EP3591312A1 - Apparatus using heat pump - Google Patents
Apparatus using heat pump Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3591312A1 EP3591312A1 EP17899065.1A EP17899065A EP3591312A1 EP 3591312 A1 EP3591312 A1 EP 3591312A1 EP 17899065 A EP17899065 A EP 17899065A EP 3591312 A1 EP3591312 A1 EP 3591312A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- refrigerant
- circuit
- heat
- heat exchanger
- water
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 297
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 82
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 231100000331 toxic Toxicity 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000002588 toxic effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 196
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 42
- 238000010257 thawing Methods 0.000 description 16
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 7
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007654 immersion Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ammonia Chemical compound N QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920003027 Thinsulate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004789 Thinsulate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012267 brine Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;chloride;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Na+].[Cl-] HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008400 supply water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 231100000419 toxicity Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000001988 toxicity Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F25B49/005—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices of safety devices
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H4/00—Fluid heaters characterised by the use of heat pumps
- F24H4/02—Water heaters
- F24H4/04—Storage heaters
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H9/00—Details
- F24H9/16—Arrangements for water drainage
- F24H9/17—Means for retaining water leaked from heaters
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F25B49/02—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for compression type machines, plants or systems
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/003—Indoor unit with water as a heat sink or heat source
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2339/00—Details of evaporators; Details of condensers
- F25B2339/04—Details of condensers
- F25B2339/047—Water-cooled condensers
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
- F25B2400/12—Inflammable refrigerants
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
- F25B2500/22—Preventing, detecting or repairing leaks of refrigeration fluids
- F25B2500/222—Detecting refrigerant leaks
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2600/00—Control issues
- F25B2600/02—Compressor control
- F25B2600/025—Compressor control by controlling speed
- F25B2600/0251—Compressor control by controlling speed with on-off operation
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2600/00—Control issues
- F25B2600/25—Control of valves
- F25B2600/2513—Expansion valves
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2600/00—Control issues
- F25B2600/25—Control of valves
- F25B2600/2519—On-off valves
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a heat-pump using apparatus including a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium circuit.
- Patent Literature 1 describes an outdoor unit of a heat-pump cycle apparatus using flammable refrigerant.
- the outdoor unit includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, an air heat exchanger, an expansion device and a water heat exchanger are connected by pipes, and a pressure relief valve which prevents an excessive increase in hydraulic pressure in a water circuit for supplying water heated by the water heat exchanger.
- Patent Literature 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-167398
- a pressure relief valve of a water circuit is provided in an indoor unit.
- the heat-pump using apparatus there are various combinations of outdoor and indoor units. For example, in a given case, an outdoor unit and an indoor unit manufactured by the same manufacturer are combined together, and in another case, an outdoor unit and an indoor unit manufactured by different manufacturers are combined. Therefore, the outdoor unit described in Patent Literature 1 may be combined with an indoor unit equipped with a pressure relief valve.
- refrigerant which mixes with water in the water circuit may be discharged not only from a pressure relief valve provided in the outdoor unit, but from a pressure relief valve disposed in the indoor unit. Therefore, there is a risk that the refrigerant will leak from the water circuit into a room.
- the present invention aims to solve the above problem, and provide a heat-pump using apparatus which can prevent leaking refrigerant from entering a room.
- a heat-pump using apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit which circulates refrigerant; a heat medium circuit which causes a heat medium to flow therein; and a heat exchanger which causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and the heat medium.
- the heat medium circuit includes a main circuit extending via the heat exchanger.
- the main circuit includes a branching part which is located at a downstream end of the main circuit, and connected to those portions of a plurality of branch circuits which branch off from the main circuit are connected, the branching part being provided at a downstream end of the main circuit, and a joining part which is located at an upstream end of the main circuit, and connected to those portions of the plurality of branch which join the main circuit.
- a pressure protection device and a refrigerant leakage detecting device are connected to the main circuit.
- the main circuit includes a first blocking device and a second blocking device between which the heat exchanger is located.
- the flow of the refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit can be blocked by a first blocking device and a second blocking device. It is therefore possible to reduce leakage of refrigerant from a pressure protection device into indoor space.
- FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the heat-pump using apparatus according to embodiment 1.
- a heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 is provided as an example of the heat-pump using apparatus.
- FIG. 1 which are to be referred to below, the relationships in size, shape, etc. between structural components may be different from actual ones.
- the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 includes a refrigerant circuit 110 in which refrigerant is circulated and a water circuit 210 in which water is made to flow.
- the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 further includes an outdoor unit 100 installed outside an indoor space (outdoors, for example) and an indoor unit 200 installed in the indoor space.
- the indoor unit 200 is installed in, for example, a kitchen, a bathroom, a laundry room, or a storage space such as a closet in a building.
- a compressor 3, a refrigerant flow switching device 4, a load-side heat exchanger 2, a pressure-reducing device 6 and a heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 are successively connected by refrigerant pipes.
- the refrigerant circuit 110 of the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 is capable of performing a normal operation (for example, a heating and hot-water supplying operation) in which water flowing in the water circuit 210 is heated and a defrosting operation in which refrigerant is caused to flow in an opposite direction to the flow direction of the refrigerant in the normal operation to defrost the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1.
- the compressor 3 is a fluid machine which compresses low-pressure refrigerant sucked therein, and discharges the refrigerant as high-pressure refrigerant.
- the compressor 3 includes, for example, an inverter device, and can vary a capacity (the amount of refrigerant to be sent unit time) by arbitrarily changing a driving frequency.
- the refrigerant flow switching device 4 switches the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 110 between that in the normal operation and that in the defrosting operation.
- a four-way valve is used as the refrigerant flow switching device 4.
- the load-side heat exchanger 2 is a water-refrigerant heat exchanger which causes heat exchange to be performed between refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit 110 and water flowing in the water circuit 210.
- a plate heat exchanger is used as the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- the load-side heat exchanger 2 includes a refrigerant passage which allows refrigerant to flow therethrough, as part of the refrigerant circuit 110, a water passage which allows water to flow therethrough as part of the water circuit 210, and a thin-plate partition wall which isolates the refrigerant passage and the water passage from each other.
- the load-side heat exchanger 2 operates as a condenser (heat-transferring device) which heats water during the normal operation, and transfers condensation heat of refrigerant to water, and operates as an evaporator (heat-receiving device) during the defrosting operation.
- condenser heat-transferring device
- evaporator heat-receiving device
- the pressure-reducing device 6 adjusts the flow rate of refrigerant, and, for example, adjusts the pressure of refrigerant flowing in the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- the pressure-reducing device 6 in embodiment 1 is an electronic expansion valve whose opening degree can be varied in response to an instruction from a controller 101, which will be described below.
- a thermosensitive expansion valve for example, a thermosensitive expansion valve integrated with a solenoid valve
- the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 is an air-refrigerant heat exchanger which causes heat exchange to be performed between refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 110 and outdoor air sent by an outdoor fan (not illustrated) or other devices.
- the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 operates as an evaporator (heat-receiving device) during the normal operation, and operates as a condenser (heat-transfer device) during the defrosting operation.
- a blocking device 77 is provided upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 in the flow of the refrigerant in the normal operation.
- the blocking device 77 is located downstream of the compressor 3 and upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 in the refrigerant circuit 110.
- the refrigerant flow switching device 4 it is preferable that the blocking device 77 be located downstream of the refrigerant flow switching device 4 and upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 in the refrigerant circuit 110 in the flow of the refrigerant in the normal operation.
- an opening and closing valve for example, a solenoid valve, a flow control valve or an electronic expansion valve which is to be controlled by the controller 101 to be described later is used.
- the blocking device 77 is in an opened state during the operation of the refrigerant circuit 110, which includes the normal operation and the defrosting operation.
- the blocking device 77 blocks the flow of the refrigerant.
- a blocking device 78 is provided downstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 in the flow of the refrigerant in the normal operation.
- the blocking device 78 is provided downstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 and upstream of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 in the refrigerant circuit 110 in the flow of the refrigerant in the normal operation.
- an opening and closing valve for example, a solenoid valve, a flow-rate control valve or an electronic expansion valve
- the blocking device 78 is in the opened state during the operation of the refrigerant circuit 110, which includes the normal operation and the defrosting operation. When set in the closed state by the control by the controller 101, the blocking device 78 blocks the flow of the refrigerant.
- the pressure-reducing device 6 can double as the blocking device 78. That is, in the case where the pressure-reducing device 6 is an electronic expansion valve or a thermosensitive expansion valve integrated with a solenoid valve, it is possible to omit the blocking device 78, and also use the pressure-reducing device 6 as a second blocking device. In other words, in the case where the blocking device 78 is an electronic expansion valve or a thermosensitive expansion valve integrated with a solenoid valve, it is possible to omit the pressure-reducing device 6, and cause the blocking device 78 to double as a pressure-reducing device.
- a slightly flammable refrigerant such as R1234yf or R1234ze(E) or a highly flammable refrigerant such as R290 or R1270 is used as the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit 110.
- R1234yf or R1234ze(E) or a highly flammable refrigerant such as R290 or R1270 is used as the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit 110.
- R290 or R1270 is used as the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit 110.
- Each of these refrigerants may be used as a single refrigerant, or two or more of them may be mixed and used as a mixed refrigerant.
- refrigerant having flammability of at least a slightly flammable level (at least 2L under ASHRAE34 classification, for example)
- refrigerant having flammability an inflammable refrigerant having inflammability (1 under ASHRAE34 classification, for example)
- R407C or R410A can be used as refrigerant to be circulated in the refrigerant circuit 110.
- refrigerants have a higher density than air under atmospheric pressure (when the temperature is room temperature (25 degrees Celsius), for example).
- refrigerant having toxicity such as R717 (ammonia), can be used as the refrigerant to be circulated in the refrigerant circuit 110.
- the refrigerant circuit 110 including the compressor 3, the refrigerant flow switching device 4, the blocking device 77, the load-side heat exchanger 2, the blocking device 78, the pressure-reducing device 6 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 is provided in the outdoor unit 100.
- the controller 101 which performs control manly of an operation of the refrigerant circuit 110 (for example, the compressor 3, the refrigerant flow switching device 4, the blocking devices 77 and 78, the pressure-reducing device 6 and an outdoor fan not illustrated) is provided in the outdoor unit 100.
- the controller 101 is capable of communicating, via a control line 102, with a controller 201 and an operation unit 202, which will be described later.
- FIG. 1 An example of the operation of the refrigerant circuit 110 will be described.
- solid arrows indicate the flow direction of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 110 in the normal operation.
