Dual-Circuit Heat Pump Layout for Heating and Hot Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal installations in collective housing buildings face challenges in efficiently replacing central boilers with heat pumps due to high equipment costs and the need for accurate power sizing. Additionally, these installations often require stopping domestic heating to heat sanitary water, due to differing temperature setpoints.
Innovation Solution
A thermal installation design that includes two water circuits with heat pumps placed upstream and downstream of input and output tanks, respectively, and a hydraulic link system allowing controlled transfer between the circuits. This setup includes a control system with valves and circulators to manage the hydraulic transfer and optimize energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heat pump is used to replace a central boiler, then energy consumption is reduced by a factor of 3 to 4, but the equipment cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the thermal installation into two independent water circuits (heating circuit and domestic hot water circuit), each with its own heat pump, inlet tank, and outlet tank. This segmentation allows each heat pump to be sized appropriately for its specific function, avoiding the need for a single high-power heat pump and reducing overall equipment cost while maintaining energy efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If the power of heat pump installation is sized accurately, then financial sustainability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the installation into two circuits with independently sized heat pumps, the system achieves accurate power sizing for each function. The first heat pump is sized for heating requirements and the second for domestic hot water requirements, allowing financial sustainability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic connection system with arms and control devices provides multi-functionality, allowing the system to operate in different modes (independent operation, hydraulic transfer between circuits) to optimize performance and simplify control based on operational needs.
3Ease of operation
If domestic hot water tank is heated, then hot water supply is maintained, but heating of premises must be stopped due to temperature setpoint differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thermal installation into two independent circuits, each with its own heat pump and temperature control system. This allows the heating circuit and domestic hot water circuit to operate simultaneously at their respective optimal temperatures without interfering with each other, eliminating heating interruptions during hot water production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the two circuits through a hydraulic connection system that allows controlled interaction when needed. The connection includes arms with control devices that enable hydraulic transfer between circuits, providing flexibility to optimize performance while maintaining the ability to operate independently when required.
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 solution allows for efficient operation of heat pumps in collective housing buildings, reducing energy consumption and costs by enabling flexible operation and compensating for heat pump failures, while maintaining comfortable temperatures in both heating and hot water systems.
Implementation Method 1
each of the first and second water circuits comprises an inlet tank, an outlet tank and at least one heat pump
Implementation Method 2
the second circuit comprising at least one heat exchanger capable of transferring heat to the at least one domestic hot water tank
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a building heating system (10) comprising a first domestic heating water circuit (14) and a second domestic hot water circuit (16). Each of the first and second water circuits comprises: an inlet tank (30, 50), an outlet tank (32, 52), and at least one heat pump (34, 54) located upstream of the inlet tank and downstream of the outlet tank. The system further comprises a first hydraulic connection (70) between the inlet tanks of the first and second circuits; a second hydraulic connection (72) between the outlet tanks of the first and second circuits; and a device (74) for controlling a hydraulic transfer between said first and second circuits.