Heat pump water heater integrating micro-channel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of integrated microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage's heat pump water heater, including compressor, evaporator, throttling device and condenser, the compressor, condenser, throttling device and evaporator are connected by pipeline to form refrigerant circulation loop;Still including the water inlet pipe and water outlet pipe being equipped with water pump;The condenser is integrated heat exchange energy storage module;The integrated heat exchange energy storage module includes microchannel condensing heat exchanger and phase change material energy storage unit;Refrigerant microchannel and water flow microchannel that can be isolated and heat exchange to each other are equipped in the microchannel condensing heat exchanger, the refrigerant microchannel is accessed the refrigerant circulation loop, the water flow microchannel is connected between the water inlet pipe and water outlet pipe;Phase change material energy storage unit is filled with phase change material.In the structure, microchannel heat exchange technical scheme is adopted, greatly increases heat exchange area, volume is far smaller than traditional water tank type structure, play compact structure and heat exchange efficiency extremely high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of heat pump technology, specifically to a heat pump water heater that integrates microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, conventional heat pump water heaters mostly use coils immersed in a water tank for their condensers, which suffers from limited heat exchange efficiency, large tank size, long preheating time, and significant heat loss from the tank after shutdown. Although there are instantaneous products using plate heat exchangers, they require high water flow stability, have slow low-temperature start-up, and offer a poor user experience. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of heat pump water heater that is compact, heats up rapidly, and has minimal heat loss. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to provide a heat pump water heater that integrates microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage, which has a compact structure, high heat exchange efficiency, and can achieve instantaneous heating with minimal heat loss.

[0004] This utility model also provides a heat pump water heater that integrates microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage, including a compressor, an evaporator, a throttling device, and a condenser. The compressor, condenser, throttling device, and evaporator are connected by pipelines to form a refrigerant circulation loop; it also includes an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe equipped with a water pump; The condenser is an integrated heat exchange and energy storage module; the integrated heat exchange and energy storage module includes a microchannel condensing heat exchanger and a phase change material energy storage unit; the microchannel condensing heat exchanger has mutually isolated refrigerant microchannels and water flow microchannels that can exchange heat, the refrigerant microchannels are connected to the refrigerant circulation loop, and the water flow microchannels are connected in series between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe; the phase change material energy storage unit is filled with phase change material, and the phase change material energy storage unit is physically contacted and coupled to the water flow microchannel of the microchannel condensing heat exchanger.

[0005] Preferably, the microchannel condenser heat exchanger is a multi-layer plate stack structure, which is formed by alternating stacks of multiple plates engraved with microchannels and connected by brazing, wherein the refrigerant microchannels and water flow microchannels are distributed at intervals in the stack.

[0006] Preferably, the phase change material energy storage unit is a shell structure that surrounds the multi-layer plate stacked microchannel condensing heat exchanger. The shell is filled with the phase change material, and the inner wall of the shell is in close contact with the outer surface of the plates of the water flow microchannel.

[0007] Preferably, the phase change material energy storage unit is a modular unit embedded in the microchannel condenser heat exchanger, and the unit is arranged alternately with the water flow microchannel.

[0008] Preferably, the hydraulic diameter of the refrigerant microchannel is less than or equal to 1 mm, and the hydraulic diameter of the water flow microchannel is less than or equal to 2 mm.

[0009] Preferably, it further includes a control system, which is electrically connected to a temperature sensor disposed on the water outlet pipe, the water pump and the compressor.

[0010] Preferably, the microchannel condenser heat exchanger is provided with an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold at both ends. The inlet manifold is connected to the inlet pipe and is used to evenly distribute cold water into each water flow microchannel; the outlet manifold is connected to the outlet pipe and is used to collect the heated hot water and output it.

[0011] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: by adopting the microchannel heat exchange technology, the heat exchange area is greatly increased and the volume is much smaller than that of the traditional water tank structure, resulting in a compact structure and extremely high heat exchange efficiency.

[0012] Second, the phase change material energy storage unit stores a large amount of latent heat during operation, which can be quickly released when the user needs hot water, achieving "instant hot water" without waiting, thus realizing instant heating.

[0013] Third, after the system is shut down, there is no "heat loss" like in a traditional water tank. The heat stored in the phase change material is effectively sealed, resulting in significant energy savings.

[0014] The entire integrated module has a robust structure and is suitable for different installation environments. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure of the heat pump water heater described in this utility model.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of a specific embodiment of the integrated heat exchange and energy storage module described in this utility model.

