Open-Cycle Water Heat Pump With Low-Pressure Vapor Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pumps face inefficiencies due to the use of harmful working substances like R134a, high energy losses, and the need for closed cycles, which result in low efficiency factors and increased costs, making them less competitive with other heating systems.
Innovation Solution
The use of water as a working substance with a dynamic-type compressor and an open cycle heat pump system, where water is evaporated at low pressure and compressed to a higher pressure, allowing for direct heat transfer to a heating system without the need for heat exchangers, enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If harmful working substances like R134a are used in closed-cycle heat pumps, then the heat transfer process can be maintained, but environmental harm increases and efficiency factors remain low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the working substance from harmful synthetic refrigerants (R134a) to water, which is environmentally benign. This parameter change enables the system to achieve efficiency factors of at least 6 while eliminating environmental harm, as water vapor can be directly compressed and condensed without requiring complex heat exchangers or posing environmental risks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful working substance from the system by using water instead, which can be directly evaporated and condensed. This extraction of the harmful element (synthetic refrigerant) and replacement with a benign substance (water) resolves the contradiction between environmental harm and efficiency
2Device complexity
If closed-cycle systems with heat exchangers are used, then heat transfer can be achieved, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the working substance with the heat transfer medium by using water vapor directly. The water vapor serves both as the compressed substance and as the direct heat transfer medium in the condenser, eliminating the need for separate heat exchangers and reducing system complexity while minimizing energy losses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the complex heat exchanger components from the closed-cycle system by using water vapor that can be directly condensed. This extraction of unnecessary components simplifies the system and reduces energy losses associated with heat transfer through multiple intermediate barriers
3Power
If piston compressors are used to compress working vapor, then compression can be achieved, but energy losses and mechanical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical piston compressor system with a more efficient compression mechanism suitable for water vapor. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity and energy losses by using a compression method better suited to the properties of water vapor, achieving the required compression power with lower energy input
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 achieves efficiency factors of at least 6, allowing for the extraction of five times more heat energy from the ground than the electrical energy used for compression, significantly reducing energy costs and environmental emissions.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator for evaporating water as a working liquid to generate a working vapor
Implementation Method 2
a compressor coupled to the evaporator for compressing the working vapor
Implementation Method 3
a liquefier for liquefying a compressed working vapor
Data Source
AI summary
A heat pump has an evaporator for evaporating water as a working liquid so as to produce a working vapor, the evaporation taking place at an evaporation pressure of less than 20 hPa. The working vapor is compressed to a working pressure of at least 25 hPa by a dynamic-type compressor so as to then be liquefied within a liquefier by direct contact with liquefier water. The heat pump is preferably an open system, wherein water present in the environment in the form of ground water, sea water, river water, lake water or brine is evaporated, and wherein water which has been liquefied again is fed to the evaporator, to the soil or to a water treatment plant.