Heat pump heating system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat pump hot water heating systems face challenges in enhancing heating capacity and efficiency, particularly when the liquid temperature sent to indoor-heating devices is high, leading to insufficient radiation due to flow rate deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A heat pump heating system that includes a compressor, heat exchanger, pump, temperature sensors, and a controller to control the circulation flow rate of the liquid, ensuring the temperature difference between the outgoing and return liquid temperatures is managed within specific thresholds to optimize heating capacity and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the liquid temperature sent to indoor-heating device is increased to meet high heating requirements, then heating capacity is improved, but flow rate deteriorates leading to insufficient radiation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating capacityVSAvoidflow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the pump circulation flow rate variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the pump flow rate based on real-time temperature measurements from the outgoing water temperature sensor and return water temperature sensor. When the temperature difference exceeds the predetermined range, the controller increases the pump flow rate to maintain optimal heating performance, thus resolving the contradiction between heating capacity and flow rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control through temperature sensors that continuously monitor the outgoing and return water temperatures. The controller receives this temperature feedback and automatically adjusts the pump circulation flow rate to maintain the temperature difference within the specified range. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that heating capacity is maintained while preventing flow rate deterioration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Power

If pump flow rate is increased to improve heating capacity, then radiation amount is improved, but heat pump cycle efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating capacityVSAvoidheat pump cycle efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the pump flow rate based on actual heating needs rather than operating at constant high flow. By using temperature feedback to modulate the pump speed, the system achieves optimal radiation output only when necessary, thereby maintaining heat pump cycle efficiency while providing sufficient heating capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the pump by controlling its flow rate within an optimal range rather than operating at maximum capacity. This parameter optimization ensures that the pump provides sufficient flow for radiation without excessive flow that would degrade heat pump cycle efficiency, thus resolving the energy loss contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If the temperature difference between outgoing and return water is increased to improve heat pump efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but heating capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat pump efficiencyVSAvoidheating capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically balances the temperature difference within the predetermined range rather than maximizing it. The controller continuously monitors temperature feedback and adjusts the pump flow rate to maintain the temperature difference at optimal levels that simultaneously achieve good heat pump efficiency and sufficient heating capacity, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 approach enhances heat pump efficiency and heating capacity by dynamically adjusting the liquid temperature difference based on the outgoing temperature, preventing capacity reduction at high heating requirements and improving efficiency at lower requirements.

Implementation Method 1

a compressor configured to compress refrigerant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant compressed by the compressor and a liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

a pump configured to circulate the liquid between the heat exchanger and an indoor-heating device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 4

a first temperature sensor configured to detect outgoing temperature that is temperature of the liquid to be fed to the indoor-heating device from the heat exchanger; a second temperature sensor configured to detect return temperature that is temperature of the liquid returning from the indoor-heating device to the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature detection: Thermocouple

Data Source

PatentEP3159613B1Heat pump heating system
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3159613B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3159613B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3159613B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

There is provided a heat pump heating system capable of enhancing heat pump efficiency and heating capacity. The heat pump heating system includes: a compressor configured to compress refrigerant; a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant compressed by the compressor and a liquid; a pump configured to circulate the liquid between the heat exchanger and an indoor-heating device ; a first temperature sensor configured to detect outgoing temperature that is temperature of the liquid to be fed to the indoor-heating device from the heat exchanger; a second temperature sensor configured to detect return temperature that is temperature of the liquid returning from the indoor-heating device to the heat exchanger; and a controller configured to control a circulation flow rate of the liquid so that a difference between the outgoing temperature and the return temperature when the outgoing temperature is higher than a threshold is equal to or less than a difference between the outgoing temperature and the return temperature when the outgoing temperature is equal to the threshold.