Micro chiller-based heating, ventilation and air conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC systems for commercial buildings are inefficient due to the need to maintain cold and hot water loops at extreme temperatures to meet peak demands, leading to high energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Innovation Solution
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system utilizing a primary water loop with micro chillers that exchange heat with the air and water, allowing for temperature regulation within a more moderate range, reducing the need for external energy for heating and cooling and optimizing energy use across zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If centralized chiller plants maintain cold water loop at low temperatures (7°C) to meet peak cooling demand, then cooling capacity is sufficient for maximum load, but energy consumption increases significantly due to rare peak demand occurrences
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the building into multiple zones, each with its own micro-chiller unit. Each micro-chiller serves a specific zone independently, allowing localized cooling without the need for a centralized plant to maintain extreme temperatures for the entire building. This segmentation enables each unit to operate at moderate temperatures suited to its specific load requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Each micro-chiller unit is designed to meet the specific cooling needs of its designated zone rather than providing uniform cooling throughout the building. The system allows different zones to have different temperature requirements and cooling capacities, with each unit operating independently at optimal local conditions rather than being constrained by the maximum peak demand of the entire building.
2Reliability
If centralized hot water plants maintain hot water loop at high temperatures (50-60°C) to meet peak heating demand, then heating capacity is sufficient for maximum load, but energy efficiency decreases due to rare peak heating load occurrences
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple distributed micro-chiller units, each capable of providing heating to its designated zone. This eliminates the need for a centralized hot water plant to maintain high temperatures for the entire building, as each unit only needs to meet the heating demands of its local zone.
Solution Approach 2:
Each micro-chiller unit provides heating tailored to the specific needs of its zone, operating at temperatures appropriate for local requirements rather than maintaining uniformly high temperatures throughout the building. This localized approach reduces energy waste from heating areas that do not require high temperatures.
3Device complexity
If a single centralized HVAC system serves the entire building, then system simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different zone requirements and peak demand variations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The building HVAC system is divided into multiple independent micro-chiller units, each serving a specific zone. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its local requirements while maintaining overall system functionality. The modular structure provides adaptability to different zone needs without requiring a completely complex centralized control system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each micro-chiller unit is designed as a multi-functional device capable of providing both cooling and heating to its designated zone. This universality allows the system to adapt to different seasonal and zonal requirements using the same basic unit architecture, reducing the need for separate specialized systems for different functions.
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 achieves a coefficient of performance (COP) exceeding 14.0, significantly reducing electricity consumption while maintaining comfortable temperatures, thereby lowering energy costs and carbon footprint.
Implementation Method 1
a micro chiller transfers heat from the air in the building to the water circulating within the primary water loop
Implementation Method 2
a micro chiller transfers heat from the water circulating in the primary water loop to the air in the building
Implementation Method 3
There are various heat engine cycles used in chiller plants. In the example of FIG. 2, a compressor-based cycle is used. Chiller plant 14 is typically a vapor-compression refrigeration system.
Data Source
AI summary
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in which a primary water loop is used as a heat transfer reservoir for both heating and cooling. A plurality of micro chillers are provided, with each micro chiller being connected to the primary water loop. Each micro chiller includes its own heat engine. Each micro chiller includes one or more fan coil units that exchange heat between the micro chiller and the air in a building. In a first mode a micro chiller transfers heat from the air in the building to the water circulating within the primary water loop. In a second mode the micro chiller transfers heat from the water circulating in the primary water loop to the air in the building. A primary water loop regulation system is provided to control the temperature of the water circulating in the primary water loop.