 has four ports: a first reversing port 11, a second reversing port 12, a third reversing port 13, and a fourth reversing port 14. As an example, the reversing device 1 can be a four-way reversing valve, a cam reversing device, etc. The reversing device 1 can be considered as existing related technology, and its specific structure will not be elaborated here. The reversing device 1 is used to adjust the connection relationship between the first heat exchanger 2, the second heat exchanger 3, and the compressor 4 in the phase change heat pump system, which will be described in detail below.

[0052] The first heat exchanger 2 has a first heat exchange port 21 and a second heat exchange port 22, and the second heat exchanger 3 has a third heat exchange port 31 and a fourth heat exchange port 32. The first heat exchange port 21 of the first heat exchanger 2 is connected to the first reversing port 11 of the reversing device 1, the second heat exchange port 22 of the first heat exchanger 2 is connected to the third heat exchange port 31 of the second heat exchanger 3, and the fourth heat exchange port 32 of the second heat exchanger 3 is connected to the second reversing port 12 of the reversing device 1.

[0053] In some examples, the heat pump system may also include a throttling valve connected to the first heat exchanger 3 and the second heat exchanger 4 respectively. The throttling valve is used to control the flow rate of the medium between the first heat exchanger 3 and the second heat exchanger 4, which will not be elaborated here.

[0054] The compressor 4 has an intake port 4A and an exhaust port 4B. The intake port 4A is connected to the third reversing port 13 of the reversing device 1, and the exhaust port 4B is connected to the fourth reversing port 14 of the reversing device 1. Thus, the reversing device 1 enables mutual communication between the first heat exchanger 2, the second heat exchanger 3 and the compressor 4.

[0055] The phase change heat exchanger 5 may include a first housing 51 and a phase change material 52. The phase change material 52 is filled in the first housing 51. The phase change heat exchanger 5 is in contact with the first heat exchanger 2 and is thermally connected to the first heat exchanger 2. This thermal connection can also be called thermal coupling, indicating that heat exchange can occur between the phase change heat exchanger 5 and the first heat exchanger 2.

[0056] The phase change material 52 can be a solid-liquid phase change energy storage material. Typically, when the phase change material 52 changes from a liquid to a solid state, it releases heat to the outside to play a role in heat preservation and heating. When the phase change material 52 changes from a solid to a liquid state, it absorbs heat from the outside to play a role in cooling and heat storage.

[0057] As an example, phase change material 52 can be an inorganic phase change material. Phase change material 52 can be water, or it can be a sodium sulfate, such as sodium sulfate hydrate with added anti-phase separation agent; phase change material 52 can also be sodium acetate, such as sodium acetate trihydrate with added anti-phase separation agent; phase change material 52 can also be calcium chloride, such as hydrated calcium chloride; phase change material 52 can also be a phosphate, such as disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate.

[0058] Alternatively, the phase change material 52 can also be an organic phase change material. The phase change material 52 can be paraffin or fatty acids.

[0059] When the reversing device 1 is in its first operating state, the intake port 4A is connected to the first heat exchanger 2, and the exhaust port 4B is connected to the second heat exchanger 3. In this phase change heat pump system, the first heat exchanger 2 is equivalent to an evaporator in related technologies, used to evaporate the condensed liquid to form a low-temperature, low-pressure gas, which is then supplied to the compressor 4. The second heat exchanger 3 is equivalent to a condenser in related technologies, used to condense the high-temperature, high-pressure gas discharged from the compressor 4 to form a liquid, which is then supplied to the first heat exchanger 2. In this case, the first heat exchanger 2 absorbs the heat stored in the phase change material 52 of the phase change heat pump 5, causing the phase change material 52 to change from a liquid to a solid state.

[0060] When the reversing device 1 is in the second operating state, the intake port 4A is connected to the second heat exchanger 3, and the exhaust port 4B is connected to the first heat exchanger 2. In this phase change heat pump system, the second heat exchanger 3 is equivalent to an evaporator in related technologies, used to evaporate the condensed liquid to form a low-temperature, low-pressure gas, and then deliver the low-temperature, low-pressure gas to the compressor 4; the first heat exchanger 2 is equivalent to a condenser in related technologies, used to condense the high-temperature, high-pressure gas discharged from the compressor 4 to form a liquid, and then deliver the condensed liquid to the second heat exchanger 3. In this case, the second heat exchanger 3 heats the phase change material 52 of the phase change heat pump 5 to cause the phase change material 52 to change from a solid to a liquid state, thereby achieving regenerative heat storage of the phase change material 52.

