Temperature control system coupled with heat pump water heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump water heaters require separate outdoor units that are difficult to install and maintain in small spaces like apartments and rental houses, necessitating a solution that can provide both hot water and temperature adjustment with minimal space and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A temperature control system utilizing circulating water coupled to a heat pump water heater, comprising a heat exchanging host, supply and return water pipelines, a heat pump water heater with a temperature-rise water tank and compressor, a buffer water tank, and a water pump, which allows sharing of the heat exchanging host for both room temperature conditioning and hot water supply, utilizing a circulating water body for thermal energy storage and balanced power usage across seasons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a heat pump water heater with separate outdoor unit is installed, then hot water supply function is achieved, but installation space requirement increases and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat pump water heater outdoor unit with the air conditioning indoor unit by integrating the heat pump evaporator, compressor, and expansion valve into the existing air conditioning indoor machine. This allows the outdoor unit functions (heat pumping for hot water) to be combined with the indoor unit (air conditioning), eliminating the need for separate outdoor equipment and reducing installation space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning indoor unit is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional air conditioning operation and heat pump water heating operation. By adding the heat pump evaporator, compressor, and expansion valve to the existing air conditioning system, the indoor unit becomes a universal device that can both condition air and generate hot water, serving dual purposes in one device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple outdoor hosts are installed for air conditioning and hot water, then both functions are achieved, but installation and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat pump water heater outdoor unit with the air conditioning indoor unit, reducing multiple separate hosts to a single integrated device. This merger simplifies the system architecture, making installation and maintenance easier by consolidating components that were previously distributed across multiple outdoor and indoor units into one location.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated air conditioning indoor unit with heat pump functionality serves as a universal device for both temperature control and hot water supply. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated outdoor hosts, reducing the complexity of the system and making maintenance more manageable by having all components in one location.
3Productivity
If heat pump evaporator is coupled to water pipeline, then hot water generation efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning indoor unit is enhanced with heat pump components (evaporator, compressor, expansion valve) to create a multi-functional device. This allows the same system to perform both air conditioning and hot water generation, improving productivity by utilizing the existing infrastructure for dual purposes rather than requiring separate dedicated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the existing air conditioning indoor unit infrastructure (water pipelines, housing, control systems) to support the additional heat pump water heating function. By leveraging the existing self-service capabilities of the air conditioning system, the patent minimizes additional complexity while achieving improved hot water generation efficiency.
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 saves space by replacing the outdoor unit with a shared heat exchanging host, provides efficient thermal energy storage, and balances power usage across seasons, enhancing energy efficiency and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
the heat of the circulating water body is absorbed by the heat pump evaporator, the temperature of the heat medium in the heat pump evaporator is increased with the temperature of the circulating water body within it decreased
Implementation Method 2
the gaseous medium is compressed again into a liquid medium with high temperature and high pressure by the compressor
Implementation Method 3
the gaseous medium is compressed again into a liquid medium with high temperature and high pressure by the compressor and then enters into a condenser to heat the water
Implementation Method 4
a liquid working medium in high pressure is evaporated to a gas in an evaporator through an expansion valve with a large amount of heat being absorbed from the air
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a temperature control system coupled with a heat pump water heater. The temperature control system comprises a heat exchange unit, a heat exchanger, a supply water pipeline, a return water pipeline, a room temperature control apparatus, a heat pump water heater, a buffer water tank and a water pump. The heat pump water heater comprises a temperature-rise water tank, a heat pump evaporator and a compressor. The heat pump evaporator is coupled to the return or supply water pipeline. In a coupled form, an outdoor unit of the heat pump water heater is replaced by the heat exchange unit via a circulating water body, so that a room temperature adjustment system shares the heat exchange unit with a hot water supply system. Moreover, multiple households can share one heat exchange unit, which is of great significance for apartments and rental houses.