Thin-Film Heat Equilibration for Ambient-Air Water Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for water source heat pumps require large volumes of water and extensive time to reach heat equilibrium with ambient air, leading to bulky installations and high costs, while air source heat pumps face efficiency limitations and frequent defrosting needs.
Innovation Solution
A heat equilibration system utilizing conduits with a large heat exchange surface area and a thin film-like liquid medium, such as water, to achieve rapid heat equilibrium with ambient air, minimizing water volume and preventing film disruption for efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If large containers with large surface area are used for heat exchange between water and ambient air, then heat exchange surface area is increased, but water volume becomes large and heat equilibrium time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thin film technology by circulating water as a thin film through conduits with thin walls, creating a large heat exchange surface area relative to the small water volume. The thin film configuration allows rapid heat transfer between the water and ambient air, achieving heat equilibrium in minutes rather than hours, while minimizing the total water volume required in the system.
2Quantity of substance
If large containers with large volume of water are used, then sufficient heat content is available, but heat equilibrium time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses thin film water circulation through conduits, where the thin film configuration provides large surface area exposure to ambient air while maintaining minimal water volume. This resolves the contradiction by achieving rapid heat equilibrium with sufficient heat exchange capacity through the thin film geometry rather than large water volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from volume-based heat storage (large containers) to surface-area-based heat exchange (thin films). By spreading the water in a thin film configuration through conduits, the system maximizes surface area exposure to ambient air while minimizing water volume, achieving rapid heat equilibrium through enhanced surface-to-volume ratio.
3Productivity
If thin film of water is used in conduits, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but film disruption occurs reducing effective heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic water circulation through the conduit system, where continuous flow maintains the thin film configuration and prevents disruption. The dynamic circulation ensures the water film remains stable and adheres to the conduit walls, maintaining effective heat transfer surface area while achieving rapid heat equilibrium with ambient air.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional air source heat pump is used, then installation cost is low, but efficiency is limited and frequent defrosting is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary heat equilibration system with thin film water circulation that couples ambient air to a water source heat pump. This intermediary system allows the use of efficient water source heat pumps in ambient air installations by providing the required water at appropriate temperatures, achieving high efficiency without the limitations of conventional air source heat pumps.
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 the use of high-efficiency water source heat pumps in ambient air installations without a traditional water source, reducing installation costs and achieving near-immediate heat equilibrium, thus enhancing efficiency and reducing the need for frequent defrosting.
Implementation Method 1
conduits having a plate-like construction to provide a very large heat exchange surface area combined with a very limited thickness for conducting a film-like liquid heat exchange medium through the unit, thereby allowing rapid, almost immediate heat equilibrium with surrounding ambient air
Implementation Method 2
The exchange of heat between ambient air and water within a container takes place through the surface area of the container wall
Data Source
AI summary
A heat equilibration system and method transfer heat between ambient air and a liquid heat exchange medium. Conduits have plate-like walls spaced apart by a small distance to contain a thin, film-like stream of liquid heat exchange medium and the conduits are spaced apart from one another to establish a path for exposure of the walls to ambient air. Liquid heat exchange medium is passed through each conduit, flowing in a thin, film-like stream to transfer heat between the ambient air and the liquid heat exchange medium. In one embodiment, the liquid heat exchange medium is water, circulated through a heat equilibration system and a water source heat pump.