[0061] In the solution provided in this application embodiment, when the commutation device 1 is in the first working state and the phase change material 52 has turned into a solid state, the commutation device 1 is adjusted to the second working state, so that the first heat exchanger 2 heats the phase change material 52, thereby achieving active heating of the phase change material 52. Compared with passive heating methods (natural wind heating, circulating water heating, air heating, etc.) in related technologies, this method of actively heating the phase change material by the first heat exchanger has higher heating efficiency and significantly shortens the regeneration time of the phase change material 52, thus improving the working efficiency of the phase change heat pump system.

[0062] In some examples, such as Figure 1 As shown, the first heat exchanger 2 is located in the first housing 51 of the phase change heat pump 5, and the first heat exchanger 2 and the inner wall of the first housing 51 form a first space, in which the phase change material 52 is filled. Furthermore, at least a portion of the first heat exchanger 2 is in contact with the phase change material 52, that is, at least a portion of the first heat exchanger 2 is immersed in the liquid phase change material 52 (or is encapsulated by the solid phase change material 52), and the phase change material 52 is used for heat exchange with the first heat exchanger 2. As an example, the first heat exchanger 2 is completely immersed in the liquid phase change material 52 (or encapsulated by the solid phase change material 52), which helps to increase the heat exchange area between the first heat exchanger 2 and the phase change material 52, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency between the first heat exchanger 2 and the phase change material 52, and thus improving the operating efficiency of the phase change heat pump system.

[0063] In other examples, the first heat exchanger 2 is located outside the first housing 51, and the surface of the first heat exchanger 2 is in contact with the first housing 51. The first heat exchanger 2 and the phase change material 52 exchange heat through the first housing 51. This structure facilitates the manufacturing and processing of the first heat exchanger 2 and the phase change heat exchanger 5, and also helps to reduce the assembly difficulty between the first heat exchanger 2 and the phase change heat exchanger 5.

[0064] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 As shown, the phase change heat pump system may further include a water circulation subsystem 6, which may include a water tank 61, a second housing 62, a circulating water pump 63, and a spray arm 64. The water tank 61, the second housing 62, and the circulating water pump 63 are interconnected, and the second housing 62 is thermally connected to the second heat exchanger 3, that is, the second housing 62 and the second heat exchanger 3 exchange heat.

[0065] As an example, the water tank 61, the second housing 62, and the circulating water pump 63 can be interconnected in sequence, with the circulating water pump 63 connected to both the water tank 61 and the spray arm 64. Optionally, the circulating water pump 63 can be located between the water tank 61 and the second housing 62, meaning the circulating water pump 63 is connected to both the water tank 61 and the second housing 62, and the second housing 62 is connected to both the circulating water pump 63 and the spray arm 64. The connection order of the water tank 61, the second housing 62, the circulating water pump 63, and the spray arm 64 is not limited here.

[0066] When the reversing device 1 is in the first working state, the water tank 61 and the circulating water pump 63 are not connected, while the circulating water pump 63 and the spray arm 64 are connected. The circulating water in the water tank 61 first reaches the second water tank 62, and then is heated by the action of the second heat exchanger 3. The heated circulating water in the second water tank 62 enters the spray arm 64 through the circulating water pump 63, and the spray arm 64 sprays out the heated circulating water under the action of the circulating water pump 63.

[0067] When the reversing device 1 is in the second working state, the water tank 61 is connected to the circulating water pump 63, and the circulating water pump 63 is not connected to the spray arm 64. After the circulating water in the water tank 61 reaches the second water tank 62, it transfers heat to the second heat exchanger 3. The circulating water that has released heat returns to the water tank 61 through the circulating water pump 63, thus forming a cycle and continuously providing heat to the second heat exchanger 3.

