Water Source Heat Pump Staged Fluid Flow Control to Reduce Pump Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water source heat pumps (WSHP) are less efficient than desired due to high power and water consumption, particularly in commercial or residential buildings, as they often require constant fluid flow through all condensers regardless of operational stages, leading to unnecessary energy expenditure.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage fluid delivery system with modulating motor-controlled valves that control fluid flow through condensers only when necessary, based on operating data and monitoring, allowing for staged operation of compressors and condensers, reducing fluid flow and pump energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If constant fluid flow is maintained through all condensers regardless of operational stages, then reliable heat exchange is ensured, but power consumption and water consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fluid delivery to different condensers based on operational stages. The controller divides the building into multiple stages, and only activates condensers and their associated fluid flow paths when needed. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable heat exchange for active stages while avoiding unnecessary fluid flow and energy consumption in inactive stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts fluid flow through condensers based on real-time operational requirements. The controller monitors building conditions and actively opens or closes motor-operated valves to modulate fluid flow to specific condensers. This dynamic control ensures that fluid flow is maintained only through condensers that are currently needed for heat exchange, eliminating constant flow requirements.
2Power
If all condensers receive fluid flow continuously, then heat exchange capacity is maximized, but pump energy usage increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery system is segmented into multiple independent paths, each serving specific condensers. The controller can selectively activate only the segments (condensers) that are currently needed for heat exchange. This allows the system to maintain adequate heat exchange capacity for active condensers while avoiding pump energy consumption for inactive condensers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by providing fluid flow only to the extent necessary for current operational needs. Rather than continuously flowing fluid through all condensers, the controller activates fluid flow to specific condensers only when their heat exchange capacity is required, based on the current stage of building operation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If motor-operated valves are added to control fluid flow staging, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-operated valves are integrated into the existing fluid delivery infrastructure, serving multiple functions: controlling fluid flow to specific condensers, enabling staged operation, and providing control based on building conditions. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering significant energy efficiency improvements through a single control mechanism.
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 achieves significant energy savings by reducing fluid flow by up to 50% in two-compressor systems and 75% in four-compressor systems, translating to substantial pump energy savings and improved efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The water passes through a condensing coil and removes heat from the heat refrigerant before passing through the expansion valve
Data Source
AI summary
A controller, a water source heat pump and a computer useable medium are disclosed herein. In one embodiment the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive operating data and monitoring data from the water source heat pump and transmit control signals to components of thereof and (2) a processor configured to respond to the operating data or the monitoring data by operating at least one motor-operated valve of the water source heat pump via a control signal.