Multiple temperature system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multiple temperature systems face increased pressure loss and pump power consumption when adjusting the mixture ratio of low and high temperature water, leading to complex control logic, high costs, and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A multiple temperature system utilizing a heat pump mechanism with a compressor, circulation switching valves, and a second circulation pump to control the flow and temperature of the heat medium, minimizing the number of actuators and simplifying control logic by adjusting the rotation speed of the second circulation pump to manage temperature differences across heat demand portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the opening degree of the thermal valve is reduced to adjust mixture ratio, then the temperature control is achieved, but the pressure loss of the entire system increases and pump power increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of controlling the cold water supply valve to adjust mixture temperature, the patent controls the hot water supply valve. By reducing the hot water flow rather than increasing cold water flow, the system achieves temperature control without creating excessive pressure loss, as the hot water side has lower flow resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from cold water valve opening to hot water valve opening. This parameter change allows temperature adjustment while maintaining more favorable pressure loss characteristics, as the hot water circulation path offers less resistance
2Loss of energy
If the rotation speed of the pump is changed to avoid pressure loss increase, then energy saving is improved, but the control logic becomes complicated and the number of actuators increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pump speed control from the mixture temperature control logic. By keeping pump speed constant and only adjusting the hot water supply valve, the system separates the flow control function from the temperature control function, simplifying the overall control architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The hot water supply valve serves dual functions: it controls both the flow rate of hot water and the mixture temperature. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate control actuators needed, simplifying the system while maintaining energy efficiency
3Measurement precision
If many actuators are controlled to manage temperature and flow, then temperature control precision is improved, but the cost increases and the possibility of breakdown increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the temperature control function and flow control function into a single hot water supply valve. This consolidation reduces the total number of actuators from multiple valves and pump speed controls to just one valve, improving reliability while maintaining temperature control precision through proper valve selection and control algorithm
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 supply of heat media at different temperatures to multiple demand portions with reduced pressure loss, lower energy consumption, and enhanced reliability, while minimizing the number of components and control points, thus lowering costs and maintaining system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a heat pump mechanism 200 which is a heat supply portion 400
Implementation Method 2
a circulation pump 103... a second circulation pump 143
Implementation Method 3
supplying heat media having a plurality of different temperatures for the respective heat demand portions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In a second heat demand portion (130), a return passage (142) for returning a heat medium (101) at an outlet Y side of a second indoor air-heat medium heat exchanger (131) to an inlet X side of the second indoor air-heat medium heat exchanger (131) is formed so as to be branched from a branch passage (152), and a return passage pump (143) of which rotation speed is changeable is mounted on the return passage (142). The heat medium (101) at a desired second temperature which is lower than a first temperature when heating energy is supplied from a heat supply portion (400) and which is higher than the first temperature when cooling energy is supplied from the heat supply portion (400) is supplied to the inlet X side of the second indoor air-heat medium heat exchanger (131), and control is performed such that the heat medium (101) supplied to the second heat demand portion (130) is maintained at the second temperature by changing a rotation speed of the return passage pump (143) to control a flow rate of the heat medium (101 in the return passage (142).