Turbocharged Gas Heat Pump Engine Layout for Output and Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing gas heat pump systems face issues with reduced engine output due to low air supply pressure, increased complexity and weight from separate components, vibration-induced damage, and inefficient heat collection in the exhaust gas heat exchanger, leading to performance and durability concerns.

Innovation Solution

The system integrates a turbocharger and exhaust gas heat exchanger directly with the engine, reduces component separation, and optimizes the flow path to increase pressure and density of the mixed gas, while ensuring the exhaust gas heat exchanger vibrates in sync with the engine to minimize damage and enhance heat collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If air is supplied to the gas engine in a natural intake manner, then the structure is simple, but the air supply pressure is low (1 kPa to 2.5 kPa) resulting in reduced engine output

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidengine output
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the turbocharger directly with the engine by mounting it on the exhaust manifold, merging two previously separate components into a unified assembly. This integration maintains structural simplicity while enabling pressurized air supply to improve engine output, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a turbocharger to pressurize the air supply to the engine, utilizing pneumatic principles to increase air pressure from natural intake levels (1-2.5 kPa) to pressurized levels (30+ kPa). This pneumatic enhancement directly addresses the low output issue while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Adaptability or versatility

If components such as mixer, turbocharging device, intercooler, and regulator are fixed to a separate structure, then each component can be independently designed, but the overall length of tubes is longer and the structure is more complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent independenceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the turbocharger with the engine structure by mounting it directly on the exhaust manifold, eliminating the need for separate support structures and reducing tube lengths. This integration reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the functional independence of each component through standardized mounting interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If components are fixed to a separate structure, then assembly is flexible, but vibration causes damage to connection tubes and connected portions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidconnection durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the turbocharger directly with the engine's exhaust manifold, the patent eliminates relative vibration between separate components. The unified structure ensures that both the engine and turbocharger vibrate together as a single unit, preventing vibration-induced damage to connection tubes and improving reliability while maintaining assembly flexibility through standardized mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If the exhaust gas heat exchanger is positioned separately from the engine, then heat collection path is clear, but heat collection efficiency is reduced due to exhaust pressure difference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat collection path clarityVSAvoidheat collection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the exhaust gas heat exchanger with the engine system, positioning it to directly utilize exhaust gases without creating additional pressure differences. This integration maintains clear heat collection paths while improving heat collection efficiency by eliminating the energy loss associated with exhaust pressure differences that occur in separate configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This configuration improves engine performance by increasing output and volume efficiency, reduces system size and weight, prevents vibration-induced damage, and enhances heat collection, resulting in a more compact, durable, and efficient gas heat pump system.

Implementation Method 1

a turbocharging device that supercharges the mixed gas supplied to the engine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

an exhaust gas heat exchanger that collects heat generated by the engine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3726021B1Gas heat pump system
Publication Date: 2023.05.31 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3726021B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3726021B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3726021B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a gas heatpump system. The gas heat pump system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: an air conditioning module comprising a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion apparatus, an indoor heat exchanger and a refrigerant line; and an engine module comprising an engine for combusting a mixture of fuel and air, thereby providing power for driving the compressor. The engine module comprises: a mixer for mixing and discharging the air and fuel; a supercharging means for receiving the mixture discharged from the mixer, compressing same, and then discharging same; an intercooler for receiving the mixture compressed in the supercharging means, cooling same by a heat exchange method, increasing the density thereof, and then discharging same; an adjustment means for receiving the mixture discharged from the intercooler, adjusting the quantity thereof, and then supplying same to the engine; and an exhaust gas heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a coolant and exhaust gas discharged from the engine.