Multi-Temperature Heat Pump Control for Variable Heat Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pump systems are limited in their ability to supply hot water with various levels of temperature to meet the demands of sources with fluctuating heat sources, such as geothermal, solar, and sewage heat sources, and cannot efficiently adapt to different temperature requirements of demand sources.
Innovation Solution
A broadband heat pump system comprising multiple heat pumps and heat source mixers, controlled by a controller, which can utilize heat sources of varying temperatures to produce and supply hot water at different temperature levels to match the needs of low-, medium-, and high-temperature demand sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heat pumps are installed in parallel to meet various temperature demands, then the ability to supply hot water at different temperatures improves, but the system complexity increases and heat sources with varying temperatures cannot be efficiently utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pump system is segmented into multiple heat pumps (first heat pump for low temperature, second heat pump for medium temperature, third heat pump for high temperature), each dedicated to a specific temperature range. This segmentation allows each heat pump to operate optimally within its designated temperature range while collectively meeting diverse temperature demands, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat source mixers are introduced as intermediary devices that blend heat sources with different temperatures to create a suitable heat source temperature for each heat pump. The first heat source mixer supplies low-temperature heat sources to the first heat pump, the second heat source mixer supplies medium-temperature heat sources to the second heat pump, and the third heat source mixer supplies high-temperature heat sources to the third heat pump. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient utilization of varying heat sources while maintaining system complexity at a manageable level.
2Ease of operation
If heat pumps operate with fixed temperature and flow rate settings, then the system operation is simple, but the system cannot adapt to fluctuating heat source characteristics and varying demand source requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pump system transitions from fixed operation to dynamic operation through the introduction of a controller that receives signals from demand sources and adjusts the operation of each heat pump accordingly. The controller dynamically controls the operation of the first, second, and third heat pumps based on temperature demands, allowing the system to adapt to varying heat source characteristics and demand source requirements while maintaining relatively simple operation through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller implements feedback control by receiving temperature demand signals from demand sources and adjusting the operation of heat pumps and heat source mixers accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adapt to changing conditions without requiring complex manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and adaptability.
3Device complexity
If a single heat pump is used to supply hot water, then the device complexity is low, but the system cannot efficiently utilize heat sources with various temperature levels to meet diverse temperature demands
Solution Approach 1:
Each heat pump is assigned a specific temperature range and corresponding heat source temperature range, creating local optimization within the system. The first heat pump operates with low-temperature heat sources for low-temperature demands, the second heat pump operates with medium-temperature heat sources for medium-temperature demands, and the third heat pump operates with high-temperature heat sources for high-temperature demands. This local quality assignment maximizes energy efficiency by matching heat source temperatures with appropriate heat pump operations, thereby improving overall productivity without excessive complexity.
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 system effectively increases energy availability by allowing the use of diverse heat sources and meets the temperature requirements of demand sources, enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of heat pump operations.
Implementation Method 1
heat pumps for transferring heat from different heat sources involving different temperature levels to a plurality of demand sources
Implementation Method 2
A mixing of hot water from different heat sources serves to provide a common input heat source with an approximately fixed temperature level for supplying the whole plurality of heat pumps on their common input side
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a broadband heat pump system including: a heat pump module including a plurality of heat pumps that supply hot water with different levels of temperature; a heat source supply module that introduces a heat source from one heat source or selectively introduces a heat source from one or a plurality of heat sources among heat sources with different levels of temperature so as to produce a heat source with a desired temperature; and a controller that controls the heat pump module and the heat source supply module to select one from the plurality of heat pumps to be appropriate to a temperature of hot water requested by a demand source and to receive a heat source with a necessary temperature from the heat source supply module so that the selected heat pump is able to supply hot water with the requested temperature. Thus, hot water with various levels of temperature can be supplied to a desired demand source, and heat sources with various levels of temperature including a new renewable energy source can be used so that energy availability increases.