Central Heat Pump Piping for Low-Loss Building Temperature Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current building temperature control systems using refrigerants are inefficient, costly, and environmentally harmful due to the need for individual indoor heat pump units, high installation and piping costs, and energy losses, as well as the complexity and noise associated with refrigerant handling.
Innovation Solution
A three-pipe system with a central heat pump unit connected to warm and cold liquid piping, eliminating the need for indoor heat pumps by using water as the refrigerant, which reduces energy consumption and complexity, and allows for efficient heating and cooling through a heat exchanger with a high heat transfer coefficient, controlled by an electronic control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual indoor heat pump units are installed in each room, then individual temperature adjustment is achieved, but the system becomes complex, expensive, and generates operational noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat pump functionality from individual indoor units and concentrates it in a single central heat pump unit. The indoor units are reduced to simple fan units with heat exchangers that connect to the central system via water piping, eliminating compressors and refrigerants from each room while maintaining individual temperature control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple indoor heat pump functions into a single central heat pump unit. The central unit serves all rooms simultaneously through a water-based distribution system, combining the cooling and heating capabilities that were previously distributed across multiple independent units
2Adaptability or versatility
If refrigerant is used in building pipes for direct expansion systems, then heating and cooling functions are achieved, but installation becomes difficult and refrigerant leakage risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary medium to replace refrigerant in the building's piping system. The central heat pump unit handles all refrigerant operations internally, while water circulates through the building's pipes to transfer thermal energy to and from indoor units, eliminating the need for refrigerant handling in building installations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from pneumatic/refrigerant-based direct expansion systems to a hydraulic water-based system. Water circulates through the piping network to carry thermal energy between the central heat pump and indoor units, leveraging hydraulic principles for heat transfer without requiring high-pressure refrigerant piping
3Productivity
If high temperature difference is used in liquid piping systems, then heating and cooling delivery is achieved, but energy losses increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameters of the water circulating in the system. By maintaining smaller temperature differences between supply and return water (e.g., 30-50°C for heating returns, 10-20°C for cooling returns), the system reduces thermal losses in piping while still achieving effective heating and cooling delivery to rooms
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
The system achieves significant energy savings by optimizing energy flow and reducing the need for refrigerant handling, lowering installation costs, and enhancing efficiency with reduced energy losses, while maintaining comfortable room temperatures with minimal operational noise and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger as a part of the central heat pump unit to evaporate and heat or to condensate and cool the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a compressor as a part of the central heat pump unit to pressurize a refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a condenser as a part of the central heat pump unit
Implementation Method 4
an evaporator as a part of the central heat pump unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus for influencing the temperature in a building, comprising: a central heat pump unit (2) with a warm liquid outlet (12) to a warm liquid piping (38), a cold liquid outlet (14) to a cold liquid piping (40) and a liquid inlet (16) connected with a return liquid piping (42), a condenser (4), an evaporator (6) and a compressor (8), a heat exchanger (10), a refrigerant piping (18) being connected with the condenser (4), the evaporator (6), the compressor (8) and the heat exchanger (10), which distributes the refrigerant in the central heat pump unit (2), and at least one indoor unit (36) being connected with the warm liquid outlet (12), the cold liquid outlet (14) and the liquid inlet (16). The invention also refers to a method for operating an apparatus for influencing the temperature in a building.