Heat Pump Tower With Preheating Heat Exchanger for Higher COP
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning and heat pump systems have a relatively low Coefficient of Performance (COP), which limits their energy efficiency, especially in heat pump mode, as they struggle to effectively absorb and deliver heat to indoor spaces.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioning and heat pump tower incorporates a pre-heating heat exchanger that preheats ambient air before it is delivered to the indoor space, enhancing the system's energy efficiency by increasing the COP through improved heat transfer and reduced energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a conventional air conditioning and heat pump system is used, then the system structure is simple, but the Coefficient of Performance (COP) is relatively low and energy efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple functional segments: a first heat exchanger for indoor heat exchange, a second heat exchanger for outdoor heat exchange, and a pre-heating heat exchanger specifically for preheating ambient air. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, thereby improving overall energy efficiency without creating an overly complex integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-heating heat exchanger performs preliminary heating of the ambient air before it enters the main heat exchange system. By preheating the ambient air in advance, the system reduces the energy required by the compressor and main heat exchanger to achieve the desired indoor temperature, thereby improving COP while maintaining a manageable system structure.
2Power
If the system operates in heat pump mode with conventional configuration, then the system can provide heating, but the energy consumption is high due to low COP
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-heating heat exchanger performs preliminary heating of the ambient air before it enters the main heat exchange system. By preheating the ambient air in advance, the system reduces the energy required by the compressor and main heat exchanger to achieve the desired indoor temperature, thereby improving COP while maintaining a manageable system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the typically wasted heat from the refrigerant cycle into a useful resource by using it to preheat the ambient air through the pre-heating heat exchanger. This transforms what would otherwise be wasted thermal energy into a beneficial preheating function, reducing the overall energy consumption of the heat pump system.
3Use of energy by moving object
If ambient air is delivered directly to indoor space, then the system operation is simple, but the energy efficiency is low because the air requires more heating energy
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling system is segmented into multiple stages: the pre-heating heat exchanger for initial heating of ambient air, followed by the main heat exchange system. This segmentation allows the ambient air to be progressively heated through different components, improving energy efficiency while maintaining a structured and manageable system configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-heating heat exchanger performs preliminary heating of the ambient air before it enters the main heat exchange system. By preheating the ambient air in advance, the system reduces the energy required by the compressor and main heat exchanger to achieve the desired indoor temperature, thereby improving COP while maintaining a manageable system structure.
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 allows for more heat to be produced in the indoor space for a given work input, significantly improving the system's energy efficiency and COP compared to conventional systems, by preheating ambient air before it is delivered, thus reducing the energy required to raise the temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a first pre-heating heat exchanger (71) supported in the front compartment (141) of the receiving cavity (14) at an outdoor portion (13) of the main casing (10), the first pre-heating heat exchanger (71) being positioned between the air intake opening (19) and the outdoor heat exchanging portion (42) of the front heat exchanger (40)
Implementation Method 2
a front heat exchanger (40) supported in the front compartment (141) of the receiving cavity (14) of the main casing (10), the front heat exchanger (40) has an indoor heat exchanging portion (41) extending in the indoor portion (12) of the main casing (10)
Implementation Method 3
a rear heat exchanger (50) supported in the rear compartment (142) of the receiving cavity (14) of the main casing (10), the rear heat exchanger (50) has an indoor heat exchanging portion (51) extending in the indoor portion (12) of the main casing (10), and an outdoor heat exchanging portion (52) extending in the outdoor portion (13) of the main casing (10)
Implementation Method 4
a compressor (30) supported in the main casing (10), the compressor (30) having a compressor outlet (31) and a compressor inlet (32)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An air conditioning and heat pump tower includes a main casing, a plurality of connecting pipes, a compressor, a front heat exchanger, a rear heat exchanger, a fan unit, and an energy efficient arrangement. The energy efficient arrangement includes a first pre-heating heat exchanger supported in a front compartment of the main casing, and positioned between an outdoor air intake opening and an outdoor heat exchanging portion of the front heat exchanger. The air conditioning and heat pump tower may be operated between an air conditioning mode for absorbing heat from the indoor space, and a heat pump mode for producing heat to the indoor space. A predetermined amount of ambient air may be drawn through the outdoor air intake opening and may be pre-heated by the energy efficient arrangement before delivering to the indoor space.