A cold and hot integrated constant temperature bathtub

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of energy-saving heating technology and discloses a thermostatic bathtub with integrated heating and cooling, including a heat pump circulation module, a water circulation module, and a waste heat utilization module. The waste heat utilization module includes a heat-conducting jacket, a distribution pipeline, a control valve, and a heat dissipation unit. The heat-conducting jacket covers the outer periphery of the compressor, and a fluid channel for the flow of heat exchange medium is constructed inside the heat-conducting jacket. The complex thermal management requirements are decoupled into four independent physical channels (discharge, anti-icing, defrosting, and efficiency enhancement). The control system only needs to operate the corresponding valve opening and closing based on real-time sensor data (water temperature, ambient temperature, and frost signal) to complete the mode switching within milliseconds.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of energy-saving heating technology, specifically relating to a thermostatic bathtub that integrates heating and cooling. Background Technology

[0002] Air source heat pump technology is based on the reverse Carnot cycle principle. It consumes a small amount of electricity to drive a compressor, absorbing low-grade heat energy from the ambient air and transferring it to the water (heating mode), or transferring heat from the water to the air (cooling mode). Compared to traditional electric heating, this technology has significant energy-saving advantages in heating mode. However, existing air source heat pump-based integrated heating and cooling bathtubs still face the following three major technological bottlenecks in practical applications: Firstly, in refrigeration mode, especially when preparing a low-temperature ice bath, the refrigerant evaporation temperature inside the water-side heat exchanger, which acts as the evaporator, often needs to be as low as, or even lower than, the temperature. Due to the phase change characteristics of water, the water layer adhering to the inner wall of the heat exchanger tubes is highly susceptible to freezing first. Traditional control systems often rely on outlet water temperature sensors for feedback regulation, which exhibits significant thermal inertia lag: by the time the sensor detects that the water temperature is too low and issues a command, a thick layer of ice has often already formed on the inner wall of the tubes. This not only quickly blocks the flow channels, causing water flow interruption and the system to lose its heat exchange capacity, but more seriously, the water expands by about 9% after freezing, and the resulting enormous expansion stress can easily cause the copper tubes to crack, leading to refrigerant leakage and water circuit connection, resulting in permanent damage to the equipment.

[0003] Secondly, in winter heating mode, the air-side heat exchanger, acting as an evaporator, must have a surface temperature lower than the ambient temperature to absorb heat. When the ambient temperature is below 5 degrees Celsius and the air humidity is high, moisture in the air will quickly condense and freeze into frost on the fin surface. The accumulation of frost not only significantly increases thermal resistance but also blocks the fin gaps and hinders airflow, leading to a sharp drop in heating capacity and even the phenomenon of "not heating up after startup." Current mainstream solutions mostly use "reverse cycle defrosting" (i.e., temporarily switching to cooling mode and using high-temperature refrigerant to defrost). This process requires stopping the supply of heat to the bathtub and even absorbing heat from the water in reverse, causing the bathtub water temperature to fluctuate significantly during defrosting (usually 5 to 10 minutes) (dropping by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius), severely compromising the user's bathing comfort. In addition, frequent defrosting cycles not only increase additional energy consumption but also exacerbate the wear and tear of the compressor during startup and shutdown, shortening the equipment's lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermostatic bathtub that integrates heating and cooling to solve the problems existing in the background art.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a thermostatic bathtub integrating heating and cooling, comprising a heat pump circulation module for cooling or heating the bathtub water, including a compressor, a water-side heat exchanger, and an air-side heat exchanger; a water circulation module configured to drive the bathtub water through the water-side heat exchanger for heat exchange; a waste heat utilization module including a heat-conducting jacket, a distribution pipeline, a control valve, and a heat dissipation unit; the heat-conducting jacket covers the outer periphery of the compressor, and a fluid channel for the flow of the heat exchange medium is constructed inside the heat-conducting jacket; the distribution pipeline is configured to have a multi-path switching function, capable of selectively directing the heat from the outlet of the heat-conducting jacket to one or more heat exchange destinations, including the water circulation module, the air-side heat exchanger, the water-side heat exchanger, and the heat dissipation unit; the control valve dynamically switches the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the distribution pipeline according to the operating conditions.

