Hydraulic Heat Pump Coupling for Multi-Source Heating and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy supply systems for residential buildings are costly and require complex installations, with ice storage systems being expensive to manufacture and maintain, and existing control systems often require intervention in heat pump control systems.
Innovation Solution
An energy supply system with a hydraulic device that connects a heat pump to multiple energy sources, including latent heat stores and ambient air collectors, using a control and regulation unit with temperature and volume flow sensors to automatically select the most efficient energy source for heating or cooling, allowing for mixed operation of heat transfer fluids from different sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a latent heat storage system with central extraction heat exchanger and regeneration heat exchanger is used, then heating and cooling capacity is provided, but manufacturing cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the extraction heat exchanger and regeneration heat exchanger into a single integrated heat exchanger unit. The heat exchanger has a first region for extraction operations and a second region for regeneration operations, eliminating the need for separate heat exchanger components and their associated hydraulic circuits. This merging reduces system complexity while maintaining both heating and cooling capabilities through temporal separation of functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single heat exchanger serves multiple functions: it acts as both an extraction heat exchanger during cooling operations and a regeneration heat exchanger during heating operations. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to both the storage medium (for latent heat extraction) and the heat pump (for both cooling provision and regeneration), making it a multi-functional component that replaces multiple specialized components.
2Ease of operation
If separate extraction heat exchanger and regeneration heat exchanger are used with hydraulic separation, then controlled freezing and thawing is enabled, but installation cost and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate extraction and regeneration heat exchangers into a single integrated unit with thermally coupled regions. This eliminates the need for complex hydraulic separation systems and multiple independent heat exchanger installations, reducing installation cost and maintenance complexity while preserving controlled thermal operations through regional differentiation within the single unit.
3Adaptability or versatility
If control device intervenes in heat pump control system, then energy source selection is achieved, but system complexity and intervention requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydraulic device as an intermediary component that mediates between the heat pump and the integrated heat exchanger system. This hydraulic device includes valves and pumps that control fluid flow distribution to different regions of the heat exchanger, enabling energy source selection and operational mode switching without requiring direct intervention in the heat pump's control system. The hydraulic device acts as a buffer layer that simplifies the control architecture.
4Use of energy by moving object
If ice storage systems are used for latent heat storage, then heating and cooling needs are covered, but manufacturing and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines extraction and regeneration functions into a single heat exchanger unit, reducing the total component count and material requirements. This integration simplifies manufacturing processes and reduces assembly complexity, thereby lowering manufacturing costs. The single-unit design also reduces potential failure points and simplifies maintenance procedures compared to systems with separate heat exchangers.
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
This solution provides an inexpensive and efficient energy supply system that automatically selects the cheapest energy source for heating or cooling, reducing the need for complex installations and maintenance, while allowing for flexible operation without requiring intervention in the heat pump control system.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger (150) arranged in the storage medium (114) and interacting with the storage medium (114)
Implementation Method 2
a heat pump (200), whose primary side is connected to the first and / or second energy source
Implementation Method 3
a hydraulic device (400) which has a fluid interface for the heat pump (200), a fluid interface for the first heat exchanger (150) and a fluid interface for the second heat exchanger (250)
Implementation Method 4
Temperature and volume flow sensors (450, 452, 454, 456, 458, 460, 480, 482) for detecting temperatures and volume flows
Implementation Method 5
a volume flow sensor (480) assigned to the pump (490) in the line section (407)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an energy supply system (100) for providing cooling and/or heating power, comprising a first energy source (110) with a heat exchanger (150), a second energy source (210) with a heat exchanger (250), a heat pump (200) that can be coupled to the first and/or second energy source (110, 210), a hydraulic device (400) that has fluid interfaces (420, 430, 440) for the heat pump (200) and the two heat exchangers (150, 250), a control and/or regulation unit (300) that is connected to the hydraulic device (400) for setting operating states of the hydraulic device (400) by means of a three-way switching valve (470), a control valve (472) and a through-valve (474).Depending on the operating parameters of at least the heat pump (200), the hydraulic device (400) selectively couples the heat pump (200) with the first heat exchanger (150) in a first operating state, selectively couples the heat pump (200) with the second heat exchanger (250) in a second operating state, and in a third operating state couples the heat pump (200) with both heat exchangers (150, 250).