WO2024161221A1

WO2024161221A1 - Heat pump, particularly for constructing waterloop plants

Info

Publication number: WO2024161221A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/050278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oreste Bottaro
Original assignee: Innova S.R.L.
Priority date: 2023-02-02
Filing date: 2024-01-11
Publication date: 2024-08-08

Abstract

Heat pump, particularly for constructing waterloop plants, including a carrier body (2), a refrigerating circuit (5) which is received in the body and which includes an air/fluid heat exchange battery (6), and a hydronic group (7) which is provided for heat exchange connection to a primary circuit (8). The body comprises at least a first box-shaped member and a second box-shaped member (3, 4) which are placed in a mutual spaced-apart relationship and between which there is defined a primary space (11) while the air/fluid heat exchange battery is received in the primary space. In each of the box-shaped members there is defined a respective secondary space (12), in which there are mounted a compressor (13) and the hydronic group, respectively, the compressor and the hydronic group being connected to each other by means of pipes extending through the primary space.

Description

HEAT PUMP, PARTICULARLY FOR CONSTRUCTING WATERLOOP PLANTS

Description

The invention relates to a heat pump, particularly for constructing waterloop plants, of the type including the features mentioned in the preamble of the main claim.

DE 102008016577 describes with reference to Figure 2 a heat pump 2B with an air-air exchanger 15 which is used in order to circulate a thermal liquid for a radiator plant 38.

However, the pump 2B is not suitable for use in a waterloop plant because the hydronic group which in such a plant is used to exchange heat with the primary circuit in order to transfer it to the air-fluid heat exchange battery which serves to introduce the exchanged heat into the environment to be conditioned is generally absent.

W02020207785 describes a plant of the split type used for generating hot sanitary water. In this case, the hydronic group which, in a waterloop plant, is used to exchange heat with the primary circuit in order to transfer it to the air-fluid heat exchange battery which serves to introduce the exchanged heat into the environment to be conditioned is also generally absent. Therefore, any indication useful forallowingthe use of the plant of W02020207785 in a waterloop system is absent.

The waterloop type plants comprise a primary hydronic circuit in which water circulates, as a thermally convecting fluid, and a plurality of heat pumps in a heat exchange condition with the primary hydronic circuit in order to heat or cool a corresponding plurality of environments at the expense of the thermal energy which is distributed by the primary circuit.

To this end, heat pumps are provided with a secondary hydronic group which includes a heat exchanger which is connected both to the primary circuit and to a refrigerating circuit in order to transfer thermal energy to the environments to be processed at the expense of the heat available to the primary circuit.

In the following context, the term "secondary hydronic group" is used in order to generally define a group including one or more gas-water heat exchangers, the potential connectors, valves and pipe fittings at the gas side of the refrigerating circuit.

Heat pumps used until now in waterloop plants have different disadvantages.

In the first place, with regard to apparatuses which are installed inside the environments to be processed, it is necessary for them to have a particularly silent operation. Unfortunately, a reduced noise emission is extremely difficult to obtain in the compressor type refrigerating plants as a result of the vibrations which are generated by the compressor and distributed to the carrier structure.

Furthermore, it is necessary that the overall dimensions of the apparatuses be minimized. This requirement is also difficult to comply with as a result of the presence of a large number of components both of the secondary hydronic group and of the refrigerating circuit which have to interact with each other.

The compromises which are adopted till now in the known apparatuses are always to the detriment of one or other of these requirements because the apparatuses available nowadays are either relatively bulky or unacceptably noisy.

The technical problem which is addressed by the invention is to provide a heat pump which is structurally and functionally suitable for effectively being fitted to plants of the waterloop type and which is at the same time configured for substantially containing the dimensions and an extremely high level of operational silence.

In the context of this problem, a main object of the invention is to provide a heat pump, in which the access to parts and components for installation and maintenance is particularly facilitated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heat pump with very contained dimensions. Another object of the invention is to provide a heat pump for the above-mentioned purposes, the body of which is particularly rigid and is not liable to transmit vibration phenomena.

At the same time, an object of the invention is to provide a heat pump, the construction of which is advantageously economical.

This problem is solved and these objects and other objects are at least partially achieved by a heat pump which is constructed according to one or more of the following features.