- the refrigerant flow switching device 4 switches refrigerant passages as indicated by the solid arrows, and the refrigerant circuit 110 is configured such that high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows into the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- the high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 passes through the refrigerant flow switching device 4 and the blocking device 77 being in the opened state, and flows into the refrigerant passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- the load-side heat exchanger 2 operates as a condenser. That is, the load-side heat exchanger 2 causes heat exchange to be carried out between refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage and water flowing through the water passage, and the condensation heat of the refrigerant is transferred to the water.
- the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2 condenses and changes into high-pressure liquid refrigerant.
- the water flowing through the water passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2 is heated by the heat transferred from the refrigerant.
- the high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed at the load-side heat exchanger 2 flows into the pressure-reducing device 6 via the blocking device 78 being in the opened state, and is reduced in pressure to change into low-pressure, two-phase refrigerant.
- the low-pressure, two-phase refrigerant flows into the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1.
- the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 operates as an evaporator.
- heat exchange is carried out between the refrigerant flowing therein and the outdoor air sent by the outdoor fan, whereby the evaporation heat of the refrigerant is received by the outdoor air.
- the refrigerant having flowed into the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 evaporates and changes into low-pressure gas refrigerant.
- the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 3 via the refrigerant flow switching device 4.
- the refrigerant sucked into the compressor 3 is compressed and changes into high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. In the normal operation, the above cycle is continuously repeated.
- broken arrows indicate the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 110 in the defrosting operation.
- the refrigerant flow switching device 4 switches the refrigerant passages as indicated by the broken arrows, whereby the refrigerant circuit 110 is configured such that the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows into the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1.
- the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 operates as a condenser.
- the condensation heat of the refrigerant flowing therein is transferred to frost formed on a surface of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1.
- the refrigerant flowing in the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 condenses and changes into high-pressure liquid refrigerant. Further, the frost formed on the surface of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 is melted by the heat transferred from the refrigerant.
- the high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed at the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 passes through the pressure-reducing device 6, changes into low-pressure, two-phase refrigerant, then passes through the blocking device 78 being in the opened state, and flows into the refrigerant flow passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- the load-side heat exchanger 2 operates as an evaporator. That is, in the load-side heat exchanger 2, heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage and the water flowing through the water passage, whereby heat is received from the water as the evaporation heat of the refrigerant.
- the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2 evaporates and changes into low-pressure gas refrigerant.
- the gas refrigerant passes through the blocking device 77 being in the opened state and the refrigerant flow switching device 4, and is then sucked into the compressor 3.
- the refrigerant sucked into the compressor 3 is compressed and changes into high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. In the defrosting operation, the above cycle is continuously repeated.
- the water circuit 210 will be described.
- the water circuit 210 of embodiment 1 is a closed circuit which circulates water. In Fig. 1 , the flow directions of the water are indicated by outlined arrows.
- the water circuit 210 is configured such that a water circuit in the outdoor unit 100 and a water circuit in the indoor unit 200 are connected.
- the water circuit 210 includes a main circuit 220, a branch circuit 221 forming a hot-water supply circuit, and a branch circuit 222 forming part of a heating circuit.
- the main circuit 220 forms part of the closed circuit.
- the branch circuits 221 and 222 are connected to the main circuit 220 as branches therefrom.
- the branch circuits 221 and 222 are disposed in parallel to each other.
- the branch circuit 221 forms together with the main circuit 220 a closed circuit.
- the branch circuit 222 forms together with the main circuit 220, a heating apparatus 300, etc., a closed circuit.
- the heating apparatus 300 is connected to the branch circuit 222.
- the heating apparatus 300 is provided in the indoor space, and is located separate from the indoor unit 200. As the heating apparatus 300, for example, a radiator or a floor-heating apparatus is used.
- a strainer 56 In the main circuit 220, a strainer 56, a flow switch 57, the load-side heat exchanger 2, a booster heater 54, a pump 53, etc., are connected by water pipes.
- a drain outlet 62 is provided to drain water in the water circuit 210.
- a downstream end of the main circuit 220 is connected to an inflow port of a three-way valve 55 (an example of a branching part) including a single inflow port and two outflow ports.
- the branch circuits 221 and 222 branch off from the main circuit 220.
- An upstream end of the main circuit 220 is connected to a joining part 230.
- the branch circuits 221 and 222 join the main circuit 220.
- the load-side heat exchanger 2 of the main circuit 220 is provided in the outdoor unit 100.
- Devices of the main circuit 220 which are other than the load-side heat exchanger 2 are provided in the indoor unit 200. That is, the main circuit 220 of the water circuit 210 is provided to extend between the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200. Part of the main circuit 220 is provided in the outdoor unit 100, and the remaining part of the main circuit 220 is provided in the indoor unit 200.
- the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200 are connected to each other by two connection pipes 211 and 212 which form part of the main circuit 220.
- the pump 53 is a device which pressurizes the water in the water circuit 210 to circulate the water in the water circuit 210.
- the booster heater 54 is a device which further heats the water in the water circuit 210, for example, when the heating capacity of the outdoor unit 100 is insufficient.
- the three-way valve 55 is a device which changes the flow of the water in the water circuit 210. For example, the three-way valve 55 switches the flow of the water in the main circuit 220 between circulation of the water in the branch circuit 221 and circulation of the water in the branch circuit 222.
- the strainer 56 is a device which removes scale in the water circuit 210.
- the flow switch 57 is a device which detects whether the flow rate of the water circulating in the water circuit 210 is higher than or equal to a certain rate. The flow switch 57 can be replaced by a flow-rate sensor.
- the booster heater 54 is connected to a pressure relief valve 70 (an example of a pressure protection device). That is, the booster heater 54 serves as connection part of the pressure relief valve 70, which is connected to the water circuit 210. It should be noted that the connection part of the pressure relief valve 70 will be hereinafter occasionally referred to as "connection part”.
- the pressure relief valve 70 is a protection device which prevents an excessive increase in pressure in the water circuit 210 which accompanies a change in temperature of the water.
- the pressure relief valve 70 discharges the water to the outside of the water circuit 210 based on the pressure in the water circuit 210.
- the pressure relief valve 70 is opened to discharge the water in the water circuit 210 to the outside of the water circuit 210 from the pressure relief valve 70.
- the pressure relief valve 70 is provided at the indoor unit 200 in order to effect pressure protection in the water circuit 210 in the indoor unit 200.
- a housing of the booster heater 54 is connected to one of ends of a pipe 72 forming a water passage branching off from the main circuit 220.
- the pressure relief valve 70 is attached to the booster heater 54 by the pipe 72.
- the temperature of water in the booster heater 54 is the highest. Therefore, the booster heater 54 is most suitable as the connection part to which the pressure relief valve 70 is connected.
- respective pressure relief valves 70 need to be provided. In embodiment 1, since the pressure relief valve 70 is connected to the main circuit 220, it suffices to provide a single pressure relief valve 70.
- a branching part 72a is provided at an intermediate part of the pipe 72.
- the branching part 72a is connected to one of ends of a pipe 75.
- the other end of the pipe 75 is connected to the expansion tank 52. That is, the expansion tank 52 is connected to the booster heater 54 by the pipes 75 and 72.
- the expansion tank 52 is a device which controls the change of the internal pressure of the water circuit 210, which accompanies the change of the temperature of the water, such that the change of the internal pressure of the water circuit 21 falls within a certain range.
- the main circuit 220 includes a refrigerant leakage detecting device 98.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 is connected between the load-side heat exchanger 2 and the booster heater 54 (the connection part) in the main circuit 220.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 is a device which detects leakage of refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit 110 into the water circuit 210. If refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant circuit 110 into the water circuit 210, the internal pressure of the water circuit 210 raises.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 can detect the leakage of the refrigerant into the water circuit 210 based on the internal pressure of the water circuit 210 (the value of the pressure or the variation of the pressure thereof which is made with the passage of time).
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 for example, a pressure sensor or a pressure switch (high-pressure switch) which detects the internal pressure of the water circuit 210 is used.
- the pressure switch may adopt an electric system or a mechanical system using a diaphragm.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 outputs a detection signal to the controller 101.
- the blocking devices 77 and 78 and the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 are all provided in the outdoor unit 100. Therefore, the blocking devices 77 and 78 and the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 can be connected to the controller 101 by a control line in the outdoor unit 100, thus reducing the cost. Furthermore, control of the blocking devices 77 and 78 based on a detection signal from the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 (which will be described later) can be achieved in the outdoor unit 100 solely. Therefore, the versatility of the outdoor unit 100 is increased, and the flexibility in combination of the outdoor unit 100 and various indoor units is improved.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 outputs a contact signal when leakage of refrigerant occurs
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 and the blocking devices 77 and 78 may be directly connected without being connected to the controller 101.
- the branch circuit 221 forming the hot-water supply circuit is provided in the indoor unit 200.
- An upstream end of the branch circuit 221 is connected to one of the outflow ports of the three-way valve 55.
- a downstream end of the branch circuit 221 is connected to the joining part 230.
- the branch circuit 221 includes a coil 61.
- the coil 61 is located in a hot-water storage tank 51 which stores water therein.
- the coil 61 is a heating unit which heats the water stored in the hot-water storage tank 51 through heat exchange with water (hot water) circulating in the branch circuit 221 of the water circuit 210.
- the hot-water storage tank 51 includes an immersion heater 60 provided therein.
- the immersion heater 60 is a heating unit which further heats the water stored in the hot-water storage tank 51.
- a sanitary circuit-side pipe 81a for example, a hot-water supply pipe
- a sanitary circuit-side pipe 81b for example, a supply water pipe
- a drain outlet 63 is provided to drain the water in the hot-water storage tank 51.
- the hot-water storage tank 51 is covered by a heat insulating material (not illustrated) to prevent reduction of the temperature of the water in the hot-water storage tank 51, which would be caused by heat transfer to the outside of the hot-water storage tank 51.
- the heat insulating material for example, felt, Thinsulate (registered trademark), or vacuum insulation panel (VIP) is applied.
- the branch circuit 222 forming part of the heating circuit is provided in the indoor unit 200.
- the branch circuit 222 includes a supply pipe 222a and a return pipe 222b.
- An upstream end of the supply pipe 222a is connected to the other outflow port of the three-way valve 55.
- a downstream end of the supply pipe 222a and an upstream end of the return pipe 222b and an upstream end of the return pipe 222b are connected to a heating-circuit-side pipe 82a and a heating-circuit-side pipe 82b, respectively.
