WO1998058214A1

WO1998058214A1 - Domestic air-conditioning device

Info

Publication number: WO1998058214A1
Application number: PCT/IT1998/000159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giampaolo Bettelli; Luigi Bussinelli
Original assignee: Giampaolo Bettelli; Luigi Bussinelli
Priority date: 1997-06-18
Filing date: 1998-06-15
Publication date: 1998-12-23
Also published as: ITVR970053A0; AU7930698A; IT1293957B1; ITVR970053A1

Abstract

A domestic air-conditioning device (10) is provided with an electronics suitable for switching the operating modes of said device in order to simultaneously provide for: cool water for air-conditioning; cool water for air-conditioning purposes and hot water for sanitary purposes; and/or hot water for sanitary purposes; and/or hot water for sanitary and heating purposes.

Description

DOMESTIC AIR-CONDITIONING DEVICE

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TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a domestic air- conditioning device suitable for cooling and heating domestic rooms. More particularly, the domestic air-conditioning device according to the present invention provides for cool water to be used for air-conditioning purposes, hot water for sanitary use and, furthermore, hot water for heating purposes depending on the year's season and/or any specific need of the user.

BACKGROUND ART Air-conditioning devices suitable for producing cool water to be used in a conditioning cycle are well-known in the art . Boiler systems suitable for producing hot water to be used for heating and/or sanitary purposes are well-known too .

The Applicant is not aware of devices able to deliver cool water for conditioning purposes and hot water for sanitary and/or heating purposes according to the year's season.

However, such a solution is considered as being very- advantageous both in terms of overall costs and of energy losses occurring inside of each apparatus in the form of heat which is lost in the environment and which is consequently not exploited.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to obviate to the disadvantages and drawbacks which are typical of the background art and to provide, thus, for a domestic air- conditioning device suitable for cooling water and/or producing hot water for sanitary or heating purposes, said device being cheap and small-dimensioned. This is achieved by means of a device having the features disclosed in the main claim.

The dependent claims outline particularly advantageous forms of embodiment of the device according to the invention. The device according to the present invention is provided with a compressor, a pair of heat exchangers as well as a pair of condensers, these elements being connected to each other by means of suitable pipelines provided with adjusting and checking means, e.g. valves and/or pressure-gauges and/or any gauge necessary for a correct operation of the plant.

According to a form of embodiment of the present invention, said heat exchangers show a very quick heat exchange rate between two different fluids and comprise a pair of adjacent tubular containers connected to each other by one end.

A first fluid introduced at a predetermined pressure flows within said containers, while a second fluid flows within a second circuit included in each container, said second circuit having, advantageously, a tubular cross- section and a coil configuration.

Generally, said first and second fluids flow in opposite directions in respect of each other.

According to a particular feature of the present invention, a cryogenic gas, advantageously constituted by a cooling mixture, flows within said domestic air- conditioning device; more particularly, said mixture comprises three different gases. A suitable electronics allows the device to be automatically switched over the best operation conditions according to user's needs and outer temperature values.

Thus, said device provides for different operation cycles according to user's needs and to the specific year's season during which the device has to be used.

According to user's different needs, the present device may simultaneously deliver: either cool water for air-conditioning purposes and hot water for sanitary purposes; or - hot water for sanitary purposes; or hot water for sanitary and heating purposes; or cool water for air-conditioning purposes.

ILLUSTRATION OF DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reading the following description of a form of embodiment of the invention, given as a non- limiting example, with the help of the figures illustrated in the attached drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a schematical representation of the main components of a cooling-heating device according to the invention; figure 2 shows the cooling-heating device of figure 1 acting as cool water generator for air-conditioning purposes ; - figure 3 shows the device of figure 1 acting as generator of cool water for air-conditioning purposes, as well as of hot water for sanitary purposes ; figure 4 shows the device of figure 1 acting as generator of hot water for sanitary purposes; and figure 5 shows the device of figure 1 acting as generator of hot water for sanitary purposes and of hot water for heating purposes . DESCRIPTION OF A FORM OF EMBODIMENT

In the figures, a domestic air-conditioning device 10 according to the present invention comprises a compressor

11, a pair of heat exchangers 12, 13, a group of condensers 14, a circulation pump 15, a filter 16 and a liquid receiver 17.

Said filter 16 is suitable for retaining any impurity flowing within the plant, said liquid receiver 17 being a sort of adjustment vessel which separates the heaviest portions of the cryogenic mixture components from the lightest portions of the same, thanks to their different density.

The above cited elements of the plant are connected to each other by means of suitable pipelines, as shown m the figures . Furthermore, said pipelines are provided with suitable controlling and adjusting apparata, e.g check valves 18, solenoid valves 19, lamination valves 20,24, safety valves 21, gauges 21 and a moisture tester 23.

