Heat pump assembly and method for its operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pump systems require costly electronic components for modulating compressor motors and electric heating elements, especially when dealing with variable power demands and potential freezing conditions, often necessitating separate and complex electronic supply systems that are not always efficient or cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump assembly that shares electronic components such as rectifiers, active power factor correction filters, overvoltage protection, power distribution, and DC links between the compressor and electric heating element, with a common DC link and separate power supply electronics, allowing for efficient power modulation and distribution to prevent overloading, and enabling integration with photovoltaic systems for island operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate electronic supply systems are used for compressor motor and electric heating element, then each component can be independently controlled and protected, but the system complexity and cost of electronic components increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electronic supply systems of the compressor motor and electric heating element into a single integrated system. The rectifier, active power factor correction filter, overvoltage protection, power distribution, DC link, and DC link capacitor are shared between both components, reducing redundancy and lowering overall system complexity and cost while maintaining independent control capabilities through the controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated electronic supply system is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - it can supply power to the compressor motor, the electric heating element, or both together, and can adapt its power distribution based on operational requirements. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated supply systems for each component.
2Loss of energy
If high voltage DC intermediate circuit (400-800V) is used, then current and line costs are reduced, but the requirements for electronic components and safety measures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs high voltage (400-800V) in the DC intermediate circuit to reduce current levels and associated energy losses in wiring and components. This parameter change from lower voltage requires the integrated electronic supply system to incorporate appropriate high-voltage rated components and control mechanisms, but overall reduces system complexity compared to maintaining separate low-voltage systems.
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 reduces the overall cost of electronic components, ensures safe and efficient operation by preventing overloading, and allows for flexible power usage, including island operation with photovoltaic systems, thereby optimizing energy consumption and reducing reliance on external power supplies.
Implementation Method 1
a rectifier for equalizing a 1 to 3-phase alternating current
Implementation Method 2
an active power factor correction filter
Implementation Method 3
a DC link -Capacitor
Implementation Method 4
The primary circuit can escape the environment heat, which can be transmitted by means of a heat exchanger to at least one (closed) secondary circuit
Implementation Method 5
The (closed) primary circuit contains a compressor that can be driven by a modulatable compressor motor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat pump arrangement and a method for operating it with a primary circuit (3) with a compressor (4) and a secondary circuit (8) and/or buffer storage (9) with at least one electric heating element (10), wherein the compressor (4) and the heating element (10) have electronic components (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) for their power supply and operation, and wherein the compressor (4) and the heating element (10) have at least one of the following electronic components in common: a rectifier (13) for rectifying a 1- to 3-phase alternating current, an active power factor correction filter (12), an overvoltage protection device (11), a power distribution unit (22), a DC link (14) and/or an DC link capacitor (15), and wherein a power distribution unit (22) is provided which controls the compressor and the electric heating element (10) in such a way thatthat together they never consume more than the maximum electrical power available from one of the jointly used components (11, 12, 13 and/or 14). An additional heater (20) can be switched on if required. In particular, a DC voltage source (23), e.g., a photovoltaic system, can be connected to supply a DC intermediate circuit (14).