[0068] In some examples, the outer surface of the second heat exchanger 3 is in contact with the outer surface of the second housing 62. When the reversing device 1 is in the first operating state described above, the heat generated when the high-temperature and high-pressure gas in the second heat exchanger 3 condenses is transferred to the circulating water via the second housing 62, thereby heating the circulating water. When the reversing device 1 is in the second operating state, the heat in the circulating water is transferred to the second heat exchanger 3 via the second housing 62 to achieve evaporation at the second heat exchanger 3.

[0069] In another example, Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 3As shown, the second heat exchanger 3 is located in the second housing 62, forming a second partition space between the second heat exchanger 3 and the second housing 62. Circulating water is located in the second partition space, and at least a portion of the second heat exchanger 3 is immersed in the circulating water. With this design, the second heat exchanger 3 can directly exchange heat with the circulating water, and the immersion of the third heat exchanger 3 in the circulating water increases the heat exchange area, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0070] Figure 4 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application. In some examples, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the water circulation subsystem 6 also includes a reversing valve 65. The reversing valve 65 is connected to the water tank 61, the circulating water pump 63, and the spray arm 64, respectively, and is used to control the on / off relationship between the circulating water pump 63 and the water tank 61 and the spray arm 64. When the reversing device 1 is in the first working state, the reversing valve 65 connects the circulating water pump 63 and the spray arm 64, and blocks the circulating water pump 63 and the water tank 61; when the reversing device 1 is in the second working state, the reversing valve 65 connects the circulating water pump 63 and the water tank 61, and blocks the circulating water pump 63 and the spray arm 64.

[0071] In other examples, the water circulation subsystem 6 may also include two first check valves: one for connecting the water tank 61 and the circulating water pump 63, and the other for connecting the circulating water pump 63 and the spray arm 64. The on / off relationship between the circulating water pump 63 and the water tank 61 and the spray arm 64 is similar to that described above and will not be repeated here.

[0072] Optionally, the water circulation subsystem may include only one first check valve, which connects the circulating water pump 63 and the spray arm 64. In this case, the circulating water pump 63 is always connected to the water tank 61. When the reversing device 1 is in the first working state, the first check valve connects the circulating water pump 63 and the spray arm 64, so that circulating water is sprayed out from the spray arm 64. When the reversing device 1 is in the second working state, the first check valve blocks the circulating water pump 63 and the spray arm 64, so that circulating water circulates between the water tank 61, the second housing 62 and the circulating water pump 63, thereby providing heat to the second heat exchanger 3.

[0073] This approach achieves two objectives: firstly, it enables the phase change heat pump system to heat the circulating water in the circulating water subsystem 6; secondly, it provides heat to the second heat exchanger 3 while the first heat exchanger 2 heats the phase change material 52, thereby improving the efficiency of the second heat exchanger 3 and thus increasing the heating efficiency of the first heat exchanger 2 on the phase change material 52.

[0074] Figure 5 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 5As shown, the water circulation subsystem 6 may also include a third housing 66. The water tank 61, the second housing 62, the circulating water pump 63, and the third housing 66 are sequentially interconnected. The second housing 62 is connected to the spray arm 64. Figure 5 (Not shown in the image) is not connected, and the third box 66 is connected to the water tank 61.

[0075] In some examples, when the reversing device 1 is in the first operating state, the water tank 61 and the third housing 66 are not connected to each other to ensure that there is sufficient pressure in the water circulation subsystem 6 so that the circulating water can be sprayed out by the spray arm 64 for utilization. When the reversing device 1 is in the second operating state, the circulating water pump 63 is not connected to the spray arm 64, and the third housing 66 is connected to the water tank 61. This allows all the power generated by the circulating water pump 63 to be used to promote the circulation of circulating water between the water tank 61, the second housing 62, the circulating water pump 63, and the third housing 66, increasing the circulation rate of the circulating water and improving the efficiency of heat exchange with the second heat exchanger 3.

