Heat Pump Airflow Layout for Indoor Pool Hall Icing Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for heating swimming pool halls face inefficiencies and high costs due to the need for additional liquid circuits and heat exchangers, which lead to energy loss and moisture-related issues like condensation and filter icing.

Innovation Solution

A system where the exhaust air flows through a heat exchanger and then an evaporator, with the condenser positioned behind the heat exchanger in the supply air duct, utilizing residual heat without an additional liquid circuit, and incorporating a second condenser to prevent icing and moisture penetration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an additional liquid circuit and second heat exchanger are arranged to preheat outside air, then the filters and flaps are protected from icing, but the system cost increases and exhaust air cooling occurs leading to efficiency loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against icing of filters and flapsVSAvoidcooling of exhaust air before heat exchanger
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The outside air is preheated by the heat exchanger using exhaust air heat before entering the filter and flaps, preventing icing in advance. This preliminary heating action eliminates the need for additional liquid circuits while protecting the system components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The exhaust air, which would otherwise be wasted, is utilized as a heat source to preheat the outside air. The heat exchanger captures thermal energy from the exhaust air that would otherwise be lost, converting it into useful preheating capacity for the supply air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If an additional liquid circuit is used for preheating outside air, then icing is prevented, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against icingVSAvoidadditional liquid circuit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The preheating function is merged into the existing exhaust air heat exchanger system. Instead of adding a separate liquid circuit and heat exchanger, the invention integrates the preheating capability into the air-to-air heat exchanger that already recovers heat from exhaust air, simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchanger serves multiple functions: it recovers heat from exhaust air for supply air preheating and simultaneously prevents icing of filters and flaps. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated icing prevention equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the evaporator is positioned before the heat recovery system, then condensation is avoided, but heat recovery potential is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondensation of exhaust air moistureVSAvoidheat recovery potential
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The outside air is preheated before entering the heat recovery system, raising its temperature in advance. This preliminary heating prevents the supply air from becoming too cold when mixed with exhaust air, thereby preventing condensation without requiring the evaporator to be positioned early in the exhaust air path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures efficient heating at low outside temperatures with reduced technical effort, preventing condensate freezing and germ growth, while maintaining high system efficiency and avoiding unnecessary energy losses.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger (16) for preheating the supply air (11) through which the exhaust air (14) flows

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

Downstream of the heat exchanger 16, the exhaust air flows through an evaporator 17 of a heat pump circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

the condenser 18 of which is arranged in the supply air duct 11 behind the heat exchanger 16, so that the thermal energy absorbed by the compressor 19 of the heat pump from the evaporator is transferred to the condenser 18 and thus to the supply air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP1984677B1System for heating an area such as an indoor swimming pool
Publication Date: 2016.12.07 MENERGA
  • EP1984677B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1984677B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for heating a building, especially an indoor swimming pool. Said building is heated by incoming air which first flows through the condenser of a heating pump of the system, a heat exchanger being arranged upstream of the condenser of the heating pump in order to pre-heat the incoming air. The outgoing air flows through the heat exchanger, and the ambient air flows through a second condenser before reaching the heat exchanger, said second condenser being arranged in the circuit of the same heating pump.