Heat Pump and Method for Controlling the Same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pumps face limitations in simultaneously achieving air stream heating and radiant heating, and in efficiently managing hot water supply, leading to issues like stratified indoor air and low sensible heat efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system with a control method that adjusts the opening degree of valves in the hydro unit and outdoor unit to manage refrigerant flow, allowing for simultaneous air stream heating, cold water operation, and hot water supply, optimizing refrigerant distribution for maximum capacity and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If air stream heating is performed using an air stream indoor system, then heating function is provided, but stratification of indoor air occurs and user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines air stream heating and radiant heating functions into a single heat pump system. The outdoor unit performs air stream heating while the indoor unit performs radiant heating through hot water circulation, merging two heating methods to eliminate stratification and improve comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pump system is designed to perform multiple functions: air stream heating, radiant heating, cooling, and hot water supply. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide comprehensive heating solutions that address both space heating and comfort requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If radiant heating such as floor heating is performed using hot water, then superior effects in sensible heat are achieved, but a lot of time is taken until floor heating is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating through air stream heating before activating radiant heating. This preliminary action quickly raises the indoor temperature while the radiant heating system is still warming up, reducing the perceived waiting time for floor heating effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges air stream heating and radiant heating operations to occur simultaneously. The air stream indoor unit provides immediate heating效果 while the radiant heating system works in parallel, combining the speed of air heating with the comfort of radiant heating.
3Temperature
If the heat pump performs air stream cooling or heating, then room temperature is controlled, but it does not have hot water supply function
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pump system is designed with multi-functionality to perform air stream cooling, air stream heating, and hot water supply operations. The outdoor unit can switch between these modes or operate simultaneously, providing comprehensive climate control and hot water supply capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments functions into outdoor unit operations (air stream cooling/heating) and indoor unit operations (hot water supply through radiant heating). This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function while maintaining overall system versatility.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the heat pump performs cooling or heating using cold water or hot water, then cooling or heating is achieved, but installation and operation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cold water and hot water operations within a single heat pump system, eliminating the need for separate heating and cooling systems. This integration reduces installation costs and simplifies operation while providing comprehensive climate control.
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 enhances user comfort by rapidly varying indoor conditions, improving energy efficiency, and reducing installation and operation costs by enabling efficient air stream cooling and heating, and hot water supply without the inefficiencies of sensible heat and cold water operations.
Implementation Method 1
heat is transferred from a low-temperature side to a high-temperature side, using latent heat of evaporation of refrigerant generated in accordance with phase variation through vaporization and liquefying of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
latent heat of evaporation of refrigerant generated in accordance with phase variation through vaporization
Implementation Method 3
latent heat of evaporation of refrigerant generated in accordance with phase variation through vaporization and liquefying
Implementation Method 4
configured to absorb or discharge heat through air streams, which perform heat exchange around the heat exchangers using the fans, namely, in an air stream manner
Implementation Method 5
high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant emerging from the compressor
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for controlling a heat pump including an outdoor unit including a compressor and a first heat exchanger, an indoor unit including a second heat exchanger and an expansion valve to perform air stream cooling and heating operations, and a hydro unit connected among the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the expansion valve, to change a flow direction of refrigerant in accordance with cold water and hot water operations. In the control method, it is determined whether the hot water operation and the air stream heating operation are simultaneously selected. When the hot water operation and the air stream heating operation are simultaneously selected, an opening degree of a valve included in the hydro unit is adjusted, to adjust amounts of refrigerant respectively supplied from the compressor to the hydro unit and the indoor unit.