Triple-Pipe Heat Exchanger for Simultaneous Refrigerant-Water Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for indoor cooling and heating using refrigerant cycles are inefficient as they require separate units for air conditioning and hot water supply, lacking a unified solution for simultaneous heat exchange among refrigerants and water.
Innovation Solution
A water circulation system with an intermediate heat exchanger featuring three independent flow passages of different diameters, allowing first and second refrigerants, and water to exchange heat simultaneously, enhancing the heat exchange capacity and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate units are used for air conditioning and hot water supply, then each unit can be optimized for its specific function, but the system complexity increases and space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air conditioning system and hot water supply system into a single integrated unit. The indoor unit includes both a refrigerant circulation system with heat exchangers for air conditioning and a water circulation system with a water heater for hot water supply, allowing both functions to be performed by one device rather than requiring separate units
Solution Approach 2:
The indoor unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it can provide cooling mode where the evaporator cools air and the water heater can heat water, heating mode where the condenser heats air and the water heater can heat water, and simultaneous operation of both air conditioning and hot water supply. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated units
2Device complexity
If traditional heat exchangers are used for air conditioning, then the structure is simple, but the heat exchange capacity is insufficient when multiple functions operate simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is designed with a nested structure where the evaporator and condenser are arranged concentrically around a central water flow passage. The evaporator tube is positioned inside the condenser shell, and the water heater heat exchanger is integrated within this arrangement. This nested configuration maximizes heat exchange surface area within a compact volume, enabling sufficient heat exchange capacity for simultaneous air conditioning and hot water supply operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar heat exchanger arrangement to a three-dimensional concentric cylindrical arrangement. The evaporator, condenser, and water flow passages are arranged in concentric cylinders with different diameters, creating multiple heat exchange surfaces at different radial distances. This three-dimensional configuration significantly increases the total heat exchange area and capacity while maintaining a compact form factor
3Device complexity
If a single heat exchanger is used for both refrigerant cycles, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different operational modes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger system is segmented into distinct functional components: an evaporator for cooling mode, a condenser for heating mode, and a water heater with its own heat exchanger for hot water supply. These segmented components can be independently controlled and operated, allowing the system to adapt to different operational modes including cooling only, heating only, hot water supply only, or any combination thereof, providing high versatility while maintaining a relatively simple integrated structure
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 simultaneous indoor cooling, heating, and hot water supply by allowing three fluids to exchange heat concurrently, with adjustable heat exchange capacity according to operational needs.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger with three flow passages where the first refrigerant, the second refrigerant, and the water independently flow through three pipes having a concentric axis and different diameters in order to exchange heat among the first refrigerant, the second refrigerant, and the water
Data Source
AI summary
A water circulation system associated with a refrigerant cycle that includes an intermediate heat exchanger having a triple-pipe shape in which three independent flow passages are formed by three pipes having a concentric axis and different diameters. Accordingly, three fluids flowing through the three independent flow passages can exchange heat with each other at the same time through the intermediate heat exchanger and heat exchange capacity of the intermediate heat exchanger can selectively be varied.