Method and controller for controlling a reversible heat pump assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional building heating and cooling systems rely on primary high-grade energy sources like electricity and fossil fuels, converting them into low-grade waste heat that is often returned to the environment, necessitating improvements in energy utilization for heating and cooling.
Innovation Solution
A controller for a reversible heat pump assembly that selectively sets the system in either heating or cooling mode, using demand determining and control functions to optimize energy delivery and scalability, allowing the same assembly to provide both heating and cooling by managing heating and cooling demands dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate heat pump assemblies are installed for heating and cooling, then the system can provide both heating and cooling functions, but the device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing a single heat pump assembly that can perform both heating and cooling functions through a reversible cycle. The heat pump operates in heating mode during cold periods and switches to cooling mode during hot periods, eliminating the need for separate dedicated heating and cooling systems. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity while maintaining adaptability to different seasonal requirements.
2Productivity
If a reversible heat pump assembly is used for both heating and cooling, then the utilization of the assembly increases, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring outdoor temperature and comparing it with predetermined threshold values. The control unit automatically determines whether to operate in heating mode or cooling mode based on this feedback, eliminating the need for complex manual control strategies. This simple feedback mechanism enables high utilization of the reversible heat pump assembly while keeping the control system straightforward and easy to implement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heat pump assemblies are installed for heating and cooling, then the system can meet varying heating and cooling demands, but the installation cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a single reversible heat pump assembly that can serve both heating and cooling needs throughout the year. This eliminates the requirement for installing separate dedicated heating and cooling systems, thereby reducing installation costs, minimizing space requirements, and simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining the ability to respond to varying seasonal demands.
4Ease of operation
If primary high-grade energy sources are converted to low-grade waste heat, then heating and cooling can be provided, but energy utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle by capturing waste heat that would otherwise be discarded to the environment during cooling operation and utilizing it for heating purposes. The reversible heat pump recovers thermal energy from the environment during cooling mode and from waste heat sources, converting it into useful heating energy during heating mode. This approach significantly improves energy utilization efficiency by preventing energy waste and maximizing the productive use of thermal resources.
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
Increases the utilization of the reversible heat pump assembly, simplifies building heating and cooling system construction and control, and allows for scalability without the need for multiple heat pump installations, optimizing energy delivery based on demand.
Implementation Method 1
a heat pump (110) having a first side (120) and a second side (130), the heat pump (110) being configured to transfer heat from the first side (120) to the second side (130) or vice versa
Data Source
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AI summary
A controller configured to selectively set a reversible heat pump assembly (100) in either a heating mode or in a cooling mode is presented. The controller comprising a control circuit (44) configured to: for a time period, determine, using a demand determining function (50), a heating demand for heat from one or more local heating circuits (140) connected to the reversible heat pump assembly (100) and a cooling demand for cold from one or more local cooling circuits (140) connected to the reversible heat pump assembly (100); generate, using a control function (52), a control signal indicative of if the reversible heat pump assembly (100) is to be set in either the heating mode or in the cooling mode, wherein the control function is configured to use the heating demand and the cooling demand as input data; and send, using a transmission function (54), the control signal to a heat pump (110) of the reversible heat pump assembly (100). Also a method for controlling the reversible heat pump assembly (100) is presented.