DE202022105887U1 - Acoustic insulation system of a housing housing for the cooling circuit of a heat pump - Google Patents

Abstract

Housing case (1) for the components of the cooling circuit of a heat pump (HP), including at least:
- the compressor (C),
- the expansion valve (EXP),
- the pipes (T) for the refrigerant,
- the circulation pump of the heat-carrying fluid for the heating circuit for the environment,
the housing (1) consisting of a box-shaped structure with at least one wall (2) capable of acoustically isolating the sound emissions generated by the components,
characterized in that
at least one wall (2) comprises three layers (3, 4, 5) of different materials, coupled in succession according to the "mass - spring - mass" principle,
the three layers (3, 4, 5) comprising, from the inside to the outside of the housing (1):
- a first, inner wall layer (3) made of soundproofing material, which serves as "mass",
- a second, the intermediate wall layer (4) made of sound-absorbing material, which serves as a "spring/vibration damper",
- a third, outer wall layer (5) made of soundproofing material, which serves as "mass".

Description

The subject of the present invention is a casing for housing the components of the cooling circuit of a heat pump, the walls of which are equipped with a soundproofing system against the noise emissions generated by these components.

The invention relates to the field of thermodynamic machines for heating and/or cooling a residential or commercial area; in particular, the present invention is particularly suitable for a monobloc heat pump for outdoor use, in which the compressor and the refrigeration circuit are contained in a casing separate from the evaporator.

The noise of heat pumps is well known, mainly caused by the compressor, the expansion valve, the circulation pump and the flow of the refrigerant in the pipes.

Some prior art solutions propose acoustically isolating at least the compressor of a heat pump; one such example is in the earlier document US151018 which shows a housing box for the compressor having sheet metal walls and an interior covered with polyethylene foam or a layer of fibrous material.

The patent DE19820818 on the other hand, adopts a different solution, enclosing the compressor in a rigid foam shell that completely surrounds it; similar to the prior art document DE10058708 , which describes a noise protection enclosure for the compressor; also made of polyurethane foam.

The disadvantage of the above measures lies in the fact that they alone are useful for reducing the noise emissions generated by the compressor and do not deal with the other components that are sources of noise; moreover, their implementation often leads to an increase in the overall dimensions of the heat pump.

The object of the present invention is to remedy this type of disadvantage and to provide a housing housing for the compressor and at least part of the cooling circuit of a heat pump, the walls of which are designed according to a "mass-spring-mass" principle, i. H. Consist of three layers of different materials suitably coupled to ensure a high degree of acoustic insulation against the sound waves generated by the compressor and the other components of the refrigeration circuit (those valves, circulators and pipes in which the refrigerant flows).

This and other objects that will become clear below are achieved with a housing housing provided with walls with a soundproofing system according to the provisions of claim 1.

Other objects can be further achieved by means of the additional features of the dependent claims.

• - 1 eine Gesamtansicht einer Luft-Wasser-Wärmepumpe gemäß der Erfindung ist;
• - 2 nur das Innere des Unterbringungsgehäuses für den Kompressor und für andere Bestandteile des Kühlkreises zeigt;
• - 3 zwei der Wände des Unterbringungsgehäuses gemäß der Erfindung zeigt;
• - 4 eine Darstellung des dynamischen Schemas des Schalldämmungssystems ist, nach dem die Wände des Gehäuses gemäß der Erfindung aufgebaut sind.

The characteristics of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred variant according to the claims, shown by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawing, in which:

• - 1 Figure 12 is an overall view of an air to water heat pump according to the invention;
• - 2 Figure 12 only shows the interior of the housing case for the compressor and for other components of the refrigeration cycle;
• - 3 Figure 2 shows two of the walls of the housing case according to the invention;
• - 4 Fig. 11 is a representation of the dynamic scheme of the soundproofing system according to which the walls of the housing according to the invention are constructed.

Now the characteristics of a preferred embodiment of the housing provided with the soundproofing system are described using the reference numbers contained in the figures. It should be clarified that the figures, even if they are schematic, represent the elements of the invention according to relationships between their dimensions and spatial orientations, consistent with a possible embodiment.

It is further clarified that any dimensional and spatial expression (such as "lower", "upper", "inner", "outer", "front", "rear" and the like) refers to the positions of the elements as they are shown in the appended figures, without any limiting intention as to the possible operating conditions.

In 1 the reference HP shows a heat pump, more precisely an air-to-water heat pump of monobloc type for outdoor installation: however, as described below, this can be extended to any other type of heat pump, for example of the water-to-water or air-air, or similar thermodynamic machines.

