EP3792569A1

EP3792569A1 - Heat pump unit

Info

Publication number: EP3792569A1
Application number: EP19799532.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lei Zhao; Hui Sun; Yu LENG
Original assignee: Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Qingdao Haier Central Air Conditioner Co Ltd
Current assignee: Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Qingdao Haier Central Air Conditioner Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-10
Filing date: 2019-04-23
Publication date: 2021-03-17
Also published as: CN108534392A; EP3792569A4; WO2019214425A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a heat pump unit, comprising a liquid storage device (11) and a gas-liquid separation device (12), wherein the liquid storage device (11) is at least partially accommodated in the gas-liquid separation device (12), and a liquid heat transfer medium of high temperature and high pressure that is stored in the liquid storage device (11) can exchange heat with a gaseous heat transfer medium of low temperature and low pressure that is stored in the gas-liquid separation device (12) through a first housing (111). The heat transfer medium in the liquid storage device (11) obtains more frigories to improve the supercooling degree of the liquid heat transfer medium, and the heat transfer medium in the gas-liquid separation device (12) obtains more calories to improve the superheating degree of the gaseous heat transfer medium, such that the heat transfer efficiency of the heat pump unit is effectively improved.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of heat exchange, and specifically provides a heat pump unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the continuous improvement of people's living standards, people have also raised higher and higher requirements on the living environment. In order to maintain a comfortable ambient temperature, a heat pump unit has become an indispensable apparatus in people's lives. The heat pump unit includes a circulation loop formed by a plurality of devices, and a heat exchange medium continuously travels in the circulation loop to achieve a heat exchange effect through heat exchange. In order to ensure the continuous and normal operation of the heat pump units, existing heat pump units are usually equipped with a liquid storage device and a gas-liquid separation device; wherein the liquid storage device is configured to store a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid heat exchange medium in the circulation loop that has not yet participated in the circulation, whereas the gas-liquid separation device is configured to separate a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous heat exchange medium and deliver it to a compression device.
Specifically, the liquid storage device and the gas-liquid separation device of all the existing heat pump units are arranged separately, and the independent arrangements of the liquid storage device and the gas-liquid separation device cannot make full use of the heat stored by the heat exchange medium in the liquid storage device and the cold stored by the heat exchange medium in the gas-liquid separation device. Further, if the supercooling degree of the liquid heat exchange medium in the liquid storage device is increased, and at the same time the superheating degree of the gaseous heat exchange medium in the gas-liquid separation device is increased, then the heat exchange efficiency of the unit will necessarily be improved effectively.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new heat pump unit to solve the above-mentioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem in the prior art, that is, to solve the problem that the existing independent arrangements of the liquid storage device and the gas-liquid separation device cannot make full use of the heat stored by the heat exchange medium in the liquid storage device and the cold stored by the heat exchange medium in the gas-liquid separation device, the present disclosure provides a heat pump unit which includes a liquid storage device and a gas-liquid separation device, the liquid storage device being at least partially accommodated in the gas-liquid separation device to enable heat exchange between the liquid storage device and the gas-liquid separation device.
In a preferred technical solution of the above heat pump unit, the liquid storage device includes a liquid storage member, and a first housing arranged in the gas-liquid separation device, and the first housing has a first sealed cavity for storing a heat exchange medium, the liquid storage member being in communication with the first sealed cavity.
In a preferred technical solution of the above heat pump unit, the liquid storage member includes a first liquid delivery pipe and a second liquid delivery pipe, and the heat exchange medium stored in the first sealed cavity can be delivered through the first liquid delivery pipe and the second liquid delivery pipe.
In a preferred technical solution of the above heat pump unit, one of the first liquid delivery pipe and the second liquid delivery pipe is connected with an evaporation device of the heat pump unit, and the other of the first liquid delivery pipe and the second liquid delivery pipe is connected with a condensation device of the heat pump unit.
In a preferred technical solution of the above heat pump unit, the gas-liquid separation device includes a gas-liquid separation member, and a second housing sleeved over the first housing, the second housing has a second sealed cavity, and the gas-liquid separation member is in communication with the second sealed cavity.
In a preferred technical solution of the above heat pump unit, the gas-liquid separation member includes a gas-liquid mixed input pipe and a gas output pipe, and the gas-liquid mixed input pipe and the gas output pipe are in communication with the second sealed cavity respectively.
In a preferred technical solution of the above heat pump unit, the gas-liquid mixed input pipe is connected with a four-way valve of the heat pump unit, and the gas output pipe is connected with a compression device of the heat pump unit.
