Heat Medium Transport Paths for Stable Regional Heat Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional regional heat supply systems face inefficiencies in heat energy utilization and distribution, as they rely on one-way traffic of heat energy from supply facilities to buildings, leading to wasted heat energy and reduced operational efficiency, especially when heat demands vary between regions.
Innovation Solution
A heat energy transport system with a heat medium transport path, temperature distribution acquisition, and control means that allows for the identification and utilization of heat energy at different temperatures, enabling the reuse of heat energy within the region and efficient distribution between buildings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If heat media with different temperatures are mixed in connected regional pipes, then heat energy can be shared between regions, but temperature fluctuation occurs making it difficult to maintain stable heat supply
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the heat medium transport into separate supply pipes and return pipes, and further divides them into multiple transport paths (first and second supply pipes, first and second return pipes). This segmentation allows selective connection and prevents unwanted mixing of heat media with different temperatures while still enabling heat energy sharing between regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat storage tank acts as an intermediary device between the first and second regional heat supply systems. It temporarily stores heat media and enables controlled temperature adjustment, allowing heat energy to be transferred between regions without direct mixing of heat media from different temperature zones.
2Reliability
If multiple return pipes are provided to avoid heat media mixing, then temperature stability is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each pipe in the system serves multiple functions. The supply pipes and return pipes are not only for heat medium transport but also function as heat exchange paths. The heat storage tank serves both as a storage device and as a heat exchange medium, reducing the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
3Reliability
If heat supply facilities operate independently to maintain stable heat supply, then temperature control is reliable, but heat energy utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the first and second regional heat supply systems through the heat storage tank, enabling them to operate as an integrated network while maintaining their individual stability. Heat media from one region can be stored and utilized in another region, allowing waste heat from one facility to be utilized by another, thereby improving overall energy utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers heat energy that would otherwise be wasted. Heat media returning from regions where it is no longer needed are stored in the heat storage tank and then utilized by other regions that require heat, effectively recovering and reusing thermal energy that would have been discarded.
4Reliability
If heat medium temperature difference is maintained within predetermined range, then heat supply reliability is ensured, but adaptability to varying regional heat demands is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts heat medium flow paths and temperatures based on real-time heat demands of different regions. The control unit monitors temperature differences and heat storage tank conditions, dynamically switching between different pipe configurations and adjusting heat media flow rates to simultaneously maintain reliability and adapt to varying demands.
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 system effectively utilizes heat energy generated in buildings, reduces waste heat, and improves the operational efficiency of heat sources by allowing heat energy to be reused and distributed efficiently, even in regions with varying heat demands.
Implementation Method 1
In the heat storage tank, the temperature of the heat medium is raised by use of the heat energy of the heat medium flowing through a return pipe
Data Source
AI summary
The heat medium transport paths are arranged between the first building and the second building and transport heat media that transport heat energy. A temperature distribution acquisition means acquires the temperature distribution of the heat media that have temperatures being different from each other in the heat medium transport paths and that are sequentially transported in a state of having a predetermined length in the transport direction in the heat medium transport paths. A control means receives a load request of an air conditioner of the first building, and when a heat medium having the heat energy that satisfies the load request received reaches the first building, based on the temperature distribution acquired by the temperature distribution acquisition means, the control means causes the air conditioner of the first building to take out the heat energy from the heat medium reached.