[0006] Preferably, in normal heating mode, the compressor waste heat is directed to the water circulation module to assist in heating the bathtub water and improve energy efficiency; in normal cooling mode, the compressor waste heat is directed to the heat dissipation unit to cool the compressor while avoiding heating interference with the bathtub water; in heating defrosting mode, the compressor waste heat is directed to the air-side heat exchanger to melt the frost layer on the air-side heat exchanger using residual heat; in cooling anti-icing mode, the compressor waste heat is directed to the water-side heat exchanger to slightly raise the temperature of the low-temperature inlet water to prevent the water-side heat exchanger from freezing.

[0007] Preferably, a gel layer is filled between the heat-conducting jacket and the compressor. The gel layer is a flexible heat-conducting material with high thermal conductivity and viscoelasticity. While transferring the waste heat of the compressor to the heat-conducting jacket, the gel layer blocks the transfer of mechanical vibrations generated by the operation of the compressor to the heat-conducting jacket.

[0008] Furthermore, the thermally conductive jacket is made of silicone thermally conductive gel or polyurethane thermally conductive gel.

[0009] Preferably, the heat pump cycle module further includes a four-way reversing valve and a throttling component. The refrigerant circulation loop of the heat pump cycle module consists of a compressor, a four-way reversing valve, an air-side heat exchanger, a throttling component, and a water-side heat exchanger connected in sequence through pipelines. The function of the four-way reversing valve is to connect the compressor exhaust port to the water-side heat exchanger in heating mode and to connect the compressor exhaust port to the air-side heat exchanger in cooling mode.

[0010] Preferably, the branching pipeline includes a waste heat output main pipe, a waste heat return main pipe, and a first branch, a second branch, a third branch, and a fourth branch branching from the waste heat output main pipe; the control valve is located at the connection node between the waste heat output main pipe and each branch, configured to selectively open one branch and close the others; the outlets of the first, second, third, and fourth branches all converge and connect to the waste heat return main pipe, and the outlet of the waste heat return main pipe connects to the inlet of the heat-conducting jacket, thus forming a completely closed loop together with the heat-conducting jacket; a first waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the first branch, and the first waste heat exchanger is mutually isolated. The first waste heat exchanger has a primary side channel and a secondary side channel. The primary side channel of the first waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the first branch, and the secondary side channel of the first waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the water circulation module as a heating section. The outlet end of the second branch is directly connected to the inlet of the heat dissipation unit. The third branch is equipped with a defrosting coil, which is integrated into the air-side heat exchanger. The fourth branch is equipped with a second waste heat exchanger, which has a primary side channel and a secondary side channel that are isolated from each other. The primary side channel of the second waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the fourth branch, and the secondary side channel of the second waste heat exchanger is connected in series at the inlet end of the water-side heat exchanger. Furthermore, the water circulation module includes a bathtub main circulation loop, which includes an inlet, a filter unit, a main circulation water pump, a main temperature control section, and an outlet connected in sequence by pipes; the filter unit is used to remove impurities from the water, the main circulation water pump provides power to drive the water to circulate in the loop, and the main temperature control section is connected to the water-side heat exchanger to regulate the water temperature through heat exchange; Furthermore, an anti-icing preheating section is connected in series between the main circulating water pump and the main temperature control section. The anti-icing preheating section is the secondary side flow channel of the second waste heat exchanger. The fourth branch is opened by the control valve, so that the heat exchange medium from the heat-conducting jacket flows through one side of the second waste heat exchanger and exchanges heat with the low-temperature bath water flowing through the anti-icing preheating section in a counter-current manner. This increases the inlet water temperature before entering the main temperature control section, so that the water temperature entering the water-side heat exchanger is always higher than the freezing point threshold.

[0011] Furthermore, the main circulation loop of the bathtub also includes an auxiliary heat exchange bypass, which is coupled to the main temperature control section through a pipe section; the auxiliary heat exchange bypass is integrated with the secondary side flow channel of the first waste heat exchanger in series, which is used to receive the heat exchange medium from the heat-conducting jacket to heat the water flowing through it.

[0012] Furthermore, the coupling connection configuration of the auxiliary heat exchange bypass and the main temperature control section includes at least one of the following: Configuration 1, the auxiliary heat exchange bypass is connected in series between the main circulating water pump and the main temperature control section, so that all the water in the main circulation loop of the bathtub flows through the first waste heat exchanger for preheating before entering the main temperature control section; Configuration 2, the auxiliary heat exchange bypass and the main temperature control section are connected in parallel, and a flow regulating valve is provided at the parallel node; by adjusting the flow regulating valve, a portion of the bathtub water is diverted into the auxiliary heat exchange bypass for heating, while another portion of the water flows directly through the main straight pipe section, and the two water flows merge and mix before the inlet of the main temperature control section.

