Heat Pump Valve Control for Hybrid Air and Hot Water Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pumps face limitations in providing simultaneous air stream heating and radiant heating, leading to inefficiencies in sensible heat transfer and user discomfort due to stratified indoor air and prolonged floor heating times.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system and control method that enables simultaneous air stream heating, radiant heating, and hot water supply by adjusting the opening degree of valves in the hydro unit and outdoor unit to optimize refrigerant flow, allowing for hybrid operations that combine air stream cooling/heating with cold water/hot water operations, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and user comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air stream heating is used to heat indoor air, then heating function is provided, but stratification of indoor air occurs causing user discomfort and low sensible heat efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines air stream heating and radiant heating (floor heating) into a hybrid operation mode. The heat pump system simultaneously heats indoor air through the air stream indoor system and supplies hot water to the floor heating system, merging two different heating methods to achieve both rapid temperature rise and comfortable thermal distribution without air stratification.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pump system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it can provide air stream heating, radiant heating through floor heating, and hot water supply. The system uses a 4-way valve and hydro unit to enable different operational modes (air stream cooling/heating, cold water/hot water operation, and hybrid operation), making the system versatile for various heating and cooling needs.
2Temperature
If floor heating is used for radiant heating, then superior sensible heat effects are achieved, but a lot of time is taken until floor heating is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating action by first activating the air stream heating mode to rapidly raise indoor air temperature and provide immediate comfort. While the air stream system works quickly, the floor heating system is simultaneously activated or pre-heated, so that when full radiant heating is needed, the floor is already warm or接近 to the required temperature, significantly reducing the time to achieve comfortable floor heating.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the heat pump supplies both air stream heating and hot water, then multiple functions are provided, but refrigerant flow must be optimized to avoid inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts refrigerant flow distribution using a hydro unit with controllable valves. When both air stream heating and hot water supply are required, the control system optimizes the opening degree of valves in real-time to allocate refrigerant flow between the air stream indoor system and the hydro unit, ensuring efficient heat exchange in both paths and preventing energy loss from suboptimal refrigerant distribution.
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
The system achieves improved energy efficiency and user comfort by rapidly varying indoor conditions, reducing installation and operation costs, and providing comfort cooling and heating with reduced inefficiencies in sensible heat transfer, while allowing for the efficient supply of hot water.
Implementation Method 1
transfer low-temperature heat to a high-temperature side or to transfer high-temperature heat to a low-temperature side, using heat of evaporation of refrigerant or heat of condensation of refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
transfer low-temperature heat to a high-temperature side or to transfer high-temperature heat to a low-temperature side, using heat of evaporation of refrigerant or heat of condensation of refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
heat is transferred from a low-temperature side to a high-temperature side, using latent heat of evaporation of refrigerant generated in accordance with phase variation through vaporization and liquifying of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
heat is transferred from a low-temperature side to a high-temperature side, using latent heat of evaporation of refrigerant generated in accordance with phase variation through vaporization and liquifying of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
The above-mentioned heat pump is configured to absorb or discharge heat through air streams, which perform heat exchange around the heat exchangers using the fans
Implementation Method 6
absorb or discharge heat through air streams, which perform heat exchange around the heat exchangers using the fans
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a heat pump including an outdoor unit including a compressor and a first heat exchanger, an indoor unit including a second heat exchanger and an expansion valve to perform air stream cooling and heating operations, and a hydro unit connected among the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the expansion valve, to change a flow direction of refrigerant in accordance with cold water and hot water operations. In the control method, it is determined whether the hot water operation and the air stream heating operation are simultaneously selected. When the hot water operation and the air stream heating operation are simultaneously selected, an opening degree of a valve included in the hydro unit is adjusted, to adjust amounts of refrigerant respectively supplied from the compressor to the hydro unit and the indoor unit.