Heat supply apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat supply apparatuses using water-refrigerant systems face challenges such as excessive refrigerant usage, high installation costs due to separate piping requirements, and reduced pump lifespan due to improper placement and vapor flow issues.
Innovation Solution
A heat supply apparatus with an indoor unit that includes a heat exchanger and a pump to circulate water between an outdoor unit and a load unit, featuring a first connection pipe for vapor removal and a second connection pipe with a pump to manage water flow, minimizing vapor flow to the load unit and extending the pump's lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If water-refrigerant heat supply apparatus is used to replace gas boiler, then carbon emission is reduced and refrigerant usage is minimized, but separate piping installation is required which increases time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the outdoor unit and indoor unit into a single integrated heat supply apparatus. The outdoor unit housing contains both the heat exchanger for refrigerant-water heat exchange and the indoor unit housing that supplies heated water to the load unit. This integration eliminates the need for separate piping between distinct outdoor and indoor units, reducing installation time and cost while maintaining low refrigerant usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The outdoor unit housing serves multiple functions: it accommodates the heat exchanger for refrigerant-water heat exchange, contains the indoor unit housing, and acts as the water supply system to the load unit. This multi-functionality allows the apparatus to replace traditional boiler systems without requiring additional separate piping infrastructure.
2Temperature
If pump is disposed in indoor unit to heat water for supply, then water can be heated and supplied to load unit, but pump lifespan is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pump from the indoor unit and relocates it to the outdoor unit. Specifically, the pump is disposed in the outdoor unit housing to pump water from the heat exchanger to the load unit. This extraction prevents vapor and foreign substances generated in the load unit from entering the pump, thereby extending pump lifespan while maintaining the heating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water tank as an intermediary between the heat exchanger and the load unit. The pump pumps water from the heat exchanger to the water tank, and then water is supplied from the tank to the load unit. This intermediary arrangement allows the pump to operate with cooler water while still achieving the heating objective through the heat exchanger.
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
Enables efficient heat transfer to the load unit, reduces refrigerant usage, and extends the lifespan of the pump by minimizing vapor flow and foreign substance entry, while allowing for replacement of traditional boiler systems without additional indoor piping.
Implementation Method 1
an outdoor unit including a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and water
Implementation Method 2
an indoor unit configured to supply water discharged from the outdoor unit to the load unit and configured to supply water discharged from the load unit to the outdoor unit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a heat supply apparatus that includes an outdoor unit including a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and water, a load unit using heat of heat-exchanged water as a load, and an indoor unit configured to supply water discharged from the outdoor unit to the load unit and configured to supply water discharged from the load unit to the outdoor unit, wherein the indoor unit includes a case defining an outer shape, a first connection pipe disposed in the case and configured to transfer water introduced from the outdoor unit to the load unit, a second connection pipe disposed in the case and configured to transfer water introduced from the load unit to the outdoor unit, and a pump disposed at the second connection pipe and configured to pump water of the load unit to the outdoor unit.