Heat Pump District Heating Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
District heating systems face inefficiencies due to the use of separate ground and air source heat pumps, which reduce consumption and impair the operation and cost-effectiveness of district heating networks, while conventional cooling methods are expensive and lack energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A building-specific heating and cooling system utilizing a heat pump unit that cools the return stream of the district heating network or a building's cooling liquid and heats a liquid storage unit, with control mechanisms to adjust based on application, season, or time of day, incorporating heat exchangers and valves to optimize heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate ground and air source heat pumps are used in buildings, then building heating and cooling needs are met, but district heating network consumption is reduced and operation efficiency is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines district heating network integration with building-specific heat pump units, merging the advantages of centralized heating with decentralized control. The heat pump unit connects to both the district heating network and building cooling systems, allowing simultaneous participation in district heating operations and building cooling needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pump unit serves multiple functions: it cools the return stream of the district heating network, provides building cooling through cooling liquid circulation, and can heat building water. This multi-functionality allows a single system to address both district heating network efficiency and building climate control needs.
2Ease of operation
If conventional electrical compressor cooling devices are used, then building cooling is achieved, but energy efficiency is poor and excess heat is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the waste heat from building cooling operations into a useful resource. The heat pump unit captures excess heat from the cooling liquid and transfers it to heat building water, transforming what would be wasted energy into a beneficial heating source for the building.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding excess heat to outdoor air through conventional compressors, the system recovers this thermal energy through the heat pump unit. The recovered heat is transferred to building water via heat exchangers, maximizing energy utilization.
3Productivity
If district cooling networks are built, then centralized cooling is provided, but excavation work and infrastructure costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized cooling function into individual building-level heat pump units. Each building installs its own heat pump unit that connects to the existing district heating network, eliminating the need for expensive new district cooling infrastructure while achieving centralized cooling benefits through network integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pump unit acts as an intermediary device that enables cooling functionality without requiring direct construction of new cooling infrastructure. It mediates between the existing district heating network and building cooling needs, utilizing the network's thermal capacity rather than building new cooling pipelines.
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
This system enhances the competitiveness of district heating, reduces energy costs, and provides an affordable, energy-efficient cooling solution for buildings outside district cooling networks by optimizing heat transfer and utilizing existing infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
a first part of the heat pump unit is arranged to cool at least one liquid stream which is the return stream of the district heating network or a cooling liquid of a cooling pipework of the building, a second part being simultaneously arranged to heat a liquid of a liquid storage unit of the building
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
A heating and cooling system, comprising at least one heat pump (14), the heat pump comprising an evaporator (3) for cooling a desired heat transfer stream, and a condenser (5) for heating a desired heat transfer stream, a pipework (31) by means of which at least one heat transfer stream may be conveyed from a return stream (15) of a district heating network to the heat pump (14), from the heat pump (14) to the return stream (15) of the district heating network, from the heat pump (14) to a liquid storage unit (7), from the liquid storage unit (7) to the heat pump (14), from the heat pump (14) to a cold storage unit (25), from the cold storage unit (25) to the heat pump (14), from the heat pump (14) to a feed stream (24) of the district heating network, from the liquid storage unit (7) to the feed stream (24) of the district heating network, from the feed stream (24) of the district heating network to the heat pump (14), from the feed stream (24) of the district heating network to the liquid storage unit (7), from the heat pump (14) to a heat exchanger (32,33), from the heat exchanger (32,33) to the heat pump (14), from the liquid or cold storage unit (7,25) to the heat exchanger (32,33), and/or from the heat exchanger (32,33) to the liquid or cold storage unit (7,25), and/or by means of which the heat pump (14) may be bypassed if desired, valves (26,27,28,29,30) arranged in connection with the pipework (31) for selecting the paths of the heat transfer streams in the pipework, and at least one control device for controlling the valves and the paths of the heat transfer streams in the pipework and for controlling a desired heat transfer arrangement in the system. The invention also relates to the use of the system.