System for heating at least one space and for providing domestic hot water and method for operating the system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current water-to-water heat pump systems require a large indoor space due to the DHW storage cylinder, making them difficult to install in space-constrained residential apartments.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable fluid network system with a heat pump unit, valves, and pipes, allowing multiple configurations for transferring heat transfer fluid between different components, including a second heat exchanger for pre-heating mains water, enabling a compact design by reducing the need for a large thermal energy storage device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a water-to-water heat pump system with integrated DHW storage cylinder is installed, then domestic hot water and heating can be provided, but the indoor space required becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the thermal energy storage function from the heat pump unit by using a small thermal energy storage device (TES) for DHW and a large thermal energy storage device for space heating, allowing the heat pump unit itself to be compact while maintaining both functions
Solution Approach 2:
The reconfigurable fluid network dynamically switches between different configurations to direct heat transfer fluid to either the small DHW TES or the large heating TES, enabling a single compact heat pump unit to serve multiple thermal storage functions at different times
2Quantity of substance
If a large thermal energy storage device is used for DHW storage, then sufficient hot water can be stored, but the system becomes compact and space-efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal energy storage is divided into two separate devices: a small TES for DHW storage and a large TES for space heating storage. This segmentation allows the DHW storage capacity to be sufficient while keeping the overall system volume compact, as each storage device is optimized for its specific purpose
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pump unit serves multiple functions by transferring heat to different thermal energy storage devices based on demand - it can charge the small DHW TES when hot water is needed and the large heating TES when space heating is needed, making the system highly efficient and space-effective
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 system achieves a compact and efficient design requiring minimal indoor space, allowing for both space heating and domestic hot water provision with a smaller heat transfer device, and can operate in various modes including cooling, using a smaller thermal energy storage device and reducing electricity consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a heat pump unit (1), at least one valve, and pipes, wherein the reconfigurable fluid network is configurable by a controller in a plurality of configurations
Implementation Method 2
a first heat exchanger for transferring heat between the first heat transfer fluid and a second heat transfer fluid
Implementation Method 3
a second heat exchanger for pre-heating water to be further heated by the heat transfer device to obtain domestic hot water
Implementation Method 4
the heat pump unit comprising a compressor and at least one expansion valve
Implementation Method 5
the heat pump unit comprising a compressor and at least one expansion valve
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a system for heating at least one space and for providing domestic hot water. The system comprises a heat transfer device for providing domestic hot water, at least one emitter for heating the at least one space, the at least one emitter being provided within the at least one space, a reconfigurable fluid network for transferring a first heat transfer fluid, a first heat exchanger for transferring heat between the first heat transfer fluid and a second heat transfer fluid, a second heat exchanger for pre-heating water to be further heated by the heat transfer device to obtain domestic hot water, and a controller. The reconfigurable fluid network comprises a heat pump unit, at least one valve, and pipes, the heat pump unit comprising a compressor and at least one expansion valve. The reconfigurable fluid network is configurable by the controller in a plurality of specific configurations and the controller is configured such that it can operate the system in a plurality of specific modes. Furthermore, the present invention also applies to a method for operating a system.