[0018] The numbers in the diagram are: 1-compressor, 3-throttling device, 4-evaporator, 5-microchannel condenser heat exchanger, 51-refrigerant microchannel, 52-water flow microchannel, 6-phase change material energy storage unit, 61-phase change material, 7-inlet pipe, 8-outlet pipe, 9-water pump, 10-temperature sensor, 100-integrated heat exchange and energy storage module. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0020] The following is for reference. Figures 1 to 2 This invention describes a heat pump water heater integrating microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage according to an embodiment of the present invention. The heater includes a compressor 1, an evaporator 4, a throttling device 3, and a condenser. The compressor 1, condenser, throttling device 3, and evaporator 4 are connected by pipelines to form a refrigerant circulation loop. It also includes an inlet pipe 7 and an outlet pipe 8 equipped with a water pump 9. The condenser is an integrated heat exchange and energy storage module 100. The integrated heat exchange and energy storage module 100 includes a microchannel condensing heat exchanger 5 and a phase change material energy storage unit 6. The microchannel condensing heat exchanger 5 has mutually isolated refrigerant microchannels 51 and water flow microchannels 52 that can exchange heat. The refrigerant microchannels 51 are connected to the refrigerant circulation loop, and the water flow microchannels 52 are connected in series between the inlet pipe 7 and the outlet pipe 8. The phase change material energy storage unit 6 is filled with phase change material 61, and the phase change material energy storage unit 6 is partially physically coupled to the water flow microchannels 52 of the microchannel condensing heat exchanger 5. The microchannel condenser heat exchanger 5 in this structure is a multi-layer plate stack structure, consisting of multiple plates engraved with microchannels stacked alternately and connected by brazing. The refrigerant microchannels 51 and water flow microchannels 52 are distributed alternately in the stack. The phase change material energy storage unit 6 in this structure is a shell structure surrounding the multi-layer plate stack microchannel condenser heat exchanger 5. The shell is filled with the phase change material 61, and the inner wall of the shell is in close contact with the outer surface of the plates of the water flow microchannels 52. The phase change material energy storage unit 6 is a modular unit embedded in the microchannel condenser heat exchanger 5, and this unit is arranged alternately with the water flow microchannels 52. The hydraulic diameter of the refrigerant microchannels 51 is less than or equal to 1 mm, and the hydraulic diameter of the water flow microchannels 52 is less than or equal to 2 mm. This structure also includes a control system, which is electrically connected to the temperature sensor 10 installed on the water outlet pipe 8, the water pump 9, and the compressor 1.

[0021] A heat pump water heater integrating microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage is proposed. Its core is to replace the condenser in the traditional heat pump system with a highly integrated heat exchange and energy storage module 100. This module has the dual functions of efficient heat exchange and thermal energy storage, thereby solving the problems of large size, slow preheating and large heat loss of traditional water heaters.

[0022] like Figure 1As shown, the system includes a compressor 1, an integrated heat exchange and energy storage module 100 (as a condenser), a throttling device 3 (such as an electronic expansion valve or capillary tube), and an evaporator 4, which are connected by copper pipes or other pressure-resistant pipelines to form a refrigerant circulation loop. The water system includes an inlet pipe 7, a water pump 9, a water flow microchannel 52 in the integrated heat exchange and energy storage module 100, an outlet pipe 8, and a temperature sensor 10 installed on the outlet pipe 8.

[0023] The integrated heat exchange and energy storage module 100 consists of two core components: a microchannel condensing heat exchanger 5 and a phase change material energy storage unit 6. Their structure, materials, and operation methods are described in detail below.

[0024] I. Structure and operation of microchannel condenser heat exchanger 5.

[0025] The microchannel condenser heat exchanger 5 adopts a multi-layer plate stacked structure, consisting of multiple metal plates (such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel) with a thickness of 0.5 to 1.0 mm connected by brazing. Microchannel patterns are formed on each plate through etching or embossing. The plates are of two types: one type is engraved with refrigerant microchannels 51, and the other type is engraved with water flow microchannels 52. These plates are stacked alternately, spatially isolating the refrigerant channels and water flow channels while achieving efficient heat exchange through the metal plate walls. The microchannel condenser heat exchanger 5 has an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold at both ends. The inlet manifold is connected to the inlet pipe 7 and is used to evenly distribute cold water into each water flow microchannel 52; the outlet manifold is connected to the outlet pipe 8 and is used to collect and output the heated hot water. The manifolds typically have a flow guiding structure or distributor to ensure uniform water flow distribution in each microchannel, avoid localized dead zones, and further improve heat exchange efficiency and system stability.

[0026] The hydraulic diameter of the refrigerant microchannel 51 is no greater than 1 mm, and the hydraulic diameter of the water flow microchannel 52 is no greater than 2 mm. This design greatly increases the heat exchange area per unit volume, several times higher than that of traditional shell-and-tube or plate heat exchangers, thereby significantly improving heat exchange efficiency and greatly reducing the overall module size.

[0027] II. Structure and integration method of phase change material energy storage unit 6.

[0028] The phase change material energy storage unit 6 is used to store excess heat generated during system operation and release it when needed to achieve an "instant heat" effect. This invention provides two preferred integration methods: Method 1: External wrapping structure: such as Figure 2As shown, the phase change material energy storage unit 6 is an outer shell, the inner cavity of which tightly covers the outer periphery of the microchannel condenser heat exchanger 5. The shell is typically made of metal and filled with a phase change material 61 with a phase change temperature between 55°C and 65°C, such as composite paraffin or hydrate-based materials. Good thermal contact is ensured between the shell and the heat exchanger through thermally conductive adhesive or mechanical pressing, especially with tight adhesion to the outer surface of the plate where the water flow microchannels 52 are located.

