Dual-Source Heat Pump Circuit for Frost-Efficient Defrosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pump devices face inefficiencies in low atmospheric temperatures due to decreased suction pressure and frost issues, and geothermal heat pumps have lower efficiency when underground temperatures are lower than atmospheric temperatures, leading to increased power consumption and comfort deterioration during defrosting operations.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump device configuration that allows simultaneous heat collection from both the atmosphere and another heat source, using a refrigerant circuit with a main and sub-circuit connected by a switching device, where the heat source for defrosting is derived from a second heat source heat exchanger, such as geothermal, to reduce power consumption and maintain comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If heat is collected simultaneously from both the atmosphere and the underground, then the necessary size of the underground heat exchanger is reduced and system cost is reduced, but when the atmospheric temperature is low, frost occurs on the air heat exchanger and defrosting operation is required which decreases heat exchange performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third heat source (water heat exchanger) as an intermediary to resolve the contradiction between using air heat exchanger and underground heat exchanger. When atmospheric temperature is low and frost would occur, the system switches to using water as the heat source instead of air, thereby avoiding frost while still maintaining heat collection capability. This intermediary heat source allows the system to adapt to different environmental conditions without suffering from the harmful effects of frost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching between different heat sources (air, underground, water) based on environmental conditions. The system dynamically adjusts which heat exchanger is active by controlling the opening/closing valves and switching devices, optimizing performance according to atmospheric temperature, water temperature, and heating load requirements. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by avoiding frost conditions while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an underground heat exchanger with the same processing capacity as an air heat exchanger is provided, then heat can be collected from either source selectively, but a significant increase in cost is caused due to the larger size and construction requirements of the underground heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal heat collection system that can utilize multiple heat sources (air, underground, water) for the same heating purpose. Instead of designing an oversized underground heat exchanger to handle all conditions alone, the system makes each heat exchanger type serve its optimal function based on environmental conditions. The water heat exchanger, for example, serves as an alternative heat source that can replace either air or underground heat exchangers depending on conditions, providing versatility without requiring any single component to be excessively large or expensive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by having each heat exchanger type handle only the portion of heating load for which it is most efficient under specific conditions. Rather than requiring the underground heat exchanger to provide 100% of heating capacity in all conditions (which would require excessive size and cost), the system divides the heating function among multiple partial systems, each optimized for specific operating conditions.
3Productivity
If heat is collected using the air heat exchanger in low-temperature atmosphere, then system efficiency may be higher, but frost occurs on the air heat exchanger requiring defrosting operation which increases power consumption and deteriorates comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of low atmospheric temperature (which causes frost) into a beneficial switching opportunity. When the atmosphere temperature drops below the freezing point or frost detection is triggered, the system automatically switches from air heat exchanger to water heat exchanger, converting the harmful frost condition into a beneficial operational change. This eliminates the need for energy-consuming defrosting operations while maintaining high system efficiency by using the alternative water heat source that doesn't suffer from frost.
4Productivity
If the atmospheric temperature is low during heating operation, then the heating capacity may be decreased due to decreased suction pressure, but using geothermal heat when underground temperature is higher improves operating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by switching between different heat sources based on temperature conditions. When atmospheric temperature is low and would decrease heating capacity, the system changes to using underground or water heat sources with more favorable temperatures. This parameter change (switching heat source) allows the system to maintain high heating capacity and operating efficiency regardless of atmospheric temperature variations.
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 enhances defrosting efficiency by utilizing geothermal heat as a supplementary heat source, reducing power consumption and minimizing comfort impairment during defrosting operations, while maintaining system efficiency across varying temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat source heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with atmosphere
Implementation Method 2
a second heat source heat exchanger... exchanging heat with another heat source different from the atmosphere
Implementation Method 3
a compressor... through which a refrigerant circulates
Implementation Method 4
a first pressure reducing device... and a second pressure reducing device
Implementation Method 5
a refrigerant circulates... through the refrigerant circuit
Data Source
AI summary
During heat applying operation, both an air-source heat exchanger that exchanges heat with the atmosphere as a heat source and an earth-source heat exchanger that uses geothermal heat as a heat source serve as evaporators to collect heat from the atmosphere and the geothermal heat. During defrosting operation, while a four-way valve is switched to cause the air-source heat exchanger to serve as a radiator, and the earth-source heat exchanger to serve as an evaporator to collect the geothermal heat, and the collected geothermal heat is collected in the main circuit via the sub-circuit.