Heat Pump Switching Control for Low-Temperature Air Warming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems with heat pump and separate heat source sections face challenges in timely switching between operations, leading to comfort issues and energy inefficiency due to reliance on outside air temperature alone, without considering the heat pump's air-warming capability.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with a control unit that switches between heat pump and separate heat source operations based on both outside air temperature and the heat pump's air-warming capability, determining when the heat pump reaches its limits to optimize switching timing and energy conservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If switching is based only on outside air temperature, then the control logic is simple, but the switching timing is inappropriate leading to comfort issues and energy inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameters from only outside air temperature to a combination of outside air temperature and heat pump air-warming capability. This allows the system to make more informed switching decisions by considering both environmental conditions and system performance limits, thereby improving switching timing appropriateness while maintaining reasonable control complexity.
2Loss of energy
If switching occurs when heat pump reaches upper limit capability, then energy conservation is improved, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the heat pump's air-warming capability and comparing it against the upper limit. When the capability reaches the upper limit, the system switches to the separate heat source. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal energy conservation by preventing the heat pump from operating beyond its efficient range, while the complexity is managed through systematic monitoring and comparison operations.
3Loss of energy
If switching threshold is set low for energy savings, then energy conservation improves, but indoor temperature stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by switching from the heat pump to the separate heat source before the heat pump completely fails to meet the heating demand. By detecting when the heat pump reaches its upper capability limit and switching proactively, the system prevents indoor temperature drops while still achieving energy conservation. This anticipatory switching maintains temperature stability without requiring an overly conservative switching threshold.
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 approach allows for more appropriate timing of switching between heat pump and separate heat source operations, enhancing comfort and energy efficiency by considering the heat pump's capability, thereby improving indoor temperature control and reducing energy waste.
Implementation Method 1
a heat pump section for performing indoor air-warming by using a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system includes a heat pump section performing indoor air-warming by using a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle, a separate heat source section performing indoor air-warming by using a heat source separate from the heat pump section, and a control unit configured to control actions of the heat pump section and the separate heat source section. When a heat pump air-warming operation is being performed, and when a first switching condition is met, the control unit switches from the heat pump air-warming operation to a separate heat source air-warming operation. The first switching condition is that an outside air temperature reaches a first switching outside air temperature and an air-warming capability of the heat pump section reaches an upper limit.