Heat management system for connection to a heat pump, associated heating system and use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump systems face challenges in retrofitting existing buildings due to incompatibility with fossil fuel heating systems, requiring large temperature differences and small flow rates, leading to inefficient operation and high energy consumption for maintaining domestic hot water temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with a buffer storage tank and hydraulic decoupling of heat pump and space heating circuits, combined with a cascaded domestic hot water heating system using a heat exchanger and heating device, allows for efficient operation and compact retrofitting, utilizing regenerative energy storage and fossil fuel generators for flexible temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heat pump system is used in existing buildings with fossil fuel heating infrastructure, then renewable energy utilization is improved, but compatibility with existing heating systems deteriorates due to incompatible operating parameters
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer storage tank is introduced as an intermediary component between the heat pump and the existing heating system. This buffer tank decouples the hydraulic circuits, allowing the heat pump to operate at its optimal parameters (small temperature difference, large flow rate) while the existing heating system maintains its required parameters (large temperature difference, small flow rate). The buffer storage tank acts as a mediator that reconciles the incompatible operating conditions of the heat pump with the existing fossil fuel heating infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the heat pump operates with large temperature differences to match existing heating systems, then compatibility is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic circuit is segmented into two separate circuits: a heat pump circuit and a heating system circuit. The heat pump circuit operates independently with its optimal parameters (small temperature difference, large flow rate), while the heating system circuit operates with its required parameters (large temperature difference, small flow rate). The buffer storage tank connects these two segmented circuits, allowing each to operate efficiently without compromising the other's performance.
3Use of energy by moving object
If fossil fuel heating systems are replaced with heat pumps in existing buildings, then energy sustainability is improved, but installation complexity increases due to retrofitting challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer storage tank serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a hydraulic decoupling element, a thermal energy storage device, and a mixing chamber. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components during retrofitting, thereby simplifying the overall installation process while maintaining energy sustainability benefits of heat pump systems.
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
Ensures continuous domestic hot water availability with reduced energy consumption, improved comfort, and flexibility in meeting various hot water demands while minimizing installation space and energy waste.
Implementation Method 1
a buffer storage tank with at least one, in particular two, flow fluid inlets and a return fluid inlet
Implementation Method 2
The heat management system comprises a heat exchanger which is fluidly connected to a supply fluid inlet, in particular a second supply fluid inlet of the buffer storage tank, and which is configured to transfer heat energy from the buffer storage tank to the domestic hot water
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat management system (2) designed for connection to a heat pump (4). According to the invention, it is proposed that the heat management system (2) comprises a buffer storage tank (6) with at least one flow fluid inlet (8) and at least one return fluid outlet (10), wherein the flow fluid inlet (8) can be fluidly connected to a flow (16) of a heat pump (4) via a heat pump flow connection (14), and the return fluid outlet (10) can be connected to a return (20) of the heat pump (4) via a heat pump return connection (18), wherein the heat management system (2) further comprises a space heating flow connection (30) and a space heating return connection (32) for connecting a space heating system (34).wherein the space heating flow connection (30) is fluid-conductingly connected to the flow fluid inlet (8) or another flow fluid inlet of the buffer storage tank (6) and the heat pump flow connection (14), and wherein the space heating return connection (32) is fluid-conductingly connected to the return fluid outlet (10) or another flow fluid inlet of the buffer storage tank (6) and the heat pump return connection (18), and wherein the heat management system (2) is enclosed in a housing (46).