The operation of an HP heat pump is known to a person skilled in the art and in this context it is sufficient to provide a summary, in particular to show the positioning of its main components with respect to the subject of the present invention.

• - einen ersten Wärmetauscher, dargestellt durch den Rippenverdampfer EV, in dem das Kältemittel mit Unterstützung eines Lüfters V thermische Energie aus der Umgebungsluft aufnimmt;
• - einen zweiten Wärmetauscher, dargestellt durch den Kondensator CN, in dem dasselbe Kältemittel einen Teil seiner thermischen Energie an ein zweites Fluid abgibt, d. h. Wasser, das in einem Verteilungskreis für das Heizen der Umgebung zirkuliert, von einer dafür vorgesehenen Umwälzpumpe in Umlauf gebracht;

• - einen Kompressor C, angetrieben durch einem Motor und fähig, das Kältemittel vom Verdampfer EV anzusaugen und zum Kondensator CN zu drängen;
• - ein Expansionsventil EXP, zwischen den beiden Wärmetauschern (EV, CN) angeordnet, das eine Ausdehnung bei konstanter Enthalpie und eine Abkühlung des Kältemittels durchführt.

Such a heat pump HP (described here in the "heating" mode, but also suitable for the "cooling" mode by reversing the cooling circuit via a reversing valve, for example a four-way valve), comprises, connected to one another by means of pipes T provided for this purpose, at least:

• - A first heat exchanger, represented by the finned evaporator EV, in which the refrigerant with the support of a fan V absorbs thermal energy from the ambient air;
• a second heat exchanger, represented by the condenser CN, in which the same refrigerant gives up part of its thermal energy to a second fluid, ie water, circulating in a distribution circuit for heating the environment, circulated by a dedicated circulation pump;

• - a compressor C driven by a motor and capable of sucking the refrigerant from the evaporator EV and pushing it towards the condenser CN;
• - an expansion valve EXP, placed between the two heat exchangers (EV, CN), which performs expansion at constant enthalpy and cooling of the refrigerant.

• - einen ersten Akkumulator für den Kompressor C, vorgelagert seinem Ansaugabschnitt und fähig, ihn mit Kältemittel zu versorgen, sowie Überschussmengen und Rückflüsse davon oder überschüssiges Öl und Unreinheiten zurückzuhalten;
• - einen zweiten, zusätzlichen Akkumulator (bekannt als „suction“), vorgelagert dem ersten Akkumulator und fähig, ihn mit zum Kompressor C zu leitendem Kältemittel zu versorgen, sowie Überschussmengen und Rückflüsse davon oder überschüssiges Öl und Unreinheiten zurückzuhalten;
• - einen dritten Akkumulator LR (bekannt als „liquid receiver“), in der Nähe des Expansionsventils EXP angeordnet, der als Expansionsgefäß dient, um eventuelle Unterschiede oder Schwankungen des Niveaus des Kältemittels zwischen dem Kondensator CN und dem Verdampfer EV zu kompensieren;
• - einen elektrischen Widerstandssatz HE als Backup, um den Kondensator CN beim Erwärmen von Wasser zu unterstützen, das für den Kreis zum Heizen der Umgebung bestimmt ist.

The thermodynamic cycle just discussed is generally complemented by at least some of the following components:

• - a first accumulator for the compressor C, upstream of its suction section and capable of supplying it with refrigerant, as well as surpluses and returns thereof or retaining excess oil and impurities;
• - a second, additional accumulator (known as "suction"), upstream of the first accumulator and able to supply it with refrigerant to be sent to the compressor C, as well as to retain excess and return flows thereof or excess oil and impurities;
• - a third accumulator LR (known as "liquid receiver"), located near the expansion valve EXP, which acts as an expansion vessel to compensate for any differences or variations in the level of refrigerant between the condenser CN and the evaporator EV;
• - an electrical resistance set HE as a backup to assist the condenser CN in heating water destined for the circuit for heating the environment.

The components listed above are indicated with their respective reference numbers when they are in the attached 1 and 2 are visible while unnumbered if not shown or obscured by other components preventing their visibility.

According to the present invention, preferably, such components are all accommodated in the accommodation case 1 (hereinafter abbreviated to “case 1”) except for the evaporator EV with associated fan V.

In 2 shows the interior of the case 1, consisting of a box-shaped structure whose walls 2, all or at least one, are made of three layers of different materials, suitably chosen and dimensioned to form a sandwich according to the "mass-spring-mass" principle form.