In a preferred technical solution of the above heat pump unit, the gas-liquid separation member further includes a liquid output pipe, and the liquid output pipe is connected with a bottom of the second housing.
In a preferred technical solution of the above heat pump unit, the heat pump unit further includes a thermal insulation member, and the thermal insulation member is wrapped around an outside of the second housing.
In a preferred technical solution of the above heat pump unit, the gas output pipe is a U-shaped pipe that penetrates into the second sealed cavity from a top of the second housing, and an open end of the U-shaped pipe is located near an inner top of the second housing; the gas-liquid mixed input pipe also penetrates into the second sealed cavity from the top of the second housing, and an open end of the gas-liquid mixed input pipe is also located near the inner top of the second housing.
It can be understood by those skilled in the art that in the preferred technical solution of the present disclosure, the heat pump unit of the present disclosure includes a liquid storage device and a gas-liquid separation device, and the liquid storage device is at least partially accommodated in the gas-liquid separation device to enable heat exchange between the liquid storage device and the gas-liquid separation device; since the liquid storage device stores a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid heat exchange medium, and the gas-liquid separation device stores a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous heat exchange medium, partially accommodating the liquid storage device in the gas-liquid separation device can facilitate the heat exchange of the heat exchange media, so that the heat exchange medium in the liquid storage device can obtain more cold to increase the supercooling degree of the liquid heat exchange medium, and the heat exchange medium in the gas-liquid separation device can obtain more heat to increase the superheating degree of the gaseous heat exchange medium, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat pump unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an overall structure of a heat pump unit of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a liquid storage device and a gas-liquid separation device of the present disclosure.

Reference signs: 11: liquid storage device; 111: first housing; 1110: first sealed cavity; 112: first liquid delivery pipe; 113: second liquid delivery pipe; 12: gas-liquid separation device; 121: second housing; 1210: second sealed cavity; 122: gas-liquid mixed input pipe; 123: gas output pipe; 124: liquid output pipe; 13: compressor; 14: four-way valve; 15: dry evaporator; 16: fin-type heat exchanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are only used to explain the technical principles of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art can make adjustment to the present disclosure as needed to adapt to specific application occasions. For example, although the heat pump unit described in the specification only includes a few important devices, it is obvious that other devices may be added to the heat pump unit of the present disclosure to improve the performance. Such changes to the specific structure do not deviate from the basic principles of the present disclosure, and therefore will all fall within the scope of protection of the preset disclosure.
It should be noted that in the description of the present disclosure, directional or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner" and "outer" are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the drawings. They are merely used for the convenience of description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element involved must have a specific orientation, or be configured or operated in a specific orientation, and therefore they should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. In addition, terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purpose only, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
In addition, it should also be noted that in the description of the present disclosure, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, terms "connect", "connection" and "communicate" should be understood in a broad sense; for example, the connection may be a fixed connection, or may also be a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it may be a direct connection, or an indirect connection implemented through an intermediate medium, or it may be an internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific situations.
The liquid storage device and the gas-liquid separation device of the existing heat pump units mentioned in the "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" are all arranged separately, and the independent arrangements of the liquid storage device and the gas-liquid separation device cannot make full use of the heat stored by the heat exchange medium in the liquid storage device and the cold stored by the heat exchange medium in the gas-liquid separation device. The present disclosure provides a heat pump unit, which includes a liquid storage device and a gas-liquid separation device, and the liquid storage device is at least partially accommodated in the gas-liquid separation device to enable heat exchange between the liquid storage device and the gas-liquid separation device; since the liquid storage device stores a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid heat exchange medium, and the gas-liquid separation device stores a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous heat exchange medium, integrally arranging the two devices enables the heat exchange of the heat exchange media, so that the heat exchange medium in the liquid storage device can obtain more cold to increase the supercooling degree of the liquid heat exchange medium, and the heat exchange medium in the gas-liquid separation device can obtain more heat to increase the superheating degree of the gaseous heat exchange medium, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat pump unit.
Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an overall structure of a heat pump unit of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a liquid storage device and a gas-liquid separation device of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the technical solution of the present disclosure, the heat pump unit includes a liquid storage device 11 and a gas-liquid separation device 12. The liquid storage device 11 is accommodated in the gas-liquid separation device 12 so that the liquid storage device 11 can exchange heat with the gas-liquid separator 12. It should be noted that the liquid storage device 11 and the gas-liquid separation device 12 of all the existing heat pump units are arranged independently, and the two devices are respectively arranged at different positions of the heat pump unit; therefore, due to such independent arrangements, the heat exchange between the heat exchange medium in the liquid storage device 11 and the heat exchange medium in the gas-liquid separation device 12 can be realized only through a circulation system of the heat pump unit. Unlike the prior art, by accommodating the liquid storage device 11 in the gas-liquid separation device 12, the present disclosure enables the heat exchange medium in the liquid storage device 11 and the heat exchange medium in the gas-liquid separation device 12 to exchange heat with each other, and then participate in the circulation of the heat pump unit. It should be noted that although the liquid storage device 11 in this preferred embodiment is completely accommodated in the gas-liquid separation device 12, it is obvious that those skilled in the art may also only partially accommodate the liquid storage device 11 in the gas-liquid separation device 12.
It can be understood that in the heat pump unit, the liquid storage device 11 stores a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid heat exchange medium which has a low supercooling degree and is easy to evaporate during the delivery process to cause a decrease in the heat exchange capacity thereof, whereas the gas-liquid separation device 12 stores a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous heat exchange medium which has a low superheating degree and is easy to liquefy during the delivery process to cause liquid carryover of the compressor. Furthermore, the liquid heat exchange medium stored in the liquid storage device 11 needs more cold to increase its own supercooling degree, while the gaseous heat exchange medium stored in the gas-liquid separation device 12 needs more heat to increase its own superheating degree. Therefore, the independent arrangements of the liquid storage device 11 and the gas-liquid separation device 12 in the existing heat pump units not only waste the excess heat in the liquid storage device 11 and the excess cold in the gas-liquid separation device 12, but also affect the heat exchange capacity of the heat pump unit. By accommodating the liquid storage device 11 in the gas-liquid separation device 12, the present disclosure enables the heat exchange media stored in the two devices to exchange heat so that the heat exchange medium in the liquid storage device 11 can obtain more cold through the gas-liquid separation device 12 to increase the supercooling degree of the liquid heat exchange medium, and the heat exchange medium in the gas-liquid separation device 12 can also obtain more heat through the liquid storage device 11 to increase the superheating degree of the gaseous heat exchange medium. Therefore, at the same time of effectively preventing the compressor from being subjected to the problem of liquid carryover, the present disclosure can also effectively improve the heat exchange efficiency of the heat pump unit.
With continued reference to FIG. 2, specifically, in this preferred embodiment, the liquid storage device 11 includes a first housing 111 having a first sealed cavity 1110, as well as a first liquid delivery pipe 112 and a second liquid delivery pipe 113 that are in communication with the first sealed cavity 1110; wherein the first sealed cavity 1110 is configured to store the heat exchange medium, and the first housing 111 is arranged in the gas-liquid separation device 12 so that the heat exchange medium stored in the first sealed cavity 1110 can directly exchange heat with the heat exchange medium stored in the gas-liquid separation device 12 through the first housing 111. Further, the heat exchange medium stored in the first sealed cavity 1110 can be delivered through the first liquid delivery pipe 112 and the second liquid delivery pipe 113 so as to participate in the circulation of the heat pump unit.
It can be understood that the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid heat exchange medium is stored in the first sealed cavity 1110, the low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous heat exchange medium is stored in the gas-liquid separation device 12, and the first housing 111 is arranged in the gas-liquid separation device 12, so that the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid heat exchange medium stored in the first sealed cavity 1110 can obtain cold from the low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous heat exchange medium stored in the gas-liquid separation device 12 through the first housing 111, thereby effectively increasing the supercooling degree of the liquid heat exchange medium stored in the liquid storage device 11, and further effectively ensuring the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange media.
It can be understood by those skilled in the art that although the liquid storage device 11 described in this preferred embodiment consists of the first housing 111 and a liquid storage member, and the liquid storage member only includes the first liquid delivery pipe 112 and the second liquid delivery pipe 113, it is obvious that the liquid storage device 11 may also include other structures, or even only consist of other structures. Since there are already many types of liquid storage devices in the prior art, a detailed description will not be given herein. That is, it would be sufficient if the liquid storage device 11 is able to store the heat exchange medium and exchange heat with the gas-liquid separation device 12. At the same time, the present disclosure does not impose any restriction on the shape of the first sealed cavity 1110, as long as the first sealed cavity 1110 can store the heat exchange medium.
