Hot Water Storage Heat Pump Control for Peak-Cut Power Outages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hot water storage type heat source devices struggle to monitor the state of the heating section and perform piping antifreeze operations when electric power supply from peak cut power sources is stopped, leading to system shutdown and inability to prevent freezing.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a boiling control section that operates using commercial power, allowing continuous monitoring and antifreeze operations even during peak cut power outages by using electric power from the commercial power source, and utilizing the stored hot water as a heat source for indoor heating and hot water supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the heating section operates using peak cut power source, then power load reduction and power rate reduction are achieved, but the system cannot monitor the heating section state and perform piping antifreeze operation when power supply is stopped

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower rateVSAvoidmonitoring capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply system is segmented into two independent control sections: a peak cut power source for the heating section and a commercial power source for the control section. This segmentation allows the control section to remain operational during peak cut power outages, maintaining monitoring and antifreeze capabilities while still achieving power load reduction during heating operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control section acts as an intermediary that bridges the heating section and the external environment. By operating independently on commercial power, it serves as a mediator that can detect external temperature conditions and trigger antifreeze operations in the heating section even when the heating section itself is powered down during peak cut periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the heating section is stopped due to power supply interruption, then power consumption is reduced, but the system cannot detect outside air temperature and perform piping antifreeze operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidfreezing risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control section performs preliminary detection of outside air temperature and prepares antifreeze operations in advance. When the temperature drops below the freezing point, the control section can activate antifreeze measures in the heating section before freezing occurs, even if the heating section is currently stopped due to power interruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control section continuously monitors outside air temperature and provides feedback to the heating section. When the temperature falls below the freezing point, the control section sends feedback signals to trigger antifreeze operations in the heating section, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to environmental conditions regardless of the heating section's power state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If a single power source is used for both heating and control sections, then device complexity is reduced, but the control section cannot operate during peak cut power outages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply systemVSAvoidcontinuous operation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply system is divided into two independent segments: the heating section connected to the peak cut power source and the control section connected to the commercial power source. This segmentation increases device complexity in terms of power supply architecture but enables continuous operation of the control section, improving ease of operation during power outages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control section is designed with multi-functionality to operate independently on commercial power. It can perform monitoring, temperature detection, antifreeze control, and communication functions without requiring power from the peak cut source, making the overall system more versatile and resilient to power interruptions.

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

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

Ensures continuous heating and hot water supply operations without interruption, reduces the need for additional power monitoring systems, and enhances user amenity by maintaining system functionality during peak cut power outages.

Implementation Method 1

a heating section for heating water with electric power from a peak cut power source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a hot water storage section for storing hot water heated by the heating section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy storage: Thermal Energy Storage

Implementation Method 3

boiling control sections for receiving electric power supplied from a commercial power source other than the peak cut power source and controlling the heating section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2085706B1Hot water storage type heat pump unit
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP2085706B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2085706B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2085706B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A hot water storage type heat source device is composed of a heating section 11 for heating water with electric power from a peak cut power source 10 whose power supply may be stopped on account of a power supply side, a boiling control section 12 for receiving electric power supplied from a commercial power source 30 other than the peak cut power source 10 and controlling the heating section 11, and a hot water storage section 2 for storing hot water heated by the heating section 11. Even when electric power supply from the peak cut power source 10 is stopped and thereby the heating section 11 is stopped, the boiling control section 12 operates with electric power from the commercial power source 30.