- a downstream end of the return pipe 222b is connected to the joining part 230.
- the supply pipe 222a and the return pipe 222b are connected to the heating apparatus 300 by the heating-circuit-side pipe 82a and the heating-circuit-side pipe 82b, respectively.
- the heating-circuit-side pipes 82a and 82b and the heating apparatus 300 are disposed in the indoor space and outside the indoor unit 200.
- the branch circuit 222 forms together with the heating-circuit-side pipes 82a and 82b and the heating apparatus 300, the heating circuit.
- the heating-circuit-side pipe 82a is connected to a pressure relief valve 301.
- the pressure relief valve 301 is a protection device which prevents an excessive increase in the internal pressure of the water circuit 210, and has the same structure as or a similar structure to the structure of, for example, the pressure relief valve 70. For example, if the internal pressure of the heating-circuit-side pipe 82a exceeds a set pressure, the pressure relief valve 301 is opened to discharge water in the heating-circuit-side pipe 82a to the outside of the heating-circuit-side pipe 82a from the pressure relief valve 301.
- the pressure relief valve 301 is provided in the indoor space and outside the indoor unit 200.
- the heating apparatus 300, the heating-circuit-side pipes 82a and 82b and the pressure relief valve 301 in embodiment 1 are not part of the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000, but are equipment to be installed by a technician in the actual place in accordance with the circumstances of each of properties.
- the heat source apparatus is updated, that is, it is replaced with the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000.
- the heating apparatus 300, the heating-circuit-side pipes 82a and 82b, and the pressure relief valve 301 continue to be used, unless they cause any particular inconvenience. Therefore, it is preferable that the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 be connectable to variable kinds of equipment regardless of whether the pressure relief valve 301 is provided or not.
- the indoor unit 200 is provided with the controller 201 which performs control mainly of the operation of the water circuit 210 (for example, the pump 53, the booster heater 54 and the three-way valve 55).
- the controller 201 includes a microcomputer provided with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I/O port, etc.
- the controller 201 can mutually communicate with the controller 101 and the operation unit 202.
- the operation unit 202 is configured to allow a user to operate the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000, and to make various settings.
- the operation unit 202 includes a display unit 203 as a notifying unit which indicates information.
- the display unit 203 is capable of displaying various information such as the state of the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000.
- the operation unit 202 is provided at, for example, a surface of a housing of the indoor unit 200.
- the partition wall isolating the refrigerant passage and the water passage from each other is broken in the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- the load-side heat exchanger 2 operates as an evaporator in the defrosting operation. Therefore, the partition wall of the load-side heat exchanger 2 may be broken by, for example, freezing of water which occurs particularly in the defrosting operation.
- the pressure of refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2 is higher than the pressure of water flowing in the water passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2 in either the normal operation or the defrosting operation.
- the partition wall of the load-side heat exchanger 2 is broken, the refrigerant in the refrigerant passage flows out into the water passage and mixes with the water in the water passage in either the normal operation or the defrosting operation. At this time, the pressure of the refrigerant mixing with the water is reduced, and the refrigerant thus gasifies. Further, since the refrigerant the pressure of which is higher than that of the water mixes into the water, the internal pressure of the water circuit 210 is raised.
- the refrigerant mixing with the water of the water circuit 210 in the load-side heat exchanger 2 flows not only in a direction along the normal flow of water (that is, a direction from the load-side heat exchanger 2 toward the booster heater 54), but in an opposite direction to the direction of a normal flow of water (that is, a direction from the load-side heat exchanger 2 toward the joining part 230), because of the difference in pressure between the refrigerant and water.
- the main circuit 220 of the water circuit 210 is provided with the pressure relief valve 70 as in embodiment 1, the refrigerant mixing with the water can be discharged together with the water into the indoor space from the pressure relief valve 70.
- the refrigerant mixing with the water can be discharged together with the water into the indoor space from the pressure relief valve 301. That is, the pressure relief valves 70 and 301 both operate as valves from which the refrigerant mixing with the water in the water circuit 210 is discharged to the outside of the water circuit 210. If the refrigerant has flammability, when the refrigerant is discharged from the pressure relief valve 70 or 301 into the indoor space, there is a risk that a flammable concentration region will be provided in the indoor space.
- the controller 101 stops the compressor 3 and causes the blocking devices 77 and 78 to be set in the closed state. Thereby, the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 110 is blocked by the blocking devices 77 and 78 at two positions which precedes and succeeds the load-side heat exchanger 2. That is, with respect to the flow of refrigerant, the load-side heat exchanger 2 is isolated from the refrigerant circuit 110.
- the amount of refrigerant leaking to the water circuit 210 in the load-side heat exchanger 2 can be reduced to an amount less than or equal to the amount of refrigerant existing in the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a heat-pump using apparatus according to a modification of embodiment 1. As illustrated in Fig. 2 , the configuration of this modification is different from the configuration as illustrated in Fig. 1 on the point that the load-side heat exchanger 2 is provided in the indoor unit 200.
- the refrigerant circuit 110 is provided to extend between the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200. Part of the refrigerant circuit 110 is provided in the outdoor unit 100, and the remaining part of the refrigerant circuit 110 is provided in the indoor unit 200.
- the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200 are connected to each other by two connection pipes 111 and 112 which form part of the refrigerant circuit 110.
- the blocking devices 77 and 78 and the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 are all provided in the indoor unit 200.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 outputs a detection signal to the controller 201, and the blocking devices 77 and 78 are controlled by the controller 201.
- the blocking devices 77 and 78 and the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 can be connected to the controller 201 by a control line in the indoor unit 200.
- the cost can be reduced.
- control of the blocking devices 77 and 78 based on the detection signal from the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 can be achieved in the indoor unit 200. Therefore, the versatility of the indoor unit 200 is increased, and the flexibility in combination of the indoor unit 200 and various outdoor units is improved.
- Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of the position of the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 in the heat-pump using apparatus according to embodiment 1.
- Fig. 3 illustrates five positions A to E as examples of the position of the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 is provided at the position A or B, it is connected to the pipe 72. That is, it is connected to the main circuit 220 by the booster heater 54 (connection part), as well as the pressure relief valve 70.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 can reliably detect leakage of the refrigerant before the refrigerant leaking into the water circuit 210 in the load-side heat exchanger 2 is discharged from the pressure relief valve 70.
- the leakage of the refrigerant into the water circuit 210 is detected by the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98, the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 110 is immediately blocked by the blocking devices 77 and 78 at two positions which precedes and succeeds the load-side heat exchanger 2. It is therefore possible to reduce the amount of refrigerant leaking into the indoor space from the pressure relief valve 70 to the minimum.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 is provided at the position C or D, it is connected between the booster heater 54 (connection part) and the three-way valve 55 in the main circuit 220.
- the refrigerant may be discharged from the pressure relief valve 70 before the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 detects the leakage of the refrigerant.
- the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 110 is immediately blocked at two positions which precedes and succeeds the load-side heat exchanger 2. It is therefore possible to reduce the amount of refrigerant leaking from the pressure relief valve 70 into the indoor space to the minimum.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 is provided at the position E, it is connected between the load-side heat exchanger 2 and the joining part 230 in the main circuit 220. In this case, the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 can reliably detect leakage of the refrigerant before the refrigerant leaking into the water circuit 210 is discharged from the pressure relief valve 301 provided outside the indoor unit 200.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 When the leakage of the refrigerant into the water circuit 210 is detected by the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98, the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 110 is immediately blocked by the blocking devices 77 and 78 at two positions which precedes and succeeds the load-side heat exchanger 2. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of refrigerant leaking from the pressure relief valve 301 into the indoor space to the minimum.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 is connected to the main circuit 220, not to a branch circuit (for example, the heating-circuit-side pipes 82a and 82b and the heating apparatus 300) installed by a technician in the actual place.
- a branch circuit for example, the heating-circuit-side pipes 82a and 82b and the heating apparatus 300
- attachment of the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 and connection between the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 and the controller 201 can be carried out by a manufacturer of the indoor unit 200. It is therefore possible to avoid human errors such as a failure to attach the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 and a failure to connect the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 to the controller 201.
- the blocking devices 77 and 78 are arranged in the refrigerant circuit 110, with the load-side heat exchanger 2 interposed between the blocking devices 77 and 78.
- the smaller the capacity of a section which extends from the blocking device 77 to the blocking device 78 through the load-side heat exchanger 2 the smaller the amount of leakage of refrigerant through the pressure relief valve 70 or the pressure relief valve 301, that is, the amount of the leakage of the refrigerant can be further reduced. Therefore, preferably, devices having a large capacity, such as the compressor 3 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1, should not be provided in the above section.
- the blocking device 77 be provided upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 and downstream of the compressor 3 in the flow of refrigerant during the normal operation.
- the refrigerant flow switching device 4 is provided in the refrigerant circuit 110 as in embodiment 1, it is preferable that the blocking device 77 be provided upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 and downstream of the refrigerant flow switching device 4 in the flow of refrigerant during the normal operation.
- the blocking device 78 be provided downstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 and upstream of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 in the flow of refrigerant during the normal operation.
- the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 (an example of a heat-pump using apparatus) according to embodiment 1 includes the refrigerant circuit 110 which circulates refrigerant, the water circuit 210 (an example of a heat medium circuit) which allows water (an example of a heat medium) to flow through the water circuit 210, and the load-side heat exchanger 2 (an example of a heat exchanger) which causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and the water.
- the water circuit 210 includes the main circuit 220 which extends through the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- the main circuit 220 includes the three-way valve 55 (an example of branching part) which is provided at a downstream end of the main circuit 220, and is connected to the plurality of branch circuits 221 and 222 which branch off from the main circuit 220, and the joining part 230 which is provided at an upstream end of the main circuit 220, and is connected to the plurality of branch circuits 221 and 222 which join the main circuit 220.
- the pressure relief valve 70 an example of a pressure protection device 70
- the pressure relief valve 70 causes water to flow out of the water circuit 210 based on the internal pressure of the water circuit 210.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 detects leakage of refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit 110 into the water circuit 210.
- the blocking device 77 an example of a first blocking device
- the blocking device 78 an example of a second blocking device
- the load-side heat exchanger 2 interposed between the blocking devices 77 and 78.
- the pressure relief valve 301 may be provided in an on-site installed circuit (for example, the heating-circuit-side pipes 82a and 82b) that is connected to the water circuit 210 of the indoor unit 200 at a position which precedes the three-way valve 55 or the joining part 230 as viewed from the main circuit 220 side. In the above configuration, even if the pressure relief valve 301 is provided in the on-site installed circuit, it is possible to reduce leakage of refrigerant from the pressure relief valve 301 into the indoor space.
