Serial-Radiator Heat Pump for High Inlet-Temperature Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pumps experience a decrease in heating capacity and COP when the temperature of the medium to be heated, such as water or air, exceeds the estimated influx temperature, leading to inefficient heat transfer and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump design featuring a serial connection of radiators with a first heat exchange unit for heating the refrigerant on the inlet side of subsequent radiators and a second heat exchange unit for cooling the refrigerant on the outlet side of the most upstream or downstream radiator, maintaining a temperature difference and increasing enthalpy difference for improved evaporator efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the temperature of the medium to be heated flowing into the radiators is high, then the heating capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by heating the refrigerant before it enters the radiators through the first heat exchange unit. This pre-heating ensures that even when the medium temperature is high, the refrigerant maintains an appropriate temperature difference with the medium, preserving heating capacity. The system proactively prepares the refrigerant state before the problematic high-temperature condition occurs in the radiators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the refrigerant dynamically by introducing heat exchange units that can adjust refrigerant temperature based on operating conditions. The first heat exchange unit heats the refrigerant, while the second heat exchange unit cools it, allowing the system to maintain optimal temperature differences regardless of the medium's influx temperature, thus resolving the contradiction between medium temperature and heating capacity.
2Temperature
If the temperature of the medium to be heated flowing into the radiators is high, then the COP decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces heat exchange units as intermediary devices between the refrigerant circuit and the radiators. These intermediaries (first and second heat exchange units) mediate the temperature relationship between the refrigerant and the medium, allowing efficient heat transfer even when the medium temperature is high. This intermediary mechanism prevents direct temperature conflict and maintains energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By dynamically adjusting refrigerant temperature parameters through the heat exchange units, the system maintains optimal operating conditions for high COP. The first heat exchange unit increases refrigerant temperature to match high medium temperatures, while the second unit provides cooling when needed, ensuring the refrigerant operates in the most efficient temperature range regardless of medium conditions.
3Temperature
If a first heat exchange unit is provided in refrigerant piping on the inlet side of the second and subsequent radiators, then the temperature difference between the medium to be heated and the refrigerant can be maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange units are designed to serve multiple functions: they heat the refrigerant when the medium temperature is high, cool the refrigerant when appropriate, and can be integrated into existing radiator systems. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing temperature control benefits across various operating conditions rather than requiring separate specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second heat exchange units act as intermediary components that simplify the overall temperature management by handling temperature adjustments in dedicated locations. Rather than requiring complex control mechanisms throughout the entire system, these intermediaries concentrate the temperature management function in specific points, making the overall system control simpler despite the added components.
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
This configuration allows the heat pump to operate at a high COP even when the influx temperature of the medium to be heated increases, enhancing heating capacity and efficiency by maintaining a temperature difference and increasing enthalpy difference across the evaporator.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchange unit that heats the first refrigerant is provided in a refrigerant piping on a refrigerant inlet side of at least one of the second and subsequent radiators
Implementation Method 2
a second heat exchange unit that cools the first refrigerant is provided in a refrigerant piping on a refrigerant outlet side of a radiator
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of radiators, an expansion valve, and an evaporator being connected by refrigerant piping to form a first refrigeration cycle in which a first refrigerant circulates
Data Source
AI summary
A heat pump capable of operating in a high COP state even if influx temperature of a medium to be heated flowing into the radiators has increased. The heat pump includes a compressor, a first radiator, a second radiator, an expansion valve, and an evaporator sequentially connected by refrigerant piping to form a first refrigeration cycle, in which a first refrigerant circulates in the first refrigeration cycle, and in which the first radiator and the second radiator are serially connected. A first heat exchange unit that heats the first refrigerant is provided in a refrigerant piping at a refrigerant inlet side of the second radiator, and a second heat exchange unit that cools the first refrigerant is provided in a refrigerant piping at a refrigerant outlet side of the second radiator.