US20150059372A1 - Method of operating a heat pump - Google Patents
Method of operating a heat pump Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20150059372A1 US20150059372A1 US14/472,909 US201414472909A US2015059372A1 US 20150059372 A1 US20150059372 A1 US 20150059372A1 US 201414472909 A US201414472909 A US 201414472909A US 2015059372 A1 US2015059372 A1 US 2015059372A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- heat exchanger
- valves
- compressor
- operating mode
- operating
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
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
- F25B13/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle
-
- 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
- F25B30/00—Heat pumps
- F25B30/02—Heat pumps of the compression type
-
- F25B41/046—
-
- 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
- F25B41/00—Fluid-circulation arrangements
- F25B41/20—Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control 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
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/027—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means
- F25B2313/0272—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means using bridge circuits of one-way 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
- F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
- F25B2500/28—Means for preventing liquid refrigerant entering into the compressor
-
- 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 heating-cooling system. More particularly this invention concerns a method operating a heat pump.
- a typical heat pump for operation as a building's heating and cooling system has an inside heat exchanger and an outside heat exchanger as well as a compressor and valves that control the circulation of a refrigerant such that in one operating mode the inside heat exchanger operates as an evaporator while in the other operating mode it operates as a condenser.
- Compressors in air conditioners and heat pumps can compress only gaseous refrigerants; they break down if they draw in liquid.
- a liquid separator is integrated into the cooling circuit in known equipment so as to ensure that no liquid components are drawn in by the compressor. The requisite inclusion of a liquid separator makes the known units more expensive and also requires costly construction.
- Another object is the provision of such an improved method of operating a heat pump that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that renders a liquid separator unnecessary.
- a method of operating a heat pump having an inside heat exchanger, an outside heat exchanger, a compressor, and valves that control the circulation of a refrigerant such that in one operating mode the inside heat exchanger operates as an evaporator while in the other operating mode it operates as a condenser.
- the compressor When switching from one operating mode to the other operating mode first the compressor is stopped, then the inside heat exchanger and the outside heat exchanger are directly connected via the valves until pressure is equal in both of the heat exchangers. Subsequently the valves are moved back into the positions appropriate for the desired operating mode, and the compressor is restarted.
- two valves are connected upstream of the compressor while two valves are connected downstream of the compressor.
- one of the valves can be switched over to the outside heat exchanger while the other can be switched over to the inside heat exchanger.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a heat pump according to the invention when operating as an air conditioner for cooling;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the heat pump when operating diagram of a unit according to the invention when operating as a heater;
- FIG. 3 is the circuit diagram of a unit according to the invention undergoing pressure equalization.
- the gaseous state of the refrigerant is indicated by dots while the liquid state of the refrigerant is indicated by wavy waves in the outside and inside heat exchangers.
- the heat pump has solenoid flow-control (on-off) valves 1 - 6 , expansion valves 7 and 8 with built-in check valves, a storage tank 9 , the outside heat exchanger, the inside heat exchanger, and a compressor 12 .
- valves 1 , 3 and 5 are held open by their solenoids.
- the valves 2 , 4 and 6 are closed.
- the compressor 12 compresses gaseous refrigerant that flows under high pressure through the solenoid valve 1 to the outside heat exchanger 10 .
- the refrigerant releases its heat to the ambient air in the outside heat exchanger 10 and is thus liquefied.
- the outside heat exchanger in this operating mode is a condenser.
- the refrigerant While a liquid and under high pressure, the refrigerant then flows through the tank 9 and via the solenoid valve 5 to the expansion valve 7 .
- This expansion valve 7 abruptly lowers the refrigerant's pressure to adiabatically cool it while simultaneously converting it back into vapor.
- the refrigerant absorbs heat from the ambient air until the refrigerant is completely converted to vapor.
- the inside heat exchanger in this operating mode is an evaporator.
- valves 2 , 4 and 6 are held open by their solenoids.
- the valves 1 , 3 and 5 are closed.
- the compressor 12 compresses the gaseous refrigerant that now flows under high pressure via solenoid valve 4 to the inside heat exchanger 11 .
- the inside heat exchanger 11 In this inside heat exchanger 11 the refrigerant releases its heat to the ambient air and is thereby liquefied.
