Heat Pump Valve Control for Room and Hot Water Demand Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating systems controlled by set priority often result in severe temperature drops in rooms or insufficient hot water production, as they prioritize one object over the other regardless of actual heating demands.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive control system that compares the heating demands of multiple objects and dynamically switches the heating fluid supply based on actual and set temperatures, ensuring efficient distribution between room heating and hot water heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a set priority control is used to serve one object first, then the priority object is satisfied, but the non-priority object experiences temperature drops or insufficient heating
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically switches between priority-based mode and demand-based mode depending on operating conditions. In demand-based mode, the valve allocation is continuously adjusted according to real-time heating demands of different objects, rather than following a fixed priority scheme, thereby preventing temperature drops while maintaining supply reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors actual temperatures and heating demands of multiple objects, using this feedback information to dynamically adjust valve positions and heating fluid distribution. This closed-loop control ensures that temperature comfort is maintained while reliably meeting heating demands
2Productivity
If heating fluid is diverted to prioritize one object, then that object receives sufficient heating, but the other object experiences delayed or insufficient heating
Solution Approach 1:
The control system can allocate heating fluid to multiple objects simultaneously with partial flow to each, rather than completely diverting flow to a single priority object. This partial action approach maintains sufficient heating supply to multiple objects while optimizing overall heating efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the degree of heating fluid allocation to different objects based on real-time demand assessment, allowing flexible optimization of heating efficiency while maintaining supply stability across multiple objects
3Ease of operation
If manual priority setting is implemented, then control simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to varying heating demands is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system transitions from static manual priority setting to dynamic demand-based control that automatically adapts to varying heating conditions. The system can operate in different modes including automatic demand-based mode that adjusts valve allocation in real-time based on monitored temperature and demand parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The control system autonomously monitors heating demands and automatically adjusts valve positions without requiring continuous manual intervention. The system serves itself by detecting temperature deviations and heating demands, then independently optimizing heat distribution to maintain comfort while adapting to changing conditions
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
Prevents severe temperature drops in rooms while maintaining sufficient hot water production by prioritizing the object with the higher heating demand, optimizing energy usage and user comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a heating fluid piping passing through the condenser for exchanging a heat between the refrigerant and the heating fluid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A heating comprising: a heat pump having an evaporator (14), a compressor (15), a condenser (25) and an expansion means (13) connected by a refrigerant piping in a cycle; a heating fluid piping passing through the condenser (25) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the heating fluid; at least a first (40, 41) and a second object to be heated by the heating fluid to a first set temperature and a second set temperature, respectively, a valve (32) at least being switchable between a first position for supplying heating fluid to heat the first object (40, 41) and a second position for supplying heating fluid to heat the second object, at least two sensors (60, 63) for detecting the first and second actual temperature at the first and second object, respectively, and a control configured to, in a demand dependent mode, determine a first demand based on at least the first set temperature and the first actual temperature and a second demand based on at least the second set temperature and the second actual temperature and configured to switch the valve to the first position and the second position based on a comparison of the first and second demand. In addition, the present invention also discloses a method for controlling the above heating.