Liquid temperature adjustment apparatus and temperature control system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid temperature control apparatuses face challenges in efficiently supplying temperature-controlled liquids to multiple targets while minimizing manufacturing and energy costs, as they often require multiple evaporators and electric heaters, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A liquid temperature control apparatus that utilizes a dual flow path system, where one path employs heat exchange with a heat medium from a cooling unit for cooling and another path uses electric heaters for heating, allowing for adjustable heating capacity without a dedicated power supply, thereby reducing costs and expanding application scope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple evaporators and circulation apparatuses are provided for multiple temperature control targets, then the temperature control capability for multiple targets is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single evaporator is designed to serve multiple temperature control targets simultaneously through a common liquid flow path system. The circulation apparatus is configured to distribute cooled liquid from one evaporator to multiple different cooling targets, making the evaporator and circulation system universal for multiple cooling functions rather than requiring dedicated evaporators for each target.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple cooling functions that would traditionally require separate evaporators and circulation apparatuses are merged into a single integrated system. The common liquid flow path combines the cooling capacity of one evaporator to serve multiple temperature control targets, reducing the overall number of components and simplifying the apparatus configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple evaporators and circulation apparatuses are provided for multiple temperature control targets, then the temperature control capability for multiple targets is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single evaporator and circulation apparatus are designed as universal components that can serve multiple temperature control targets. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining the capability to control temperatures for multiple targets.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging multiple cooling functions into a single evaporator-circulation system, the manufacturing cost is reduced due to fewer components requiring production, quality control, and assembly. The integrated design eliminates redundant parts that would be necessary if separate evaporators and circulation apparatuses were provided for each temperature control target.
3Manufacturing precision
If electric heaters are provided in each circulation apparatus for heating the liquid, then the temperature control accuracy is improved, but the energy cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waste heat generated by the compressor during refrigeration operation is recovered and utilized for heating the liquid in the circulation apparatus. Instead of dissipating this thermal energy as waste, the system captures it through a heat exchanger to provide heating functionality, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for separate electric heaters and their associated energy costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration system serves its own heating needs by utilizing the compressor's waste heat to heat the liquid in the circulation apparatus. This self-service approach allows the system to provide both cooling and heating functions without requiring external energy input for heating, as the heating requirement is met by the system's own operational byproduct.
4Manufacturing precision
If electric heaters are provided in each circulation apparatus for heating the liquid, then the temperature control accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor's waste heat recovery system provides a universal heating solution for the circulation apparatus, eliminating the need for separate electric heaters in each circulation system. This multi-functional design allows a single heat recovery mechanism to serve the heating needs of the entire system, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining temperature control accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
By converting the compressor's waste heat into a useful heating resource, the system eliminates the need for expensive electric heater components. This approach reduces manufacturing costs by removing redundant heating devices while still achieving accurate temperature control through the recovered thermal energy.
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 configuration enables efficient temperature control for multiple targets while minimizing manufacturing and energy costs, allowing for flexible temperature control and reduced infrastructure requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (11) configured to compress the heat medium
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of cooling heat exchangers (14) connected in parallel to each other, configured to cool the liquid by the heat medium
Implementation Method 3
a heating heat exchanger (21) configured to heat the liquid by a portion of the heat medium flowing out from the compressor (11) toward the condenser (12)
Implementation Method 4
an expansion valve (13) configured to expand the heat medium
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
[Object] Supplying the temperature-controlled liquid to a plurality of temperature control targets while suppressing the manufacturing cost and the energy cost. [Solving Means] A liquid temperature control apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes: a heat medium circulation apparatus 10 equipped with a cooling unit constituted with a compressor 11, a condenser 12, an expansion valve 13, and a plurality of cooling heat exchangers 14A and 14B, and equipped with a heating unit configured to allow a portion of a heat medium flowing out from the compressor 11 toward the condenser 12 to be branched and return the portion of the heat medium to flow into the condenser 12 on the downstream side of the compressor 11 via a heating heat exchanger 21 and a heating amount adjustment valve 22; and a liquid flow apparatus 100. A first liquid flow path 104A of the liquid flow apparatus 100 is connected to the first cooling heat exchanger 14A and is also connected to the heating heat exchanger 21. A second liquid flow path 104B is connected to the second cooling heat exchanger 14B. Moreover, an electric heater 111 for heating the liquid allowed to flow is provided in the second liquid flow path 104B.