- the inside heat exchanger in this operating mode is a condenser.
- the refrigerant flows through the tank 9 via the solenoid valve 6 to the expansion valve 8 that abruptly lowers the refrigerant's pressure, which not only results cooling the refrigerant, but also converts it back to vapor.
- the outside heat exchanger 10 In the outside heat exchanger 10 the partly vaporized refrigerant absorbs heat from the ambient air until it has vaporized.
- the outside heat exchanger in this operating mode is an evaporator.
- the now once again gaseous refrigerant is drawn in by the compressor 12 via the solenoid valve 2 and is again compressed.
- the cycle starts again from the beginning.
- the compressor 12 always takes in only gaseous refrigerant from the respective evaporator both in the heating mode as well as in the cooling mode.
- the functions of heat exchangers 10 and 11 change when the operating modes are switched in that the evaporator becomes the condenser and vice versa.
- the problem in switching operating modes results from the fact that, after the switch, the compressor 12 is drawing in from whichever heat exchanger 10 and 11 was previously still operating as a condenser. A certain portion of liquid refrigerant is always in the condenser and would destroy the compressor 12 if it were to reach the compressor. It is critical to ensure that no liquid components from the heat exchanger are drawn in simultaneously.
- the instant invention proposes an equalization of pressure during the switch in operating modes. First the compressor 12 is stopped and all the solenoid valves 1 - 6 are closed.
- valves 2 and 3 are closed again. Then for cooling the valves 1 , 3 , and 5 are reopened. For heating valves 2 , 4 , 6 are reopened.
- valves used above must not be understood in a narrow meaning. Instead the term is meant to comprise all shutoff elements that serve the desired purpose. Control of the “valves” is effected based on the requirements of the apparatus-internal control unit arising according to the invention.
Abstract
A method of operating a heat pump having an inside heat exchanger, an outside heat exchanger, a compressor, and valves that control the circulation of a refrigerant such that in one operating mode the inside heat exchanger operates as an evaporator while in the other operating mode it operates as a condenser. When switching from one operating mode to the other operating mode first the compressor is stopped, then the inside heat exchanger and the outside heat exchanger are directly connected via the valves until pressure is equal in both of the heat exchangers. Subsequently the valves are moved back into the positions appropriate for the desired operating mode, and the compressor is restarted.
Description
- The present invention relates to a heating-cooling system. More particularly this invention concerns a method operating a heat pump.
- A typical heat pump for operation as a building's heating and cooling system has an inside heat exchanger and an outside heat exchanger as well as a compressor and valves that control the circulation of a refrigerant such that in one operating mode the inside heat exchanger operates as an evaporator while in the other operating mode it operates as a condenser.
- Compressors in air conditioners and heat pumps can compress only gaseous refrigerants; they break down if they draw in liquid. In order to protect the compressor, a liquid separator is integrated into the cooling circuit in known equipment so as to ensure that no liquid components are drawn in by the compressor. The requisite inclusion of a liquid separator makes the known units more expensive and also requires costly construction.
- It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of operating a heat pump.
- Another object is the provision of such an improved method of operating a heat pump that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that renders a liquid separator unnecessary.
- A method of operating a heat pump having an inside heat exchanger, an outside heat exchanger, a compressor, and valves that control the circulation of a refrigerant such that in one operating mode the inside heat exchanger operates as an evaporator while in the other operating mode it operates as a condenser. When switching from one operating mode to the other operating mode first the compressor is stopped, then the inside heat exchanger and the outside heat exchanger are directly connected via the valves until pressure is equal in both of the heat exchangers. Subsequently the valves are moved back into the positions appropriate for the desired operating mode, and the compressor is restarted.
- In other words, with this invention there is an equalization of pressure during the switch in operating modes. This ensures that, with appropriate dimensioning of the system, all the refrigerant is vaporized and there is no liquid that could get sucked into and damage the compressor
- In the system of this invention two valves are connected upstream of the compressor while two valves are connected downstream of the compressor. Thus, depending on the operating mode, one of the valves can be switched over to the outside heat exchanger while the other can be switched over to the inside heat exchanger.
