Heat Pump Buffer Storage Gas Separator for Refrigerant Leak Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pump systems using potentially dangerous refrigerants like propane face safety challenges due to the risk of refrigerant leaks, which can accumulate and form explosive mixtures, posing risks to occupants and the environment.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system with a gas sensor integrated into the consumer circuit to detect and measure gaseous refrigerant levels, triggering safety measures to prevent critical accumulation, combined with a buffer storage acting as a gas separator to remove refrigerant from the circuit, ensuring safe operation by preventing the formation of explosive mixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a flammable refrigerant like propane is used to improve heat pump efficiency, then the heat pump can operate with higher efficiency and lower environmental impact, but the risk of refrigerant leakage and formation of explosive mixtures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring refrigerant levels with sensors before dangerous accumulation occurs. The control unit detects refrigerant concentrations and triggers safety measures in advance, preventing the formation of explosive mixtures before they can develop
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary safety components including sensors that detect refrigerant leaks, a control unit that processes sensor data, and ventilation systems that act as intermediaries between the refrigerant circuit and the environment. These intermediaries detect and mitigate the harmful effects before they can cause damage
2Reliability
If safety sensors and monitoring systems are added to detect refrigerant leaks, then the safety of the system is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it receives signals from various sensors, processes refrigerant concentration data, activates ventilation systems, controls safety valves, and provides user alerts. By making the control unit multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated devices for each safety function, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the safety monitoring functions, control logic, and actuation systems into an integrated safety management system. The sensors, control unit, and safety actuators are merged into a coordinated system that manages multiple safety functions through a unified control architecture, reducing overall system complexity
3Productivity
If the heat transfer medium flows quickly through the system to meet heating demands, then the productivity is improved, but the ability to separate and remove microbubbles of air and refrigerant is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat transfer system into separate zones: a high-velocity zone for meeting heating demands and a low-velocity separation zone for removing air and refrigerant bubbles. The flow path is segmented so that heat transfer occurs in one zone while separation occurs in another, allowing both high productivity and high reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The separation vessels provide a dimensional transition from high-velocity linear flow to low-velocity multi-directional flow patterns. By changing the flow dimensionality within the separation vessels, the system allows bubbles to rise and separate while the bulk fluid continues to flow through, maintaining productivity while improving heat transfer efficiency
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 effectively prevents the accumulation of flammable refrigerants, ensuring safe operation by detecting and removing gaseous refrigerants, thereby reducing the risk of explosions and ensuring the safe operation of heat pump systems.
Implementation Method 1
a gas sensor (38) arranged in the consumer circuit (6), in particular in the flow line (20), which is designed to detect a gaseous refrigerant contained in the heat transfer medium
Implementation Method 2
the buffer storage tank (14) is designed to act as a gas separator
Implementation Method 3
Heat pumps generally have a refrigerant circuit, which includes at least two heat exchangers (also known as heat exchangers) that function as evaporators and/or condensers during operation
Implementation Method 4
Heat pumps generally extract heat from heat sources such as air, water, the ground, or other solid, liquid, or gaseous media
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a heat pump system (2) comprising: - a heat pump (4) with a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant flows during operation, - at least one consumer circuit (6) connected to the heat pump (4), through which a heat transfer medium flows and which has at least one consumer (12), - a buffer storage tank (14) arranged in the consumer circuit (6), which is connected on the inlet side via a supply line (16) to the heat pump (4) and on the outlet side via a drain (18) to the at least one consumer (12), wherein the buffer storage tank (14) is designed as a gas separator and is connected to a vent line (34), wherein the buffer storage tank is through which the heat transfer medium flows during operation and is designed in such a way thatthat gas bubbles can rise during operation and leave the buffer storage tank (14) via the vent line - a control device (32) and - a sensor (38) arranged in the consumer circuit (6) for detecting gaseous refrigerant, wherein - the control device (32) is designed such that, in particular, a safety measure is automatically initiated if an upper threshold value for the refrigerant is exceeded. This prevents a safety-critical accumulation of refrigerant.