Regenerative Gas Heat Pump Layout for Fast Condensation Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household heat pumps face challenges in adapting to required temperature levels, are expensive due to the use of thermoelectric components, and have slow startup times, leading to inefficient drying processes.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance utilizing a regenerative gas cycle heat pump with a Vuilleumier gas cycle process, featuring a compact design with asymmetrically arranged heat exchangers and displacement pistons, employing helium as a working fluid to efficiently manage heat transfer and reduce flow losses, allowing for rapid startup and high dehumidification performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional heat pump with phase transition working fluid is used, then heat transfer is achieved, but the device cannot adapt to required temperature levels and has slow startup time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the heat transfer mechanism by transitioning from phase transition-based heat pumps to a regenerative gas cycle heat pump using the Vuilleumier process. This allows continuous operation without startup delays and enables adaptation to various temperature levels through regenerative heat exchange, resolving both the adaptability and startup time issues simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If thermoelectric components are used in heat pumps, then heating and cooling functions are achieved, but the device becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive thermoelectric components with a mechanically-based regenerative gas cycle system. The Vuilleumier process uses mechanical displacement of gas through regenerators to achieve heating and cooling, eliminating the need for costly thermoelectric materials while maintaining full heating and cooling functionality.
3Volume of stationary object
If a compact heat pump design is implemented, then space is saved, but heat exchanger efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested configuration where heat exchangers are integrated within the compact heat pump housing, with regenerators positioned to maximize space utilization. The asymmetric arrangement allows efficient heat transfer paths to be maintained despite the reduced overall volume, achieving both compactness and heat transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement of heat exchangers and regenerators optimized for the specific Vuilleumier cycle requirements. This asymmetric design allows the heat transfer surfaces to be positioned where they are most effective, maintaining high heat transfer efficiency while minimizing the overall device volume.
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 enables efficient and rapid drying with high energy efficiency, achieving an energy efficiency class A rating while using environmentally friendly refrigerants, thus addressing the limitations of existing heat pumps.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling arrangement for cooling and condensing the process air flow after it has flowed through the treatment chamber, the cooling arrangement having a first heat exchanger through which heat from the process air flow to a working fluid
Implementation Method 2
heat being supplied from the air flow to a working fluid in the cooling arrangement, and heat from the working fluid being supplied to the process air flow in the heating arrangement
Implementation Method 3
A household appliance utilizing a regenerative gas cycle heat pump with a Vuilleumier gas cycle process, featuring a compact design with asymmetrically arranged heat exchangers and displacement pistons, employing helium as a working fluid to efficiently manage heat transfer
Data Source
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AI summary
The domestic appliance is designed to dry a humid product (2) by means of a process air stream that can be conducted in a process air channel (3), said stream flowing through a treatment chamber (5) comprising the product (2) and a cooling assembly (6, 7) for cooling and condensing the process air stream once the latter has passed through the treatment chamber (5). The cooling assembly (6, 7) has a first heat exchanger (6), by means of which heat from the process air stream can be supplied to a working fluid, and a heating assembly (8, 8A, 8B) connected downstream of the cooling assembly for heating the process air stream before the latter flows through the treatment chamber (5), said heating assembly having a second heat exchanger (8), by means of which heat from the working fluid can be supplied to the process air stream. The working fluid is conducted in a heat pump (V1, V2 ), which operates according to a regenerative gas process and has at least two displacement pistons (12, 15). At least one heat exchanger (6, 8A, 8B) is located at the side of at least one of the displacement pistons (12, 15).