Method for operating a heat pump, and a refrigeration machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pumps and refrigeration systems face challenges in protecting electronic components from excessive temperature and moisture, leading to malfunctions, residual currents, and corrosion, while also requiring energy-efficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a second refrigerant circuit to transfer inverter heat to a heat transfer fluid, with controlled mass flow and temperature management to prevent overheating or underheating, using a valve to adjust the refrigerant flow based on the inverter's operating state and incorporating a third refrigerant that remains gaseous to delay heat transfer until necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If inverter heat is transferred to the heat transfer fluid to improve energy efficiency, then the coefficient of performance increases, but the inverter temperature may fall below the minimum temperature causing moisture and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
A second refrigerant circuit is introduced as an intermediary between the inverter and the heat transfer fluid. The second refrigerant absorbs heat from the inverter and transfers it to the heat transfer fluid through a heat exchanger, allowing controlled heat recovery while maintaining the inverter temperature above the minimum threshold to prevent condensation and corrosion
Solution Approach 2:
The mass flow of the second refrigerant is dynamically adjusted based on the inverter's operating state and temperature. By changing the refrigerant flow parameters, the system optimizes heat recovery while ensuring the inverter temperature remains within the safe operating range, preventing both overheating and excessive cooling that would cause moisture
2Temperature
If the mass flow of the second refrigerant is increased to cool the inverter, then the inverter temperature is maintained, but the heat transfer to the heat transfer fluid is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the mass flow of the second refrigerant based on real-time inverter temperature and operating conditions. The control unit modifies refrigerant flow parameters to optimize the balance between cooling the inverter and transferring heat to the heat transfer fluid, ensuring maximum energy recovery while maintaining safe operating temperatures
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 approach enhances the efficiency of the heat pump by utilizing waste inverter heat effectively, maintaining the inverter within a safe temperature range, and preventing corrosion, thereby improving the overall coefficient of performance and extending component lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
The second refrigerant is evaporated by inverter heat in a first heat exchanger zone (301)
Implementation Method 2
where it is liquefied and flows back to the first heat exchanger zone (301)
Implementation Method 3
The second refrigerant circuit (310) is connected to the heat transfer circuit (20)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a heat pump (1) in a heating or cooling operating mode. Heat is transferred between a first refrigerant and a heat carrier fluid (22), wherein the first refrigerant is forcibly circulated in a first refrigerant circuit (100) by means of a compressor (110). A first mass flow (101) of the first refrigerant is controlled through the first refrigerant circuit (100) by means of an adjustment of a rotational speed at the compressor (110) with an inverter (200). The inverter heat (201) that arises owing to electrical losses in the inverter (200) is released to the heat carrier fluid (22). In a second refrigerant circuit (300), the inverter heat (201) is transferred to a second refrigerant (312) for the purposes of cooling the inverter (200). The second refrigerant (312, 313) releases the inverter heat to the heat carrier fluid (22). The invention furthermore relates to a refrigeration machine (10), in particular a heat pump (1) for connection to a heat carrier circuit (20), for the purposes of heating or cooling, with a first heat exchanger (120) between a first refrigerant circuit (100) and the heat carrier circuit (20). Arranged in the first refrigerant circuit (100) is a rotational-speed-controlled compressor (110) which is electrically connected to an inverter (200) and is controlled by the compressor (110). The inverter (200) is connected to a second refrigerant circuit (310). A second refrigerant (312, 313) is contained in the second refrigerant circuit (310). Furthermore, the second refrigerant circuit (310) is connected to the heat carrier circuit (20).