Pressure-Equalized Heat Exchanger Design for Thin-Walled Heat Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pumps face inefficiencies due to high pressure requirements, which necessitate costly preheating measures and large space, limiting their compact design and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A device with a pressure-equalized heat-exchanger line and separating layers allows for efficient heat transfer by maintaining pressure equilibrium between the working and heat-exchanger media, enabling thin-walled construction and high efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If higher operating pressure is used to improve heat pump efficiency, then efficiency increases, but material and construction requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger line is nested within the operating line, with the heat exchanger line having an inner wall enclosing a channel and an outer wall encasing the operating line's outer wall. This nested configuration allows the heat exchanger to be integrated within the high-pressure operating line structure, enabling efficient heat transfer while maintaining the integrity of the high-pressure containment without requiring additional external strengthening structures.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat-exchanger-medium gap is formed between the outer wall of the operating line and the outer wall of the heat exchanger line, creating a localized region for heat-exchanger medium flow. This local quality modification allows heat transfer to occur in a specific zone without compromising the overall structural strength requirements of the high-pressure operating line, thus improving efficiency without proportionally increasing material requirements throughout the entire structure.
2Productivity
If preheating measures are implemented to achieve good efficiency at low pressures, then efficiency improves, but costs and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger line is merged with the operating line by encasing the operating line within the heat exchanger line's outer wall. This combination integrates the heat exchange function directly into the high-pressure operating structure, eliminating the need for separate preheating components and reducing overall space requirements while maintaining efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating line is nested within the heat exchanger line, with the heat-exchanger-medium gap providing a pathway for heat transfer medium. This nested arrangement consolidates multiple functions (high-pressure containment and heat exchange) into a single integrated structure, reducing the total space required compared to separate preheating and compression components.
3Strength
If wall thickness is increased to withstand high pressures, then structural integrity improves, but heat transfer efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-exchanger-medium gap creates a localized heat transfer pathway that does not require thinning of the main structural walls. The gap provides an efficient heat transfer channel while the outer wall of the heat exchanger line maintains sufficient thickness for structural integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between wall thickness and heat transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-exchanger-medium gap acts as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the operating line and the external environment. This intermediary allows heat transfer to occur through a fluid medium rather than requiring direct conduction through thick walls, thereby maintaining both structural integrity and heat transfer efficiency.
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 device achieves a wide working pressure range with enhanced heat transfer efficiency, allowing for compact designs and COP values up to 8, reducing material thickness and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
pressure differences between the first and second sections of the operating line are caused by a displacement of the first separating layer in the operating line and an accompanying change in the proportion between the first volume can be equalized to the second volume
Implementation Method 2
heat transfer to a heat-exchanger medium with the aid of compression of a working medium
Implementation Method 3
transferring heat from a gaseous working medium to a heat-exchanger medium by compressing the gaseous working medium
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for transferring heat from a gaseous working medium (M2) to a heat-exchanger medium (M3) by compressing the gaseous working medium (M2), wherein the device (1) comprises: an operating line (AL), wherein the volume (V) enclosed by the operating line (AL) is divided into at least two sections, namely a first (AL-V1) and a second section (AL-V2), wherein the first section (AL-V1) is set up to hold a pressure-transfer medium (M1) and the second section (AL-V2) is set up to hold and discharge the gaseous working medium (M2), wherein at least one inlet and outlet valve (2) is provided for holding and discharging the gaseous working medium (M2), wherein a first volume delimited by the first section (AL-V1) is separated from a second volume delimited by the second section (AL-V2) by a first separating layer (T12) that can be displaced within the operating line (AL), wherein the first separating layer (T12) is arranged in such a way that pressure differences between the first (AL-V1) and second sections (AL-V2) of the operating line (AL) are equalized by a displacement of the first separating layer (T12) in the operating line (AL) and an accompanying change in the proportion between the first volume and the second volume is equalized, and comprising a heat-exchanger line (WL) to hold the heat-exchanger medium (M3), wherein the heat-exchanger line (WL) is coupled to the first section (AL-V1) of the operating line (AL) to bring about pressure equalization.