Cold/Hot Water Supply Flow Switching for Smooth Cooling Changeover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cold/hot water supply apparatuses experience temperature rise in indoor spaces when switching from heat-accumulation to cooling operation mode due to high temperature fluid dissipating heat indoors, leading to discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A cold/hot water supply apparatus with a refrigerant and fluid circuit system, including a temperature sensor and switching pipes, controls the flow of fluid to either a second switching pipe or a third heat exchanger based on detected fluid temperature, preventing high temperature fluid from entering the third heat exchanger and thus minimizing indoor temperature rise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fluid path-switching valve is switched from heat-accumulation mode to cooling mode, then the cooling operation should start, but high temperature fluid flows into the third heat exchanger causing indoor space temperature rise and comfort deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The control device detects the temperature of fluid flowing from the first heat exchanger before switching to cooling mode. If the fluid temperature is high, the system performs preliminary cooling by directing fluid through the second switching pipe to cool it down before it reaches the third heat exchanger, preventing indoor temperature rise while maintaining fast cooling response
Solution Approach 2:
A second switching pipe is introduced as an intermediary path between the first heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger. This intermediate pathway allows high-temperature fluid to be cooled down before entering the indoor heat exchanger, acting as a buffer to prevent harmful thermal effects while maintaining system responsiveness
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 solution effectively suppresses temperature rise in indoor spaces and allows immediate cooling after switching from heat-accumulation to cooling mode, enhancing comfort and energy efficiency by optimizing fluid flow based on temperature sensors.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger which exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the fluid
Implementation Method 2
a third heat exchanger which absorbs heat in air by the fluid flowing through the third heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
a heat accumulator tank in which water is stored... dissipates heat in the heat accumulator tank 300
Data Source
AI summary
In a heat-accumulation operation mode, fluid which flows out of a first heat exchanger 22 heats hot water in a heat accumulator tank 55. In a cooling operation mode, a third heat exchanger 53 absorbs heat. When the heat-accumulation operation mode is changed to the cooling operation mode, a cold/hot water supply apparatus determines whether fluid which flows out of the first heat exchanger 22 should be made to flow toward the third heat exchanger 53 or the first heat exchanger 22 based on temperature of fluid detected by a temperature sensor 70 disposed in the first heat exchanger 22. It is possible to suppress deterioration of comfort in an indoor space in the cooling operation mode.