Split System Heat Pump Hot Water Integration for Rapid Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing residential split system heat pump systems face challenges in providing efficient and rapid hot water supply, leading to long recovery times and increased energy costs.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an atmospheric pressure water storage tank with integral refrigerant and potable water coils, utilizing a refrigerant valve matrix and switch matrix to redirect refrigerant flow for simultaneous space heating, cooling, and hot water provision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional small compressor heat pumps are used for water heating, then the system can provide hot water, but the recovery time becomes extremely long (7 hours or more)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hot water heating function with the existing space heating/cooling heat pump system by integrating a water storage tank with refrigerant coils into the split system. This merging allows the larger outdoor compressor to serve dual purposes, dramatically reducing hot water recovery time from 7+ hours to minutes while utilizing already-installed equipment capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outdoor heat pump unit is designed to perform multiple functions: space heating, space cooling, and rapid hot water production. By configuring the refrigerant flow paths and valves appropriately, the same compressor and condenser can serve different thermal loads, making the system universally applicable to all three functions without requiring separate dedicated equipment.
2Loss of time
If the heating setpoint is increased to ~135 degrees to reduce recovery time, then hot water is produced faster, but the energy bill premium increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous heat transfer to the water through the refrigerant coils during compression cycles, efficiently converting mechanical work into thermal energy for water heating. The heat pump operates continuously at optimal temperatures rather than cycling on/off or requiring excessive temperature differentials, sustaining useful heating action throughout the recovery process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters by utilizing the heat pump's ability to operate at various refrigerant temperatures and pressures. By controlling the refrigerant flow and heat exchange parameters through valve matrices and switch matrices, the system achieves rapid heating without requiring excessively high water setpoints, optimizing the temperature-pressure relationship for efficient energy transfer.
3Productivity
If electric resistance supplemental heating elements are added to offset long recovery times, then hot water availability improves, but the energy efficiency benefits of the heat pump are offset
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hot water heating function from the small dedicated water heater heat pump and transfers it to the larger outdoor split system heat pump. By removing the water heating task from the small indoor unit and assigning it to the outdoor unit with greater capacity, the system achieves rapid recovery without needing electric resistance supplementation, as the outdoor unit alone can meet the hot water demand efficiently.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a refrigerant valve matrix and switch matrix are added to redirect refrigerant flow, then simultaneous space heating/cooling and hot water provision is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamically controllable valve matrices and switch matrices that can reconfigure refrigerant flow paths in real-time based on operational demands. These dynamic components allow the system to adapt between different modes (space heating, space cooling, hot water production, or combinations) by electronically controlling valve positions and switch states, providing versatility through programmable flexibility rather than fixed mechanical configurations.
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 solution provides energy-efficient hot water in a fraction of the time required by traditional systems, eliminates the need for electric resistance heating elements, enhances comfort by extracting heat from the Hot-Tank during defrost mode, and offers free hot water heating during summer cooling hours.
Implementation Method 1
an atmospheric pressure water storage tank with integral refrigerant and potable water coils
Implementation Method 2
where its pressure is significantly increased, thereby increasing its temperature
Implementation Method 3
the outdoor air that is pulled through the coil by means of outdoor fan 111 cools the refrigerant to the point that it changes state back to a liquid refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
reducing the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant as it moves through the outdoor coil
Data Source
AI summary
In a split system heat pump cooling and heating system, an auxiliary hot water storage tank is provided as an energy storage bank. Two sets of coils run through this storage tank, a first set carrying hot refrigerant from the heat pump to deposit energy and a second set carrying hot potable water to remove energy. Valve and switch matrixes are operated at the heat pump to provide hot potable water from the energy storage bank during both normal space heating and cooling operations of the heat pump.