Heat pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water source heat pumps face inefficiencies and operational challenges when using latent heat of water solidification due to ice layer formation on evaporators, which reduces heat exchange efficiency and requires high energy deicing methods, and are limited by minimum temperature requirements and sediment issues in water sources.
Innovation Solution
A submersible heat pump system with multiple parallel evaporators, solenoid valves, and ultrasonic vibrators that alternately perform evaporation and deicing, allowing continuous latent heat absorption and efficient heat exchange directly with water, reducing energy consumption and maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If water is used as a low temperature heat source for heat pump, then the application range of heat pump can be expanded, but the temperature drops and the heat pump efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase change parameter of water (from liquid to solid) to extract latent heat, changing the heat extraction mechanism from sensible heat to latent heat. This allows the heat pump to operate efficiently at lower temperatures where latent heat of solidification becomes available, expanding the application range while maintaining efficiency through the high energy density of phase change heat transfer.
2Loss of energy
If the low temperature heat source water temperature is close to 0°C, then more latent heat can be utilized, but the water side of the evaporator may freeze and cause damage to the heat pump
Solution Approach 1:
The control system monitors the temperature and ice layer thickness on the evaporator surface in advance, and triggers the deicing mechanism before the ice layer becomes thick enough to cause damage. This preliminary action prevents freezing damage while maximizing latent heat utilization by allowing the evaporator to operate at temperatures close to 0°C.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a control system that continuously monitors the evaporator temperature and ice layer conditions, providing feedback to adjust the deicing cycle timing and intensity. This feedback mechanism ensures the evaporator operates safely near 0°C by preventing ice accumulation that would cause damage, while maximizing latent heat extraction during the evaporation phase.
3Power
If conventional heat exchange methods are used with water pump, then heat transfer can be achieved, but the power consumption of the water pump increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pump system is designed to be submersible in the water source, allowing it to directly absorb latent heat from the surrounding water through its evaporator surface without requiring an external water pump to circulate the heat source water. The refrigerant circulation system handles all necessary fluid movement internally, eliminating the need for a separate water pump and its associated power consumption.
4Reliability
If deicing methods such as heating wires or hot gas bypass are used, then ice melting can be achieved, but energy consumption increases and may cause overheating or liquid hammer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a periodic deicing cycle where the evaporator alternates between evaporation mode (absorbing latent heat) and deicing mode (melting ice layer). During deicing, the refrigerant flow direction is reversed or the evaporator is temporarily used as a condenser to release heat and melt the ice layer. This periodic action eliminates the need for continuous high-energy deicing methods, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective ice removal.
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 system efficiently utilizes latent heat for heating, expands the application range of heat pumps, simplifies installation, and maintains reliability by preventing ice buildup and sediment issues, while reducing energy consumption and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporating temperature can be reduced to below 0° C., the water side of the evaporator will not be frozen to damage the heat pump, because the water at this moment is releasing the latent heat and will not freeze
Implementation Method 2
an ultrasonic vibrator is provided inside the heat pump, the ultrasonic vibrator vibrates correspondingly according to various working modes of the heat pump, when the ice layer on the surface of the evaporator needs to be removed, the ultrasonic vibrator can remove the ice layer through ultrasonic vibration
Implementation Method 3
the heat pump completes a continuous absorption of the latent heat for heating and the deicing processes
Data Source
AI summary
A device for heating by absorbing latent heat of solidification of water, including a compressor (1), a condenser (2) and multiple evaporators (E1, E2) connected in parallel, each evaporator (E1, E2) has an electronic expansion valve (D1, D2) at its inlet, a solenoid valve (V1, V2) at its outlet; after the evaporators (E1, E2) are connected in parallel, outlets of the evaporators (E1, E2) are connected to an inlet of the compressor (1) and inlets of the evaporators (E1, E2) are connected to an outlet of the condenser (2); an outlet of the compressor (1) is connected to an inlet of the condenser (2); the compressor (1), the condenser (2) and the multiple parallel evaporators (E1, E2) form a closed loop system through pipelines; there are circulating refrigerants in the closed loop system, and heating and deicing processes are realized through a circulation of refrigerants; the solenoid valves (V1, V2) at the outlets of the evaporators (E1, E2) are switched between opening or closing to realize switching between evaporating and deicing functions of the evaporators (E1, E2).