Hybrid Water Heating Control for Peak-Rate Energy Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hybrid heating systems fail to efficiently manage peak and off-peak electricity demand for water heating, as they do not effectively integrate heat pump systems with conventional heating systems to minimize costs based on real-time pricing schemes and efficiency parameters.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid heating system that includes a heat pump water heating system with a pressurizing and depressurizing arrangement, a conventional heating system, sensors for system parameter measurement, and a processor to calculate and compare costs, operating the systems based on cost data, system parameters, and flow information to optimize energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heat pump water heating system is used during off-peak hours, then energy costs are reduced, but the system complexity increases due to integration with conventional heating systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a heat pump water heating system with a conventional heating system into a hybrid system. The heat pump system includes a compressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator, while the conventional system provides backup heating. Both systems share common components like the water tank and circulation pump, reducing overall complexity while achieving cost savings through off-peak operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between heat pump mode and conventional heating mode based on real-time conditions. The control system monitors ambient temperature, water temperature, and operating hours to determine the most economical operation mode, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and optimize energy costs.
2Productivity
If the heat pump system operates during peak hours, then hot water demand is met immediately, but energy costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of water during off-peak hours when electricity costs are lower. The heat pump heats and stores hot water in the tank during these periods, so that during peak demand hours, the pre-heated water is already available, reducing or eliminating the need for expensive peak-hour operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous hot water availability by operating the heat pump during off-peak hours to pre-heat water, ensuring that hot water demand can be met continuously without interruption. The stored hot water in the tank provides a buffer that bridges the gap between off-peak heating and peak demand periods.
3Ease of operation
If the conventional heating system is used exclusively, then system operation is simple, but energy costs are higher during peak hours
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid system operates autonomously with a control system that automatically monitors conditions and switches between heat pump and conventional heating modes. The system self-manages the complexity of coordinating two heating systems, eliminating the need for user intervention while achieving cost savings that outweigh the increased system complexity.
4Use of energy by moving object
If thermal storage is increased during off-peak hours, then energy costs are reduced, but the system requires larger storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial heating during off-peak hours, heating only the amount of water needed for anticipated peak demand rather than heating the entire tank capacity. This partial action approach reduces the required storage volume while still achieving cost savings by avoiding peak-hour operation for the heated portion.
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 optimizes energy costs by determining when to operate the heat pump or conventional heating systems, increasing thermal storage during off-peak hours, and reducing overall energy expenditure by aligning operations with predicted demand and efficiency parameters.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurizing arrangement, associated with a refrigerant circulation pipe, adapted to increase a pressure of a first refrigerant fluid to produce a pressurized refrigerant fluid
Implementation Method 2
a first heat exchange system including: a primary circulation arrangement, including, and fluidly communicating with, a first heat exchanger, the first exchanger fluidly communicating with the refrigerant circulation pipe, the first exchanger and the primary circulation arrangement adapted to effect an indirect heat exchange between a first flow of liquid and the pressurized refrigerant fluid, whereby heat is transferred from the pressurized refrigerant fluid to the first flow of liquid
Implementation Method 3
a depressurizing arrangement, fluidly communicating with the refrigerant circulation pipe, and adapted to receive the enthalpy-reduced refrigerant fluid and to reduce a pressure thereof, to produce a depressurized refrigerant fluid having a lower pressure than the enthalpy-reduced fluid
Implementation Method 4
a second heat exchanger, the second exchanger fluidly communicating with the circulation pipe, and adapted to effect an exchange of heat between the depressurized refrigerant fluid and a heat source, whereby the first refrigerant fluid is produced
Data Source
AI summary
Hybrid heating system including: a heat pump water heating system; sensors, for measuring a system parameter; an input arrangement providing cost data pertaining to a first power cost for supplying power to the heat pump system, and to cost information pertaining to a second power cost for operating a conventional heating system; a processor storing criteria specifying when to operate the heat pump and conventional systems, the processor receiving and processing: cost data; cost information; system parameter data; flow information on a heat exchange system circulation arrangement, and heat pump system power consumption information and concurrently operating, upon demand, the heat pump system and a chiller system in opposite heating modes; wherein, when the chiller system operates in a cooling mode, the processor processes the cost data and information, system parameter data, and flow and power consumption information, and controls the systems based on the criteria.