[0076] As an example, regarding the connection between the water tank 61 and the third box 66, Figure 6 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 6 As shown, the water circulation subsystem 6 may also include a second one-way valve 67. The two ends of the second one-way valve 67 are connected to the water tank 61 and the third housing 66, respectively. The second one-way valve is used to control the on / off relationship between the third housing and the water tank. For example, when the reversing device 1 is in the first operating state, the second one-way valve 67 blocks the water tank 61 and the third housing 66, and the circulating water flowing to the third housing 66 is temporarily stored in the third housing 66. When the reversing device 1 is in the second operating state, the second one-way valve 67 connects the water tank 61 and the third housing 66, and the circulating water stored in the third housing 66 flows through the water tank 61 to the second housing 62, thereby transferring heat to the second heat exchanger 3 and promoting the evaporation efficiency in the second heat exchanger 3.

[0077] In other examples, the third housing 66 is always connected to the water tank 61, regardless of whether the reversing device 1 is in the first or second operating state. The second housing 66 is always connected to the water tank 61, and the circulating water can continuously circulate between the water tank 61, the second housing 62, the circulating water pump 63, and the third housing 66. In this way, whether the second heat exchanger 3 is equivalent to a condenser or an evaporator, it can exchange heat with the circulating water in the second housing 62, which is beneficial for making full use of the heat of the second heat exchanger 3 or the circulating water, improving energy utilization, and increasing working efficiency.

[0078] Figure 7 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 7As shown, the water circulation subsystem 6 also includes a drain pump 68 and a drain pipe 69. The drain pump 68 is connected to one interface of the water tank 61 and one port of the drain pipe 69, and at least a portion of the drain pipe 69 penetrates the third housing 66. In other words, at least a portion of the drain pipe 69 is located inside the third housing 66, and the outer wall of this portion of the drain pipe 69 is surrounded by the circulating water inside the third housing 66. In this case, the circulating water sprayed by the spray arm 66 can flow back into the water tank 61 after being used externally. The circulating water flowing back into the water tank 61 can be called wastewater, and the drain pump 69 is used to discharge the wastewater in the water tank 61 through the drain pipe 69.

[0079] The specific process of heating and discharging circulating water can be as follows: First, the reversing device 1 is in the first working state, and the circulating water enters the water tank 61 through the inlet; under the action of the circulating water pump 63, it reaches the second water tank 62 and is heated under the action of the second heat exchanger 3; the heated circulating water reaches the spray arm 64 and the third tank 66 respectively through the circulating water pump 63; the circulating water flowing into the spray arm 64 is sprayed out under the action of the circulating water pump 63, and after being utilized externally, it flows back to the water tank (at this time it is called wastewater, and at this time the inlet of the water tank will not enter new circulating water); the circulating water flowing into the third tank 66 is temporarily stored in the third tank 66; after the drain pump 68 and the drain pipe 69 discharge the wastewater from the water tank 61, the reversing device 1 is adjusted to the second working state, and the circulating water in the third tank 66 reaches the second tank 62 through the water tank 61 to provide heat for the second heat exchanger 3.

[0080] With this scheme, when the wastewater passes through part of the drainage pipe 69 located in the third tank 66, the heat in the wastewater can be transferred to the circulating water in the third tank 66 through the drainage pipe 69. During the drainage process, the heat in the wastewater is used to maintain the temperature of the circulating water in the third tank 66. On the one hand, this is beneficial to increase the total heat that the circulating water can transfer to the second heat exchanger 3, and on the other hand, it is beneficial to increase the heat transfer rate between the circulating water and the second heat exchanger 3.

[0081] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a phase change heat pump system provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 8 As shown, the phase change heat pump system's phase change heat pump 5 may further include an auxiliary heat exchange assembly 53. The auxiliary heat exchange assembly 53 may include a fourth housing 531 and a heat exchange medium 532, with the heat exchange medium 532 filling the fourth housing 531. The auxiliary heat exchange assembly 53 is in contact with the first housing 51 and is used to exchange heat with the phase change heat pump 5 to heat the phase change material 52 in the first housing 51.

[0082] In some examples, such as Figure 8As shown, the first box 51 is located inside the fourth box 531, and a third partition space is formed between the inner walls of the first box 51 and the fourth box 531. The heat exchange medium 532 is filled in the third partition space, and at least a portion of the first box 51 is immersed in the heat exchange medium 532. The heat exchange medium 532 is used to heat the phase change material 52 in the first box 51.

[0083] As an example, the fourth tank 531 can be connected to the circulating water pump 63 or the third tank 66. The heated circulating water in the second tank 62 can flow to the fourth tank 531 via the circulating water pump 63 or the third tank 66 and be stored in the fourth tank 531. At this time, the heat exchange medium 532 is the heated circulating water.

