Heat Pump Switching Assembly for Four-Mode Refrigerant Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular heat pump systems face challenges in efficiently managing multiple operational modes for air conditioning and domestic hot water supply due to the complexity of flow paths and the need for multiple throttling devices and check valves, which increases costs and reduces system performance.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system with a switching assembly that allows for four connection modes, utilizing only two throttling devices to operate in cooling, heating, hot water preparing, and cooling heat recovery modes, with a control system that manages the flow paths to optimize refrigerant flow and reduce the need for additional valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple throttling devices and check valves are installed on each flow path to realize various operational modes, then the system can achieve multiple operational modes (cooling, heating, hot water preparing, cooling heat recovery), but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the throttling devices multi-functional. Each throttling device can serve different purposes in different operational modes: in cooling mode, the first throttling device controls refrigerant flow to the evaporator while the second throttling device is bypassed; in heating mode, the roles are reversed. This allows a single throttling device to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated throttling devices and check valves for each flow path, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to achieve multiple operational modes (cooling, heating, hot water preparing, and cooling heat recovery)
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing dynamic switching of throttling device functionality through the switching assembly. The system dynamically reconfigures which throttling device is active and which is bypassed based on the required operational mode. The switching assembly enables the refrigerant flow paths to be dynamically adjusted, allowing the same physical components to serve different functions in different modes, thereby reducing the need for static, mode-specific components like dedicated check valves on each path
2Ease of operation
If each flow path is equipped with a throttling device and check valve connected in parallel, then the system can flexibly switch between modes, but the system cost and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the functions of multiple valves and throttling devices into a reduced set of shared components. Instead of having separate throttling devices and check valves for each flow path, the system merges the throttling functionality into two multi-functional throttling devices that are dynamically switched between different flow paths. The switching assembly merges the control logic for mode switching, eliminating the need for multiple mode-specific valve configurations. This consolidation reduces the total quantity of valves and throttling devices while maintaining flexible mode switching capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If a four-way valve and multiple throttling devices are used to manage flow paths, then various operational modes can be realized, but the system performance is reduced due to complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing unnecessary check valves from each flow path that would traditionally be required to prevent reverse flow. Instead of having check valves embedded in each flow path, the system extracts the flow direction control function and implements it centrally through the switching assembly that dynamically configures the refrigerant flow paths. This extraction eliminates potential failure points (check valves) while maintaining the ability to realize various operational modes through the coordinated switching of the throttling devices and flow paths
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 configuration enables efficient switching among multiple operational modes with reduced hardware requirements, improving system performance and cost-effectiveness by using only two throttling devices to achieve four modes, while maintaining efficient refrigerant management and heat recovery.
Implementation Method 1
a first check valve on the third flow path only allows a fluid flowing in a direction toward the second end of the third flow path to pass through
Implementation Method 2
a first throttling device plays a throttling function
Implementation Method 3
a first heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
a compressor
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a heat pump system and a control method thereof. The heat pump system according to an embodiment includes: a compressor (4), a first flow path (100), a second flow path (200) and a third flow path (300); wherein the second end (14) of the first flow path (100), the second end (24) of the second flow path (200) and the second end (34) of the third flow path (300) are connected; two of the first end (11) of the first flow path (100), the first end (21) of the second flow path (200) and the first end (31) of the third flow path (300) are connected to the inlet (42) and outlet (41) of the compressor (4) in specific modes through a switching assembly (90), so that the heat pump system can operate in one or more of a cooling mode, a heating mode, a hot water preparing mode, and a cooling heat recovery mode.