Heat Pump Pre-Heating Arrangement for Low-Temperature Air Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning and heat pump systems have a relatively low Coefficient of Performance (COP), requiring substantial energy to heat ambient air in low temperature conditions, which limits their efficiency in heating indoor spaces.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates an energy-efficient arrangement with a pre-heating heat exchanger and multiple heat exchangers to pre-heat ambient air before delivery, optimizing the refrigerant and water flow paths to enhance heat transfer and reduce energy consumption, allowing more heat to be generated for a given work input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ambient air is heated directly by the ventilating heat exchanging unit, then the air temperature is raised to desirable levels, but a substantial amount of energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of ambient air using waste heat from refrigerant in the first energy saver heat exchanger before the air enters the ventilating heat exchanging unit. This pre-heating action reduces the energy burden on the main heating system, directly resolving the contradiction by raising air temperature while minimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own waste heat from refrigerant condensation to pre-heat the ambient air, making the system self-sufficient. The heat that would otherwise be wasted is now utilized to perform part of the heating function, eliminating the need for external energy input for this portion of the heating process.
2Power
If the temperature of refrigerant passing through the gas-liquid heat exchanging device is increased, then more heat can be transferred to water, but the Coefficient of Performance (COP) decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange process is segmented into multiple stages: first energy saver heat exchanger for preliminary heat transfer, second energy saver heat exchanger for additional heat recovery, and gas-liquid heat exchanging device for final heat transfer. This segmentation allows heat to be extracted at different temperature levels, maintaining high COP while achieving substantial total heat transfer capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Water acts as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the refrigerant and the ambient air. The refrigerant transfers heat to water in the energy saver heat exchangers, and the heated water then transfers heat to the ambient air in the ventilating heat exchanging unit. This intermediary approach optimizes heat transfer efficiency while maintaining energy conservation.
3Ease of operation
If conventional heat pump systems operate in low temperature conditions, then they can provide heating, but substantial energy is required to heat ambient air
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful effect of low ambient temperature (which requires substantial heating energy) into a benefit by using the cold ambient air as a heat sink for refrigerant condensation. The refrigerant releases heat to both the water and the ambient air, and the system recovers this waste heat to pre-heat the ambient air before delivery, thereby reducing the net energy required for heating.
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 increases the overall Coefficient of Performance (COP) by pre-heating ambient air, reducing energy usage in the ventilating heat exchanging unit and optimizing refrigerant temperature for improved heat absorption, resulting in more efficient heating of indoor spaces for a given work done by the system.
Implementation Method 1
The refrigerant circulating in the main heat exchange system 10 is arranged to absorb heat from ambient air and release heat to the water circulating through the gas-liquid heat exchanging device 14P
Implementation Method 2
The water circulating in the heat delivery system 20P is arranged to perform heat exchange with the refrigerant in the gas-liquid heat exchanging device 14P
Implementation Method 3
The water delivered to the fresh air supplying device 23P is arranged to carry out heat exchange with the ambient air in the fresh air heat exchanger 233P
Implementation Method 4
The system incorporates an energy-efficient arrangement with a pre-heating heat exchanger and multiple heat exchangers to pre-heat ambient air before delivery
Data Source
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AI summary
An air conditioning and heat pump system includes a main heat exchange system, a heat distribution system and an energy efficient arrangement. The energy efficient arrangement includes a first energy saver heat exchanger connected to a first main heat exchanger and the second main heat exchanger of the main heat exchange system, a second pumping device connected to the first energy saver heat exchanger, and a pre-heating heat exchanger supported in the supporting frame at a positioned between a ventilating heat exchanging unit and an air intake opening of a ventilating device. The pre-heating heat exchanger is connected to the second pumping device and the first energy saver heat exchanger.