[0013] The main technical effects of this invention are reflected in the following aspects: By constructing an independent closed loop consisting of a heat-conducting jacket, a second branch, and an air-cooled heat dissipation unit, the system cleverly utilizes the high-temperature airflow discharged from the heat pump's main air duct as a secondary heat dissipation source, efficiently removing compressor waste heat without the need for additional fans. Its core principle lies in the forced switching of physical channels: in normal cooling mode, the control valve assembly strictly cuts off all branches leading to the water circuit (the first and fourth branches), forcing waste heat to be discharged to the atmosphere only through the air-cooled unit. This not only solves the problem of overheat protection shutdown caused by compressor heat accumulation in traditional designs but also prevents, from a hardware perspective, the possibility of waste heat accidentally entering the bathtub water, causing "not cooling" or water temperature fluctuations, ensuring the purity of the ice bath experience and the stability of system operation.

[0014] A second waste heat exchanger (anti-icing section) is forcibly connected in series between the main circulating water pump outlet and the main temperature control section inlet, forming a tiered treatment process of "preheating first, then deep cooling." The compressor's waste heat is used to precisely and slightly raise the temperature of the low-temperature water flowing into the evaporator (e.g., from 1 degree Celsius to above 3 degrees Celsius), ensuring that the water temperature flowing into the main heat exchanger is always above the freezing point threshold. Unlike traditional shutdown protection strategies that rely on delayed temperature feedback, this structure achieves active anti-icing. Simultaneously, the indirect heat exchange design ensures complete physical isolation between the recovery loop medium and drinking water, preventing antifreeze contamination of the water and enabling continuous, uninterrupted operation of the system under extremely cold conditions, significantly improving the equipment's durability and safety.

[0015] A defrosting coil is integrated inside the air-side heat exchanger and directly connected to the compressor waste heat recovery circuit (third branch). The core principle is that during heating operation, the four-way reversing valve remains in its current state (i.e., maintaining heat supply to the water side), while the third branch valve is opened to directly inject high-temperature coolant into the defrosting coil at the bottom of the fins. Heat is then directly conducted through the tube wall to the root of the frost layer for rapid melting. This "dual-path parallel" structural design eliminates the need to pause heating or absorb heat from the water during defrosting, truly achieving "constant-temperature defrosting" that is imperceptible to the user. This significantly improves the comfort of showering in winter and reduces mechanical wear caused by frequent compressor reversals.

[0016] The low-grade waste heat emitted from the compressor casing is converted into a useful preheating source for bath water via the first branch and a high-power first waste heat exchanger. Its working principle is a two-stage heating model of "waste heat preheating + heat pump fine heating": the bathtub return water first flows through the auxiliary heat exchange bypass to absorb waste heat for initial temperature rise, reducing the temperature difference load, before entering the main condenser where the refrigerant completes the final heating. This structure effectively reduces the condensing pressure and compression ratio of the main heat pump system, allowing the compressor to operate in a more efficient range. Compared to the traditional single-stage heating mode, this solution converts waste heat energy into effective heating capacity without increasing additional energy consumption, significantly shortening heating time and reducing operating costs.

[0017] It shares a common heat source acquisition end (heat-conducting jacket) and four independent execution branches. Through the logical switching of intelligent control valve groups, it realizes the dynamic reconstruction of heat flow paths under different operating conditions. Its principle lies in decoupling complex thermal management requirements into four independent physical channels (discharge, anti-icing, defrosting, and efficiency enhancement). The control system only needs to operate the corresponding valve opening and closing based on real-time sensor data (water temperature, ambient temperature, and frost signal) to complete the mode switching within milliseconds. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the water circulation module in this invention; Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the heat pump cycle module in this invention; Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the waste heat utilization module in this invention; Figure 5 This is a partial schematic diagram of the cooperation between the water circulation module and the waste heat utilization module in this invention; In the diagram: 1. Bathtub body; 2. Heat pump circulation module; 3. Water circulation module. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to make the technical solution of the present invention easier to understand and master. In the embodiments, it should be understood that the terms "middle," "upper," "lower," "top," "right side," "left end," "above," "back," "center," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. In addition, unless otherwise specified in this specific embodiment, the connection or fixing method between components can be achieved by bolt fixing, pin fixing, or pin connection commonly used in the prior art, etc., and therefore will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0020] The hot and cold integrated constant temperature bathtub provided by this invention is mainly used in high-end home bathing, health and wellness centers and hotel SPA and other scenarios that require precise water temperature control (covering ice bath and hot bath), but it is not limited to this. It can also be used in other similar or identical production processes, such as industrial precision cooling circulation systems, heat pump units for small constant temperature swimming pools, and liquid-cooled temperature control equipment that requires auxiliary heating using compressor waste heat.

