Vertical Heat Pump Layout for Compact Gravity-Assisted Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pumps face challenges in achieving compact construction and energy-efficient functionality, particularly in the arrangement of evaporator and liquefier components, which affects transport efficiency, insulation, and overall system size, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The liquefier is arranged above the evaporator, allowing for energy-efficient transport of the working fluid and inherent insulation, reducing the need for additional insulation materials and simplifying the system design, with a two-stage compressor and intermediate cooler enhancing efficiency and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the evaporator and liquefier are arranged horizontally side by side, then the system structure is simple, but the device occupies large floor space and requires additional insulation materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal side-by-side arrangement to vertical stacked arrangement of evaporator and liquefier, changing the spatial dimension from 2D horizontal to 3D vertical configuration. This reduces floor space occupation while maintaining functional simplicity through gravity-assisted fluid return
2Loss of energy
If additional insulation materials are added around the evaporator and liquefier, then heat loss is reduced, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical arrangement enables the working fluid to return from liquefier to evaporator purely by gravity, making the system self-service for fluid circulation. This eliminates or reduces the need for additional insulation materials and active pumping, reducing both heat loss and system complexity simultaneously
3Use of energy by moving object
If a single-stage compressor is used, then the device complexity is low, but the energy consumption increases and the compressor lifespan decreases due to thermal stress
Solution Approach 1:
The compression process is segmented into multiple stages with intermediate cooling. This divides the single high-stress compression into lower-stress incremental steps, reducing thermal stress on the compressor while improving energy efficiency through heat removal at intermediate stages
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate cooler is introduced as a mediator between compression stages. This intermediary component removes heat during the compression process, reducing thermal stress on the compressor system and improving overall energy efficiency without requiring a completely redesign of the compressor
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 results in a more compact, energy-efficient heat pump with reduced insulation needs, lower energy consumption, and cost savings, while maintaining effective heating performance and ease of handling and installation.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator for evaporating water as the working liquid to produce working vapor
Implementation Method 2
a compressor coupled to the evaporator to compress the working vapor
Implementation Method 3
In the liquefier, the compressed working vapor, the temperature level of which has been raised through the compression, is brought into contact with liquefied working fluid, so that the compressed vapor again liquefies and thus gives off energy
Implementation Method 4
This liquefier working fluid is pumped through a heating system by a circulation pump
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
In a heat pump with an evaporator (200) and a liquefier (500) as well as a gas region extending between the evaporator and the liquefier, the liquefier (500) is arranged above the evaporator (200) in a setup direction for operation of the heat pump.