Air-Warming Transition Control Between Heat Pump and Separate Heat Source

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air conditioning systems that switch from a separate heat source to a heat pump for indoor warming can experience a temporary drop in indoor temperature and reduced comfort due to the time it takes for the heat pump to take effect.

Innovation Solution

The system starts the heat pump air-warming operation while continuing the separate heat source air-warming operation, ensuring the separate heat source supports the heat pump's initial capability deficiency, and determines the heat pump's effectiveness based on temperature differences and air-warming capabilities to prevent temporary temperature drops and discomfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the operation switches from separate heat source air-warming operation to heat pump air-warming operation, then energy efficiency is improved, but indoor temperature temporarily drops and comfort level is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidindoor temperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continues the separate heat source air-warming operation during a predetermined time period after switching to heat pump air-warming operation. This preliminary continuation ensures that the heat pump has sufficient time to take effect and provide adequate heating, preventing temporary drops in indoor temperature and maintaining comfort level during the transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If the heat pump air-warming operation is started immediately after switching, then response speed is improved, but the heat pump capability deficiency causes temperature drop

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidair-warming capability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit merges the heating capabilities of both the heat pump section and the separate heat source section during the transition period. By continuing the separate heat source operation alongside the heat pump operation for a predetermined time, the system combines their air-warming capabilities to ensure sufficient total heating power, preventing temperature drops while the heat pump takes effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the separate heat source operation is continued longer after switching, then temperature stability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continues the separate heat source operation for a predetermined time period that is carefully selected to be just long enough for the heat pump to take effect. This predetermined duration balances the need for temperature stability during transition with energy efficiency, avoiding unnecessary extended operation of the separate heat source while ensuring adequate heating during the switchover period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively suppresses temporary indoor temperature drops and maintains comfort by ensuring the heat pump's air-warming operation is supported during the transition, allowing for appropriate determination of its effectiveness and timely switching.

Implementation Method 1

a heat pump section for performing indoor air-warming by using a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVapor-compression refrigeration cycle:

Implementation Method 2

a separate heat source section for performing indoor air-warming by using a heat source separate from the heat pump section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat source heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3096090B1Air conditioner system
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3096090B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3096090B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3096090B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

When an operation is switched from a separate heat source air-warming operation for performing indoor air-warming by using a separate heat source section (70) to a heat pump air-warming operation for performing indoor air-warming by using a heat pump section (60), a control unit (8) of an air conditioning system (1) starts the heat pump air-warming operation while the separate heat source air-warming operation is continued, and after an overlapping air-warming ending condition is met, the control unit ends the separate heat source air-warming operation.