Cascade Heat Pump Circuit for Fast Water Heating and Air Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pump systems face limitations in quickly increasing water temperature for hot water supply while also performing air conditioning, due to restrictions in the heat transfer process.
Innovation Solution
The heat pump type speed heating apparatus employs a dual refrigerant system with a cascade heat exchanger, where a first refrigerant with a low condensation and evaporation temperature is used for air conditioning, and a second refrigerant with a higher temperature is used for hot water supply, allowing for efficient heat transfer and temperature increase in the hot water supply circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single refrigerant cycle is used for both air conditioning and hot water supply, then the system structure is simple, but the water temperature cannot be quickly increased to high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the refrigerant cycle into two separate cycles: a first refrigerant cycle for air conditioning and a second refrigerant cycle for hot water supply. This segmentation allows each cycle to be optimized independently, enabling the hot water supply to reach high temperatures quickly while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The first refrigerant cycle serves dual purposes: it provides air conditioning and simultaneously supplies heat to the second refrigerant cycle through the heat exchanger. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve both fast water heating and air conditioning without requiring completely separate systems.
2Device complexity
If heat is transferred from a single refrigerant cycle to hot water, then the system is simple, but the heat transfer efficiency is insufficient for rapid heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary between the first refrigerant cycle and the second refrigerant cycle. This intermediary enables efficient heat transfer from the first refrigerant to the second refrigerant, which then transfers heat to the water, achieving rapid heating while maintaining a simple heat transfer system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses refrigerants with different temperature characteristics: the first refrigerant has lower condensation and evaporation temperatures suitable for air conditioning, while the second refrigerant has higher temperatures optimized for hot water supply. This parameter change allows efficient heat transfer and rapid water heating.
3Productivity
If a dual refrigerant system with cascade heat exchanger is used, then the water heating speed increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the second refrigerant cycle is essentially contained within the first refrigerant cycle. The heat exchanger is integrated into the first cycle, and the second cycle uses the heat from the first cycle to drive water heating. This nesting achieves fast water heating while minimizing overall system complexity through shared components and integrated design.
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 enables faster and more efficient heating of water in the hot water supply tank while maintaining effective air conditioning performance, allowing for simultaneous operation of hot water supply and air conditioning.
Implementation Method 1
a cascade heat exchanger connected to the cooling cycle circuit for the first refrigerant discharged from the compressor to evaporate the second refrigerant expanded at the hot water supply expansion apparatus
Implementation Method 2
a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion apparatus, and an indoor heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
a hot water supply heat exchanger where the second refrigerant compressed in the hot water supply compressor is condensed while heating water
Data Source
AI summary
A heat pump type speed heating apparatus, comprising: a cooling cycle circuit to circulate a first refrigerant to operate air conditioning, the cooling cycle circuit including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion apparatus, and an indoor heat exchanger, a hot water supply compressor to compress a second refrigerant, a hot water supply heat exchanger to condense the compressed second refrigerant and to heat water, a hot water supply expansion apparatus to expand the second refrigerant from the hot water supply heat exchanger, and a cascade heat exchanger, connected to the cooling cycle circuit, to evaporate the second refrigerant expanded at the hot water supply expansion apparatus, and the first refrigerant to undergo condensation, expansion, and evaporation in the cooling cycle circuit.