Heat pump type speed heating apparatus

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat pump systems face limitations in quickly raising water temperature for hot water supply due to reliance on a single cooling cycle, which restricts efficiency in both hot water supply and air conditioning operations.

Innovation Solution

A heat pump type speed heating apparatus utilizing a dual refrigerant system with a low-temperature cooling cycle for hot water supply and a high-temperature cooling cycle for air conditioning, incorporating a cascade heat exchanger to enhance efficiency by allowing the first refrigerant to condense, expand, and evaporate within the cooling cycle circuit, thereby increasing the heat transfer efficiency for both hot water supply and air conditioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single cooling cycle is used for hot water supply, then the system structure is simple, but the water temperature cannot be raised quickly to high temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidwater temperature rise speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the refrigeration system into two separate cooling cycles: a high-temperature cooling cycle for hot water supply and a low-temperature cooling cycle for air conditioning. Each cycle has its own compressor, heat exchangers, and refrigerant flow paths. This segmentation allows the high-temperature cycle to operate independently at higher temperatures, enabling rapid water heating without being constrained by the lower temperature requirements of air conditioning, thus resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and water temperature rise speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If heat from a single cooling cycle is used for hot water supply, then the system is easy to operate, but the efficiency of both hot water supply and air conditioning is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operationVSAvoidhot water supply efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the thermal load requirements into two independent cooling cycles operating at different temperature levels. The high-temperature cooling cycle is dedicated to hot water supply, allowing it to operate at optimal high temperatures for rapid heating, while the low-temperature cycle handles air conditioning. This eliminates the efficiency restriction caused by trying to serve dual purposes with a single cycle, as each cycle can be optimized for its specific function without compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If a dual refrigerant system with cascade heat exchanger is used, then the heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the two cooling cycles through a cascade heat exchanger that serves as a heat transfer interface between the high-temperature and low-temperature refrigerant circuits. The cascade heat exchanger allows efficient heat transfer from the high-temperature refrigerant (used for hot water) to the low-temperature refrigerant (used for air conditioning). This merging approach improves overall heat transfer efficiency by utilizing the temperature differential between the two cycles, while the modular design of the cascade connection minimizes the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 rapid temperature increase of hot water and efficient air conditioning by leveraging the dual refrigerant system, improving overall performance and efficiency in simultaneous operations.

Implementation Method 1

a cascade heat exchanger connected to the cooling cycle circuit for the first refrigerant discharged from the compressor to evaporate the second refrigerant expanded at the hot water supply expansion apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

a hot water supply heat exchanger where the second refrigerant compressed in the hot water supply compressor is condensed while heating water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

the second refrigerant compressed in the hot water supply compressor is condensed while heating water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

a hot water supply expansion apparatus where the second refrigerant condensed in the hot water supply heat exchanger is expanded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExpansion: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP2381192B1Heat pump type speed heating apparatus
Publication Date: 2017.07.19 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2381192B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2381192B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2381192B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A heat pump type speed heating apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cooling cycle circuit capable of operating air conditioning, including a compressor (12) through which a first refrigerant passes, an outdoor heat exchanger (14), an expansion apparatus (16), and an indoor heat exchanger (18); a hot water supply compressor (52) which include a hot water supply circuit where a second refrigerant heats water of a hot water supply tank, the second refrigerant being compressed in the hot water supply circuit (10); a hot water supply heat exchanger (54) where the second refrigerant compressed in the hot water supply compressor is condensed while heating water; a hot water supply expansion apparatus (56) where the second refrigerant condensed in the hot water supply heat exchanger is expanded; and a cascade heat exchanger (58) connected to the cooling cycle circuit for the first refrigerant discharged from the compressor to evaporate the second refrigerant expanded at the hot water supply expansion apparatus and undergo a process of condensation, expansion, and evaporation in the cooling cycle circuit, thereby providing an advantage of improving hot water supply and air conditioning performance.