Heating and hot water supply system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating and hot water supply systems cannot simultaneously achieve hot water supply and heating functions, leading to reduced room temperature during hot water supply and compromised comfort.
Innovation Solution
A system with a heat pump unit, hot water storage tank, heating heat exchanger, and flow regulating valves that allow simultaneous circulation of the heat medium to both the hot water supply and heating heat exchangers, enabling simultaneous hot water supply and heating operations by controlling the flow rates through bypass pipes and valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the circuit is switched to achieve hot water supply function, then hot water supply is improved, but heating function deteriorates (room temperature reduces)
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the heat medium circulation into separate controllable paths using bypass pipes. The first bypass pipe directs heat medium to the hot water supply heat exchanger, while the second bypass pipe directs heat medium to the heating heat exchanger. Flow regulating means independently control each path, allowing simultaneous operation of both hot water supply and heating functions without mutual interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic flow regulation through controllable valves or variable speed pumps in the bypass pipes. The flow rates to different heat exchangers can be adjusted in real-time based on demand, enabling flexible switching between heating-only, hot water supply-only, or simultaneous operation modes. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adapt to different operational requirements.
2Temperature
If the circuit is switched to achieve heating function, then heating is improved, but hot water supply function deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation system is segmented into independent controllable branches. When heating is the priority, the flow regulating means can direct most or all heat medium through the second bypass pipe to the heating heat exchanger, while maintaining the capability to simultaneously supply hot water through the first bypass pipe if needed. This segmentation eliminates the need to sacrifice hot water supply capability when heating is prioritized.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat medium circulation system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously through the bypass pipe configuration. The same heat pump and circulation pump can serve both heating and hot water supply purposes at the same time by distributing heat medium through different bypass pipes to different heat exchangers, making the system universal and adaptable to various operational demands.
3Reliability
If separate circuits are used for heating and hot water supply, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the heating circuit and hot water supply circuit into a single integrated circulation system with a common heat pump and circulation pump. Bypass pipes are added to this unified system to enable independent control of heat distribution to different heat exchangers. This merging reduces the number of independent components needed while maintaining the reliability of separate functional paths through the bypass configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Bypass pipes act as intermediary elements that connect the main circulation loop to different heat exchangers. These bypass pipes enable flexible routing of heat medium without requiring completely separate circulation systems. The flow regulating means in the bypass pipes serve as mediators that control the distribution of heat medium, achieving reliable separate control with minimal additional complexity.
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 simultaneous hot water supply and heating without reducing room temperature, maintaining comfort by optimizing the flow distribution of the heat medium through the system.
Implementation Method 1
heating means for heating a heat medium
Implementation Method 2
a hot water supply heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the heat medium and water
Implementation Method 3
a heating heat exchanger that heats an inside of a room using the heat medium
Implementation Method 4
a heat medium pump that feeds the heat medium
Data Source
AI summary
The system includes: a heat pump unit; a hot water supply heat exchanger; heating heat exchangers; a pump; heat medium pipes that connect a discharge side of the pump, the heat pump unit, the hot water supply heat exchanger, the heating heat exchangers, and a suction side of the pump in order; a first bypass pipe that bypasses the hot water supply heat exchanger from the heat medium pipe; a second bypass pipe that bypasses the heating heat exchangers from the heat medium pipe; a four-way valve that regulates flow distribution of the heat medium between the hot water supply heat exchanger and the first bypass pipe 22, and between the heating heat exchangers and the second bypass pipe; and a control unit for controlling the four-way valve in accordance with a hot water supply request and a heating request.