[0021] Furthermore, as common knowledge in this industry, the basic principles of the reverse Carnot cycle in heat pumps mentioned above (including the standard connection relationships of the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator, and the refrigerant phase change process), the basic heat transfer mechanism of plate / coil-and-tube heat exchangers, the conventional electrical control logic of electric two-way / three-way valves, the signal acquisition methods of temperature / pressure sensors, and the basic physical properties of silicone thermally conductive gels (such as thermal conductivity range, insulation, etc.) are all common knowledge; therefore, their principles and structures will not be elaborated upon further. Those skilled in the art can select mature standardized products on the market or use conventional technical means to implement these solutions according to actual engineering needs.

[0022] Example 1 This embodiment discloses a thermostatic bathtub with integrated heating and cooling. The overall structure mainly consists of four parts: the bathtub body 1, the heat pump circulation module 2, the water circulation module 3, and the core waste heat utilization module.

[0023] Regarding the bathtub body 1 and the water circulation module 3: See [link / reference] Figure 1 , Figure 2 The bathtub body 1 is a container for holding water, with an inlet and an outlet on its side wall or bottom, forming the main circulation loop of the bathtub. This loop is connected in series with a filter unit, a main circulating water pump, an anti-icing preheating section, a main temperature control section, and an auxiliary heat exchange bypass. After the water flows through the above components and completes heat exchange, it returns to the bathtub through the outlet, forming a closed water circulation.

[0024] The filtration unit removes hair and impurities from the water, protecting subsequent heat exchange equipment. The main circulating water pump provides power to drive the water to circulate at high speed in the loop. The anti-icing preheating section is a special pipe section located after the water pump outlet, which integrates the secondary side flow channel of the second waste heat exchanger (see below for details). The main temperature control section, i.e., the water-side heat exchanger in the heat pump circulation module 2, is the core area for water temperature regulation. The auxiliary heat exchange bypass is a branch connected in parallel or series with the main temperature control section, which integrates the secondary side flow channel of the first waste heat exchanger for efficient waste heat recovery.

[0025] Regarding heat pump cycle module 2: See Figure 1 , Figure 3 The heat pump circulation module 2 (based on the reverse Carnot cycle principle) is used to cool down or heat up the bath water, including a compressor, a four-way reversing valve, a throttling component (electronic expansion valve), a water-side heat exchanger (coaxial or plate type) and an air-side heat exchanger (air-cooled finned assembly).

[0026] The refrigerant piping connects sequentially to the compressor discharge port, four-way reversing valve, air-side heat exchanger, throttling assembly, water-side heat exchanger, four-way reversing valve, and compressor suction port. The four-way reversing valve controls the refrigerant flow direction to achieve functional switching. During heating, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant enters the water-side heat exchanger to release heat; during cooling, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant enters the air-side heat exchanger to release heat.

[0027] Regarding the waste heat utilization module: See [link / reference] Figure 1 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 The waste heat utilization module consists of a heat-conducting jacket, a distribution pipeline system, a control valve assembly, and a heat dissipation unit, forming a completely independent closed-loop liquid cooling circulation circuit (equipped with a pump). The control valve assembly comprises high-precision electric two-way or three-way valves at each branch node, dynamically controlling the on / off state of each branch based on sensor data (water temperature, ambient temperature, frost signal). The heat exchange medium is water or antifreeze with added food-grade propylene glycol within the closed loop, ensuring the loop itself does not freeze in extremely cold environments.

[0028] Preferably, in traditional designs, compressor casing heat dissipation is often neglected or relies solely on passive air cooling. In this embodiment, a thermally conductive jacket is wrapped around the compressor's outer periphery, with spiral fluid channels machined inside the jacket. The key improvement lies in the fact that the inner wall of the jacket is not in rigid contact with the compressor casing, but is filled with a layer of silicone thermally conductive gel. This gel layer has a high thermal conductivity and excellent viscoelasticity, preferably silicone or polyurethane thermally conductive gel. On the one hand, it efficiently transfers the motor heat and compression heat generated by the compressor to the coolant inside the jacket; on the other hand, utilizing its viscoelastic damping properties, it completely blocks the transmission of high-frequency mechanical vibration of the compressor to the jacket and external pipelines, achieving "heat collection without vibration transmission," significantly reducing overall machine noise and preventing pipeline fatigue fracture.

