Remote heat transfer device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air handling units using high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants pose a fire hazard due to their flammability when leaked, and there is a need to transition to lower GWP refrigerants while ensuring safety and efficiency in heating and cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A remote heat transfer device with a vapour-compression circuit and heat transfer fluids that operate independently from the air handling unit, using refrigerants with GWP values less than or equal to 650, such as R290, to isolate the refrigerant from the air supply passage and reduce the risk of leakage and fire hazards, while maintaining efficiency through recirculation and controlled heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If refrigerant is located remotely from air handling unit, then fire risk is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the refrigerant-containing vapour compression circuit from the air handling unit into a distinct remote location. This physical segmentation reduces fire risk by isolating the refrigerant from occupied areas while the modular design manages the increased complexity through clear functional separation
Solution Approach 2:
A heat transfer fluid circulation system serves as an intermediary mechanism between the remote refrigerant system and the air handling unit. This intermediary transfers thermal energy across the physical gap, enabling remote operation while managing system complexity through a well-defined intermediate medium
2Loss of energy
If heat transfer fluid is recirculated, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer fluid is recirculated continuously through the heat exchanger and back to the air handling unit, maintaining constant thermal energy transfer. This continuous circulation maximizes energy efficiency by reusing the thermal energy in the fluid rather than requiring constant replenishment
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculating heat transfer fluid system essentially serves itself by continuously transferring thermal energy from the refrigerant loop to the air supply, maintaining its own circulation and thermal exchange function without requiring external energy input beyond the initial pumping requirement
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 remote heat transfer device effectively reduces the risk of refrigerant contamination and fire hazards in occupied areas by isolating the refrigerant from the air supply passage, while using lower GWP refrigerants and recirculating thermal energy to enhance efficiency and flexibility in heating and cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger adapted to exchange heat between a refrigerant in the vapour compression circuit and a first heat transfer fluid
Implementation Method 2
the first heat transfer fluid exchanges heat with supply air passing through the air supply passage
Implementation Method 3
the vapour compression circuit comprises a second heat exchanger adapted to exchange heat with a second heat transfer fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A remote heat transfer device for use with an air handling unit comprises: a vapour-compression circuit, the vapour-compression circuit comprising a first heat exchanger adapted to exchange heat between a refrigerant in the vapour compression circuit and a first heat transfer fluid; and a first outlet arranged to provide the first heat transfer fluid to an air supply passage of the air handling unit, so that the first heat transfer fluid exchanges heat with supply air passing through the air supply passage.