[0084] Optionally, the fourth housing 531 is not connected to the circulating water pump 63 or the third housing 66, but is connected to an external heat exchange medium supply device. This heat exchange medium supply device continuously supplies heat exchange medium 532 to the fourth housing 531. No restrictions are placed on this heat exchange medium supply device.

[0085] In this scheme, the heat exchange medium 532 transfers heat to the phase change material 52 via the first housing 51. On the one hand, when the first heat exchanger 2 performs the evaporation function, it can prolong the time for the phase change material 52 to change from liquid to solid, and increase the continuous heat release time of the phase change material 52, thereby increasing the duration of the evaporation function of the first heat exchanger 2, and thus increasing the time for the second heat exchanger 3 to heat the circulating water. On the other hand, when the first heat exchanger 2 performs the condensation function, the heat exchange medium 532 can also provide heat to the phase change material 52, which is beneficial to accelerating the regeneration rate of the phase change material 52, thereby improving the working efficiency of the phase change heat pump system.

[0086] In some other examples, the first housing 51 can be located outside the fourth housing 531. In this case, the outer surface of the first housing 51 is in contact with the outer surface of the fourth housing 531 to achieve heat exchange. This approach helps to reduce the production and processing of each component of the phase change heat exchanger 5 and reduce the assembly difficulty between the components of the phase change heat exchanger 5.

[0087] In some examples, the auxiliary heat exchange component 53 may also include a miniature drain pump connected to the fourth housing 531. The miniature drain pump can be unidirectionally connected to the water tank, meaning it can discharge the heat exchange medium 532 into the water tank 61 without allowing circulating water in the water tank 61 to enter the fourth housing 531 via the miniature drain pump. This design enables the circulation of the heat exchange medium 532 within the fourth housing 531, facilitating the timely discharge of lower-temperature heat exchange medium 532 and the reintroduction of higher-temperature heat exchange medium 532. This, in turn, helps ensure continuous and efficient heat transfer to the phase change material 52.

[0088] Optionally, one port of the miniature drain pump is connected to the fourth housing 531, and the other port is connected to the outside (not to the water tank 61). This allows the heat exchange medium 532 to be discharged directly, preventing the heat exchange medium 532 from mixing with the circulating water or wastewater in the water tank 61. It also simplifies the connection between the components of the phase change heat pump system and reduces the difficulty of system installation.

[0089] In the solution provided in this application embodiment, when the commutation device 1 is in the first working state and the phase change material 52 has turned into a solid state, the commutation device 1 is adjusted to the second working state, so that the first heat exchanger 2 heats the phase change material 52, thereby achieving active heating of the phase change material 52. Compared with passive heating methods (natural wind heating, circulating water heating, air heating, etc.) in related technologies, this method of actively heating the phase change material by the first heat exchanger has higher heating efficiency and significantly shortens the heating time of the phase change material 52, thus improving the working efficiency of the phase change heat pump system.

[0090] Based on the same technical concept, embodiments of this application provide a terminal device, which includes any of the phase change heat pump systems provided in embodiments of this application.

[0091] In some examples, the aforementioned terminal device is a washing device, which may further include a base, a housing, and a partition. The partition is located between the base and the housing, and may be sealed to either the base or the housing. A receiving cavity is formed between the partition and the base, within which the phase change heat pump system is located. A washing chamber is formed between the partition and the housing, used for washing the target object. As an example, the washing device may be a dishwasher, a washing machine, etc.

[0092] As an example, when the washing device described above is a dishwasher, the target object is the tableware to be washed. Specifically, the tableware to be washed is placed in the washing chamber of the dishwasher. The water outlet of the spray arm 64 is connected to the water tank 61 through the washing chamber. The circulating water sprayed from the water outlet of the spray arm 64 washes the tableware in the washing chamber and then flows back to the water tank 61, and is discharged by the drain pump 68 and the drain pipe 69. No specific limitations are made here regarding the specific structure of the dishwasher.

[0093] Optionally, the aforementioned terminal equipment can be washing equipment such as dishwashers and washing machines, or it can be refrigeration equipment, heating equipment, etc.