[0029] Furthermore, the diversion pipeline is configured with a multi-path switching function, capable of selectively directing the heat from the heat-conducting jacket outlet to one or more heat exchange destinations, including the water circulation module 3, the air-side heat exchanger, the water-side heat exchanger, and the heat dissipation unit. The control valve dynamically switches the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the diversion pipeline according to the operating conditions. The motor heat generated by the compressor operation is transferred to the coolant within the jacket through the heat-conducting jacket. Subsequently, the waste heat output main pipe is led out from the heat-conducting jacket outlet, then splits into four independent branches, ultimately converging into the waste heat return main pipe to return to the jacket inlet. The four independent branches are as follows: The first branch (heating efficiency enhancement): is connected in series with the first waste heat exchanger (plate type), and its secondary side is connected to the auxiliary heat exchange bypass of the water circulation module 3.

[0030] The second branch (refrigeration exhaust): directly connected to the air-cooled heat dissipation unit (small finned heat sink, placed at the chassis exhaust port).

[0031] The third branch (dedicated to defrosting): is connected in series with a defrosting coil, which is directly embedded or tightly attached to the bottom fin assembly of the air-side heat exchanger.

[0032] The fourth branch (dedicated to anti-icing): is connected in series with a second waste heat exchanger (miniature plate type), the secondary side of which is the anti-icing preheating section in water circulation module 3.

[0033] Example 2 This embodiment describes the specific operating state of the bathtub in the normal cooling mode of Embodiment 1. In this mode, the user typically sets a lower bath temperature (e.g., cooling from 38 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius), and the current water temperature is much higher than the freezing risk threshold (e.g., greater than 5 degrees Celsius). In this mode, the core objective of the system is efficient cooling and prevention of compressor overheating, while ensuring that waste heat never enters the bathtub water. In this mode, the following hardware components work together: a heat-conducting jacket and a gel layer serve as the heat source acquisition end; the silicone heat-conducting gel layer is tightly attached to the compressor shell, efficiently transferring the heat generated by the motor and compressor to the coolant in the jacket, while using viscoelasticity to block vibration. The second branch (discharge branch) is the main channel of this mode. This branch branches off from the waste heat output main pipe and connects directly to the air-cooled heat dissipation unit. The air-cooled heat dissipation unit is an independent small finned heat exchanger, physically installed at the exhaust port of the main air duct of the chassis (i.e., the air outlet side of the air-side heat exchanger). The control valve group (second branch valve) is in the fully open state; while the valves of the first, third, and fourth branches are in the fully closed state.

[0034] The operating logic of normal cooling mode is as follows: High-temperature coolant flows out from the heat-conducting jacket and enters the air-cooled heat dissipation unit through the opened second branch valve. At this time, the main fan of the heat pump system is pushing the hot air discharged from the air-side heat exchanger (condenser) to the outside. This high-speed hot airflow also blows across the fins of the air-cooled heat dissipation unit, carrying away the heat from the coolant. The cooled liquid returns to the jacket through the waste heat return main pipe. In traditional designs, compressor heat often accumulates, leading to overheating, or indirectly affecting cooling efficiency by radiating heat from the unit to the surrounding air. This solution utilizes the waste heat of the main air duct for secondary heat dissipation, eliminating the need for an additional fan and achieving a compact structure. More importantly, because the first branch (leading to the water circuit) and the fourth branch (leading to the anti-icing section) are physically cut off, waste heat is strictly confined to a closed loop and discharged to the atmosphere, structurally eliminating the possibility of waste heat accidentally entering the bathtub.