- the blocking devices 77 and 78 are opening and closing valves which are closed when leakage of refrigerant to the water circuit 210 is detected. In this configuration, if refrigerant leaks to the water circuit 210, the flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 110 can be immediately blocked.
- the pressure relief valve 70 is connected to the booster heater 54 (an example of the connection part) which is located between the load-side heat exchanger 2 and one of the three-way valve 55 and the joining part 230 (which is the three-way valve 55 in this embodiment) in the main circuit 220.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 is connected to the remaining one of the three-way valve 55 and the joining part 230 (which is the joining part 230 in this embodiment), or between the above remaining one (the joining part 230 in this embodiment) and the booster heater 54 (the example of the connection part), or the booster heater 54 (the example of the connection part). In this configuration, before refrigerant having leaked to the water circuit 210 flows into the indoor space, the leakage of the refrigerant can be reliably detected.
- the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98 detects leakage of refrigerant to the water circuit 210 based on the internal pressure of the water circuit 210. In this configuration, leakage of refrigerant can be reliably detected.
- the blocking device 77 is provided between the compressor 3 and the load-side heat exchanger 2 in the refrigerant circuit 110, and the blocking device 78 is provided between the load-side heat exchanger 2 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 in the refrigerant circuit 110. That is, in the flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 110 during a heating operation (a normal operation in this embodiment), the blocking device 77 is located downstream of the compressor 3 and upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2, and the blocking device 78 is located downstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 and upstream of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1.
- devices having a large capacity such as the compressor 3 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 are not located in a section which extends from the blocking device 77 to the blocking device 78 through the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- the amount of leakage of refrigerant from the pressure relief valve 70 or the pressure relief valve 301 can be reduced.
- the blocking device 78 operates as a pressure-reducing device in the refrigerant circuit 110. In this configuration, the number of components in the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 can be reduced.
- the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 further includes the outdoor unit 100 which accommodates the refrigerant circuit 110, part of the water circuit 210, and the load-side heat exchanger 2, and the indoor unit 200 which accommodates the remaining part of the water circuit 210.
- the outdoor unit 100 accommodates the blocking devices 77 and 78 and the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98.
- the controller 101 can be connected to each of the blocking devices 77 and 78 and the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98.
- the versatility of the outdoor unit 100 can be increased, and the flexibility in combination of the outdoor unit 100 and various indoor units can be improved.
- the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 further includes the outdoor unit 100 which accommodates part of the refrigerant circuit 110 and the indoor unit 200 which accommodates the remaining part of the refrigerant circuit 110, the water circuit 210 and the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- the indoor unit 200 accommodates the blocking devices 77 and 78 and the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98.
- the controller 201 can be connected to the blocking devices 77 and 78 and the refrigerant leakage detecting device 98.
- the cost can be reduced.
- the versatility of the indoor unit 200 can be increased, and the flexibility in combination of the indoor unit 200 and various output units can be improved.
- the refrigerant flammable refrigerant or toxic refrigerant may be used.
- FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the heat-pump using apparatus according to embodiment 2.
- a configuration of the indoor unit 200 is primarily illustrated. Components which having the same functions and operations as those in embodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference signs, and their descriptions will be omitted.
- a boiler circuit 240 which heats water stored in the hot water storage tank 51 is provided outside the hot water storage tank 51.
- the boiler circuit 240 includes a water flow passage which connects a lower portion and an upper portion of the hot water storage tank 51.
- the boiler circuit 240 includes a boiler pump 241 and a boiler heat exchanger 242 which causes heat exchange to be performed between water flowing in the boiler circuit 240 and water flowing in the branch circuit 221.
- the boiler pump 241 operates, water in the lower portion of the hot water storage tank 51 flows into the boiler circuit 240.
- the water having flowed into the boiler circuit 240 is heated by heat exchange at the boiler heat exchanger 242, and returns to the upper portion of the hot water storage tank 51.
- the same advantages as or similar advantages to those in embodiment 1 can be obtained.
- the plate-type heat exchanger is described above as an example of the load-side heat exchanger 2.
- a heat exchanger other than the plate-type heat exchanger such as a double-pipe heat exchanger may be used as the load-side heat exchanger 2 as long as the heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between refrigerant and a heat medium.
- the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 is described above as an example of a heat-pump using apparatus.
- the present invention is also applicable to other types of heat-pump using apparatus such as a chiller.
- the indoor unit 200 provided with the hot water storage tank 51 is described above as an example.
- the hot water storage tank may be provided separate from the indoor unit 200.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
- Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a heat-pump using apparatus including a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium circuit.
-
Patent Literature 1 describes an outdoor unit of a heat-pump cycle apparatus using flammable refrigerant. The outdoor unit includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, an air heat exchanger, an expansion device and a water heat exchanger are connected by pipes, and a pressure relief valve which prevents an excessive increase in hydraulic pressure in a water circuit for supplying water heated by the water heat exchanger. Thereby, even if a partition wall which isolates the refrigerant circuit and the water circuit from each other in the water heat exchanger is broken, and the flammable refrigerant thus enters the water circuit, the flammable refrigerant can be discharged to the outdoors via the pressure relief valve. - Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2013-167398 - In a heat-pump using apparatus such as a heat-pump cycle apparatus, in general, a pressure relief valve of a water circuit is provided in an indoor unit. In the heat-pump using apparatus, there are various combinations of outdoor and indoor units. For example, in a given case, an outdoor unit and an indoor unit manufactured by the same manufacturer are combined together, and in another case, an outdoor unit and an indoor unit manufactured by different manufacturers are combined. Therefore, the outdoor unit described in
Patent Literature 1 may be combined with an indoor unit equipped with a pressure relief valve. - However, in the above case, if refrigerant leaks into the water circuit, refrigerant which mixes with water in the water circuit may be discharged not only from a pressure relief valve provided in the outdoor unit, but from a pressure relief valve disposed in the indoor unit. Therefore, there is a risk that the refrigerant will leak from the water circuit into a room.
- The present invention aims to solve the above problem, and provide a heat-pump using apparatus which can prevent leaking refrigerant from entering a room. Solution to Problem
- A heat-pump using apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerant circuit which circulates refrigerant; a heat medium circuit which causes a heat medium to flow therein; and a heat exchanger which causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and the heat medium. The heat medium circuit includes a main circuit extending via the heat exchanger. The main circuit includes a branching part which is located at a downstream end of the main circuit, and connected to those portions of a plurality of branch circuits which branch off from the main circuit are connected, the branching part being provided at a downstream end of the main circuit, and a joining part which is located at an upstream end of the main circuit, and connected to those portions of the plurality of branch which join the main circuit. To the main circuit, a pressure protection device and a refrigerant leakage detecting device are connected. The main circuit includes a first blocking device and a second blocking device between which the heat exchanger is located.
- Advantageous Effects of Invention
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, even in the case where refrigerant leaks into a heat medium circuit, the flow of the refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit can be blocked by a first blocking device and a second blocking device. It is therefore possible to reduce leakage of refrigerant from a pressure protection device into indoor space.
-
- [
Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a heat-pump using apparatus according toembodiment 1 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a heat-pump using apparatus according to a modification ofembodiment 1 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of the position of a refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 in the heat-pump using apparatus according toembodiment 1 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a heat-pump using apparatus according toembodiment 2 of the present invention. Description of embodiments - A heat-pump using apparatus according to
embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the heat-pump using apparatus according toembodiment 1. Inembodiment 1, a heat-pump hot-watersupply heating apparatus 1000 is provided as an example of the heat-pump using apparatus. In figures includingFig. 1 which are to be referred to below, the relationships in size, shape, etc. between structural components may be different from actual ones. - As illustrated in
Fig. 1 , the heat-pump hot-watersupply heating apparatus 1000 includes arefrigerant circuit 110 in which refrigerant is circulated and awater circuit 210 in which water is made to flow. The heat-pump hot-watersupply heating apparatus 1000 further includes anoutdoor unit 100 installed outside an indoor space (outdoors, for example) and anindoor unit 200 installed in the indoor space. Theindoor unit 200 is installed in, for example, a kitchen, a bathroom, a laundry room, or a storage space such as a closet in a building. - In the
refrigerant circuit 110, a compressor 3, a refrigerant flow switching device 4, a load-side heat exchanger 2, a pressure-reducing device 6 and a heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 are successively connected by refrigerant pipes. Therefrigerant circuit 110 of the heat-pump hot-watersupply heating apparatus 1000 is capable of performing a normal operation (for example, a heating and hot-water supplying operation) in which water flowing in thewater circuit 210 is heated and a defrosting operation in which refrigerant is caused to flow in an opposite direction to the flow direction of the refrigerant in the normal operation to defrost the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1. - The compressor 3 is a fluid machine which compresses low-pressure refrigerant sucked therein, and discharges the refrigerant as high-pressure refrigerant. In this embodiment, the compressor 3 includes, for example, an inverter device, and can vary a capacity (the amount of refrigerant to be sent unit time) by arbitrarily changing a driving frequency.
