Heat pump and method thereof
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pumps face efficiency issues and increased installation costs when outdoor temperatures drop, as they require interlocking with boilers for heating and hot water supply, leading to temporary heating function interruptions and difficulty in monitoring the operation of separate systems from different manufacturers.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system with a controller that uses temperature sensors to determine if a boiler provides a heating function, allowing the heat pump to operate independently and interlock with boilers without communication, by calculating the rate of change of water temperature and controlling valves to manage refrigerant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heat pump and boiler interlock when outdoor temperature drops, then the heating function can be maintained, but the hot water supply function may be temporarily stopped and indoor temperature may lower
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pump determines the boiler's operation status independently by monitoring water temperature changes in the heating pipes, without requiring communication from the boiler. This self-service approach allows the heat pump to autonomously switch between heating and hot water supply functions, ensuring continuous operation without interruption to either function.
2Reliability
If a hot water tank is provided to supply hot water separately, then the boiler can continue heating, but installation cost increases and heat pump efficiency is further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating pipes serve dual purposes: they function as both heating distribution pipes and as sensors to detect the boiler's operation status through water temperature monitoring. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate communication systems or additional hot water storage tanks, reducing installation complexity and cost while maintaining continuous heating and hot water supply.
3Loss of information
If the heat pump determines boiler operation through communication, then the operation status can be accurately known, but compatibility issues arise between different manufacturers' products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the communication-based information exchange system with a passive thermal detection system. Instead of requiring electronic communication protocols between different manufacturers' devices, the heat pump uses temperature sensors to detect the boiler's operation status through physical thermal changes in the water flowing through shared heating pipes, achieving universal compatibility.
4Productivity
If the heat pump operates at low outdoor temperature, then hot water supply can be provided, but the efficiency of the heat pump is rapidly deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between heat pump operation and boiler operation based on real-time detection of boiler status through water temperature monitoring. When the boiler is active (indicating low outdoor temperature conditions), the heat pump transitions to hot water supply mode rather than heating mode, optimizing energy efficiency by utilizing the boiler's high-temperature output for hot water while maintaining continuous hot water availability.
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
Enables continuous heating function provision while minimizing efficiency losses and eliminating the need for separate hot water tanks, allowing the heat pump to determine and adapt to boiler operation without communication, thus improving price competitiveness and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first temperature sensor disposed in heating pipes connected to a heating device for performing indoor heating and configured to sense a temperature of water flowing through the heating pipes
Implementation Method 2
a heat pump is a device that that transfer heat from a low temperature source to a high temperature source and vice versa
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6A~6B
AI summary
Provided are a heat pump and a method thereof. The heat pump includes a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a first temperature sensor disposed in heating pipes connected to a heating device for performing indoor heating and configured to sense a temperature of water flowing through the heating pipes, and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a boiler provides a heating function based on a sensing value of the first temperature sensor, and control the compressor to operate when the boiler does not provide the heating function.