Heat Pump Thermal Plant With Heat Accumulators for Off-Peak Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating systems with electrically driven compression heat pumps face limitations in discontinuous operation, leading to increased operating costs and reduced comfort due to the inability to supply useful heat outside economically favorable time windows, as they rely on expensive electricity during peak hours.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating heat accumulators in both the waste heat and useful heat cycles allows for the storage and delayed release of heat, enabling continuous or discontinuous heat provision without the need for expensive electricity, thereby increasing cost-effectiveness and comfort by utilizing stored waste and useful heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the heat pump operates discontinuously to reduce electricity costs, then operating costs are reduced, but useful heat cannot be supplied outside economically favorable time windows leading to loss of comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The heat accumulator stores useful heat in advance during economically favorable time windows when electricity costs are low, enabling the heat pump to operate discontinuously without compromising comfort. The accumulator is charged during off-peak hours and discharged during peak hours when the heat pump is stopped, thus preliminarily preparing the heat supply needed for later use.
2Ease of operation
If the heat pump operates continuously to supply useful heat at all times, then comfort is maintained, but operating costs rise sharply during peak electricity hours
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating by storing excess heat in the heat accumulator during off-peak hours when electricity costs are low. This advance preparation eliminates the need to operate the heat pump during expensive peak hours, thereby reducing operating costs while maintaining continuous heat availability through the accumulator's discharge function.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat accumulator ensures continuous availability of useful heat by bridging the gaps between heat pump operation cycles. While the heat pump operates discontinuously, the accumulator maintains continuous heat supply to the building, thus preserving the continuity of the useful action without requiring continuous heat pump operation.
3Productivity
If waste heat is utilized continuously, then waste heat utilization rate increases, but the heat pump must operate continuously increasing electricity consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The heat accumulator stores waste heat in advance when the heat pump operates during off-peak hours, enabling discontinuous operation while maintaining high waste heat utilization. By preliminarily accumulating waste heat during low-cost periods, the system can achieve high utilization rates without the penalty of continuous electricity consumption.
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 proposed system enhances waste heat utilization rates and reduces operating costs by allowing heat to be provided as needed, with increased heat pump output and improved profitability without sacrificing comfort or usability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heat accumulator; wherein at least one of the heat accumulators is arranged in the waste heat cycle and/or at least one of the heat accumulators is arranged in the useful heat cycle
Implementation Method 2
the mechanical drive, which supplies the energy used, is provided by an electric motor, which drives the compressor of the heat pump, which is responsible for compressing the working medium, in particular the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a heat pump comprising an evaporator, an electrically driven compressor, a condenser; a waste heat cycle coupled to the evaporator
Implementation Method 4
a heat pump comprising an evaporator, an electrically driven compressor, a condenser; a useful heat cycle coupled to the condenser
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a heating system (10), comprising - a heat pump (11) comprising an evaporator (18), an electrically driven compressor (19), a condenser (20); - A waste heat circuit (12) coupled to the evaporator (18); - A useful heat circuit (13) which is coupled to the condenser (20); - At least one heat accumulator (14, 26); - at least one of the heat accumulators (14) being arranged in the waste heat circuit (12) and/or at least one of the heat accumulators (26) being arranged in the useful heat circuit (13). The invention further relates to a method for operating a heating system (10).