Next, reference is made to FIG. 2; further, the gas-liquid separation device 12 includes a second housing 121 sleeved over the first housing 111. In this preferred embodiment, a second sealed cavity 1210 is formed between the first housing 111 and the second housing 121, and the process of gas-liquid separation is performed in the second sealed cavity 1210. At the same time, the gas-liquid separation device 12 also includes a gas-liquid mixed input pipe 122 and a gas output pipe 123, wherein the gas-liquid mixed input pipe 122 and the gas output pipe 123 are respectively connected with the second sealed cavity 1210. Preferably, the gas-liquid mixed input pipe 122 penetrates into the second sealed cavity 1210 from a top of the second housing 121, and an open end of the gas-liquid mixed input pipe 122 is located near an inner top of the second housing 121, so as to effectively prevent the liquid heat exchange medium from immersing an outlet of the gas-liquid mixed input pipe 122 to affect the delivery of the gaseous heat exchange medium; the gas output pipe 123 is a U-shaped pipe that penetrates into the second sealed cavity 1210 from the top of the second housing 121, and an open end of the U-shaped pipe is also located near the inner top of the second housing 121, so as to effectively avoid the escape of the liquid heat exchange medium while outputting the gaseous heat exchange medium. Specifically, during the working process of the heat pump unit, the heat exchange medium in a gas-liquid mixed state is input into the second sealed cavity 1210 through the gas-liquid mixed input pipe 122, and a gas-liquid separation process is performed in the second sealed cavity 1210, so that the gaseous heat exchange medium can be output through the gas output pipe 123, thereby participating in the circulation of the heat pump unit.
It can be understood that the low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous heat exchange medium is stored in the second sealed cavity 1210, the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid heat exchange medium is stored in the first sealed cavity 1110, and the second housing 121 is sleeved over the first housing 111 to form the second sealed cavity 1210, so that the low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous heat exchange medium stored in the second sealed cavity 1210 can obtain heat from the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid heat exchange medium stored in the liquid storage device 11 through the first housing 111, thereby effectively increasing the superheating degree of the gaseous heat exchange medium stored in the gas-liquid separation device 12, and further effectively ensuring the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange media at the same time of effectively preventing the compressor from being subjected to the problem of liquid carryover.
Next, reference is made to FIG. 2; further, the gas-liquid separation device 12 further includes a liquid output pipe 124 connected with a bottom of the second housing 121 so that the liquid heat exchange medium collected at a bottom of the second sealed cavity 1210 can flow out through the liquid output pipe 124. It should be noted that although the liquid output pipe 124 in this preferred embodiment is arranged at the bottom of the second housing 121, it is obvious that the liquid output pipe 124 may also be arranged at the bottom of the side of the second housing 121 as long as the liquid heat exchange medium can be output through the liquid output pipe 124. In addition, it can be understood that although the gas-liquid separation device 12 in this preferred embodiment further includes the liquid output pipe 124, it is obvious that those skilled in the art may not provide the liquid output pipe 124; instead, the liquid heat exchange medium in the second sealed cavity 1210 evaporates into a gaseous heat exchange medium, which is then output through the gas output pipe 123.
It can be understood by those skilled in the art that although the gas-liquid separation device 12 described in this preferred embodiment consists of the second housing 121 and a gas-liquid separation member, and the gas-liquid separation member only includes the gas-liquid mixed input pipe 122, the gas output pipe 123 and the liquid output pipe 124, it is obvious that the gas-liquid separation device 12 may also include other structures, or even only consist of other structures. Since there are already many types of gas-liquid separation devices in the prior art, a detailed description will not be given herein. That is, it would be sufficient if the gas-liquid separation device 12 can implement the gas-liquid separation process and exchange heat with the liquid storage device 11. Also, although the second sealed cavity 1210 in this preferred embodiment is formed by the first housing 111 and the second housing 121 altogether, it is obvious that the second sealed cavity 1210 may also be independently formed by the second housing 121 alone, as long as the heat exchange medium stored in the first sealed cavity 1110 can exchange heat with the heat exchange medium stored in the second sealed cavity 1210. In addition, the present disclosure does not impose any restriction on the shape of the second sealed cavity 1210, as long as the second sealed cavity 1210 can implement the gas-liquid separation process.
Further preferably, the heat pump unit further includes a thermal insulation member (not shown in the drawings), and the thermal insulation member is wrapped around an outside of the second housing 121 to minimize energy loss, so that the liquid storage device 11 and the gas-liquid separation device 12 can exchange heat sufficiently, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat pump unit. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure does not impose any restriction on the specific structure of the thermal insulation member, as long as the thermal insulation member can be wrapped around the outside of the second housing 121 to achieve a thermal insulation effect; preferably, the thermal insulation member is made of a material with good thermal insulation performance, such as rock wool and glass wool.
