Modular Heat Pump Assembly With Ring Main for Low-Refrigerant Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump systems face challenges in controlling the removal and return of volume flows in heat transfer fluid circuits, leading to inefficient operation, high safety requirements due to flammable refrigerants, and increased energy losses, particularly when dealing with central systems that require complex ventilation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modular heat pump system with hermetically sealed working fluid circuits, where each heat pump is connected via a ring line to a heat transfer fluid, allowing for decentralized operation with limited refrigerant inventory, and cascading connections to balance temperature differences and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a central heat pump system is used to supply heat and cooling to multiple rooms, then the system can provide centralized temperature control, but the system complexity increases and requires complex ventilation and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the central heat pump system into multiple independent modular heat pump units, each capable of autonomous operation. Each unit has its own refrigerant circuit and control system, allowing individual rooms to be controlled independently while maintaining system modularity and ease of maintenance.
2Use of energy by moving object
If heat pumps use flammable refrigerants to improve environmental friendliness and efficiency, then the COP increases, but safety requirements and ventilation needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the refrigerant system into multiple small independent circuits, each containing minimal amounts of flammable refrigerant. This segmentation reduces the total quantity of hazardous substance in any single location, thereby reducing safety risks while maintaining high COP through efficient heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hermetically sealed enclosures and barriers to contain the flammable refrigerant within each modular unit. These sealed structures prevent refrigerant leakage into the surrounding environment, allowing the use of high-efficiency flammable refrigerants without proportionally increasing safety requirements.
3Ease of operation
If individual heat pumps are connected to common supply and return lines, then temperature control for multiple rooms is achieved, but flow rate control becomes complex and energy losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates common supply and return lines by segmenting the system into independent modular units. Each heat pump unit has dedicated connections, allowing precise flow rate control for each room without energy losses associated with long common piping. This segmentation enables optimized hydraulic design for each unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamic flow control mechanisms in each modular unit, allowing real-time adjustment of refrigerant and heat transfer fluid flow rates based on individual room requirements. This dynamic control optimizes energy efficiency by matching flow rates to actual heating or cooling demands.
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 design enhances efficiency, reduces safety concerns, and allows for smaller, safer heat pumps with lower refrigerant usage, enabling independent operation of each unit and improved energy balance, while maintaining safety and reducing structural and energy expenditures.
Implementation Method 1
a ring line (3, 13) for a heat transfer fluid... connected to a heat source (1) and/or a heat sink (11)
Implementation Method 2
The heat transfer fluid is circulated... through a ring main (3, 13)... in the direction of flow
Implementation Method 3
at least one evaporator (6a-d, 6e-h) for working fluid... at least one condenser (9a-c, 9e-h) for working fluid
Implementation Method 4
heat pump cycles (7a-d, 7e-h)... condensers (9a-c, 9e-h)... evaporators (6a-d, 6e-h)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Heat pump system comprising a plurality of heat pumps for the safe execution of counterclockwise thermodynamic cycles (7) by means of flammable working fluids, which are circulated in hermetically sealed working fluid circuits, wherein each of the heat pumps is suitable for installation within a room in a building and each has a heat pump casing, at least one compressor (8) for working fluid, at least one expansion device (10) for working fluid, at least one condenser (9) for working fluid and at least one evaporator (6) for working fluid, wherein either the condensers (9) or the evaporators (6) of all heat pumps of the heat pump system or both are connected to a ring main (3, 13) which carries a heat transfer fluid, the ring main (3, 13) is connected to an external heat source and/or to a heat sink, the individual heat pumps are each connected to the ring main (3, 13) via branches (5),wherein the branch (5) has an inlet side and an outlet side with respect to the ring main (3, 13), the inlet sides and outlet sides of the branches (5) from the ring main (3, 13) are arranged such that, in the direction of flow, inlet sides of heat utilizations follow heated outlet sides, the inlet sides and outlet sides of the branches (5) from the ring main (3, 13) are arranged such that, in the direction of flow, inlet sides of cold utilizations follow cooled outlet sides, and the amount of flammable working fluid in each of the heat pumps is limited to a total of 150 grams.