- The refrigerant flow switching device 4 switches the flow direction of the refrigerant in the
refrigerant circuit 110 between that in the normal operation and that in the defrosting operation. For example, a four-way valve is used as the refrigerant flow switching device 4. - The load-
side heat exchanger 2 is a water-refrigerant heat exchanger which causes heat exchange to be performed between refrigerant flowing in therefrigerant circuit 110 and water flowing in thewater circuit 210. For example, a plate heat exchanger is used as the load-side heat exchanger 2. The load-side heat exchanger 2 includes a refrigerant passage which allows refrigerant to flow therethrough, as part of therefrigerant circuit 110, a water passage which allows water to flow therethrough as part of thewater circuit 210, and a thin-plate partition wall which isolates the refrigerant passage and the water passage from each other. The load-side heat exchanger 2 operates as a condenser (heat-transferring device) which heats water during the normal operation, and transfers condensation heat of refrigerant to water, and operates as an evaporator (heat-receiving device) during the defrosting operation. - The pressure-reducing device 6 adjusts the flow rate of refrigerant, and, for example, adjusts the pressure of refrigerant flowing in the load-
side heat exchanger 2. The pressure-reducing device 6 inembodiment 1 is an electronic expansion valve whose opening degree can be varied in response to an instruction from acontroller 101, which will be described below. For example, a thermosensitive expansion valve (for example, a thermosensitive expansion valve integrated with a solenoid valve) can be used as the pressure-reducing device 6. - The heat-source-
side heat exchanger 1 is an air-refrigerant heat exchanger which causes heat exchange to be performed between refrigerant flowing through therefrigerant circuit 110 and outdoor air sent by an outdoor fan (not illustrated) or other devices. The heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 operates as an evaporator (heat-receiving device) during the normal operation, and operates as a condenser (heat-transfer device) during the defrosting operation. - As a first blocking device, a blocking
device 77 is provided upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 in the flow of the refrigerant in the normal operation. In the flow of the refrigerant in the normal operation, the blockingdevice 77 is located downstream of the compressor 3 and upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 in therefrigerant circuit 110. In the case where the refrigerant flow switching device 4 is provided as inembodiment 1, it is preferable that the blockingdevice 77 be located downstream of the refrigerant flow switching device 4 and upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 in therefrigerant circuit 110 in the flow of the refrigerant in the normal operation. As the blockingdevice 77, an opening and closing valve (for example, a solenoid valve, a flow control valve or an electronic expansion valve) which is to be controlled by thecontroller 101 to be described later is used. The blockingdevice 77 is in an opened state during the operation of therefrigerant circuit 110, which includes the normal operation and the defrosting operation. When the blockingdevice 77 is made to be in a closed state by the control by thecontroller 101, the blockingdevice 77 blocks the flow of the refrigerant. - Furthermore, as a second blocking device, a blocking
device 78 is provided downstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 in the flow of the refrigerant in the normal operation. The blockingdevice 78 is provided downstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 and upstream of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 in therefrigerant circuit 110 in the flow of the refrigerant in the normal operation. As the blockingdevice 78, an opening and closing valve (for example, a solenoid valve, a flow-rate control valve or an electronic expansion valve) which is to be controlled by thecontroller 101 to be described later is used. The blockingdevice 78 is in the opened state during the operation of therefrigerant circuit 110, which includes the normal operation and the defrosting operation. When set in the closed state by the control by thecontroller 101, the blockingdevice 78 blocks the flow of the refrigerant. - In the case where the pressure-reducing device 6 is an electronic expansion valve or a thermosensitive expansion valve integrated with a solenoid valve, the pressure-reducing device 6 can double as the blocking
device 78. That is, in the case where the pressure-reducing device 6 is an electronic expansion valve or a thermosensitive expansion valve integrated with a solenoid valve, it is possible to omit the blockingdevice 78, and also use the pressure-reducing device 6 as a second blocking device. In other words, in the case where the blockingdevice 78 is an electronic expansion valve or a thermosensitive expansion valve integrated with a solenoid valve, it is possible to omit the pressure-reducing device 6, and cause theblocking device 78 to double as a pressure-reducing device. - For example, a slightly flammable refrigerant such as R1234yf or R1234ze(E) or a highly flammable refrigerant such as R290 or R1270 is used as the refrigerant circulating in the
refrigerant circuit 110. Each of these refrigerants may be used as a single refrigerant, or two or more of them may be mixed and used as a mixed refrigerant. Hereinafter, there is a case where a refrigerant having flammability of at least a slightly flammable level (at least 2L under ASHRAE34 classification, for example) will be referred to as "refrigerant having flammability" or "flammable refrigerant." Furthermore, an inflammable refrigerant having inflammability (1 under ASHRAE34 classification, for example) such as R407C or R410A can be used as refrigerant to be circulated in therefrigerant circuit 110. These refrigerants have a higher density than air under atmospheric pressure (when the temperature is room temperature (25 degrees Celsius), for example). Furthermore, refrigerant having toxicity, such as R717 (ammonia), can be used as the refrigerant to be circulated in therefrigerant circuit 110. - The
refrigerant circuit 110 including the compressor 3, the refrigerant flow switching device 4, the blockingdevice 77, the load-side heat exchanger 2, the blockingdevice 78, the pressure-reducing device 6 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 is provided in theoutdoor unit 100. - Furthermore, the
controller 101, which performs control manly of an operation of the refrigerant circuit 110 (for example, the compressor 3, the refrigerant flow switching device 4, the blockingdevices outdoor unit 100. Thecontroller 101 is capable of communicating, via acontrol line 102, with acontroller 201 and anoperation unit 202, which will be described later. - An example of the operation of the
refrigerant circuit 110 will be described. InFig. 1 , solid arrows indicate the flow direction of refrigerant in therefrigerant circuit 110 in the normal operation. In the normal operation, the refrigerant flow switching device 4 switches refrigerant passages as indicated by the solid arrows, and therefrigerant circuit 110 is configured such that high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows into the load-side heat exchanger 2. - The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 passes through the refrigerant flow switching device 4 and the blocking
device 77 being in the opened state, and flows into the refrigerant passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2. In the normal operation, the load-side heat exchanger 2 operates as a condenser. That is, the load-side heat exchanger 2 causes heat exchange to be carried out between refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage and water flowing through the water passage, and the condensation heat of the refrigerant is transferred to the water. Thereby, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2 condenses and changes into high-pressure liquid refrigerant. Furthermore, the water flowing through the water passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2 is heated by the heat transferred from the refrigerant. - The high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed at the load-
side heat exchanger 2 flows into the pressure-reducing device 6 via the blockingdevice 78 being in the opened state, and is reduced in pressure to change into low-pressure, two-phase refrigerant. The low-pressure, two-phase refrigerant flows into the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1. In the normal operation, the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 operates as an evaporator. To be more specific, in the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1, heat exchange is carried out between the refrigerant flowing therein and the outdoor air sent by the outdoor fan, whereby the evaporation heat of the refrigerant is received by the outdoor air. By virtue of this configuration, the refrigerant having flowed into the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 evaporates and changes into low-pressure gas refrigerant. The low-pressure gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 3 via the refrigerant flow switching device 4. The refrigerant sucked into the compressor 3 is compressed and changes into high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. In the normal operation, the above cycle is continuously repeated. - It will be described by way of example what operation is performed during the defrosting operation. In
Fig. 1 , broken arrows indicate the flow direction of the refrigerant in therefrigerant circuit 110 in the defrosting operation. In the defrosting operation, the refrigerant flow switching device 4 switches the refrigerant passages as indicated by the broken arrows, whereby therefrigerant circuit 110 is configured such that the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows into the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1. - The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 flows into the heat-source-
side heat exchanger 1 via the refrigerant flow switching device 4. In the defrosting operation, the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 operates as a condenser. To be more specific, in the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1, the condensation heat of the refrigerant flowing therein is transferred to frost formed on a surface of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1. By virtue of this configuration, the refrigerant flowing in the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 condenses and changes into high-pressure liquid refrigerant. Further, the frost formed on the surface of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 is melted by the heat transferred from the refrigerant. - The high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed at the heat-source-
side heat exchanger 1 passes through the pressure-reducing device 6, changes into low-pressure, two-phase refrigerant, then passes through the blockingdevice 78 being in the opened state, and flows into the refrigerant flow passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2. In the defrosting operation, the load-side heat exchanger 2 operates as an evaporator. That is, in the load-side heat exchanger 2, heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage and the water flowing through the water passage, whereby heat is received from the water as the evaporation heat of the refrigerant. By virtue of this configuration, the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2 evaporates and changes into low-pressure gas refrigerant. The gas refrigerant passes through the blockingdevice 77 being in the opened state and the refrigerant flow switching device 4, and is then sucked into the compressor 3. The refrigerant sucked into the compressor 3 is compressed and changes into high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. In the defrosting operation, the above cycle is continuously repeated. - The
water circuit 210 will be described. Thewater circuit 210 ofembodiment 1 is a closed circuit which circulates water. InFig. 1 , the flow directions of the water are indicated by outlined arrows. Thewater circuit 210 is configured such that a water circuit in theoutdoor unit 100 and a water circuit in theindoor unit 200 are connected. Thewater circuit 210 includes amain circuit 220, abranch circuit 221 forming a hot-water supply circuit, and abranch circuit 222 forming part of a heating circuit. Themain circuit 220 forms part of the closed circuit. Thebranch circuits main circuit 220 as branches therefrom. Thebranch circuits branch circuit 221 forms together with the main circuit 220 a closed circuit. Thebranch circuit 222 forms together with themain circuit 220, aheating apparatus 300, etc., a closed circuit. Theheating apparatus 300 is connected to thebranch circuit 222. Theheating apparatus 300 is provided in the indoor space, and is located separate from theindoor unit 200. As theheating apparatus 300, for example, a radiator or a floor-heating apparatus is used. - With respect to
embodiment 1, although water is described as an example of a heat medium which flows in thewater circuit 210, another liquid heat medium such as brine can be used as the heat medium. - In the
main circuit 220, astrainer 56, aflow switch 57, the load-side heat exchanger 2, abooster heater 54, apump 53, etc., are connected by water pipes. At intermediate part of the water pipes forming themain circuit 220, adrain outlet 62 is provided to drain water in thewater circuit 210. A downstream end of themain circuit 220 is connected to an inflow port of a three-way valve 55 (an example of a branching part) including a single inflow port and two outflow ports. At the three-way valve 55, thebranch circuits main circuit 220. An upstream end of themain circuit 220 is connected to a joiningpart 230. At the joiningpart 230, thebranch circuits main circuit 220. Part of thewater circuit 210 which extends from the joiningpart 230 to the three-way valve 55 via the load-side heat exchanger 2, etc., forms themain circuit 220. - The load-
side heat exchanger 2 of themain circuit 220 is provided in theoutdoor unit 100. Devices of themain circuit 220 which are other than the load-side heat exchanger 2 are provided in theindoor unit 200. That is, themain circuit 220 of thewater circuit 210 is provided to extend between theoutdoor unit 100 and theindoor unit 200. Part of themain circuit 220 is provided in theoutdoor unit 100, and the remaining part of themain circuit 220 is provided in theindoor unit 200. Theoutdoor unit 100 and theindoor unit 200 are connected to each other by twoconnection pipes main circuit 220. - The