By means of a simple visual control, moisture tester 23 allows the presence of any possible moisture within the fluid flowing m the plant to be immediately ascertained.

According to an advantageous form of embodiment of the present invention the cooling mixture is constituted by four components, said mixture having the following volumetric composition: 75% Freon 22 or Freon 134a, 12%

SUNISO® oil, 7% Freon 12 and 6% methylic alcohol.

Four different modes of operating device 10 according to the present invention will be herein below described m detail, said operating modes being given as non-limiting forms of embodiments of the present invention.

EXAMPLE I Device 10 is here operated as a typical air- conditionmg device, this operating mode representing the simplest mode of carrying out the present invention.

This operating mode, which is shown m figure 2, provides for cooling water at a temperature value higher than or equal to 7°C, to be used for air-conditioning purposes . As indicated by arrow A, the water to be cooled is introduced m the lower part of heat exchanger 13, while the produced cooled water is indicated by arrow B.

The cooling mixture leaving compressor 11 at a temperature value of about 115°C and a pressure value of about 25 bar flows inside of condensers 14 where the mixture is condensed.

The condensation is caused by a suitable heat exchange occurring between the cooling mixture and a specific air flow having a temperature respectively of about 35°C at the inlet of condensers 14 and a temperature of about 42°C at the outlet of condensers 14.

The cooling mixture leaving condensers 14 passes through liquid receiver 17 and filter 16, and is then expanded inside of lamination valve 20, whereby the expansion causes both a temperature and a pressure reduction.

For instance, the fluid temperature values differ of about 10°C between the inlet and the outlet of lamination valve 20. After the lamination process, the cooling mixture is introduced inside of heat exchanger 13, where a heat exchange between the cooling mixture and the water already present m the heat exchanger occurs, whereby said water is cooled and successively used for air-conditioning purposes .

Then, the cryogenic mixture is introduced again inside of compressor 11 at a temperature of about 10-12°C and at a pressure of about 5-7 bar. EXAMPLE II

Example II discloses a specific operating mode of device 10, which is generally used in summer when there is a need of producing both cooled water for air-conditioning purposes and hot water for sanitary purposes . According to said operating mode, indicated by the arrow paths in figure 3, the plant produces cooled water at a temperature higher than or equal to 7°C for air- conditioning purposes as well as hot water at a temperature of about 50°C for sanitary purposes. In figure 3, arrow C indicates the inlet of the water to be heated in the lower part of heat exchanger 12 and arrow D indicates the outlet of the hot water.

The cooling mixture, leaving compressor 11 at the same temperature and pressure conditions as in Example I, is directly introduced into a heat exchange circuit provided within heat exchanger 12, inside of which the cooling mixture yealds some heat to the water present within heat exchanger 12, said water being successively used as hot water for sanitary purposes. The mixture coming out of heat exchanger 12 flows then to fluid receiver 17, and the mixture follows then exactly the same path as described in Example I, what causes the refrigeration of the water contained inside of heat exchanger 13. EXAMPLE III

Example III discloses an operating mode of device 10 which is tipical of the winter season, when the air- conditioning cycle is off and only hot water for sanitary purposes has to be produced. Said operating mode is particularly advantageous in hot-climate countries, where no heating devices are generally used.

According to said operating mode, which is shown in detail in figure 4, the cooling mixture leaving compressor 11 is sent to heat exchanger 12 at the same temperature and pressure conditions as in Example I.

Inside of heat exchanger 12 the cooling mixture yealds part of its heat to the water flowing inside of the heat exchanger, the water temperature at the outlet of the heat exchanger reaching a value of about 50°C, thereby being used for sanitary purposes .

After its passage through liquid receiver 17 and filter 16, said mixture is expanded within lamination valve 24 and then condensed inside of condensers 14.

Thus, the condensed mixture at a temperature value of about 10°C is sent again to the inlet of compressor 11 to start a new operating cycle.

EXAMPLE IV Example IV shows an operating mode of device 10 of the present invention specifically referred to the winter season when hot water for sanitary and heating purposes has to be produced.

According to this operating mode, indicated in detail in figure 5, hot water for sanitary purposes at a temperature value of about 50°C is produced, the inlet of the water to be heated being indicated by arrow C at the lower part of heat exchanger 12, while the outlet of the hot water is indicated by arrow D. Furthermore, hot water for heating purposes at a temperature of about 55°C is also produced, the inlet of the water to be heated being indicated by arrow E at the lower part of heat exchanger 13, while the outlet of hot water is indicated by arrow F. Thus, the gaseous mixture leaving compressor 11 respectively passes through heat exchanger 12, liquid receiver 17 and filter 16 as described in Example III.

