Cooling-heating units with prioritized loading, system thereof, and method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVACR systems face limitations in load shifting due to physical operating constraints and complex control logic, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs, especially in chiller and heat pump systems.
Innovation Solution
The system employs primary and secondary cooling-heating units connected to heating and cooling flow paths, with primary units prioritized for load, allowing for efficient load shifting without complex control algorithms, using refrigerant circuits with compressors, condensers, and evaporators to heat and cool process fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional HVACR systems use complex control logic for load shifting, then system functionality is maintained, but device complexity increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments cooling-heating units into primary and secondary groups with distinct functions. Primary units handle base heating/cooling loads while secondary units provide supplemental capacity. This segmentation eliminates complex control logic by establishing a clear hierarchy where primary units are always prioritized, and secondary units only activate when additional capacity is needed, simplifying the control structure while maintaining operational flexibility.
2Productivity
If conventional systems prioritize complex control algorithms, then load distribution can be optimized, but system costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring primary and secondary units with predetermined activation criteria. Primary units are designated to handle base loads first, and secondary units are pre-arranged to activate only when primary units reach capacity or additional load is required. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex real-time optimization algorithms, reducing system costs while maintaining load shifting efficiency through straightforward activation sequences.
3Use of energy by moving object
If cooling-heating units operate without prioritized loading, then all units can contribute equally to cooling, but heating efficiency decreases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by assigning different operational characteristics to primary and secondary units. Primary units are optimized and prioritized for heating operations, while secondary units provide supplemental capacity. This differentiated approach allows primary units to operate at optimal conditions for heating efficiency, while secondary units activate only when additional capacity is needed, maintaining high heating efficiency without requiring complex coordinated control among all units.
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 easier load shifting with maintained efficiency, reducing costs and complexity by prioritizing primary units for heating and cooling demands, and utilizing supplemental units for additional capacity as needed.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser for heating the first process fluid
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator for cooling the second process fluid
Implementation Method 3
a compressor that compresses refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A heating-cooling system includes cooling-heating units (210A-D) fluidly connected to a heating flow path (202A) for a first process fluid and to a cooling flow path (202B) for a second process fluid. The cooling-heating units include one or more primary cooling-heating units (210A,B) and one or more secondary cooling-heating units (210C,D). The primary cooling-heating unit(s) and secondary cooling-heating unit(s) are fluidly connected to the heating flow path such that when active, a heating load is prioritized to the primary cooling-heating unit(s) over the secondary cooling-heating unit(s). A method of controlling a heating-cooling system includes selectively operating the heating-cooling system in a plurality of modes. In a mode, secondary cooling-heating unit(s) and primary cooling-heating unit(s) each heat the first process fluid and cool the second process fluid, and the one or more of the primary cooling-heating units operate at or about maximum conditioning capacity.