pump 53 is a device which pressurizes the water in thewater circuit 210 to circulate the water in thewater circuit 210. Thebooster heater 54 is a device which further heats the water in thewater circuit 210, for example, when the heating capacity of theoutdoor unit 100 is insufficient. The three-way valve 55 is a device which changes the flow of the water in thewater circuit 210. For example, the three-way valve 55 switches the flow of the water in themain circuit 220 between circulation of the water in thebranch circuit 221 and circulation of the water in thebranch circuit 222. Thestrainer 56 is a device which removes scale in thewater circuit 210. Theflow switch 57 is a device which detects whether the flow rate of the water circulating in thewater circuit 210 is higher than or equal to a certain rate. Theflow switch 57 can be replaced by a flow-rate sensor. - The
booster heater 54 is connected to a pressure relief valve 70 (an example of a pressure protection device). That is, thebooster heater 54 serves as connection part of thepressure relief valve 70, which is connected to thewater circuit 210. It should be noted that the connection part of thepressure relief valve 70 will be hereinafter occasionally referred to as "connection part". Thepressure relief valve 70 is a protection device which prevents an excessive increase in pressure in thewater circuit 210 which accompanies a change in temperature of the water. Thepressure relief valve 70 discharges the water to the outside of thewater circuit 210 based on the pressure in thewater circuit 210. For example, if the internal pressure of thewater circuit 210 increases to exceed a pressure control range of an expansion tank 52 (to be described later), thepressure relief valve 70 is opened to discharge the water in thewater circuit 210 to the outside of thewater circuit 210 from thepressure relief valve 70. Thepressure relief valve 70 is provided at theindoor unit 200 in order to effect pressure protection in thewater circuit 210 in theindoor unit 200. - A housing of the
booster heater 54 is connected to one of ends of apipe 72 forming a water passage branching off from themain circuit 220. To the other end of thepipe 72, thepressure relief valve 70 is attached. That is, thepressure relief valve 70 is connected to thebooster heater 54 by thepipe 72. In themain circuit 220, the temperature of water in thebooster heater 54 is the highest. Therefore, thebooster heater 54 is most suitable as the connection part to which thepressure relief valve 70 is connected. Further, in the case where thepressure relief valve 70 is connected to thebranch circuits branch circuits pressure relief valves 70 need to be provided. Inembodiment 1, since thepressure relief valve 70 is connected to themain circuit 220, it suffices to provide a singlepressure relief valve 70. - At an intermediate part of the
pipe 72, a branchingpart 72a is provided. The branchingpart 72a is connected to one of ends of apipe 75. The other end of thepipe 75 is connected to theexpansion tank 52. That is, theexpansion tank 52 is connected to thebooster heater 54 by thepipes expansion tank 52 is a device which controls the change of the internal pressure of thewater circuit 210, which accompanies the change of the temperature of the water, such that the change of the internal pressure of the water circuit 21 falls within a certain range. - The
main circuit 220 includes a refrigerantleakage detecting device 98. The refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 is connected between the load-side heat exchanger 2 and the booster heater 54 (the connection part) in themain circuit 220. The refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 is a device which detects leakage of refrigerant from therefrigerant circuit 110 into thewater circuit 210. If refrigerant leaks from therefrigerant circuit 110 into thewater circuit 210, the internal pressure of thewater circuit 210 raises. Therefore, the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 can detect the leakage of the refrigerant into thewater circuit 210 based on the internal pressure of the water circuit 210 (the value of the pressure or the variation of the pressure thereof which is made with the passage of time). As the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98, for example, a pressure sensor or a pressure switch (high-pressure switch) which detects the internal pressure of thewater circuit 210 is used. For example, the pressure switch may adopt an electric system or a mechanical system using a diaphragm. The refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 outputs a detection signal to thecontroller 101. - In
embodiment 1, the blockingdevices leakage detecting device 98 are all provided in theoutdoor unit 100. Therefore, the blockingdevices leakage detecting device 98 can be connected to thecontroller 101 by a control line in theoutdoor unit 100, thus reducing the cost. Furthermore, control of the blockingdevices outdoor unit 100 solely. Therefore, the versatility of theoutdoor unit 100 is increased, and the flexibility in combination of theoutdoor unit 100 and various indoor units is improved. In a configuration in which the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 outputs a contact signal when leakage of refrigerant occurs, the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 and theblocking devices controller 101. - The
branch circuit 221 forming the hot-water supply circuit is provided in theindoor unit 200. An upstream end of thebranch circuit 221 is connected to one of the outflow ports of the three-way valve 55. A downstream end of thebranch circuit 221 is connected to the joiningpart 230. Thebranch circuit 221 includes acoil 61. Thecoil 61 is located in a hot-water storage tank 51 which stores water therein. Thecoil 61 is a heating unit which heats the water stored in the hot-water storage tank 51 through heat exchange with water (hot water) circulating in thebranch circuit 221 of thewater circuit 210. Furthermore, the hot-water storage tank 51 includes animmersion heater 60 provided therein. Theimmersion heater 60 is a heating unit which further heats the water stored in the hot-water storage tank 51. - To an upper part of the interior of the hot-
water storage tank 51, a sanitary circuit-side pipe 81a (for example, a hot-water supply pipe), which is to be connected to, for example, a shower, is connected. To a lower part of the interior of the hot-water storage tank 51, a sanitary circuit-side pipe 81b (for example, a supply water pipe) is connected. At a lower part of the hot-water storage tank 51, adrain outlet 63 is provided to drain the water in the hot-water storage tank 51. The hot-water storage tank 51 is covered by a heat insulating material (not illustrated) to prevent reduction of the temperature of the water in the hot-water storage tank 51, which would be caused by heat transfer to the outside of the hot-water storage tank 51. As the heat insulating material, for example, felt, Thinsulate (registered trademark), or vacuum insulation panel (VIP) is applied. - The
branch circuit 222 forming part of the heating circuit is provided in theindoor unit 200. Thebranch circuit 222 includes asupply pipe 222a and areturn pipe 222b. An upstream end of thesupply pipe 222a is connected to the other outflow port of the three-way valve 55. A downstream end of thesupply pipe 222a and an upstream end of thereturn pipe 222b and an upstream end of thereturn pipe 222b are connected to a heating-circuit-side pipe 82a and a heating-circuit-side pipe 82b, respectively. A downstream end of thereturn pipe 222b is connected to the joiningpart 230. Thereby, thesupply pipe 222a and thereturn pipe 222b are connected to theheating apparatus 300 by the heating-circuit-side pipe 82a and the heating-circuit-side pipe 82b, respectively. The heating-circuit-side pipes heating apparatus 300 are disposed in the indoor space and outside theindoor unit 200. Thebranch circuit 222 forms together with the heating-circuit-side pipes heating apparatus 300, the heating circuit. - The heating-circuit-
side pipe 82a is connected to apressure relief valve 301. Thepressure relief valve 301 is a protection device which prevents an excessive increase in the internal pressure of thewater circuit 210, and has the same structure as or a similar structure to the structure of, for example, thepressure relief valve 70. For example, if the internal pressure of the heating-circuit-side pipe 82a exceeds a set pressure, thepressure relief valve 301 is opened to discharge water in the heating-circuit-side pipe 82a to the outside of the heating-circuit-side pipe 82a from thepressure relief valve 301. Thepressure relief valve 301 is provided in the indoor space and outside theindoor unit 200. - The
heating apparatus 300, the heating-circuit-side pipes pressure relief valve 301 inembodiment 1 are not part of the heat-pump hot-watersupply heating apparatus 1000, but are equipment to be installed by a technician in the actual place in accordance with the circumstances of each of properties. For example, in existing equipment using a boiler as a heat source apparatus of theheating apparatus 300, there is a case where the heat source apparatus is updated, that is, it is replaced with the heat-pump hot-watersupply heating apparatus 1000. In such a case, theheating apparatus 300, the heating-circuit-side pipes pressure relief valve 301 continue to be used, unless they cause any particular inconvenience. Therefore, it is preferable that the heat-pump hot-watersupply heating apparatus 1000 be connectable to variable kinds of equipment regardless of whether thepressure relief valve 301 is provided or not. - The
indoor unit 200 is provided with thecontroller 201 which performs control mainly of the operation of the water circuit 210 (for example, thepump 53, thebooster heater 54 and the three-way valve 55). Thecontroller 201 includes a microcomputer provided with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I/O port, etc. Thecontroller 201 can mutually communicate with thecontroller 101 and theoperation unit 202. - The
operation unit 202 is configured to allow a user to operate the heat-pump hot-watersupply heating apparatus 1000, and to make various settings. Inembodiment 1, theoperation unit 202 includes adisplay unit 203 as a notifying unit which indicates information. Thedisplay unit 203 is capable of displaying various information such as the state of the heat-pump hot-watersupply heating apparatus 1000. Theoperation unit 202 is provided at, for example, a surface of a housing of theindoor unit 200. - Next, it will be described what operation is performed if the partition wall isolating the refrigerant passage and the water passage from each other is broken in the load-
side heat exchanger 2. The load-side heat exchanger 2 operates as an evaporator in the defrosting operation. Therefore, the partition wall of the load-side heat exchanger 2 may be broken by, for example, freezing of water which occurs particularly in the defrosting operation. In general, the pressure of refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2 is higher than the pressure of water flowing in the water passage of the load-side heat exchanger 2 in either the normal operation or the defrosting operation. Therefore, if the partition wall of the load-side heat exchanger 2 is broken, the refrigerant in the refrigerant passage flows out into the water passage and mixes with the water in the water passage in either the normal operation or the defrosting operation. At this time, the pressure of the refrigerant mixing with the water is reduced, and the refrigerant thus gasifies. Further, since the refrigerant the pressure of which is higher than that of the water mixes into the water, the internal pressure of thewater circuit 210 is raised. - The refrigerant mixing with the water of the
water circuit 210 in the load-side heat exchanger 2 flows not only in a direction along the normal flow of water (that is, a direction from the load-side heat exchanger 2 toward the booster heater 54), but in an opposite direction to the direction of a normal flow of water (that is, a direction from the load-side heat exchanger 2 toward the joining part 230), because of the difference in pressure between the refrigerant and water. In the case where themain circuit 220 of thewater circuit 210 is provided with thepressure relief valve 70 as inembodiment 1, the refrigerant mixing with the water can be discharged together with the water into the indoor space from thepressure relief valve 70. Furthermore, in the case where the heating-circuit-side pipe pressure relief valve 301 as inembodiment 1, the refrigerant mixing with the water can be discharged together with the water into the indoor space from thepressure relief valve 301. That is, thepressure relief valves water circuit 210 is discharged to the outside of thewater circuit 210. If the refrigerant has flammability, when the refrigerant is discharged from thepressure relief valve - In
embodiment 1, in the case where leakage of refrigerant to thewater circuit 210 is detected based on a detection signal from the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98, thecontroller 101 stops the compressor 3 and causes theblocking devices refrigerant circuit 110 is blocked by the blockingdevices side heat exchanger 2. That is, with respect to the flow of refrigerant, the load-side heat exchanger 2 is isolated from therefrigerant circuit 110. Therefore, the amount of refrigerant leaking to thewater circuit 210 in the load-side heat exchanger 2 can be reduced to an amount less than or equal to the amount of refrigerant existing in the load-side heat exchanger 2. Thus, inembodiment 1, it is possible to reduce leakage of refrigerant into the indoor space through thepressure relief valves -
Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a heat-pump using apparatus according to a modification ofembodiment 1. As illustrated inFig. 2 , the configuration of this modification is different from the configuration as illustrated inFig. 1 on the point that the load-side heat exchanger 2 is provided in theindoor unit 200. Therefrigerant circuit 110 is provided to extend between theoutdoor unit 100 and theindoor unit 200. Part of therefrigerant circuit 110 is provided in theoutdoor unit 100, and the remaining part of therefrigerant circuit 110 is provided in theindoor unit 200. Theoutdoor unit 100 and theindoor unit 200 are connected to each other by twoconnection pipes refrigerant circuit 110. Also in this modification, the same advantages as or similar advantages to those of the configuration as illustrated inFig. 1 can be obtained. Furthermore, in the modification, the blockingdevices leakage detecting device 98 are all provided in theindoor unit 200. The refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 outputs a detection signal to thecontroller 201, and theblocking devices controller 201. Thereby, the blockingdevices leakage detecting device 98 can be connected to thecontroller 201 by a control line in theindoor unit 200. Thus, the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, control of the blockingdevices leakage detecting device 98 can be achieved in theindoor unit 200. Therefore, the versatility of theindoor unit 200 is increased, and the flexibility in combination of theindoor unit 200 and various outdoor units is improved. - The position of the refrigerant