In this phase of the cycle, the water contained within heat exchanger 12 is heated for sanitary purposes .

In order to exploit the heat which is still included in the gaseous mixture, said mixture is sent to heat exchanger 13 by excluding lamination valve 20 (portion 25 of circuit shown in figure 5) since the passage of the mixture through lamination valve 20 would cause a disadvantageous reduction of the temperature before the mixture is introduced into heat exchanger 13.

Thus, the gaseous mixture within heat exchanger 13 yealds its heat to the water to be used for heating purposes at inlet E; then, when said water leaves heat exchanger 13 , it is introduced again into compressor 11 to start a new cycle.

Water flow F leaving heat exchanger 13, and to be used for domestic environment heating purposes, has a temperature of about 55°C, said value being generally not sufficient to assure a suitable heating of the rooms.

However, said temperature is sufficiently high for heating purposes in the case where device 10 is installed in hot-climate countries, where very low temperature values are not reached even during the winter season.

Besides, in the case where device 10 is installed in countries where rather low temperatures are reached, said device may be advantageously and simply connected to a boiler suitable for providing for water at sufficiently high temperature suitable for heating purposes.

Claims

1. Domestic air-conditioning device (10) provided with an electronics suitable for automatically switching the operating modes of the device in order to simultaneously provide for: a) either cool water for air-conditioning purposes; or b) cool water for air-conditioning purposes and hot water for sanitary purposes; c) and/or hot water for sanitary purposes; d) and/or hot water for sanitary and heating purposes, said device (10) comprising at least a heat exchange circuit inside of which flows a gaseous mixture leaving a compressor (11), whereby: a') said mixture leaving the compressor (11), during the operating mode a) of the device (10), is sent through a group of condensers (14), a first lamination valve (20) and a first heat exchange circuit of a first heat exchanger (13), in order to reduce the temperature of the water to be used for air-conditioning purposes present within the second heat exchange circuit of said first heat exchanger (13), said mixture being then introduced into the compressor (11); b' ) said mixture leaving the compressor (11), according to operating mode b) of the device (10), is sent through a first heat exchange circuit of a second heat exchanger (12) to obtain hot water for sanitary purposes which is present inside of the second heat exchange circuit of said second heat exchanger (12), and successively through said first lamination valve (20) and the first heat exchange circuit of said first heat exchanger (13), in order to reduce the temperature of the water to be used for air- conditioning purposes present inside of the second heat exchange circuit of said first heat exchanger (13), said mixture being then introduced into the compressor (11); c') said mixture leaving the compressor (11), during the operating mode c) of the device (10), is sent through a first heat exchange circuit of said second heat exchanger (12) to obtain hot water for sanitary purposes present within the second heat exchange circuit of said second heat exchanger (12), and successively through a second lamination valve (24) and a group of condensers (14) to be then introduced into the compressor (11) ; d' ) said mixture coming out from the compressor (11), during operating mode d) of device (10), is sent through a first heat exchange circuit of said second heat exchanger (12) to obtain hot water for sanitary purposes present inside of the second heat exchange circuit (12) and successively, excluding (25) said first lamination valve (20), through said first heat exchange circuit of the first heat exchanger

(13), in order to raise the temperature of the water for heating purposes present inside of the second heat exchange circuit of said first heat exchanger (13), said mixture being then introduced into said compressor (11) .

2. Domestic air-conditioning device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least a liquid receiver (17) suitable for separating the heaviest portions of the gaseous mixture components from the lightest portions of the same owing to their different density.

3. Domestic air-conditioning device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said liquid receiver (17) is placed between said group of condensers (14) and said first lamination valve (20) .

4. Domestic air-conditioning device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said liquid receiver (17) is placed between said first heat exchange circuit of said second heat exchanger (12) and said first lamination valve (20) .

5. Domestic air-conditioning device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said liquid receiver (17) is placed between said first heat exchange circuit of said second heat exchanger (12) and said second lamination valve (24).

6. Domestic air-conditioning device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said liquid receiver (17) is placed between said first heat exchange circuit of said second heat exchanger (12) and said first heat exchange circuit of said first heat exchanger (13 ) .

7. Domestic air-conditioning device (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a filter (16) suitable for retaining any evantual impurity present inside of said gaseous mixture circuit .

8. Domestic air-conditioning device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that said filter (16) is placed downstream of said liquid receiver (17) .

9. Domestic air-conditioning device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said gaseous mixture is constituted by at least three different gases.

10. Domestic air-conditioning device (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gaseous mixture is a four components mixture having the following volumetric composition: 75% Freon 22 or Freon 134a, 12% SUNISO┬« oil, 7% Freon 12 and 6% methylic alcohol.