Circulating Water Heat Exchange System for Shared Cooling and Warming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-type air conditioning systems face energy inefficiency and system freezing issues during low-temperature operations, as they rely on refrigerants that consume additional energy and can cause refrigerant pipe freezing.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and system utilizing circulating water as a refrigerant for cooling and heating operations, with a cooling/warming controller, indoor-unit controller, and mode change unit to manage the flow of refrigerant, preventing freezing and reducing energy consumption by reusing circulating water between indoor units and a cooling/warming apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If refrigerant is used for cooling and heating operations in conventional multi-type air conditioning systems, then cooling and heating functions are achieved, but energy consumption increases and system freezing occurs at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the working fluid parameter from refrigerant to circulating water, which has fundamentally different thermal and physical properties. Water has higher specific heat capacity and does not freeze at typical operating temperatures, thereby reducing energy consumption and preventing system freezing while maintaining cooling and heating functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component between the circulating water system and the indoor units. This heat exchanger transfers thermal energy from the circulating water to the indoor air, enabling cooling and heating operations without directly using refrigerant in the indoor units, thus avoiding freezing issues
2Use of energy by moving object
If circulating water is reused between cooling/warming apparatus and indoor units, then energy consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases due to shared water passage and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling/warming water supply system with the indoor unit water circulation system by implementing a shared circulating water passage. This allows the same circulating water to serve multiple functions (cooling/warming the apparatus and cooling/heating indoor units), reducing overall energy consumption while the control system manages the shared resource efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The circulating water system is designed with multi-functionality to serve both the cooling/warming apparatus and the indoor units through a shared passage. The mode change unit enables the system to adaptively switch between different operational modes, allowing the same infrastructure to fulfill multiple cooling and heating demands throughout the building
3Adaptability or versatility
If mode change unit controls refrigerant flow to multiple controllers, then flexible operation modes are achieved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mode change unit implements dynamic control by adapting the circulating water flow distribution based on real-time operational demands. The system can dynamically switch between different modes (e.g., cooling-only, heating-only, simultaneous cooling and heating) and adjust water flow rates to multiple controllers according to actual load requirements, providing operational flexibility without requiring overly complex static control mechanisms
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 reduces energy consumption by reusing circulating water for cooling and heating operations, preventing system freezing, and allowing stable operation even at low temperatures by using water or water-alcohol mixtures for heat exchange in air conditioning and dehumidification processes.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the circulating water
Implementation Method 2
a circulating water passage configured to guide movement of the circulating water
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for delivering circulating water includes a cooling/warming controller configured to perform heat exchange of circulating water supplied to a cooling/warming apparatus using a refrigerant; an indoor-unit controller configured to perform heat exchange of circulating water supplied to an indoor unit using the refrigerant; and a mode change unit (MCU) configured to control a flow of the refrigerant supplied to the cooling/warming controller and the indoor-unit controller according to an operation mode of the cooling/warming apparatus and the indoor unit. The cooling/warming controller and the indoor-unit controller may be configured to share a circulating water passage through which the circulating water moves.