Evaporative Condenser Heat Pump Layout Without Cooling Towers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning and heat pump systems have low energy efficiency, as indicated by a Coefficient of Performance (C.O.P) of approximately 3.2, and require cooling towers, which increase manufacturing and maintenance costs, water consumption, and energy usage.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a multiple-effect evaporative condenser that eliminates the need for cooling towers by using a plurality of highly efficient heat exchanging pipes and a selective operation mode, allowing the system to operate in air conditioning, heat pump, and water heater modes, with the option to cool the working fluid using either water or ambient air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional cooling tower is used to cool the working fluid, then the cooling function is achieved, but the manufacturing cost, maintenance cost, water consumption, and energy usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cooling method from evaporative cooling tower to direct evaporative cooling of the working fluid through heat exchanging pipes. The working fluid is cooled by direct contact with water that evaporates from the pipe surfaces, changing the temperature parameter through phase change of water rather than air cooling of a tower structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the cooling tower component from the system. Instead of using a separate cooling tower to cool the working fluid, the system directly evaporates water from the heat exchanging pipes where the working fluid flows, removing the need for the cooling tower structure entirely.
2Temperature
If a cooling tower is used to cool the working fluid, then the cooling function is achieved, but the manufacturing and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cooling tower from the system configuration. The working fluid is cooled directly through heat exchanging pipes where water evaporates from the pipe surfaces, eliminating the need to manufacture, install, and maintain a separate cooling tower structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cooling function into the heat exchanging pipes themselves. The pipes serve dual purposes: heat exchange and evaporative cooling, combining what were previously separate functions (heat exchange and cooling) into a single integrated component.
3Temperature
If a cooling tower is used to cool the working fluid, then the cooling function is achieved, but the water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes from indirect evaporative cooling (cooling tower) to direct evaporative cooling (water evaporating directly from heat exchanging pipes). This parameter change in the cooling mechanism significantly reduces water consumption because the water evaporates directly from the pipe surfaces where it is most effective, rather than being circulated through a tower structure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional heat pump system is used, then the basic heating and cooling functions are provided, but the Coefficient of Performance (C.O.P) is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cooling method from conventional evaporative cooling tower to direct evaporative cooling through heat exchanging pipes. This parameter change in the cooling mechanism significantly improves energy efficiency by eliminating the energy required to operate cooling tower fans and pumps, while maintaining effective heat exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the natural evaporative cooling process directly on the heat exchanging pipes without requiring external cooling tower equipment. The working fluid cools itself through direct contact with evaporating water, eliminating the need for additional energy-consuming cooling infrastructure.
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 significantly enhances energy efficiency, reduces water consumption and pumping power, and lowers overall energy usage compared to conventional systems, while maintaining effective cooling and heating capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporative cooling system which comprises at least one multiple-effect evaporative condenser connected to the compressor unit for effectively cooling the working fluid
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of highly efficient heat exchanging pipes for providing a relatively larger area of heat exchanging surfaces
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of first heat exchanging pipes connected to the condenser and immersed in the first water collection basin
Implementation Method 4
the cooling water collected in the first water collection basin is arranged to sequentially flow through exterior surfaces of the first heat exchanging pipes
Implementation Method 5
a compressor unit connected to the multi-communicative valve unit
Implementation Method 6
an evaporator unit connected to the multi-communicative valve unit; the heat exchanger for absorbing heat from an indoor space
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning and heat pump system includes a multi-communicative valve unit, a compressor unit connected to the multi-communicative valve unit, an evaporator unit connected to the multi-communicative valve unit, a heat exchanger connected to multi-communicative valve unit, a water heater connected to the compressor unit and the multi-communicative valve unit, and an evaporative cooling system which comprises at least one multiple-effect evaporative condenser for effectively cooling the working fluid. The air conditioning and heat pump system is selectively operated in one of an air conditioning mode, a heat pump mode, a water heater mode, and a defrosting mode, and can be switched such that the working fluid can either be cooled by the evaporator unit or and evaporative cooling system.