[0029] Method 2: Embedded Modular Structure: In another embodiment, the phase change material energy storage unit 6 can also be designed as a modular unit, directly embedded in the plate stack of the microchannel condenser heat exchanger 5, and arranged alternately with the water flow microchannels 52. Each unit is a sealed container filled with phase change material 61, and exchanges heat with the water flow channels through the metal walls.

[0030] III. Control System and Workflow: The system also includes a control system (not shown), which typically includes a microprocessor and drive circuitry, and is electrically connected to the temperature sensor 10, water pump 9 and compressor 1.

[0031] Heating process: When the user turns on the hot water, the temperature sensor 10 detects the outlet water temperature. If it is lower than the set value, the compressor 1 and water pump 9 are started. The high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant condenses and releases heat in the refrigerant microchannel 51. The heat is quickly transferred through the plate to the water flow microchannel 52 and the phase change material 61, and the water flow is rapidly heated and output.

[0032] Energy storage process: When the system's heat output exceeds the demand, the excess heat is stored in the form of latent heat by the phase change material 61.

[0033] Energy release process: When the system shuts down or demand surges, the phase change material 61 solidifies and releases heat, preheating the flowing cold water, achieving a rapid response without waiting.

[0034] IV. The advantages of this structure compared to traditional technologies are as follows: Compact structure: The microchannel design makes the heat exchanger much smaller than a traditional water tank, facilitating installation in confined spaces. Strong instant heating: The latent heat storage and release mechanism of the phase change material solves the problem of long preheating times in traditional water heaters. Significant energy savings: After shutdown, there is no continuous heat loss like with traditional water tanks; the phase change material seals the heat for the next use. Precise control: Through linkage between temperature sensors and the control system, on-demand heating is achieved, avoiding energy waste.

[0035] This invention provides a truly "instantaneous and energy-storage" heat pump water heater by organically combining microchannel heat exchange with phase change material energy storage. It has the advantages of rapid response and energy saving, and is especially suitable for domestic and commercial hot water applications.

[0036] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A heat pump water heater integrating microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage, comprising a compressor (1), an evaporator (4), a throttling device (3), and a condenser, wherein the compressor (1), condenser, throttling device (3), and evaporator (4) are connected by pipelines to form a refrigerant circulation loop; further comprising an inlet pipe (7) and an outlet pipe (8) equipped with a water pump (9); characterized in that: The condenser is an integrated heat exchange and energy storage module (100). The integrated heat exchange and energy storage module (100) includes a microchannel condensing heat exchanger (5) and a phase change material energy storage unit (6). The microchannel condenser heat exchanger (5) is provided with a refrigerant microchannel (51) and a water flow microchannel (52) that are isolated from each other and can exchange heat. The refrigerant microchannel (51) is connected to the refrigerant circulation loop, and the water flow microchannel (52) is connected in series between the water inlet pipe (7) and the water outlet pipe (8). The phase change material energy storage unit (6) is filled with phase change material (61), and the phase change material energy storage unit (6) is physically coupled to the water flow microchannel (52) of the microchannel condenser heat exchanger (5).

2. A heat pump water heater integrating microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microchannel condenser heat exchanger (5) is a multi-layer plate stack structure, which is formed by alternating stacks of multiple plates engraved with microchannels and connected by brazing. The refrigerant microchannels (51) and water flow microchannels (52) are distributed at intervals in the stack.

3. A heat pump water heater integrating microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage according to claim 2, characterized in that: The phase change material energy storage unit (6) is a shell structure that wraps around the multi-layer plate stacked microchannel condensing heat exchanger (5). The shell is filled with the phase change material (61), and the inner wall of the shell is in close contact with the outer surface of the plates of the water flow microchannel (52).

4. A heat pump water heater integrating microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The phase change material energy storage unit (6) is a modular unit embedded in the microchannel condenser heat exchanger (5), and the unit is arranged alternately with the water flow microchannel (52).

5. A heat pump water heater integrating microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The hydraulic diameter of the refrigerant microchannel (51) is less than or equal to 1 mm, and the hydraulic diameter of the water flow microchannel (52) is less than or equal to 2 mm.

6. A heat pump water heater integrating microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a control system, which is electrically connected to the temperature sensor (10) installed on the water outlet pipe (8), the water pump (9) and the compressor (1).

7. A heat pump water heater integrating microchannel heat exchange and phase change material energy storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microchannel condenser heat exchanger (5) is provided with an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold at both ends. The inlet manifold is connected to the inlet pipe (7) and is used to evenly distribute cold water to each water flow microchannel (52). The outlet manifold is connected to the outlet pipe (8) and is used to collect the heated hot water and output it.

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