• - eine erste, innere Wandschicht 3 (im Folgenden „Innenschicht 3“) aus schallisolierendem Material, die als erste Sperre für die Schallemissionen dient, die von den lärmenden Bestandteilen der Wärmepumpe HP erzeugt werden, insbesondere von dem Kompressor C, aber auch dem Expansionsventil EXP, den Rohrleitungen T, in denen das Kältemittel fließt, und der Umwälzpumpe für das Wärmeträgerfluid für den Heizkreis für die Umgebung;
• - eine zweite, die Zwischen-Wandschicht 4 (im Folgenden „Zwischenschicht 4“) aus schallabsorbierendem Material, fähig, den Anteil der Schallwelle zu absorbieren, der nicht von der ersten Innenschicht 3 reflektiert ist;
• - eine dritte, äußere Wandschicht 5 (im Folgenden „Außenschicht 5“) aus schallisolierendem Material, um die restliche Schallwelle erneut zur zweiten, der Zwischenschicht 4 zu reflektieren.

More precisely includes, as in 3 shown, this at least one wall 2 successively from the inside to the outside with respect to the housing 1 the following layers of material:

• - a first inner wall layer 3 (hereinafter "inner layer 3") made of soundproofing material, which acts as a first barrier to the sound emissions generated by the noisy components of the heat pump HP, in particular the compressor C but also the expansion valve EXP , the pipes T in which the refrigerant flows and the circulating pump for the heat-carrying fluid for the heating circuit for the environment;
• - a second, the intermediate wall layer 4 (hereinafter "intermediate layer 4") made of sound-absorbing material, capable of absorbing the part of the sound wave that is not reflected by the first inner layer 3;
• - a third, outer wall layer 5 (hereafter "outer layer 5") made of sound-insulating material in order to reflect again the remaining sound wave towards the second, intermediate layer 4.

In other words, as in the dynamic scheme of 4 shown, the inner layer 3 serves as the first reflective mass, the intermediate layer 4 serves as an absorbing spring and vibration damper, and the outer layer 5 serves as a second reflective mass; in this way the initial sound wave generated by the components housed in the case 1 is greatly attenuated and the noise transmitted to the outside is drastically reduced.

The intermediate layer 4 is coupled to the inner layer 3 and to the outer layer 5 by means of a suitable glue or similar adhesive.

• - für die Innenschicht 3: Elastomer hoher Dichte mit einer Dicke zwischen 2 und 3 mm und einer Dichte zwischen 1.500 und 2.500 kg/m³;
• - für die Zwischenschicht 4: Elastomer mit einer Dicke von ca. 8- bis 12-mal der Dicke der Innenschicht 3 und einer Dichte um 50 kg/m³;
• - für die Außenschicht 5: verzinkter Stahl mit einer Dicke zwischen 1 und 1,5 mm und einer Dichte zwischen 7.000 und 8.000 kg/m³.

According to a preferable variant of the invention, the three layers of the wall 2 of the case 1 are made of the following materials:

• - for the inner layer 3: high-density elastomer with a thickness between 2 and 3 mm and a density between 1500 and 2500 kg/m ³ ;
• - for the intermediate layer 4: elastomer with a thickness of about 8 to 12 times the thickness of the inner layer 3 and a density around 50 kg/m ³ ;
• - for the outer layer 5: galvanized steel with a thickness between 1 and 1.5 mm and a density between 7,000 and 8,000 kg/m ³ .

• - für die Innenschicht 3: Platte aus EPDM-Gummi (Ethylen-Propylen-Dien-Monomer) hoher Dichte mit einer Dicke von 2,5 mm und einer Dichte von etwa 2.000 kg/m³;
• - für die Zwischenschicht 4: Isolierplatte aus Elastomergummi mit einer Dicke gleich zehnmal der Dicke der Innenschicht 3, d. h. 25 mm, und einer Dichte von etwa 50 kg/m³;
• - für die Außenschicht 5: verzinktes Stahlblech mit einer Dicke von 1,2 mm und einer Dichte von etwa 7.860 kg/m³.

More precisely and without intending to be limiting, according to the second preferred variant, the wall 2 is preferably made up of three layers in the following materials:

• - for inner layer 3: sheet of high density EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene monomer) with a thickness of 2.5 mm and a density of about 2,000 kg/m ³ ;
• - for the intermediate layer 4: insulating sheet of elastomeric rubber with a thickness equal to ten times the thickness of the inner layer 3, ie 25 mm, and a density of about 50 kg/m ³ ;
• - for the outer layer 5: galvanized steel sheet with a thickness of 1.2 mm and a density of about 7,860 kg/m ³ .

