Combined system and process for heating a main water circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hybrid heating systems using a condensing boiler and a heat pump suffer from structural complexity and low efficiency due to double heat exchange processes, leading to significant heat losses.
Innovation Solution
A combined system where combustion fumes from the boiler are directly carried to a heat exchanger within a sealed chamber, where they mix with ambient air and exchange heat with a refrigerant fluid, eliminating the need for additional heat exchangers and enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a specific heat exchanger component is used to heat the air flow from combustion fumes, then the heat recovery function is achieved, but the structural complexity of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of heating the air flow with the existing heat exchanger used for heating the refrigerant fluid. The combustion fumes are directed to heat the air flow within the same heat exchanger component, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated heat exchanger and thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining heat recovery efficiency
2Loss of energy
If a double heat exchange process is used (fumes-air and air-refrigerant fluid), then the heat recovery function is achieved, but significant heat losses occur and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the intermediate air heating step from the heat exchange process. Instead of using air as an intermediate medium for heat transfer, the system directly exchanges heat between the combustion fumes and the refrigerant fluid, eliminating the double heat exchange process and the associated heat losses, thereby improving overall heating efficiency
3Loss of energy
If additional heat exchangers are added to the system for heat recovery, then the heat recovery capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing heat exchanger multi-functional by using it for both heating the refrigerant fluid and heating the air flow from combustion fumes. This universal application of the heat exchanger allows the system to achieve heat recovery capabilities without adding additional components, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving energy efficiency
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 is structurally simpler and achieves higher efficiency by directly exchanging heat between combustion fumes and the refrigerant fluid, reducing heat losses and improving overall heating performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger (12) crossed by the circuit in which the refrigerant fluid receives heat passing from a liquid state to a gaseous state
Implementation Method 2
exchanging heat in the first heat exchanger (12) between the combustion fumes and the refrigerant fluid in the liquid state
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerant fluid passing from the gaseous state to a liquid state
Implementation Method 4
carrying out a first heating of the water by heat exchange with a refrigerant fluid in a gaseous state
Implementation Method 5
The combined heating system comprises a fan associated with the first heat exchanger so that the fumes exiting the duct are sucked into the first heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A combined system for heating (1) a main water circuit (30) comprising a condensing boiler (20) and a heat pump (11, 12, 13, 14, 16). The boiler (20) has a combustion fumes outlet (23), the heat pump (11, 12, 13, 14, 16) comprises a refrigerant circuit (11) in which a refrigerant fluid flows and a first heat exchanger (12) crossed by the circuit (11) in which the refrigerant fluid receives heat passing from a liquid state to a gaseous state. The combined heating system (1) comprises a duct (40) extending between the fumes outlet (23) of the boiler (20) and said first heat exchanger (12) so as to carry the fumes coming from the fumes outlet (23) at the first heat exchanger (12).