leakage detecting device 98 provided will be described.Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of the position of the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 in the heat-pump using apparatus according toembodiment 1.Fig. 3 illustrates five positions A to E as examples of the position of the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98. In the case where the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 is provided at the position A or B, it is connected to thepipe 72. That is, it is connected to themain circuit 220 by the booster heater 54 (connection part), as well as thepressure relief valve 70. In such a case, the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 can reliably detect leakage of the refrigerant before the refrigerant leaking into thewater circuit 210 in the load-side heat exchanger 2 is discharged from thepressure relief valve 70. When the leakage of the refrigerant into thewater circuit 210 is detected by the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98, the flow of the refrigerant in therefrigerant circuit 110 is immediately blocked by the blockingdevices side heat exchanger 2. It is therefore possible to reduce the amount of refrigerant leaking into the indoor space from thepressure relief valve 70 to the minimum. The same advantage as described above or a similar advantage to the advantage as described above can be also obtained in the case where the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 is connected to the load-side heat exchanger 2 or between the load-side heat exchanger 2 and thebooster heater 54 in themain circuit 220. - In the case where the refrigerant
leakage detecting device 98 is provided at the position C or D, it is connected between the booster heater 54 (connection part) and the three-way valve 55 in themain circuit 220. In this case, the refrigerant may be discharged from thepressure relief valve 70 before the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 detects the leakage of the refrigerant. However, as described above, when the leakage of the refrigerant into thewater circuit 210 is detected, the flow of the refrigerant in therefrigerant circuit 110 is immediately blocked at two positions which precedes and succeeds the load-side heat exchanger 2. It is therefore possible to reduce the amount of refrigerant leaking from thepressure relief valve 70 into the indoor space to the minimum. - In the case where the refrigerant
leakage detecting device 98 is provided at the position E, it is connected between the load-side heat exchanger 2 and the joiningpart 230 in themain circuit 220. In this case, the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 can reliably detect leakage of the refrigerant before the refrigerant leaking into thewater circuit 210 is discharged from thepressure relief valve 301 provided outside theindoor unit 200. When the leakage of the refrigerant into thewater circuit 210 is detected by the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98, the flow of the refrigerant in therefrigerant circuit 110 is immediately blocked by the blockingdevices side heat exchanger 2. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of refrigerant leaking from thepressure relief valve 301 into the indoor space to the minimum. - In all the configurations as illustrated in
Figs. 1 to 3 , the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 is connected to themain circuit 220, not to a branch circuit (for example, the heating-circuit-side pipes leakage detecting device 98 and connection between the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 and thecontroller 201 can be carried out by a manufacturer of theindoor unit 200. It is therefore possible to avoid human errors such as a failure to attach the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 and a failure to connect the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 to thecontroller 201. - Next, the positions of the blocking
devices devices refrigerant circuit 110, with the load-side heat exchanger 2 interposed between the blockingdevices refrigerant circuit 110, the smaller the capacity of a section which extends from the blockingdevice 77 to the blockingdevice 78 through the load-side heat exchanger 2, the smaller the amount of leakage of refrigerant through thepressure relief valve 70 or thepressure relief valve 301, that is, the amount of the leakage of the refrigerant can be further reduced. Therefore, preferably, devices having a large capacity, such as the compressor 3 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1, should not be provided in the above section. That is, it is preferable that the blockingdevice 77 be provided upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 and downstream of the compressor 3 in the flow of refrigerant during the normal operation. In the case where the refrigerant flow switching device 4 is provided in therefrigerant circuit 110 as inembodiment 1, it is preferable that the blockingdevice 77 be provided upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 and downstream of the refrigerant flow switching device 4 in the flow of refrigerant during the normal operation. Furthermore, it is preferable that the blockingdevice 78 be provided downstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 and upstream of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 in the flow of refrigerant during the normal operation. - As described above, the heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus 1000 (an example of a heat-pump using apparatus) according to
embodiment 1 includes therefrigerant circuit 110 which circulates refrigerant, the water circuit 210 (an example of a heat medium circuit) which allows water (an example of a heat medium) to flow through thewater circuit 210, and the load-side heat exchanger 2 (an example of a heat exchanger) which causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and the water. Thewater circuit 210 includes themain circuit 220 which extends through the load-side heat exchanger 2. Themain circuit 220 includes the three-way valve 55 (an example of branching part) which is provided at a downstream end of themain circuit 220, and is connected to the plurality ofbranch circuits main circuit 220, and the joiningpart 230 which is provided at an upstream end of themain circuit 220, and is connected to the plurality ofbranch circuits main circuit 220. To themain circuit 220, the pressure relief valve 70 (an example of a pressure protection device 70) and the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 are connected. Thepressure relief valve 70 causes water to flow out of thewater circuit 210 based on the internal pressure of thewater circuit 210. The refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 detects leakage of refrigerant from therefrigerant circuit 110 into thewater circuit 210. In therefrigerant circuit 110, the blocking device 77 (an example of a first blocking device) and the blocking device 78 (an example of a second blocking device) are provided, with the load-side heat exchanger 2 interposed between the blockingdevices - In this configuration, even if refrigerant leaks to the
water circuit 210, the flow of the refrigerant in therefrigerant circuit 110 can be blocked by the blockingdevices pressure relief valve 70 into indoor space. Furthermore, thepressure relief valve 301 may be provided in an on-site installed circuit (for example, the heating-circuit-side pipes water circuit 210 of theindoor unit 200 at a position which precedes the three-way valve 55 or the joiningpart 230 as viewed from themain circuit 220 side. In the above configuration, even if thepressure relief valve 301 is provided in the on-site installed circuit, it is possible to reduce leakage of refrigerant from thepressure relief valve 301 into the indoor space. - In the heat-pump hot-water
supply heating apparatus 1000 according toembodiment 1, the blockingdevices water circuit 210 is detected. In this configuration, if refrigerant leaks to thewater circuit 210, the flow of refrigerant in therefrigerant circuit 110 can be immediately blocked. - In the heat-pump hot-water
supply heating apparatus 1000 according toembodiment 1, thepressure relief valve 70 is connected to the booster heater 54 (an example of the connection part) which is located between the load-side heat exchanger 2 and one of the three-way valve 55 and the joining part 230 (which is the three-way valve 55 in this embodiment) in themain circuit 220. The refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 is connected to the remaining one of the three-way valve 55 and the joining part 230 (which is the joiningpart 230 in this embodiment), or between the above remaining one (the joiningpart 230 in this embodiment) and the booster heater 54 (the example of the connection part), or the booster heater 54 (the example of the connection part). In this configuration, before refrigerant having leaked to thewater circuit 210 flows into the indoor space, the leakage of the refrigerant can be reliably detected. - In the heat-pump hot-water
supply heating apparatus 1000 according toembodiment 1, the refrigerantleakage detecting device 98 detects leakage of refrigerant to thewater circuit 210 based on the internal pressure of thewater circuit 210. In this configuration, leakage of refrigerant can be reliably detected. - In the heat-pump hot-water
supply heating apparatus 1000 according toembodiment 1, the blockingdevice 77 is provided between the compressor 3 and the load-side heat exchanger 2 in therefrigerant circuit 110, and the blockingdevice 78 is provided between the load-side heat exchanger 2 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 in therefrigerant circuit 110. That is, in the flow of refrigerant in therefrigerant circuit 110 during a heating operation (a normal operation in this embodiment), the blockingdevice 77 is located downstream of the compressor 3 and upstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2, and the blockingdevice 78 is located downstream of the load-side heat exchanger 2 and upstream of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1. In this configuration, devices having a large capacity such as the compressor 3 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 1 are not located in a section which extends from the blockingdevice 77 to the blockingdevice 78 through the load-side heat exchanger 2. Thus, the amount of leakage of refrigerant from thepressure relief valve 70 or thepressure relief valve 301 can be reduced. - In the heat-pump hot-water
supply heating apparatus 1000 according toembodiment 1, the blockingdevice 78 operates as a pressure-reducing device in therefrigerant circuit 110. In this configuration, the number of components in the heat-pump hot-watersupply heating apparatus 1000 can be reduced. - The heat-pump hot-water
supply heating apparatus 1000 according toembodiment 1 further includes theoutdoor unit 100 which accommodates therefrigerant circuit 110, part of thewater circuit 210, and the load-side heat exchanger 2, and theindoor unit 200 which accommodates the remaining part of thewater circuit 210. Theoutdoor unit 100 accommodates the blockingdevices leakage detecting device 98. In this configuration, in theoutdoor unit 100, thecontroller 101 can be connected to each of the blockingdevices leakage detecting device 98. Thus, the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, in this configuration, the versatility of theoutdoor unit 100 can be increased, and the flexibility in combination of theoutdoor unit 100 and various indoor units can be improved. - The heat-pump hot-water
supply heating apparatus 1000 according toembodiment 1 further includes theoutdoor unit 100 which accommodates part of therefrigerant circuit 110 and theindoor unit 200 which accommodates the remaining part of therefrigerant circuit 110, thewater circuit 210 and the load-side heat exchanger 2. Theindoor unit 200 accommodates the blockingdevices leakage detecting device 98. In this configuration, in theindoor unit 200, thecontroller 201 can be connected to theblocking devices leakage detecting device 98. Thus, the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, in this configuration, the versatility of theindoor unit 200 can be increased, and the flexibility in combination of theindoor unit 200 and various output units can be improved. - In the heat-pump hot-water
supply heating apparatus 1000 according toembodiment 1, as the refrigerant, flammable refrigerant or toxic refrigerant may be used. - A heat-pump using apparatus according to
embodiment 2 of the present invention will be explained.Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the heat-pump using apparatus according toembodiment 2. InFig. 4 , a configuration of theindoor unit 200 is primarily illustrated. Components which having the same functions and operations as those inembodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference signs, and their descriptions will be omitted. As illustrated inFig. 4 , inembodiment 2, aboiler circuit 240 which heats water stored in the hotwater storage tank 51 is provided outside the hotwater storage tank 51. Theboiler circuit 240 includes a water flow passage which connects a lower portion and an upper portion of the hotwater storage tank 51. Theboiler circuit 240 includes aboiler pump 241 and aboiler heat exchanger 242 which causes heat exchange to be performed between water flowing in theboiler circuit 240 and water flowing in thebranch circuit 221. When theboiler pump 241 operates, water in the lower portion of the hotwater storage tank 51 flows into theboiler circuit 240. The water having flowed into theboiler circuit 240 is heated by heat exchange at theboiler heat exchanger 242, and returns to the upper portion of the hotwater storage tank 51. Also inembodiment 2, the same advantages as or similar advantages to those inembodiment 1 can be obtained. - The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications thereof can be made.