[0035] Example 3 This embodiment describes the specific operating state of the bathtub in the cooling and anti-icing mode of Embodiment 1. In this mode, the user sets an extremely low temperature ice bath (e.g., a target water temperature of 2 degrees Celsius), and the sensor detects that the water temperature entering the water-side heat exchanger has dropped to the freezing risk threshold (e.g., less than or equal to 2 degrees Celsius). In this mode, the core objective of the system is to prevent ice from forming and cracking inside the water-side heat exchanger, while maintaining the continuity of the cooling cycle. In this mode, the following hardware components work together: the heat-conducting jacket and gel layer continue to serve as the heat source acquisition end, efficiently collecting the compressor's waste heat; the fourth branch (anti-icing branch) becomes the main channel of this mode. This branch branches off from the waste heat output main pipe and is connected in series with a second waste heat exchanger. The second waste heat exchanger has a primary side flow channel and a secondary side flow channel that are isolated from each other. The primary side flow channel of the second waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the fourth branch, and the secondary side flow channel of the second waste heat exchanger is connected in series at the inlet end of the water-side heat exchanger; the anti-icing preheating section is a key structure in the water circulation module 3, which is physically the secondary side flow channel of the second waste heat exchanger, and is forcibly connected in series between the outlet of the main circulating water pump and the inlet of the main temperature control section (water-side heat exchanger); in the control valve group, the valve of the fourth branch is in the fully open state, while the valves of the second branch (discharge), the first branch (heating efficiency enhancement), and the third branch (defrost) are all in the fully closed state, forcing the high-temperature coolant to flow to the anti-icing circuit.

[0036] The operating logic of the cooling and anti-icing mode is as follows: High-temperature coolant flows out from the heat-conducting jacket and enters the primary side of the second waste heat exchanger through the opened fourth branch valve. Simultaneously, the near-freezing-point low-temperature bath water (approximately 1 to 2 degrees Celsius) pumped by the main circulating water pump must first flow through the anti-icing preheating section (i.e., the secondary side of the second waste heat exchanger) before entering the main temperature control section. The two fluids undergo efficient counter-current indirect heat exchange within the heat exchanger. After absorbing a small amount of heat, the low-temperature water rapidly rises to a safe temperature range (e.g., 3 to 4 degrees Celsius) before entering the main temperature control section for deep cooling. Traditional solutions rely on delayed temperature feedback, often stopping only when thick ice has formed on the pipe walls, which can easily lead to copper pipe bursting. This solution utilizes compressor waste heat to "actively micro-heat" the inlet water, thus eliminating the conditions for icing. Due to the use of an indirect heat exchange structure, the medium in the recovery loop is completely isolated from the bath water, ensuring drinking water hygiene and achieving continuous, uninterrupted cooling operation, completely eliminating the risk of equipment freezing damage.

[0037] Example 4 This embodiment describes the specific working state of the bathtub in the heating and defrosting mode of Embodiment 1. In this mode, the environment is under low temperature and high humidity conditions (e.g., ambient temperature < 5 degrees Celsius, relative humidity > 80%), and the surface of the air-side heat exchanger quickly frosts up, causing a sharp drop in heat absorption efficiency. In this mode, the core objective of the system is to quickly defrost without interrupting the heating supply to the bathtub, avoiding water temperature fluctuations. In this mode, the following hardware components work together: the heat-conducting jacket and gel layer continuously collect waste heat from the compressor; the third branch (defrosting branch) becomes the key channel of this mode, and this branch is connected in series with a specially designed defrosting coil; the defrosting coil is directly embedded or closely attached to the bottom fin assembly of the air-side heat exchanger, forming a highly efficient heat conduction contact with the aluminum fins; in the control valve group, the valve of the third branch is fully open, while the second branch (discharge) and the fourth branch (anti-icing) are closed, and the first branch can be partially opened or closed depending on the heat demand. It is worth noting that at this time, the four-way reversing valve in the heat pump circulation module 2 remains in the heating state and does not perform reverse circulation switching.

[0038] The operating logic of the heating defrosting mode is as follows: High-temperature coolant flows out from the heat-conducting jacket and directly into the defrosting coil integrated inside the air-side heat exchanger via the opened third branch valve. Heat is directly conducted through the copper tube wall to the surrounding frosted aluminum fins, causing the frost layer to melt rapidly from the base and drain away as water. During this period, the compressor continuously supplies high-temperature refrigerant to the water-side heat exchanger, and the bath water continues to be heated, so the user is completely unaware of the defrosting process. Traditional "reverse cycle defrosting" requires pausing heating or even absorbing heat from the water, resulting in a significant drop in water temperature. This solution utilizes the compressor's own waste heat as an independent heat source for "embedded defrosting," which not only significantly shortens the defrosting time but also achieves true "imperceptible defrosting." It avoids the mechanical wear caused by frequent compressor reversals, significantly improving the comfort of winter bathing and extending the lifespan of the equipment.