According to the preferred variant of the invention and illustrated here in the attached figures, each of the walls 2 of the casing 1 comprises the soundproofing system described above.

From the above description clearly emerge the advantages to be obtained with the casing 1 provided with walls 2 with the soundproofing system according to the invention, the main of which concerns the increased reduction of the noise generation perceived outside the casing 1.

In fact, the sound wave generated by the compressor C and the other components that are sources of noise (circulating pump, expansion valve EXP, pipes T for the refrigerant) initially hit the inner layer 3, which acts as a soundproofing mass; immediately after that there is the inner layer 4, which serves as a sound-absorbing spring and vibration damper; finally there is the outer layer 5, which functions as another sound-insulating mass; Laboratory tests have confirmed that such a "mass-spring-mass" soundproofing system is useful for reducing the sound power level perceived outside the enclosure 1 by about 30% / 40% compared to an analogous enclosure 1 without soundproofing walls 2.

Another advantage linked to the present invention consists in the fact that such an inner layer 3 of the wall 2 has the additional function of preventing the intermediate layer 4 from coming into contact with the microclimate of the case 1, often causing condensation water that could damage sound-absorbing material constituting the intermediate layer 4, to the detriment of its acoustic absorption capacity.

It is clear that numerous modifications to the invention described above are possible for those skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the scope of novelty inherent in the spirit of the invention, just as it is clear that in the practical embodiment of the invention the various components described above by technically equivalent elements can be substituted. For example, when listing the components of the HP heat pump, reference is made to the heat-carrying fluid for the distribution circuit for heating the environment, but this can also consist of water contained in a tank and intended for sanitary-sanitary use.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US 151018 [0004]
• DE 19820818 [0005]
• DE 10058708 [0005]

Claims (5)

Housing box (1) for the components of the cooling circuit of a heat pump (HP), including at least: - the compressor (C), - the expansion valve (EXP), - the pipes (T) for the refrigerant, - the circulating pump of the thermal fluid for the heating circuit for the environment, the housing (1) consisting of a box-shaped structure with at least one wall (2) capable of acoustically isolating the sound emissions generated by the components, characterized in that the at least one wall (2 ) comprises three layers (3, 4, 5) of different material, successively coupled according to the "mass - spring - mass" principle, the three layers (3, 4, 5) comprising from the inside to the outside with respect to the case (1). : - a first, inner wall layer (3) made of sound-insulating material, which acts as "mass", - a second, intermediate wall layer (4), made of sound-absorbing material, which acts as "spring/vibration damper" - a third, outer one wall chic ht (5) made of soundproofing material, which serves as "ground". Case (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that: - the first, inner wall layer (3) is a high density elastomer with a thickness between 2 and 3 mm and a density between 1500 kg/m ³ and 2500 kg/m ³ , - the second, intermediate wall layer (4) is an elastomer with a density of about 50 kg/m ³ and a thickness between 8 and 12 times the thickness of the first, inner wall layer (3), - the third , outer wall layer (5) is galvanized steel with a thickness between 1 and 1.5 mm and a density between 7,000 kg/m ³ and 8,000 kg/m ³ . Case (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that: - the first, internal wall layer (3) is a sheet of EPDM rubber with a thickness of 2.5 mm and a density of about 2,000 kg/m ³ , - the second, intermediate wall layer (4) is an insulating panel made of elastomeric rubber with a thickness of 25 mm and a density of about 50 kg/m ³ , - the third, outer wall layer (5) is a galvanized steel sheet with a thickness of 1 .2 mm and a density of about 7,860 kg/m ³ . Housing (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the second, intermediate wall layer (4) is coupled to the first, inner wall layer (3) and the third, outer wall layer (5) by means of glue or analogous adhesives. Heat pump (HP), in particular a monobloc type air-to-water heat pump for outdoor installation, comprising a casing (1) housing the components of the cooling circuit, including at least one or more of the following components: - the compressor (C), - the expansion valve ( EXP), - the pipes (T) for the refrigerant, - the condenser (CN), - one or more accumulators for the refrigerant, - the circulating pump of the heat-carrying fluid for the heating circuit for the environment, - a four-way reversing valve, with the heat pump (HP) further includes the evaporator (EV) with associated fan (V), arranged outside of the housing case (1), characterized in that the housing case (1) according to any one of Claims 1 until 4 is realized.

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