Absorption Heat Pump Layout Using Pressure-Driven Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorption heat pump systems experience heat loss and inefficiency due to the lack of optimal positioning and pressure differences between high-temperature and low-temperature devices, which hampers energy conservation and operational efficiency, especially during low operating loads.
Innovation Solution
The absorption heat pump unit is designed with a dividing wall to separate high-temperature and low-temperature devices, reducing heat transfer and utilizing pressure differences to drive refrigerant and absorbent solution circulation without additional pumps, even at low loads, by optimizing the placement of condenser inlets and outlets and incorporating a Venturi part in the absorption supply tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If high-temperature devices (regenerator, boiler) and low-temperature devices (evaporator, absorber) are placed close together for compact design, then device density is improved, but heat loss from high-temperature to low-temperature devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pump unit is divided into a high-temperature device chamber containing the regenerator and boiler, and a low-temperature device chamber containing the evaporator and absorber. These chambers are separated by a partition wall that prevents thermal coupling while maintaining a compact integrated structure, thus achieving both high device density and reduced heat loss.
2Reliability
If additional pumps are installed to circulate refrigerant and absorbent solution at low operating loads, then fluid circulation reliability is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the inherent pressure difference between the high-temperature and low-temperature chambers to drive the circulation of refrigerant and absorbent solution. The high-pressure side naturally flows to the low-pressure side through properly configured channels, eliminating the need for additional circulation pumps and reducing both device complexity and energy consumption while maintaining reliable fluid circulation.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If pressure difference is optimized to drive fluid circulation without pumps, then energy consumption is reduced, but the ability to maintain circulation at low operating loads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the pressure parameters by maintaining a pressure difference between the high-temperature chamber (regenerator, boiler) and the low-temperature chamber (evaporator, absorber). This pressure gradient is engineered to be sufficient to drive fluid circulation even at low operating loads, eliminating the need for pump assistance while maintaining adequate circulation capability across all load conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces heat loss and enhances the efficiency of the absorption heat pump by minimizing pressure differences and eliminating the need for separate pumps, allowing efficient operation even under small operating loads, thereby improving energy conservation.
Implementation Method 1
the regenerator, the boiler, and other high-temperature devices that reach high temperatures, as well as the evaporator, the absorber, and other lower-temperatures devices are separated by the dividing wall, thereby impeding the transfer of heat from the high-temperature devices to the low-temperature devices
Implementation Method 2
the pressure difference between a higher pressure and lower pressure in the heat pump unit is set as a first pressure difference, the pressure difference in the refrigerant resulting from the height difference between a refrigerant outlet of the condenser and a refrigerant inlet of the evaporator is set as a second pressure difference
Implementation Method 3
the pressure difference in the absorbent solution resulting from the height difference between an absorbent solution outlet of the regenerator and an absorbent solution inlet of the absorber is set as a third pressure difference
Implementation Method 4
incorporating a Venturi part in the absorption supply tube
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A boiler-equipped absorption heat pump unit in which a regenerator, a boiler, and other high-temperature devices are separated from an evaporator, an absorber, and other low-temperature devices are separated by an insulated dividing wall. The dividing wall reduces heat loss by impeding the transfer of heat from the high-temperature devices to the low-temperature devices.