Process for a thermodynamic system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermodynamic systems for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water production in buildings face inefficiencies and inflexibilities due to the use of dual-service systems with heat transfer fluids, circulators, and series heat exchangers, leading to energy losses and limited air conditioning capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant-based system with a four-way valve and two three-way valves allows for flexible operation by alternately connecting heat exchangers for building heating, hot water heating, and air conditioning, using refrigerant circulation without a heat transfer fluid or circulator, and includes methods for isolating and draining exchangers during mode changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If a heat transfer fluid circuit with a circulator is used to heat the hot water tank, then the hot water tank can be heated, but the system complexity increases and thermal and electrical energy losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the heat transfer fluid circuit and circulator from the system by using the refrigerant directly to heat the hot water tank. The refrigerant circulates through the hot water tank acting as a condenser, eliminating the need for separate heat transfer fluid and circulator components, thereby reducing system complexity and energy losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant serves multiple functions: it cools the building through the evaporator, heats the building through the condenser, and directly heats the hot water tank when configured as a condenser. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heat transfer fluid circuits and improves overall system efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If two heat exchangers are arranged in series to heat both the building and hot water tank, then heat recovery is improved, but the system becomes inflexible and air conditioning capabilities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic valve control (four-way valve and three-way valves) to change the refrigerant circulation paths based on operational requirements. This allows the system to switch between heating mode, cooling mode, and hot water heating mode, providing flexibility while maintaining heat recovery efficiency when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchangers are configured to operate independently or in series based on demand. The building heat exchanger and hot water tank heat exchanger can be isolated or connected through valve control, allowing the system to recover heat efficiently when both need heating while maintaining the ability to provide air conditioning when required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a dual-service system with heat transfer fluid is used for heating and cooling, then both functions can be provided, but heat and electrical losses occur due to the circulator and system constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the heat transfer fluid and circulator components from the system. By using the refrigerant directly for both heating and cooling functions, the system eliminates the energy losses associated with heat transfer fluid circulation while maintaining dual-service capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant circuit is designed to provide multiple functions: building cooling through the evaporator, building heating through the condenser, and hot water heating when the hot water tank acts as a condenser. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate heat transfer fluid circuits and reduces energy losses.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the hot water tank's heat exchanger is not isolated during cooling operation, then the system remains simple, but building air conditioning becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic valve control to isolate the hot water tank heat exchanger during cooling operations. The four-way valve and three-way valves work together to redirect refrigerant flow, enabling air conditioning when the hot water tank is not needed, while maintaining system simplicity through automated valve control sequences.
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
Achieves efficient, flexible, and energy-efficient heating, cooling, and hot water production by directly utilizing refrigerant circulation, reducing energy losses and enabling seamless transitions between heating and cooling modes.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser forming a heat exchanger allowing an exothermic phase change to pass into the liquid phase
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator forming a heat exchanger allowing an endothermic phase change to pass into the gaseous phase
Implementation Method 3
a compressor compressing the gaseous fluid
Implementation Method 4
an expansion valve
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4c
Figure 5
AI summary
Thermodynamic system for heating and air conditioning of a building, and for the production of domestic hot water, comprising a refrigerant circuit, a compressor device (14), an expansion valve (10), a heat exchanger with an external environment (12), a heat exchanger for heating and air conditioning (22) of the building, and a heat exchanger for a hot water tank (24), this circuit comprising in a loop successively the expansion valve (10) which can operate in both directions of circulation, the heat exchanger with an external environment (12), the compressor device (14) which can operate in both directions of circulation, and a group of heat exchangers comprising the heating and air conditioning heat exchanger (22) and the heat exchanger for the hot water tank (24) arranged in parallel, this group comprising a first three-way valve on the inlet (20) and a second three-way valve on the outlet (26),which can alternately include in the circuit either the heating and air conditioning heat exchanger (22) or the hot water tank heat exchanger (24).