[0094] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A phase change heat pump system, characterized in that, The phase change heat pump system includes: a reversing device (1), a first heat exchanger (2), a second heat exchanger (3), a compressor (4), a phase change heat exchanger (5), and a water circulation subsystem (6); The commutation device (1) has a first commutation port (11), a second commutation port (12), a third commutation port (13) and a fourth commutation port (14); The first heat exchanger (2) has a first heat exchange port (21) and a second heat exchange port (22), and the first heat exchange port (21) is connected to the first reversing port (11); The second heat exchanger (3) has a third heat exchange port (31) and a fourth heat exchange port (32), the third heat exchange port (31) being connected to the second heat exchange port (22), and the fourth heat exchange port (32) being connected to the second reversing port (12); The compressor (4) has an intake port (4A) and an exhaust port (4B). The intake port (4A) is connected to the third reversing port (13), and the exhaust port (4B) is connected to the fourth reversing port (14). The phase change heat exchanger (5) includes a first housing (51) and a phase change material (52), wherein the phase change material (52) is located in the first housing (51) and is used to exchange heat with the first heat exchanger (2); The water circulation subsystem (6) includes a water tank (61), a second housing (62), a circulating water pump (63), and a spray arm (64). The water tank (61), the second housing (62), and the circulating water pump (63) are interconnected. The second housing (62) is thermally connected to the second heat exchanger (3). When the reversing device (1) is in the first working state, the air intake (4A) is connected to the first heat exchanger (2), the exhaust port (4B) is connected to the second heat exchanger (3), the water tank (61) is not connected to the circulating water pump (63), and the circulating water pump (63) is connected to the spray arm (64). When the reversing device (1) is in the second working state, the air intake (4A) is connected to the second heat exchanger (3), the exhaust port (4B) is connected to the first heat exchanger (2), the water tank (61) is connected to the circulating water pump (63), and the circulating water pump (63) is not connected to the spray arm (64).

2. The phase change heat pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first heat exchanger (2) is located in the first housing (51), and the phase change material (52) is located in the first space between the first heat exchanger (2) and the first housing (51), and at least a portion of the first heat exchanger (2) is immersed in the phase change material (52).

3. The phase change heat pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water circulation subsystem (6) also includes a reversing valve (65), which is connected to the water tank (61), the circulating water pump (63), and the spray arm (64) respectively.

4. The phase change heat pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water circulation subsystem (6) also includes a third housing (66); The third housing (66) is connected to the circulating water pump (63) and is also connected to the water tank (61); When the reversing device (1) is in the first working state, the water tank (61) is not connected to the third box (66). When the reversing device (1) is in the second working state, the third box (66) is connected to the water tank (61).

5. The phase change heat pump system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The water circulation subsystem (6) also includes a second one-way valve (67), which is connected to the water tank (61) and the third box (66) respectively.

6. The phase change heat pump system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The circulating water sprayed by the spray arm (64) flows back to the water tank (61), and the water circulation subsystem (6) also includes a drainage pump (68) and a drainage pipe (69); The drainage pump (68) is connected to the water tank (61) and the drainage pipe (69) respectively, and at least a portion of the drainage pipe (69) penetrates the third box (66).

7. The phase change heat pump system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The phase change heat exchanger (5) further includes an auxiliary heat exchange component (53), which includes a fourth housing (531) and a heat exchange medium (532), and the heat exchange medium (532) is filled in the fourth housing (531). The auxiliary heat exchange component (53) is used to exchange heat with the phase change heat exchanger (5).

8. The phase change heat pump system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first housing (51) is located inside the fourth housing (531), and a third space is formed between the first housing (51) and the fourth housing (531). The heat exchange medium (532) is filled in the third space, and at least a portion of the first housing (51) is immersed in the heat exchange medium (532).

9. A terminal device, characterized in that, The terminal device includes the phase change heat pump system as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. The terminal device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The terminal device is a washing device, which also includes a base, a housing, and a partition. The partition is located between the base and the outer shell, forming a receiving cavity between the partition and the base. The phase change heat pump system is located within the receiving cavity. A washing cavity is formed between the partition and the outer shell, and the washing cavity is used to wash the target object.

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