Wind-Assisted Heat Pump Airflow for Low-Power Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-to-water heat pump systems rely heavily on electricity to create air flow, leading to high energy consumption and increased operational costs, and fail to meet full heat demands during low wind conditions.
Innovation Solution
An air-to-water heat pump system incorporating a wind turbine and an impeller, where a motor/generator unit allows the impeller to rotate independently or with the wind turbine, utilizing wind energy to create air flow through the evaporator, and switches between motor and generator modes based on wind speed to ensure consistent heat demand fulfillment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a wind turbine is used to drive the fan for evaporation, then electricity consumption is reduced, but the fan cannot create enough air flow when wind speed is low
Solution Approach 1:
The motor/generator is designed to perform dual functions: acting as a motor to drive the impeller when wind power is insufficient, and acting as a generator to recover energy when wind power exceeds heating demands. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by ensuring adequate air flow during low wind conditions while maximizing wind energy utilization during high wind conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the motor/generator to self-regulate its operation based on wind conditions. When wind speed is low, the motor mode provides necessary power; when wind speed is high, the generator mode recovers excess energy. This self-service mechanism ensures continuous adequate air flow while minimizing external electricity consumption.
2Productivity
If the impeller rotates independently using motor mode, then sufficient air flow is ensured, but electricity consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors wind speed and heating demands to determine the operational mode of the motor/generator. When wind power exceeds heating demands, the system switches to generator mode to recover energy. This feedback mechanism ensures that electricity is only consumed when absolutely necessary, minimizing energy usage while maintaining adequate air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the motor/generator based on wind conditions. The rotational speed and operational mode (motor vs. generator) are adjusted dynamically. During low wind conditions, the motor operates at higher speeds to ensure adequate air flow; during high wind conditions, the system switches to generator mode, changing the parameter from power consumption to power generation.
3Power
If the wind turbine rotates at high speed, then excess energy is generated, but the system cannot meet full heat demands when wind speed is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotational speed of the wind turbine and impeller based on real-time wind conditions and heating demands. The impeller can rotate independently from the wind turbine when necessary, allowing the system to maintain reliable heat demand fulfillment regardless of wind speed variations. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the system can meet full heat demands reliably while capturing excess energy when available.
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
Reduces electricity consumption by harnessing wind energy, ensuring full heat demand satisfaction across varying wind conditions, and allows excess energy to be fed back into the grid during strong winds.
Implementation Method 1
a wind turbine, able to rotate on a rotational axis by the action of the wind
Implementation Method 2
When the impeller rotates independently with the wind turbine, the motor/generator performs as a motor to drive the impeller
Implementation Method 3
when the impeller rotates together with the wind turbine, the motor/generator performs as a generator to generate electricity
Implementation Method 4
The wind turbine together with the impeller creates air flow going through the evaporator for air-to-refrigerant heat exchanging
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention discloses an air-to-water heat pump system including a heating pump, a wind turbine, and an impeller. The heat pump includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The wind turbine has a housing being able to rotate on a rotational axis by the action of the wind, and the housing defines a passageway therein. The impeller is operable to rotate on the same axis as the rotational axis of the housing to create an air flow passing through the passageway and the evaporator. In this configuration, the wind turbine together with the impeller creates air flow going through the evaporator for air-to-refrigerant heat exchanging, which can reduce consumption of electricity by using the energy of the wind.