Hot water circulation system associated with heat pump and method for controlling the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hot water supply and heating systems with heat pumps face issues such as complete shutdown during defrosting operations, delayed recovery of heating and hot water supply, and increased installation and manufacturing costs due to separate water-refrigerant heat exchangers for heating and hot water supply.
Innovation Solution
A hot water circulation system with a heat pump that includes a single water-refrigerant heat exchanger for both heating and hot water supply, allowing continuous hot water supply during defrosting through a channel switching valve and auxiliary heater, and reducing installation complexity by integrating the heat exchange process within a closed cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If separate water-refrigerant heat exchangers are used for heating and hot water supply, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating heat exchanger and hot water supply heat exchanger into a single integrated heat exchanger unit. This single heat exchanger performs both heating and hot water supply functions by allowing refrigerant to exchange heat with different water circuits simultaneously, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The single heat exchanger is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the heating heat exchanger and the hot water supply heat exchanger. By configuring the heat exchanger with appropriate flow paths and heat transfer surfaces, it can handle both heating water circulation and hot water supply circulation, achieving multi-functionality without requiring separate dedicated heat exchangers for each purpose
2Reliability
If defrosting operation is performed on the evaporator, then frost removal is achieved, but heating and hot water supply functions must stop completely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heat exchanger system into functionally independent circuits: a heating water circulation circuit and a hot water supply circulation circuit. During defrosting operation, the system can switch the refrigerant flow to perform defrosting on the evaporator while maintaining water circulation in the heating circuit, allowing heating to continue without interruption. The segmentation of water circulation paths enables independent operation of different functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by maintaining water circulation and heat exchange in the heating circuit during defrosting operation. The control system manages refrigerant flow and water circulation to ensure that while the evaporator undergoes defrosting, the heating water continues to circulate and exchange heat, preventing interruption of the heating function and maintaining continuous useful action throughout the system
3Use of energy by moving object
If separate heat exchangers are used for heating and hot water supply, then heat exchange performance is improved, but installation process becomes complicated and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heat exchanger functions into a single integrated heat exchanger unit that serves both heating and hot water supply purposes. This merging reduces the number of components that need to be manufactured, stocked, and installed, thereby simplifying the installation process and reducing manufacturing costs while preserving the heat exchange performance through proper thermal design
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 continuous hot water supply and heating during defrosting operations, reduces installation and manufacturing costs, and simplifies the process by using a single heat exchanger for both functions within a closed cycle.
Implementation Method 1
an indoor unit including a water-refrigerant heat-exchanger arranged to perform heat exchange between a refrigerant discharged from the compressor and water
Implementation Method 2
a hot water circulation unit arranged to receive heat from the heated water discharged from the indoor unit to perform hot water supply or heating
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a hot water circulation system associated with a heat pump and a method for controlling the same. The present invention is advantageous in that heating or hot water supply can be performed smoothly even when an outdoor unit performing a heat pump cycle performs a defrosting operation.