Single Heat Exchanger for Hot Water and Floor Heating During Defrost
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hot water supply and heating systems with heat pumps face issues such as complete shutdown during defrosting operations, delayed recovery of heating and hot water supply, and increased installation and manufacturing costs due to separate water-refrigerant heat exchangers for heating and hot water supply.
Innovation Solution
A hot water circulation system with a heat pump that includes a single water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a control method allowing continuous hot water supply and heating during defrosting by bypassing refrigerant to the outdoor heat exchanger and maintaining the water pump's operation, reducing installation complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate water-refrigerant heat exchangers are used for heating and hot water supply, then heating and hot water supply can be performed independently, but installation process becomes complicated and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating heat exchanger and hot water supply heat exchanger into a single integrated heat exchanger unit. This single heat exchanger serves both functions by allowing refrigerant to exchange heat with water that is then distributed to both heating systems and hot water supply systems, thereby simplifying installation while maintaining independent operational capability for both functions
Solution Approach 2:
The single heat exchanger is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it acts as both the heating heat exchanger and the hot water supply heat exchanger. By universality, one component replaces two separate components, reducing system complexity and installation burden while maintaining the versatility to provide both heating and hot water supply services
2Reliability
If defrosting operation is performed on the evaporator, then frost is removed from the heat exchanger surface, but heating and hot water supply functions must stop completely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the refrigerant flow path by providing separate circuits for the heating heat exchanger and hot water supply heat exchanger. This allows the defrosting operation to be performed on one heat exchanger while the other continues to operate normally, maintaining continuous hot water supply and heating functions without complete system shutdown
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water tank as an intermediary storage element between the heat exchangers and the distribution system. During defrosting operations, pre-heated water stored in the tank can be supplied to maintain continuous hot water supply, while the heating system can continue operating independently, thus mediating the interruption caused by defrosting
3Reliability
If separate heat exchangers are used for heating and hot water supply, then each function has dedicated heat exchange capability, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating heat exchanger and hot water supply heat exchanger into a single integrated unit, reducing the total number of components that need to be manufactured and installed. This consolidation lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining dedicated heat exchange capability through separate refrigerant circuits within the unified structure
Solution Approach 2:
By designing a universal heat exchanger that serves both heating and hot water supply functions, the patent reduces manufacturing complexity and cost. The single heat exchanger is engineered to handle both thermal exchange requirements, eliminating the need to manufacture and install two separate heat exchanger units
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
Enables continuous hot water supply and floor heating during defrosting operations without interrupting service, reducing installation and manufacturing costs by using a single closed cycle for both functions.
Implementation Method 1
an indoor unit including a water-refrigerant heat-exchanger which performs heat exchange between a refrigerant discharged from the compressor and water
Implementation Method 2
an outdoor unit including a compressor, an outdoor heat-exchanger, and an expansion part, and performing a heat pump refrigerant cycle
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a hot water circulation system associated with a heat pump and a method for controlling the same. The present invention allows the system to be defrosted while hot water supply or a heating operation is performed, making it possible to improve a phenomenon that heating efficiency is deteriorated.