- For example, with respect to the above embodiments, the plate-type heat exchanger is described above as an example of the load-
side heat exchanger 2. However, a heat exchanger other than the plate-type heat exchanger such as a double-pipe heat exchanger may be used as the load-side heat exchanger 2 as long as the heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between refrigerant and a heat medium. - Furthermore, with respect to the above embodiments, the heat-pump hot-water
supply heating apparatus 1000 is described above as an example of a heat-pump using apparatus. However, the present invention is also applicable to other types of heat-pump using apparatus such as a chiller. - Furthermore, with respect to the above embodiments, the
indoor unit 200 provided with the hotwater storage tank 51 is described above as an example. However, the hot water storage tank may be provided separate from theindoor unit 200. - The embodiments and modifications described above can be variously combined when they are put to practical use.
-
- 1 heat-source-
side heat exchanger 2 load-side heat exchanger 3 compressor 4 refrigerant flow switching device 6 pressure-reducingdevice 51 hotwater storage tank 52expansion tank 53pump 54booster heater 55 three-way valve 56strainer 57flow switch 60immersion heater 61coil drain outlet 70pressure relief valve 72pipe 72a branching part 75pipe blocking device - 82a, 82b heating-circuit-
side pipe 98 refrigerantleakage detecting device 100outdoor unit 101controller 102control line 110refrigerant circuit connection pipe 200indoor unit 201controller 202operation unit 203display unit 210water circuit connection pipe 220main circuit branch circuit 222asupply pipe 222b returnpipe 230 joiningpart 240boiler circuit 241boiler pump 242boiler heat exchanger 300heating apparatus 301pressure relief valve 1000 heat-pump hot-water supply heating apparatus
Claims (9)
- A heat-pump using apparatus comprising:a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant;a heat medium circuit configured to cause a heat medium to flow in the heat medium circuit; anda heat exchanger configured to cause heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and the heat medium,the heat medium circuit including a main circuit extending via the heat exchanger,the main circuit includinga branching part located at a downstream end of the main circuit, and connected to those portions of a plurality of branch circuits which branch off from the main circuit, anda joining part located at an upstream end of the main circuit, and connected to those portions of the plurality of branch circuits which join the main circuit,the main circuit being provided as a circuit to which a pressure protection device and a refrigerant leakage detecting device are connected,the refrigerant circuit including a first blocking device and a second blocking device between which the heat exchanger is located.
- The heat-pump using apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first blocking device and the second blocking device are opening and closing valves which are closed when leakage of the refrigerant to the heat medium circuit is detected.
- The heat-pump using apparatus of claim 1 or 2,
wherein the pressure protection device is connected to a connection part located between the heat exchanger and one of the branching part and the joining part in the main circuit, and
wherein the refrigerant leakage detecting device is connected to the other of the branching part and the joining part, or between the connection part and the other of the branching part and the joining part, or to the connection part, in the main circuit. - The heat-pump using apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the refrigerant leakage detecting device detects leakage of the refrigerant to the heat medium circuit based on an internal pressure of the heat medium circuit.
- The heat-pump using apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the first blocking device is provided between a compressor in the refrigerant circuit and the heat exchanger, and
wherein the second blocking device is provided between the heat exchanger and a heat-source-side heat exchanger in the refrigerant circuit. - The heat-pump using apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second blocking device operates as a pressure-reducing device in the refrigerant circuit.
- The heat-pump using apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:an outdoor unit accommodating the refrigerant circuit, part of the heat medium circuit and the heat exchanger; andan indoor unit accommodating a remaining part of the heat medium circuit,wherein the outdoor unit further accommodates the first blocking device, the second blocking device and the refrigerant leakage detecting device.
- The heat-pump using apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:an outdoor unit accommodating part of the refrigerant circuit; andan indoor unit accommodating a remaining part of the refrigerant circuit, the heat medium circuit and the heat exchanger,wherein the indoor unit further accommodates the first blocking device, the second blocking device and the refrigerant leakage detecting device.
- The heat-pump using apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the refrigerant is flammable refrigerant or toxic refrigerant.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2017/008001 WO2018158860A1 (en) | 2017-02-28 | 2017-02-28 | Apparatus using heat pump |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3591312A1 true EP3591312A1 (en) | 2020-01-08 |
EP3591312A4 EP3591312A4 (en) | 2020-03-04 |
EP3591312B1 EP3591312B1 (en) | 2022-06-29 |
Family
ID=63371378
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP17899065.1A Active EP3591312B1 (en) | 2017-02-28 | 2017-02-28 | Apparatus using heat pump |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20190390884A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3591312B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6818865B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN110337571A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2018158860A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN114963528B (en) * | 2021-06-29 | 2023-08-18 | 青岛海尔新能源电器有限公司 | Refrigerant detection method, device, equipment and storage medium |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2001208392A (en) * | 2000-01-31 | 2001-08-03 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Heat pump device |
JP5642202B2 (en) * | 2011-01-26 | 2014-12-17 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Air conditioner |
CN103797317B (en) * | 2011-09-13 | 2016-08-17 | 三菱电机株式会社 | Heat pump assembly and the control method of heat pump assembly |
JP2013137141A (en) * | 2011-12-28 | 2013-07-11 | Miura Co Ltd | Method for detecting leakage of refrigerating machine oil |
JP5939828B2 (en) * | 2012-02-15 | 2016-06-22 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat pump cycle equipment |
JP5780977B2 (en) * | 2012-02-15 | 2015-09-16 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat pump cycle equipment |
CN203704480U (en) * | 2013-11-08 | 2014-07-09 | 广东美的暖通设备有限公司 | Air-cooled cold and hot water unit |
JP2016003783A (en) * | 2014-06-13 | 2016-01-12 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat pump device |
CN104132492A (en) * | 2014-08-13 | 2014-11-05 | 广东志高暖通设备股份有限公司 | Single-cold-water-source multi-split air conditioner machine |
CN104457076A (en) * | 2014-12-23 | 2015-03-25 | 天津职业技术师范大学 | Refrigeration method based on PID control electromagnetic valve |
JP6565273B2 (en) * | 2015-03-31 | 2019-08-28 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Refrigeration equipment |
CN104807251B (en) * | 2015-05-20 | 2017-03-22 | 广东志高暖通设备股份有限公司 | Air cooling heat pump module water machine |
JP2016095130A (en) * | 2016-02-16 | 2016-05-26 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat pump cycle device |
-
2017
- 2017-02-28 US US16/469,229 patent/US20190390884A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2017-02-28 WO PCT/JP2017/008001 patent/WO2018158860A1/en unknown
- 2017-02-28 EP EP17899065.1A patent/EP3591312B1/en active Active
- 2017-02-28 CN CN201780087175.2A patent/CN110337571A/en active Pending
- 2017-02-28 JP JP2019502346A patent/JP6818865B2/en active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPWO2018158860A1 (en) | 2019-11-07 |
EP3591312B1 (en) | 2022-06-29 |
CN110337571A (en) | 2019-10-15 |
JP6818865B2 (en) | 2021-01-20 |
EP3591312A4 (en) | 2020-03-04 |
WO2018158860A1 (en) | 2018-09-07 |
US20190390884A1 (en) | 2019-12-26 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP3647687B1 (en) | Device utilizing heat pump | |
EP3598039B1 (en) | Heat pump device and installation method therefor | |
EP3637016B1 (en) | Equipment that uses heat pump | |
EP3336453B1 (en) | Indoor unit of heat pump utilization equipment and heat pump utilization equipment provided with same | |
JP6664516B2 (en) | Heat pump equipment | |
EP3467399B1 (en) | Heat-pump utilization device | |
EP3591312B1 (en) | Apparatus using heat pump | |
KR101610958B1 (en) | Water circulation system associated with refrigerant cycle and the method of controlling the same | |
KR20100123170A (en) | Water circulation system and method for controlling the same |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE |
|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20190627 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 20200131 |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: F25D 17/02 20060101ALI20200127BHEP Ipc: F25B 49/00 20060101ALI20200127BHEP Ipc: F25B 49/02 20060101ALI20200127BHEP Ipc: F24H 9/16 20060101ALI20200127BHEP Ipc: F25B 1/00 20060101AFI20200127BHEP |
|
DAV | Request for validation of the european patent (deleted) | ||
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20220208 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 1501592 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20220715 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602017059121 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG9D |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: NO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220929 Ref country code: LT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: HR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220930 Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220929 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: MP Effective date: 20220629 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 1501592 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20220629 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: RS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: LV Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SM Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: SK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: RO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20221031 Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: EE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20221029 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602017059121 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: CZ Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20230330 |
|
P01 | Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered |
Effective date: 20230512 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: BE Ref legal event code: MM Effective date: 20230228 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230228 Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230228 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230228 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: MM4A |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220629 Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230228 Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230228 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230228 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20231229 Year of fee payment: 8 Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20240108 Year of fee payment: 8 |