Thermal Fluid Heat Exchange Allocation for Exhaust Heat Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy system planning techniques fail to optimize heat exchange combinations among facilities, neglecting the efficiency of heat exchange and not effectively utilizing exhaust heat for heating other facilities, which hinders the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.
Innovation Solution
A thermal fluid combination optimization apparatus and method that sets an optimum heat exchange combination among facilities to maximize heat quantities supplied to facilities, utilizing a temperature control unit and optimization unit to manage thermal fluid distribution and adjust valve openings for efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If existing energy system planning techniques are used to evaluate economic viability of facilities, then cost and capacity factors are considered, but heat exchange efficiency among facilities is neglected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermal fluid as an intermediary medium to transfer heat between facilities. The thermal fluid circulates through heat exchangers, enabling heat transfer from high-temperature facilities (e.g., power plants) to low-temperature facilities (e.g., greenhouses, swimming pools) without direct thermal contact, thus improving heat exchange efficiency while maintaining system modularity
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal fluid system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it transfers heat from various supply facilities to diverse demand facilities, provides temperature regulation, and enables economic evaluation of heat exchange combinations. This multi-functionality addresses the contradiction by improving energy utilization across different applications without proportionally increasing system complexity
2Object-generated harmful factors
If exhaust heat is not effectively utilized, then carbon dioxide emissions are higher, but heat exchange optimization among facilities is not implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful exhaust heat that would otherwise be wasted into a useful resource for heating low-temperature facilities. By capturing thermal energy from power plant exhaust and redirecting it to greenhouses, swimming pools, and other heat-demanding facilities, the system reduces carbon dioxide emissions while improving overall heat utilization efficiency in the energy network
3Quantity of substance
If thermal fluid is supplied to multiple targets without optimization, then heat quantities supplied are not maximized, but combination optimization among facilities is not performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic optimization of thermal fluid distribution by adjusting valve openings and flow rates based on real-time temperature conditions and heat demands of various facilities. The system continuously evaluates different thermal fluid combination scenarios and dynamically reconfigures the heat exchange network to maximize heat quantity supplied to multiple targets while adapting to changing operational conditions
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 efficient utilization of exhaust heat by optimizing heat exchange combinations, thereby maximizing heat quantities supplied to facilities and contributing to reduced carbon dioxide emissions.
Implementation Method 1
supply at least one of types of first thermal fluid, each type having exchanged heat with a corresponding one of supply-side facilities
Implementation Method 2
supply thermal fluid heated by a facility with a high temperature to another facility with a lower temperature, thereby heating the other facility
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal fluid combination optimization apparatus includes a temperature control unit configured to supply at least one of types of first thermal fluid, each type having exchanged heat with a corresponding one of supply-side facilities, to any of targets and to perform control to bring a temperature of the any of the targets to a target temperature of the any of the targets, and an optimization unit configured to optimize a combination of one of the targets and an amount of first thermal fluid having exchanged heat with one of the supply-side facilities so as to maximize a total sum of heat quantities to be supplied to the targets.