Refrigeration Cycle Water Heating Without Pump Energy Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems require pump energy to circulate water through heat exchangers, reducing overall efficiency and lacking the ability to both heat and cool spaces simultaneously while heating water.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration cycle device with a compressor, outdoor and indoor air heat exchangers, and a water heat exchanger, utilizing a four-way valve and controllable valves to manage refrigerant flow without a separate pump, allowing for efficient water heating and space conditioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a pump is used to circulate water through the heat exchanger, then water heating function is achieved, but energy consumption increases and system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pump component from the system entirely. Instead of using mechanical pumping to circulate water, the system relies on natural convection currents generated by temperature differences between the heat exchanger and surrounding water, eliminating the energy consumption associated with pump operation while maintaining water circulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger operates autonomously by utilizing natural convection principles. The temperature differential between the refrigerant in the heat exchanger and the water creates natural circulation currents that move water through the system without external mechanical assistance, allowing the system to serve itself without additional energy input
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional heat exchanger configuration is used, then water heating is possible, but the system cannot simultaneously heat and cool spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is designed to perform multiple functions within a single configuration. By strategically positioning the heat exchanger and utilizing the refrigeration cycle's inherent heat transfer processes, the system can simultaneously provide water heating, space cooling, and space heating functions without requiring separate dedicated components for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple climate control functions into a unified system architecture. The heat exchanger serves as a common thermal management component that can transfer heat to water for heating while simultaneously enabling the refrigeration cycle to provide cooling to indoor spaces and heating to outdoor spaces through strategic refrigerant flow management
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 solution enables efficient water heating without pump energy consumption and simultaneous space heating and cooling, enhancing HVAC system efficiency by leveraging refrigerant circulation.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor configured to receive a refrigerant at a compressor input port, compress the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
an outdoor air heat exchanger having a first outdoor port and a second outdoor port, configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant passing between the first and second outdoor ports and outside air located outside a target space
Implementation Method 3
configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant passing between the first and second refrigerant ports and water
Implementation Method 4
configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant passing between the first and second indoor ports and inside air located inside the target space
Implementation Method 5
a four-way valve located between the first indoor port, the first outdoor port, the compressor input port, and the compressor output port, the four-way valve being configured to selectively either connect the first indoor port to the compressor input port and the first outdoor port to the compressor output port, or to connect the first outdoor port to the compressor input port and the first indoor port to the compressor output port
Implementation Method 6
a first controllable valve located on the first bypass refrigerant line, the first controllable valve being configured to have a first open state that passes the refrigerant and a first closed state that prohibits passage of the refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration cycle device, comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; an outdoor air heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outside air located outside a target space; an indoor air heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and inside air located inside the target space; a water heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and water; a four-way valve located between an indoor port on the indoor air heat exchanger, an outdoor port on the outdoor air heat exchanger, an input port on the compressor, and an output port on the compressor; a bypass refrigerant line connecting the indoor port to the outdoor port; and a controllable valve located on the bypass refrigerant line, the controllable valve being configured to have an open state that passes the refrigerant and a closed state that prohibits passage of the refrigerant.