- The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a heat pump according to the invention when operating as an air conditioner for cooling; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the heat pump when operating diagram of a unit according to the invention when operating as a heater; -
FIG. 3 is the circuit diagram of a unit according to the invention undergoing pressure equalization. - In the drawing, the gaseous state of the refrigerant is indicated by dots while the liquid state of the refrigerant is indicated by wavy waves in the outside and inside heat exchangers. The heat pump has solenoid flow-control (on-off) valves 1-6,
expansion valves 7 and 8 with built-in check valves, a storage tank 9, the outside heat exchanger, the inside heat exchanger, and acompressor 12. - In the cooling mode of
FIG. 1 , the valves 1, 3 and 5 are held open by their solenoids. Thevalves compressor 12 compresses gaseous refrigerant that flows under high pressure through the solenoid valve 1 to theoutside heat exchanger 10. - The refrigerant releases its heat to the ambient air in the
outside heat exchanger 10 and is thus liquefied. The outside heat exchanger in this operating mode is a condenser. - While a liquid and under high pressure, the refrigerant then flows through the tank 9 and via the solenoid valve 5 to the expansion valve 7. This expansion valve 7 abruptly lowers the refrigerant's pressure to adiabatically cool it while simultaneously converting it back into vapor. In the
inside heat exchanger 11 the refrigerant absorbs heat from the ambient air until the refrigerant is completely converted to vapor. The inside heat exchanger in this operating mode is an evaporator. - The now once again gaseous refrigerant is drawn in by the
compressor 12 via the solenoid valve 3 and again compressed. The cycle starts again. - In the heating mode, the
valves compressor 12 compresses the gaseous refrigerant that now flows under high pressure via solenoid valve 4 to theinside heat exchanger 11. - In this
inside heat exchanger 11 the refrigerant releases its heat to the ambient air and is thereby liquefied. The inside heat exchanger in this operating mode is a condenser. - As a high-pressure liquid, the refrigerant flows through the tank 9 via the
solenoid valve 6 to theexpansion valve 8 that abruptly lowers the refrigerant's pressure, which not only results cooling the refrigerant, but also converts it back to vapor. - In the
outside heat exchanger 10 the partly vaporized refrigerant absorbs heat from the ambient air until it has vaporized. The outside heat exchanger in this operating mode is an evaporator. - The now once again gaseous refrigerant is drawn in by the
compressor 12 via thesolenoid valve 2 and is again compressed. The cycle starts again from the beginning. - The
compressor 12 always takes in only gaseous refrigerant from the respective evaporator both in the heating mode as well as in the cooling mode. The functions ofheat exchangers compressor 12 is drawing in from whicheverheat exchanger compressor 12 if it were to reach the compressor. It is critical to ensure that no liquid components from the heat exchanger are drawn in simultaneously. - Thus the instant invention proposes an equalization of pressure during the switch in operating modes. First the
compressor 12 is stopped and all the solenoid valves 1-6 are closed. - Subsequently the
outside heat exchanger 10 and insideheat exchanger 11 are directly connected to each other. This occurs by opening only thesolenoid valves 2 and 3. The result is equalization of pressure and temperature between the hot condenser that was previously under high pressure and the cold evaporator that is under low pressure. The components and tubing of the unit must be sized in such a way that the refrigerant after complete equalization is at a temperature-pressure level in which it is in a completely gaseous state. - Once this state has been reached, the
valves 2 and 3 are closed again. Then for cooling the valves 1, 3, and 5 are reopened. Forheating valves - Finally the
compressor 12 is started. - The term “valves” used above must not be understood in a narrow meaning. Instead the term is meant to comprise all shutoff elements that serve the desired purpose. Control of the “valves” is effected based on the requirements of the apparatus-internal control unit arising according to the invention.
Claims (3)
1. A method of operating a heat pump having:
an inside heat exchanger;
an outside heat exchanger;
a compressor; and
valves that control the circulation of a refrigerant such that in one operating mode the inside heat exchanger operates as an evaporator while in the other operating mode it operates as a condenser, the method comprising the steps when switching from one operating mode to the other operating mode of sequentially:
stopping the compressor;
directly connecting the inside heat exchanger and the outside heat exchanger via the valves until pressure is equal in both of the heat exchangers;
moving the valves into the positions appropriate for the desired operating mode; and
restarting the compressor.
