Heat Pump Phase Separator for Vapor Surge Defrosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pump systems face inefficiencies in both cooling and heating due to their design, which leads to reduced performance, increased energy consumption, and frequent defrosting issues, especially in colder regions where frosting of the outside heat exchanger significantly reduces heating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a heat pump system with phase separators that generate surges of vapor phase refrigerant with higher temperatures than the liquid phase, which are introduced into the evaporator to prevent frost buildup and enhance heat transfer efficiency, along with a flow-regulating member to assist in friction-heat production during heating operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional heat pump systems operate in heating mode, then heat transfer occurs from outdoor air to indoor space, but frosting of the outside heat exchanger reduces heating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by introducing a surge of vapor-phase refrigerant into the evaporator before frost can significantly form. This vapor surge pre-heats the evaporator surface, preventing frost accumulation that would otherwise reduce heat transfer efficiency. The control system detects conditions conducive to frosting and activates the vapor surge in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action by cycling between liquid refrigerant flow and vapor surge events. During normal operation, liquid refrigerant provides cooling; when frosting conditions are detected, the system periodically introduces vapor surges to heat the evaporator surface. This periodic switching between phases allows the system to maintain heating efficiency while preventing frost buildup.
2Productivity
If the evaporator temperature is lowered to improve cooling capacity, then more heat can be extracted, but frost buildup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary action by monitoring evaporator temperature and introducing vapor surges before frost can form. When the evaporator approaches temperatures conducive to frosting, the system preemptively activates vapor injection to heat the surface, allowing the system to maintain lower operating temperatures for cooling capacity while preventing frost accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting refrigerant phase and temperature. It operates the evaporator at lower temperatures to maximize cooling capacity, then introduces vapor-phase refrigerant to temporarily raise the evaporator surface temperature above the frost point. This parameter switching allows the system to achieve high cooling capacity while preventing frost buildup through periodic temperature elevation.
3Loss of energy
If defrosting operations are performed frequently to remove frost, then heating efficiency is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by using its own vapor-phase refrigerant to defrost the evaporator, rather than requiring external heating sources. The vapor surge heats the evaporator surface to melt frost, and this defrosting function is integrated into the normal refrigeration cycle. The system serves its own defrosting needs using refrigerant already present in the system, eliminating the need for separate defrost heating elements or significant additional energy input.
4Productivity
If the refrigerant flow rate is increased to improve heat transfer, then cooling capacity increases, but pressure drop and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies parameter changes by switching refrigerant phase rather than continuously increasing liquid flow rate. Instead of maintaining high liquid refrigerant flow which causes excessive pressure drop, the system introduces periodic vapor surges that provide intense heat transfer during brief intervals. This phase-based parameter change allows the system to achieve high cooling capacity with lower average flow rates, reducing pressure drop and energy consumption associated with pumping.
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 solution improves heat transfer efficiency in both cooling and heating modes, reduces the need for defrosting, and extends the operational lifespan of components by maintaining higher pressures and mass velocities within the evaporator, while also reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
A heat pump system has a phase separator that provides one or more surges of a vapor phase of a refrigerant into an evaporator while transferring heat from a conditioned space
Implementation Method 2
The surges of the vapor phase have a higher temperature than the liquid phase of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
transferring heat from a conditioned space
Implementation Method 4
provides one or more surges of a vapor phase of a refrigerant into an evaporator
Implementation Method 5
The system may include a flow-regulating member to assist in the production of friction-heat during heating operation
Data Source
AI summary
Surged heat pump systems, devices, and methods are disclosed having refrigerant phase separators that generate at least one surge of vapor phase refrigerant into the inlet of an evaporator during an on cycle of the compressor. This surge of vapor phase refrigerant, having a higher temperature than the liquid phase refrigerant, increases the temperature of the evaporator inlet, thus reducing frost build up in relation to conventional refrigeration systems lacking a surged input of vapor phase refrigerant to the evaporator. The temperature of the vapor phase refrigerant is raised in relation to the liquid phase with heat from the liquid by the phase separation, not by the introduction of energy from another source. The surged heat pump systems may operate in highest heat transfer efficiency mode and/or in one or more higher temperature modes.