Heat pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pumps face efficiency deterioration and insufficient heating when external air temperatures drop, and existing systems lack optimal energy consumption management, particularly in conjunction with boilers.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system that includes an outdoor unit, a hydro-unit for heat exchange with water, a boiler for supplementary heating, and a control system that selectively operates the hydro-unit or boiler based on external air temperature and energy rates, integrated with a Smart Grid energy management system to optimize energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the heat pump uses the hydro-unit for heat exchange, then energy efficiency is improved, but heating reliability deteriorates when external air temperature drops below preset thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between hydro-unit and boiler operation based on real-time external temperature monitoring. When temperature drops below a first preset threshold, the system transitions from hydro-unit-only operation to boiler-assisted operation, and when below a second preset threshold, to boiler-primary operation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by adjusting the heating source according to environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes operational parameters (which heating device is active) based on temperature parameter thresholds. By monitoring external temperature and comparing it against preset thresholds, the system changes the operational state from efficient hydro-unit mode to reliable boiler mode, resolving the trade-off between efficiency and reliability.
2Reliability
If the system integrates both hydro-unit and boiler with selective operation, then heating reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically monitors external temperature and autonomously decides when to switch between hydro-unit and boiler operation based on preset thresholds. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual intervention or complex user programming, achieving reliable heating through automated decision-making that offsets the added system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic threshold-based control where the control unit automatically adjusts operation mode based on real-time temperature readings against predefined thresholds. This dynamic control strategy provides reliable heating while keeping the control logic manageable through clear threshold-based decision rules.
3Loss of energy
If the control system monitors external temperature and energy rates to selectively operate heating devices, then energy cost is minimized, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors external temperature and receives energy rate information from the Smart Grid, using this feedback to make real-time decisions about which heating device to operate. This feedback mechanism enables the system to minimize energy costs by selecting the most economical heating source based on current conditions, while the automated nature of the feedback loop prevents excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives information from both the temperature sensors and the Smart Grid energy management system, processes this information against preset thresholds, and automatically selects the appropriate heating device. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the decision-making logic in a single control unit rather than requiring complex coordination between multiple control systems.
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 provides reliable heating and quick-hot-water supply by selectively using the hydro-unit or boiler, minimizing energy costs and ensuring efficient operation across varying temperatures and energy rate fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
an outdoor unit configured to compress refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a hydro-unit configured to heat-exchange the compressed refrigerant with water
Implementation Method 3
a boiler configured to heat water circulating the hydro-unit or water supplied from a commercial water supply system
Implementation Method 4
a radiation heater part configured to perform heating by using the water heated by the hydro-unit or the boiler
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A heat pump including a boiler is disclosed. The heat pump may include the boiler which may be selectively operated based on a temperature of external air or an electric power rate per unit heat quantity.