Condensing Device with Independent Tube Bundles for Heat Pump Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump systems require additional heat exchangers to manage heat transfer differently in various working modes, leading to increased complexity and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A condensing device with two independent sets of heat exchange tube bundles, each with its own cooling medium accommodating box set, allowing for separate circulation and heat exchange with the refrigerant, thereby eliminating the need for additional heat exchangers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two heat exchangers are additionally arranged for performing heat exchange with the heat exchange medium after the heat exchange in the condensing device, then the heat pump system can achieve different usages of heat released by the condensing device in different working modes, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The condensing device is segmented into multiple independent heat exchange tube bundles (first set and second set), each capable of performing heat exchange with the refrigerant independently. This segmentation allows different heat exchange media to flow through different tube bundles, enabling the system to achieve multiple working modes (heating mode, cooling mode, and simultaneous heating and cooling mode) without adding external heat exchangers, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Each heat exchange tube bundle is designed with universal functionality to perform both condensing and subcooling operations. The tube bundles can serve different purposes depending on the working mode: in heating mode, one bundle performs condensing while another performs subcooling; in cooling mode, the roles are reversed. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different usage requirements without increasing device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If two heat exchangers are additionally arranged for performing heat exchange with the heat exchange medium after the heat exchange in the condensing device, then the heat pump system can achieve different usages of heat released by the condensing device in different working modes, but the space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple heat exchange tube bundles are merged into a single condensing device housing, sharing common structural components such as the shell, support structures, and refrigerant flow passages. This merging approach enables the system to achieve multiple working modes while occupying less space compared to installing separate external heat exchangers, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and space requirements
3Device complexity
If cooling mediums of different usages flow through the same heat exchange tube bundles, then the structure is simpler, but the cooling mediums may contaminate each other
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange tube bundles are segmented into independent groups (first set and second set), with each group dedicated to a specific cooling medium flow path. This segmentation physically separates different cooling mediums, preventing contamination while maintaining structural compactness, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and contamination prevention
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 efficient heat transfer management in multiple working modes, reduces space requirements, and prevents contamination of hot water by ensuring separate pathways for cooling mediums of different usages.
Implementation Method 1
each set of heat exchange tube bundles is configured to circulate the cooling medium independently, to enable the cooling medium in each set of heat exchange tube bundles to perform heat exchange with the refrigerant in the heat exchange accommodating cavity independently
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange between a refrigerant and a heat exchange medium
Implementation Method 3
the cooling medium in each set of heat exchange tube bundles to perform heat exchange with the refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
a high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged out from the compressor first enters the condensing device, and provides heat to a heat exchange medium flowing in a heat exchange tube in the condensing device and is condensed into a high-pressure liquid refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
the low-pressure refrigerant enters the evaporating device, and absorbs heat from a heat exchange medium flowing in a heat exchange tube in the evaporating device and is evaporated into a low-pressure gaseous refrigerant
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
This application discloses a condensing device and a heat pump system including the same. The condensing device includes: a shell; and at least two sets of heat exchange tube bundles, where each set of heat exchange tube bundles includes a condensing tube bundle and a subcooling tube bundle, and the subcooling tube bundle is arranged below the corresponding condensing tube bundle, where the at least two sets of heat exchange tube bundles are configured to circulate the cooling medium independently, to enable the cooling medium in each set of heat exchange tube bundles to perform heat exchange with the refrigerant in the heat exchange accommodating cavity independently. Two subcoolers are arranged in a same shell of the condensing device of this application, where one subcooler may be used in an independent refrigeration mode, and the other subcooler may be used in a water heating mode. In the independent refrigeration mode, the subcooler can improve the refrigeration performance of the heat pump system. In the water heating mode, in addition to improving the performance of the heat pump system, the subcooler can further reduce the size of an economizer in the heat pump system, and finally reduce the occupied area of the unit.