[0039] Example 5 This embodiment describes the specific working state of the bathtub in the normal heating mode of Embodiment 1. In this mode, the ambient temperature is suitable (e.g., greater than 5 degrees Celsius), there is no risk of frost formation, and the user needs to quickly raise or maintain the bathtub water temperature. In this mode, the core objective of the system is to maximize the coefficient of performance (COP) by recovering all the waste heat from the compressor for auxiliary heating. In this mode, the following hardware components work together: a heat-conducting jacket and a gel layer serve as the heat source acquisition end; the first branch (efficiency-enhancing branch) becomes the main channel of this mode, and a high-power first waste heat exchanger is connected in series in this branch; the first waste heat exchanger has a primary side flow channel and a secondary side flow channel that are isolated from each other, the primary side flow channel of the first waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the first branch, and the secondary side flow channel of the first waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the water circulation module 3 as the heating section; the auxiliary heat exchange bypass is the core improved structure of the water circulation module 3, which integrates the secondary side flow channel of the first waste heat exchanger. The bypass can be configured in two ways: configuration one is a fully series structure, in which the bypass is directly connected in series with the main circuit, so that 100% of the water flow passes through the preheating; configuration two is a parallel mixing structure, in which the bypass is connected in parallel with the straight pipe section and is equipped with a flow regulating valve to optimize the mixing ratio; in the control valve group, the valve of the first branch is fully open, and the valves of the second, third and fourth branches are all fully closed.

[0040] The operating logic of the normal heating mode is as follows: High-temperature coolant flows out from the heat-conducting jacket and enters the primary side of the first waste heat exchanger through the opened first branch valve. Bathtub circulating water flows through the auxiliary heat exchange bypass (secondary side of the first waste heat exchanger), absorbing compressor waste heat for preheating (e.g., from 20°C to 25°C), and then enters the main temperature control section where it is heated to the set temperature (e.g., 40°C) by the refrigerant condensation heat. If a parallel configuration is used, the flow regulating valve dynamically distributes the water flow through the bypass and straight pipe according to the water temperature to achieve the best preheating effect. Traditional heat pumps only utilize the condensation heat of the refrigerant circulation, ignoring the compressor casing heat dissipation, which accounts for approximately 10% to 15% of the input power. This solution, through a "cascade utilization" structure, converts this waste heat into usable hot water for bathing, effectively reducing the temperature rise load and condensation pressure of the main heat pump system. This two-stage heating design significantly improves the overall heating efficiency ratio and shortens the heating time, embodying the ultimate energy-saving concept.

[0041] Of course, the above are just typical examples of the present invention. In addition, the present invention may have many other specific embodiments. All technical solutions formed by equivalent substitution or equivalent transformation fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A thermostatic bathtub with integrated heating and cooling functions, characterized in that, include The heat pump circulation module is used to cool or heat the water in the bathtub, and includes a compressor, a water-side heat exchanger, and an air-side heat exchanger. The water circulation module is configured to drive the bathwater to flow through the water-side heat exchanger for heat exchange. The waste heat utilization module includes a heat-conducting jacket, a distribution pipeline, a control valve, and a heat dissipation unit. The heat-conducting jacket covers the outer periphery of the compressor, and a fluid channel for the flow of heat exchange medium is constructed inside the heat-conducting jacket. The distribution pipeline is configured to have a multi-path switching function, which can selectively direct the heat from the outlet of the heat-conducting jacket to one or more heat exchange destinations, including the water circulation module, the air-side heat exchanger, the water-side heat exchanger, and the heat dissipation unit. The control valve dynamically switches the flow direction of the heat exchange medium in the distribution pipeline according to the operating conditions.

2. The integrated hot and cold constant temperature bathtub as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In normal heating mode, the waste heat from the compressor is directed to the water circulation module to assist in heating the bathtub water and improve energy efficiency. In normal cooling mode, the waste heat of the compressor is directed to the heat dissipation unit, which cools the compressor while avoiding heating interference with the water in the bathtub. In heating and defrosting mode, the waste heat from the compressor is directed to the air-side heat exchanger, and the waste heat is used to melt the frost layer on the air-side heat exchanger. In the cooling and anti-icing mode, the compressor waste heat is directed to the water-side heat exchanger to slightly raise the temperature of the low-temperature inlet water and prevent the water-side heat exchanger from freezing.

3. The integrated hot and cold constant temperature bathtub as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A gel layer is filled between the heat-conducting jacket and the compressor. The gel layer is a flexible heat-conducting material with high thermal conductivity and viscoelasticity. The gel layer transfers waste heat from the compressor to the heat-conducting jacket while simultaneously blocking the transfer of mechanical vibrations generated during compressor operation to the heat-conducting jacket.

