Modular Geothermal Heat Pump with Dynamic Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing geothermal heat pump systems require high energy consumption due to the use of high-pressure pumps and fans, and they operate in either heating or cooling modes, lacking flexibility and efficiency in simultaneous heat and cooling supply, with equipment performance affected by extreme temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A modular geothermal energy center with a geothermal heat pump system that includes a geothermal circulation unit, electronically controlled circulation pumps, and a power and control panel for managing operating modes, allowing simultaneous heating and cooling, and integrating safety units and heat exchangers for efficient resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If high-pressure pumps are used to provide water pumping from a well, then water can be pumped from the well to overcome static pressure, but energy consumption of the pump increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: using a high-pressure pump only when well water is needed (open system mode), and using passive ground-source circulation when lake/river water is available (closed system mode). This dynamic adaptation eliminates the need for continuous high-pressure pumping, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate water pressure when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The geothermal heat pump system is designed to accept multiple water sources (well water, lake water, river water) and can operate in multiple modes (open system with high-pressure pump, closed system with passive circulation). This multi-functionality allows the system to choose the most energy-efficient water source and circulation mode based on environmental conditions, resolving the contradiction between pressure requirements and energy consumption.
2Device complexity
If the heat pump system operates in single mode (heating or cooling), then system design is simplified, but flexibility and efficiency in simultaneous heat and cooling supply is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into independent functional modules: a geothermal heat pump unit, a chiller unit, and a control system. These modules can operate independently or in combination, allowing the system to provide heating, cooling, or simultaneous heating and cooling to different zones. The segmentation enables operational flexibility while keeping each module's design relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the geothermal heat pump functionality with chiller functionality in a single integrated platform. The heat pump's condensing unit can serve as the evaporator for the chiller, and both systems share common components like the ground heat exchanger and control system. This merging provides multi-mode operation capability while avoiding the complexity of completely separate systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If container space is used for an air chamber when working through air/water heat exchangers, then heat exchange can be performed, but the air temperature in the container space will always be approximately equal to the outside temperature, which is detrimental to the equipment at extremely low and extremely high outside temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful air chamber that caused temperature extremes inside the container is removed from the system. Instead, the design uses direct water-to-water heat exchange through heat exchangers positioned outside or in thermally isolated locations. This extraction of the problematic air-filled space eliminates the mechanism that caused equipment damage from extreme temperatures, while maintaining heat exchange functionality through improved heat exchanger design.
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 efficient, flexible, and cost-effective heating, cooling, and domestic hot water supply with reduced energy consumption, easy installation, and maintenance, suitable for various building types, using geothermal wells as a primary energy source.
Implementation Method 1
The heat pumps use the most efficient technology to convert low-potential heat into heat with suitable parameters for powering heating and cooling systems
Implementation Method 2
Hydraulically connected to the evaporating part of the geothermal heat pump is a pump unit for heat-transferring fluid, located in the container and including at least one electronically controlled circulation pump
Implementation Method 3
Said circulation pump is connected by pipes with a low-potential source fluid to at least one tube heat exchanger located in at least one geothermal well
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a modular geothermal energy center that will find application in thermal engineering, and in particular will serve to provide heating and cooling power in newly constructed or existing buildings. The modular geothermal energy center includes a main container (1) in which at least one geothermal heat pump (2) is installed, having a condensing and an evaporating part. The evaporating part of each geothermal heat pump (2) is connected through boreholes to geothermal sources, while the condenser part of the geothermal heat pump (2) can be connected to a heating and cooling installation, as well as to a hot water supply installation. The modular geothermal energy center has a heat-transferring fluids managing unit (5), including electronically controlled three-way valves, and one or more additional modules (7, 12, 13) with equipment for hot water supply and indoor installation for heating and cooling. All operation modes of the modular geothermal energy center are controlled by a power supply and control panel (21).