2. The method defined in claim 1 , wherein the valves include:
a first valve connected between an output of the compressor and the outside heat exchanger;
a second valve connected between the intake of the compressor and the inside heat exchanger;
a third valve connected between the intake of the compressor and the inside heat exchanger; and
a fourth valve connected between the output of the compressor and the inside heat exchanger.
3. The method defined in claim 1 , wherein
in a cooling mode the first and third valves are open and the second and fourth valves are closed;
in a heating mode the first and third valves are closed and the second and fourth valves are open; and
the inside and outside heat exchanges are directly connected for pressure equalization by opening the first through fourth valves.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ATA669/2013 | 2013-08-29 | ||
ATA669/2013A AT513855B1 (en) | 2013-08-29 | 2013-08-29 | Method of controlling an air conditioner |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20150059372A1 true US20150059372A1 (en) | 2015-03-05 |
Family
ID=51300415
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/472,909 Abandoned US20150059372A1 (en) | 2013-08-29 | 2014-08-29 | Method of operating a heat pump |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20150059372A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2853842A1 (en) |
AT (1) | AT513855B1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150330686A1 (en) * | 2014-05-19 | 2015-11-19 | Lennox Industries Inc. | Solenoid control methods for dual flow hvac systems |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2486608A (en) * | 1946-06-03 | 1949-11-01 | Alco Valve Co | Reverse cycle device |
US3204420A (en) * | 1962-09-06 | 1965-09-07 | Walter O Lum | Reversible refrigerating system and control therefor |
US20080197206A1 (en) * | 2005-06-03 | 2008-08-21 | Carrier Corporation | Refrigerant System With Water Heating |
US20090277207A1 (en) * | 2006-04-13 | 2009-11-12 | Kohvac Co., Ltd. | High Speed Defrosting Heat Pump |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3109500B2 (en) * | 1998-12-16 | 2000-11-13 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Refrigeration equipment |
JP4567637B2 (en) * | 2006-07-10 | 2010-10-20 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Air conditioning controller |
WO2008111149A1 (en) * | 2007-03-12 | 2008-09-18 | Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Cooling storage building |
WO2013006172A1 (en) * | 2011-07-07 | 2013-01-10 | Carrier Corporation | Method and system for transport container refrigeration control |
US20130167559A1 (en) * | 2012-01-02 | 2013-07-04 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Heat pump and control method thereof |
JP5976333B2 (en) * | 2012-02-13 | 2016-08-23 | 三菱重工業株式会社 | Air conditioner and four-way valve control method for air conditioner |
-
2013
- 2013-08-29 AT ATA669/2013A patent/AT513855B1/en active
-
2014
- 2014-08-21 EP EP14450040.2A patent/EP2853842A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2014-08-29 US US14/472,909 patent/US20150059372A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2486608A (en) * | 1946-06-03 | 1949-11-01 | Alco Valve Co | Reverse cycle device |
US3204420A (en) * | 1962-09-06 | 1965-09-07 | Walter O Lum | Reversible refrigerating system and control therefor |
US20080197206A1 (en) * | 2005-06-03 | 2008-08-21 | Carrier Corporation | Refrigerant System With Water Heating |
US20090277207A1 (en) * | 2006-04-13 | 2009-11-12 | Kohvac Co., Ltd. | High Speed Defrosting Heat Pump |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150330686A1 (en) * | 2014-05-19 | 2015-11-19 | Lennox Industries Inc. | Solenoid control methods for dual flow hvac systems |
US9884394B2 (en) * | 2014-05-19 | 2018-02-06 | Lennox Industries Inc. | Solenoid control methods for dual flow HVAC systems |
US10259086B2 (en) | 2014-05-19 | 2019-04-16 | Lennox Industries Inc. | Solenoid control methods for dual flow HVAC systems |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2853842A1 (en) | 2015-04-01 |
AT513855B1 (en) | 2014-08-15 |
AT513855A4 (en) | 2014-08-15 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: VOSSLOH KIEPE GMBH, AUSTRIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WEISS, MATTHIAS;REEL/FRAME:033820/0385 Effective date: 20140917 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |