Adiabatic Compressor Housing for Heat Pump Waste Heat Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump systems for vehicular applications face challenges in improving air-heating performance without wasting heat generated at the compressor, as they require additional energy to raise the temperature of the heat exchanging medium, conflicting with energy-saving goals.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system with a compressor housed in an adiabatic compressor housing that traps air around the compressor, using the stored heat to increase the temperature of the heat exchanging medium, and includes a switching mechanism to direct the heat exchanging medium flow between inside and outside heat exchangers based on operation mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If additional energy is applied to raise the temperature of the heat exchanging medium, then air-heating performance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat generated by the compressor into a useful resource for pre-heating the heat exchanging medium. The adiabatic housing captures the heat that would otherwise be dissipated, and uses it to raise the temperature of the medium before it enters the indoor heat exchanger, thereby improving heating performance without additional energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own internally generated waste heat from the compressor to serve the heating function. The adiabatic housing enables the compressor heat to automatically pre-heat the passing heat exchanging medium, creating a self-sustaining thermal loop that requires no external energy input.
2Temperature
If heat generated at the compressor is dissipated to the surrounding air, then cooling effect is achieved, but heating performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the previously harmful heat dissipation from the compressor into a beneficial pre-heating process. The adiabatic housing prevents heat loss to the environment and redirects it to warm the heat exchanging medium, converting energy waste into a performance-enhancing resource.
Solution Approach 2:
The adiabatic housing acts as an intermediary component that captures thermal energy from the compressor and transfers it to the heat exchanging medium. This intermediate thermal transfer mechanism efficiently couples the compressor heat source with the heat medium, maximizing heat utilization.
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 solution enhances air-heating performance by fully utilizing existing energy without additional energy input, improving both heating and cooling performance while reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the compressor housing is set in a sealed state so as to keep the air around the compressor trapped within said housing, so that heat generated at the compressor is stored in air around the compressor
Implementation Method 2
the compressor is housed inside an adiabatic compressor housing
Implementation Method 3
the heat pump system heats the air flowing through the air passage by releasing the heat of the heat exchanging medium, the temperature and the pressure of which have been raised by the compressor, into the air flowing through the air passage
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a compressor 23 in a heat pump system 2 is housed inside a compressor housing 30. The compressor housing 30 can be temporarily set in a sealed state via opening/closing means 35 and 36. When the air present around the compressor 23 is trapped inside the compressor housing 30 in the sealed state, the heat generated at the compressor 23 can be transferred to and stored in the air around the compressor 23. As a result, the heat at the compressor 23 is retained in the air surrounding the compressor 23, so as to raise the temperature of the heat exchanging medium discharge from the compressor 23. The invention provides a heat pump system that stores heat generated at a compressor in air present around the compressor and consequently is able to raise the temperature of heat exchanging medium flowing from the compressor into an inside heat exchanger through targeted use of existing energy in the heat pump system in the form of heat generated at the compressor.