Heat-pump drinking water system, control method thereof, and heat-pump drinking water device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking water devices require separate systems for producing hot and cold water, leading to high energy consumption and complex structures, as they typically use evaporative refrigeration for cold water and electrical heating for hot water.
Innovation Solution
A heat-pump drinking water system with a compressor, main and auxiliary condensers, throttling device, and control valve assembly that allows simultaneous production of hot and cold water, utilizing a refrigerant circuit for efficient energy utilization and temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate drinking water devices are used for producing hot water and cold water, then the production of hot water and cold water is independent and reliable, but the structure becomes complicated and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hot water production device and cold water production device into a single integrated system. The refrigeration cycle system includes a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator that simultaneously serve both hot water heating (via condenser heat exchange) and cold water cooling (via evaporator heat exchange) functions, eliminating the need for separate independent devices while maintaining reliability through unified system operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration cycle system performs multiple functions: the condenser serves as a heat exchanger for hot water production, the evaporator serves as a heat exchanger for cold water production, and the system can operate in different modes (heating mode, cooling mode, or simultaneous operation) to meet diverse water temperature requirements from a single multi-functional device.
2Ease of manufacture
If electrical heating is used for producing hot water, then the hot water production is simple and direct, but the energy consumption becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat that would normally be discharged from the refrigeration cycle into a useful resource for hot water production. The condenser captures the heat released during refrigerant condensation and transfers it to the hot water storage tank, transforming what would be thermal waste into valuable heating energy, thereby eliminating the need for separate electrical heating while significantly reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the phase transition of the refrigerant from gas to liquid in the condenser, which releases latent heat of condensation. This phase change process provides a substantial amount of thermal energy that is captured and transferred to the hot water, offering an efficient alternative to electrical heating that relies on resistive heating without phase change energy utilization.
3Productivity
If evaporative refrigeration cycle is used for producing cold water, then the cold water production is efficient, but the structure becomes complicated when combined with hot water production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cold water production function into the existing refrigeration cycle system by utilizing the evaporator as a heat exchanger. The evaporator absorbs heat from the cold water storage tank during refrigerant evaporation, providing efficient cold water production. This integration avoids the need for separate cold water production equipment and eliminates the complexity of combining two independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the compressor and condenser section for hot water production, the evaporator section for cold water production, and a control system with expansion valves and四通 valve for coordinating operation. This modular segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function while the overall system remains integrated and manageable, avoiding the complexity of a monolithic design.
4Device complexity
If a single refrigeration cycle system is used for both hot and cold water production, then the structure is simplified and energy consumption is reduced, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic control mechanisms including a四通 valve that can switch the refrigerant flow direction, and expansion valves (first and second expansion valves) that dynamically adjust refrigerant flow rates based on operating conditions. The control system can adaptively switch between different operating modes (heating mode, cooling mode, simultaneous operation) and adjust expansion valve openings to optimize performance, transforming the control challenge into a flexible dynamic system that responds to real-time demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback control through the control unit that monitors temperature conditions in both hot and cold water storage tanks and adjusts the operation of the compressor, expansion valves, and四通 valve accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables automatic coordination of the refrigeration cycle to meet varying hot and cold water demands, simplifying the control complexity by providing automated decision-making based on actual system state.
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 achieves low energy consumption and efficient production of both hot and cold water, ensuring stable operation and meeting high drinking water requirements by selectively routing refrigerant flow through condensers and evaporators based on temperature presets.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (10), a main condenser (11), a throttling device (12) and an evaporator (13) connected end-to-end sequentially and configured to form a refrigerant circuit
Implementation Method 2
the hot water storage tank (16) is connected with the main condenser (11) for circulating heat exchange with the main condenser (11)
Implementation Method 3
a throttling device (12) and an evaporator (13) connected end-to-end sequentially and configured to form a refrigerant circuit
Implementation Method 4
the cold water storage tank (17) is connected with the evaporator (13) for circulating heat exchange with the evaporator (13)
Implementation Method 5
a main condenser (11), a throttling device (12) and an evaporator (13) connected end-to-end sequentially and configured to form a refrigerant circuit
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat-pump drinking water system, a control method thereof and a heat-pump drinking water device are provided. The heat-pump drinking water system includes: a compressor, a main condenser, a throttling device and an evaporator connected end-to-end sequentially and configured to form a refrigerant circuit; an auxiliary condenser having a first end connected between an exhaust port of the compressor and the main condenser and a second end connected between the main condenser and the throttling device; a control valve assembly configured to control an exhausted gas of the compressor to flow through one of the main condenser and the auxiliary condenser selectively; and a hot water storage tank connected with the main condenser for circulating heat exchange with the main condenser, and a cold water storage tank connected with the evaporator for circulating heat exchange with the evaporator.