Device for ventilating rooms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation devices for buildings lack the capability to simultaneously control room ventilation, heating, cooling, and hot water preparation efficiently, often requiring separate systems that occupy more space and are less efficient.
Innovation Solution
A compact ventilation module with two heat pump circuits and a counterflow heat exchanger that allows for simultaneous ventilation, heating or cooling of rooms, and heating of water, using a speed-controlled heat pump and a second heat exchanger in the exhaust air flow to act as both a condenser and evaporator, enabling efficient energy recovery and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If separate systems are used for ventilation, heating, cooling, and hot water preparation, then each system can be optimized independently, but the device occupies more space and is less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ventilation, heating, cooling, and hot water preparation functions into a single integrated device. The housing contains all four heat exchangers and two heat pump circuits in one unit, eliminating the need for separate systems and reducing overall device footprint while improving energy efficiency through shared components
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs multiple functions simultaneously: ventilation through dedicated flow paths, heating via the first and second heat exchangers, cooling through the third and fourth heat exchangers, and hot water preparation using the second heat exchanger. The two heat pump circuits can operate independently or in combination to serve different functions based on demand
2Area of stationary object
If a compact design is implemented with integrated functions, then floor space is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges the four heat exchangers in a nested configuration where they are positioned close to each other within the housing, with some heat exchangers potentially overlapping or adjacent in a space-efficient manner. The two heat pump circuits share common components such as the second heat exchanger, further reducing the overall footprint
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional components are merged into a single housing structure, with shared elements like the common heat exchanger (second heat exchanger) serving dual purposes in both the first and second heat pump circuits. This consolidation reduces the total space required while maintaining all necessary functions
3Loss of energy
If the second heat exchanger acts as both condenser and evaporator for two heat pump circuits, then energy efficiency is improved, but the heat exchanger design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The second heat exchanger is designed to serve multiple roles: it acts as a condenser for the first heat pump circuit, an evaporator for the second heat pump circuit, and can also function as a heat recovery exchanger. This multi-functionality maximizes energy utilization from the exhaust air while maintaining a single heat exchanger component
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger operates under different thermal parameters depending on the operating mode. The first heat pump circuit operates with refrigerant condensing at higher temperatures, while the second heat pump circuit operates with refrigerant evaporating at lower temperatures. The heat exchanger design accommodates these varying temperature and pressure parameters through appropriate surface area distribution and flow path configuration
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 provides controlled ventilation and heating/cooling of rooms while heating water efficiently, achieving high energy efficiency and compact design, with the ability to operate in various modes to optimize performance and prevent overheating, suitable for well-insulated living spaces.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger, which is designed as a counterflow heat exchanger, for recovering energy from exhaust air
Implementation Method 2
heat being transferred between the flows of outside air and supply air and the flows of exhaust air and exhaust air
Implementation Method 3
the second heat exchanger located in the outgoing air flow acts simultaneously as a condenser for the 'heat pump circuit air' refrigeration circuit (heat is given off)
Implementation Method 4
as an evaporator for the 'heat pump circuit water' refrigeration circuit (heat is absorbed)
Implementation Method 5
one of which is suitable for heating or cooling air and one for heating water
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A device (1) for ventilating and for conditioning, namely heating or cooling, of rooms and for heating service water comprises two separate heat pump circuits, namely the heat pump circuit (40) for heating water in a hot water tank (21) and the further heat pump circuit ( 41) for conditioning the space to be ventilated. The heat pump circuits (40 and 41) have a common heat exchanger (18), which serves as a condenser or evaporator. The flows of supply air, exhaust air, exhaust air and outside air are routed through a heat exchanger (12) designed as a countercurrent heat exchanger.