Heat Pump Staging Control for Reaching Water Supply Temperature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat pump systems face inefficiencies in reaching the total water supply temperature due to frequent shutdown of heat pumps when the water temperature approaches the target, leading to low water heating efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A control method for a heat pump system that involves obtaining a system requirement value and a historical level, performing level prediction to obtain a candidate level, comparing it with the historical level to determine a target level, and controlling heat pumps to be turned on or off based on the target level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If heat pumps are frequently turned off when water temperature approaches target, then energy consumption is reduced, but water heating efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidwater heating efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device predicts future water supply temperature based on historical data and current status before the temperature actually reaches the target. This preliminary prediction allows the system to prepare for upcoming temperature changes, maintaining heat pump operation continuity and avoiding frequent shutdowns that would reduce heating efficiency while still managing energy consumption effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If heat pumps are turned off to control total output capacity, then system capacity is managed, but reliability of reaching target temperature deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacity controlVSAvoidtemperature target achievement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors actual water supply temperature, compares it with predicted temperature, and uses this feedback to adjust heat pump operation. When the predicted temperature indicates approaching the target, the system proactively adjusts heat pump status to ensure the target is reached, rather than passively reacting after temperature changes occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If centralized control manages heat pump quantity, then system coordination is improved, but responsiveness to temperature changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem coordinationVSAvoidtemperature response speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

By predicting future water supply temperature in advance, the control device can proactively adjust heat pump operation before temperature deviations occur. This preliminary action enables the system to maintain both good coordination through centralized control and fast response by anticipating temperature changes rather than reacting to them after they happen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4411273B1Control method and apparatus for heat pump engineering, and device and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 GUANGDONG PHNIX ECO ENERGY SOLUTION
  • EP4411273B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4411273B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4411273B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application relates to the field of heat pump control technologies, and provides a control method, control apparatus and control device for a heat pump system and a storage medium, so as to improve the water heating efficiency of the heat pump system. The control method for the heat pump system includes: obtaining a system requirement value of a current period and a historical level of a previous period, and performing level prediction for the current period based on the system requirement value to obtain a candidate level; comparing the candidate level with the historical level to obtain a target level; and controlling one or more heat pumps in the heat pump system to be turned on or off based on the target level.