Heat pump unit, anomaly workaround heating method, and non-volatile computer-readable recording medium

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heat pump units stop operating if a sensor for measuring water temperature inside a hot water tank fails, leading to a loss in compressor reliability and an inability to ensure the necessary water temperature.

Innovation Solution

A heat pump unit with a controller that acquires inflow and outflow water temperatures and determines the proper acquisition of the storage water temperature. If the storage water temperature cannot be accurately acquired, the controller updates the target storage water temperature to a higher value, ensuring continued operation and compressor reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the heat pump unit stops operating when the storage water temperature cannot be acquired properly, then the compressor reliability is protected, but the water heating operation cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor reliabilityVSAvoidwater heating operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses its own operational parameters (inflow and outflow water temperatures) to detect sensor anomalies and switch to alternative control modes, enabling self-diagnosis and self-adjustment without external intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control method changes the control parameters from relying on storage water temperature to using inflow and outflow water temperatures, and adjusts the target storage water temperature parameter dynamically based on operational conditions to maintain safe compressor operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the heat pump unit continues operating when the storage water temperature sensor fails, then the water heating operation is maintained, but the compressor reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater heating operationVSAvoidcompressor reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors inflow and outflow water temperatures and uses this feedback to detect when the storage water temperature sensor is malfunctioning, triggering a switch to alternative control modes that protect the compressor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares alternative control modes in advance that can be activated when sensor failure is detected, cushioning against the potential harm to the compressor before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If the target storage water temperature is updated to a higher value when sensor failure is detected, then the water heating operation continues, but the temperature control precision is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater heating operationVSAvoidtemperature control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies a conservative approach by setting the target storage water temperature to a higher value than normally required, ensuring adequate heating even though this reduces temperature control precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 solution allows the heat pump unit to maintain water heating operations even when the storage water temperature cannot be accurately measured, thereby avoiding a loss in compressor reliability and ensuring a consistent water temperature.

Implementation Method 1

a heater configured to heat water incoming from a hot water tank, through heat exchange between the water and a heating medium having been heated based on compression and expansion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression and expansion heating: Adiabatic Heating

Implementation Method 2

heat exchange between the water and a heating medium having been heated based on compression and expansion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS20250116425A1Heat pump unit, anomaly workaround heating method, and non-volatile computer-readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2025.04.10 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

Controller (120) for heat pump unit (100) according to an exemplary embodiment includes information acquisition unit (121) configured to acquire an inflow water temperature indicating a temperature of water flowing out of hot water tank (310) into heater (110), and an outflow water temperature indicating a temperature of the water flowing out of heater (110) toward hot water tank (310). Controller (120) further includes normality determination unit (122) configured to determine whether a storage water temperature indicating a temperature of the water inside hot water tank (310) is being acquired properly. Controller (120) further includes setting value update unit (124) configured to update a target storage water temperature to be achieved in hot water tank (310) by the heating operation to a higher value when normality determination unit (122) determines that the storage water temperature is not being acquired properly or there is a possibility that the storage water temperature is not being acquired properly, and a temperature difference between the outflow water temperature and the inflow water temperature is less than a temperature difference threshold.