Next, reference is made to FIG. 1; in this preferred embodiment, the first liquid delivery pipe 112 of the liquid storage device 11 is connected with a dry evaporator 15, and the second liquid delivery pipe 113 of the liquid storage device 11 exchanges heat with a fin-type heat exchanger 16. The gas-liquid mixed input pipe 122 of the gas-liquid separation device 12 is connected with a four-way valve 14, and the gas output pipe 123 of the gas-liquid separation device 12 is connected with a compressor 13. Taking the cooling process as an example, in the cooling process of the heat pump unit, the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous heat exchange medium flowing out of the compressor 13 flows into the fin-type heat exchanger 16 through the four-way valve 14 to release heat and liquefy into a liquid heat exchange medium; the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid heat exchange medium flows from the fin-type heat exchanger 16 into an electronic expansion valve, and then flows into the first sealed cavity 1110 through the second liquid delivery pipe 113; then, part of the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid heat exchange medium flows into the dry evaporator 15 through the first liquid delivery pipe 112 to evaporate and absorb heat to achieve a cooling effect; at this time, part of the liquid heat exchange medium evaporates into a gaseous heat exchange medium; the heat exchange medium in a gas-liquid mixed state flows into the four-way valve 14 and flows toward the gas-liquid mixed input pipe 122, and enters the second sealed cavity 1210 through the gas-liquid mixed input pipe 122 for gas-liquid separation; finally, the gaseous heat exchange medium in the second sealed cavity 1210 flows out through the gas output pipe 123 and enters the compressor 13 again, thus completing the entire circulation. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the settings of these specific devices are illustrative, and those skilled in the art may choose other devices in the heat pump unit according to actual requirements on use. Since other devices of the heat pump unit are not the focus of the protection of the present disclosure, a detailed description will not be given herein.
Hitherto, the technical solutions of the present disclosure have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but it is easily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present disclosure is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principle of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or replacements to relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or replacements will fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claims

A heat pump unit, comprising a liquid storage device and a gas-liquid separation device,
wherein the liquid storage device is at least partially accommodated in the gas-liquid separation device to enable heat exchange between the liquid storage device and the gas-liquid separation device.
The heat pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage device comprises a liquid storage member, and a first housing arranged in the gas-liquid separation device, and
wherein the first housing has a first sealed cavity for storing a heat exchange medium, and the liquid storage member is in communication with the first sealed cavity.
The heat pump unit according to claim 2, wherein the liquid storage member comprises a first liquid delivery pipe and a second liquid delivery pipe, and the heat exchange medium stored in the first sealed cavity can be delivered through the first liquid delivery pipe and the second liquid delivery pipe.
The heat pump unit according to claim 3, wherein one of the first liquid delivery pipe and the second liquid delivery pipe is connected with an evaporation device of the heat pump unit, and the other of the first liquid delivery pipe and the second liquid delivery pipe is connected with a condensation device of the heat pump unit.
The heat pump unit according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the gas-liquid separation device comprises a gas-liquid separation member, and a second housing sleeved over the first housing, and
wherein the second housing has a second sealed cavity, and the gas-liquid separation member is in communication with the second sealed cavity.
The heat pump unit according to claim 5, wherein the gas-liquid separation member comprises a gas-liquid mixed input pipe and a gas output pipe, and the gas-liquid mixed input pipe and the gas output pipe are in communication with the second sealed cavity respectively.
The heat pump unit according to claim 6, wherein the gas-liquid mixed input pipe is connected with a four-way valve of the heat pump unit, and the gas output pipe is connected with a compression device of the heat pump unit.
The heat pump unit according to claim 6, wherein the gas-liquid separation member further comprises a liquid output pipe, and the liquid output pipe is connected with a bottom of the second housing.
The heat pump unit according to claim 5, wherein the heat pump unit further comprises a thermal insulation member, and the thermal insulation member is wrapped around an outside of the second housing.
The heat pump unit according to claim 6, wherein the gas output pipe is a U-shaped pipe that penetrates into the second sealed cavity from a top of the second housing, and an open end of the U-shaped pipe is located near an inner top of the second housing; and
wherein the gas-liquid mixed input pipe also penetrates into the second sealed cavity from the top of the second housing, and an open end of the gas-liquid mixed input pipe is also located near the inner top of the second housing.