4. The integrated hot and cold constant temperature bathtub as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The thermally conductive jacket is made of silicone thermally conductive gel or polyurethane thermally conductive gel.

5. The integrated hot and cold thermostatic bathtub as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The heat pump circulation module also includes a four-way reversing valve and a throttling assembly. The refrigerant circulation loop of the heat pump circulation module consists of a compressor, a four-way reversing valve, an air-side heat exchanger, a throttling component, and a water-side heat exchanger connected sequentially by pipelines. The function of the four-way reversing valve is to connect the compressor exhaust port to the water-side heat exchanger under heating conditions and to connect the compressor exhaust port to the air-side heat exchanger under cooling conditions.

6. The integrated hot and cold thermostatic bathtub as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The branch pipeline includes a waste heat output main pipe, a waste heat return main pipe, and a first branch, a second branch, a third branch, and a fourth branch branched from the waste heat output main pipe; The control valve is located at the connection node between the waste heat output main pipe and each branch, and is configured to selectively open one branch and close the other branches. The outlets of the first branch, the second branch, the third branch, and the fourth branch all converge and connect to the waste heat return main pipe. The outlet of the waste heat return main pipe is connected to the inlet of the heat-conducting jacket, thus forming a completely closed loop together with the heat-conducting jacket. A first waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the first branch. The first waste heat exchanger has a primary side flow channel and a secondary side flow channel that are isolated from each other. The primary side flow channel of the first waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the first branch, and the secondary side flow channel of the first waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the water circulation module as a heating section. The outlet of the second branch is directly connected to the inlet of the heat dissipation unit; The third branch is equipped with a defrosting coil connected in series, and the defrosting coil is integrated into the air-side heat exchanger. The fourth branch is equipped with a second waste heat exchanger connected in series. The second waste heat exchanger has a primary side flow channel and a secondary side flow channel that are isolated from each other. The primary side flow channel of the second waste heat exchanger is connected in series in the fourth branch, and the secondary side flow channel of the second waste heat exchanger is connected in series at the inlet end of the water-side heat exchanger.

7. The integrated hot and cold constant temperature bathtub as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The water circulation module includes a bathtub main circulation loop, which includes an inlet, a filter unit, a main circulation water pump, a main temperature control section, and an outlet connected in sequence by pipes. The filtration unit is used to remove impurities from the water, the main circulating water pump provides power to drive the water to circulate in the loop, and the main temperature control section is connected to the water-side heat exchanger to regulate the water temperature through heat exchange.

8. The integrated hot and cold constant temperature bathtub as described in claim 7, characterized in that, An anti-icing preheating section is also connected in series between the main circulating water pump and the main temperature control section. The anti-icing preheating section is the secondary side flow channel of the second waste heat exchanger. The control valve opens the fourth branch, allowing the heat exchange medium from the heat-conducting jacket to flow through one side of the second waste heat exchanger and exchange heat counter-currently with the low-temperature bath water flowing through the anti-icing preheating section. This increases the inlet water temperature before entering the main temperature control section, ensuring that the water temperature entering the water-side heat exchanger is always higher than the freezing point threshold.

9. The integrated hot and cold constant temperature bathtub as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The main circulation loop of the bathtub also includes an auxiliary heat exchange bypass, which is coupled to the main temperature control section through a pipe section. The auxiliary heat exchange bypass is integrated in series with the secondary side flow channel of the first waste heat heat exchanger, which is used to receive the heat exchange medium from the heat-conducting jacket to heat the water flowing through it.

10. The integrated hot and cold constant temperature bathtub as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The coupling connection configuration between the auxiliary heat exchange bypass and the main temperature control section includes at least one of the following: In configuration one, the auxiliary heat exchange bypass is connected in series between the main circulating water pump and the main temperature control section, so that all the water in the main circulating circuit of the bathtub flows through the first waste heat exchanger for preheating before entering the main temperature control section. In configuration two, the auxiliary heat exchange bypass is connected in parallel with the main temperature control section, and a flow regulating valve is installed at the parallel node. By adjusting the flow regulating valve, part of the bathtub water is diverted into the auxiliary heat exchange bypass for heating, while the other part of the water flows directly through the main pipeline. The two water flows merge and mix before the inlet of the main temperature control section.

Images