Heat Pump Guide Space Cooling to Prevent Vapor Overheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pumps using radial impellers face issues with overheated working vapor leading to reduced condenser efficiency and increased temperatures, which can cause component destruction and require large condenser volumes to maintain performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a cooling device to cool the guide space and suction mouth with a liquid, where the liquid is guided outside the guide space or suction mouth, preventing overheating and allowing efficient condensation in the condenser, and utilizing convective shaft cooling with vapor feed to maintain optimal temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If radial impeller is used to compress working vapor, then compression efficiency is improved, but working vapor becomes overheated leading to reduced condenser efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The guide space is pre-cooled by circulating cooling liquid through channels in the guide space housing before the working vapor enters. This preliminary cooling action prevents the vapor from overheating during compression, allowing the radial impeller to maintain high compression efficiency while keeping the vapor temperature within acceptable limits for condenser efficiency.
2Productivity
If working vapor temperature is reduced to prevent overheating, then condenser efficiency is improved, but compression process becomes less effective
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling is applied locally to the guide space and suction mouth areas where overheating occurs, rather than cooling the entire compression system. The cooling liquid flows through channels in the guide space housing and around the suction mouth, providing targeted cooling that maintains condenser efficiency without interfering with the compression process effectiveness.
3Temperature
If cooling liquid is applied inside the guide space or suction mouth, then cooling efficiency is improved, but contact with working vapor causes contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into separate channels that are physically isolated from the working vapor path. Cooling liquid flows through dedicated channels in the guide space housing and around the suction mouth exterior, while the working vapor flows through the impeller and guide vanes. This segmentation allows efficient cooling without any contact between the cooling liquid and working vapor, preventing contamination.
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 reduces motor and bearing losses, prevents overheating, and achieves highly efficient condensation, enabling a compact and reliable heat pump design with improved operational safety.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device (420) for cooling the guide space (302) or the suction mouth (92) with a liquid
Implementation Method 2
a radial impeller (304) to convey a working vapor evaporated in the evaporator through the suction mouth
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator (90) for evaporating a working liquid
Implementation Method 4
a condenser for condensing compressed working vapor
Data Source
AI summary
A heat pump, having: an evaporator for evaporating a working liquid; a liquefier for condensing a compressed working vapor; a compressor motor with a suction mouth having attached thereto a radial impeller to convey a working vapor evaporated in the evaporator through the suction mouth; a guide space arranged to guide a working vapor conveyed by the radial impeller into the condenser; and a cooling device for cooling the guide space or the suction mouth with a liquid, wherein the cooling device is configured to guide the liquid onto an outside of the guide space or of the suction mouth, wherein the outside is not in contact with the working vapor, and wherein an inside of the guide space or of the suction mouth is in contact with the working vapor.