According to one aspect of the invention, a heat pump, particularly for constructing waterloop plants, comprises:

- a carrier body,

- a refrigerating circuit which is received in the body and which includes an air-fluid heat exchange battery,

- and a hydronic group which is provided for heat exchange connection to a primary circuit.

Preferably, the body comprises at least a first box-shaped member and a second boxshaped member which are placed in a mutual spaced-apart relationship and between which there is defined a primary space in which the air/fluid heat exchange battery is received. This configuration confers compactness on the carrier structure and provides it for optimum assembly of the remaining components of the refrigerating group.

Preferably, in each of the box-shaped members there is defined a respective secondary space, in which there are mounted a compressor and the hydronic group, respectively. Preferably, the refrigerating circuit comprises the compressor. This aspect of the invention also serves to optimize the dimensions in addition to physically separating the components so that the secondary spaces can be optimized for the respective functions for which they are provided.

According to an aspect of the invention, the compressor and the hydronic group are connected to each other by means of pipes extending through the primary space. The separation which is thereby brought about allows arrangements which simplify both the assembly and the maintenance of the heat pump to be used.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, at least one of the box-shaped members (and preferably both of them) has at least two contiguous sides which are arranged substantially in a square. This confers optimum rigidity on the body which is particularly advantageous for containing the noise of the compressor.

By constructing the box-shaped member mentioned above with a unitary structure along the contiguous sides, and particularly by constructing it with a press-bending process, the construction of the body is simplified and at the same time it is powerfully ribbed, conferring additional rigidity thereon, in addition to being able to be produced with simple and economical methods which facilitate the assembly of the components.

Preferably, this box-shaped member (or even more preferably both these members) comprises an additional third side which joins the contiguous sides at the same end, conferring a partially closed configuration which further improves the rigidity of the support of the compressor and reduces the noise.

In this context, it is further preferable for the compressor to be fixed to the respective boxshaped member by means of a box-shaped housing which is positioned in the corresponding secondary space. This solution optimizes the rigidity of the support of the compressor which is a critical factor in reducing the noise and the vibrations emitted.

In one embodiment, the box-shaped housing comprises a base, a back and a roof which is opposite the base, the base and the roof being secured at both contiguous sides. In this manner, the box-shaped housing of the compressor itself contributes to increasing the rigidity of the whole.

If the box-shaped housing is unitary and obtained by press-bending, the construction and assembly thereof are greatly facilitated.

Furthermore, this arrangement facilitates the construction on the base, back and roof of the box-shaped housing with edges which form peripheral ribs.

In a preferred version of the invention, the back of the box-shaped housing delimits a ventilation pipe, in which a heat dissipator which belongs, for example, to an electronic control circuit board of the heat pump is preferably received. Preferably, this involves the power circuit of the inverter control of the compressor.

The effect is further improved by applying forced ventilation means to the ventilation pipe. The forced ventilation means preferably comprise an electric fan.

The features and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred though non-limiting exemplary embodiment which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a front view of a heat pump according to the invention with the panelling removed;

- Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section of the heat pump of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a schematic, perspective view of the components of the body of the heat pump of the preceding Figures;

- Figure 4 is a schematic, perspective view of a component of the body of the heat pump of the preceding Figure;

- Figure 5 is a plan view of a semi-finished product of the component of Figure 4;

- Figures 6 to 8 are perspective views of a detail of the preceding Figures;

- Figures 9 and 10 are cross-sections of the heat pump of the preceding Figures, Figure 10 further comprising transfer tubes;

- Figure 11 is a perspective view of a detail of Figure 10.

In the Figures, there is generally designated 1 a heat pump which is preferably intended to be fitted to waterloop plants. The pump 1 comprises a carrier body 2 with at least one first and second box-shaped member 3, 4.

The pump 1 further comprises a refrigerating circuit 5 which is received in the body 2 and which includes a refrigerating air-fluid heat exchange battery 6. There is further provided a hydronic group 7 which is provided for heat exchange connection between the refrigerating circuit 5 and a primary circuit 8 which is schematically illustrated by a delivery pipe and a return pipe 9, 10, in which there is caused to circulate in a manner known per se a primary fluid which is constituted, for example, by water which is circulated at a temperature which is approximately constant.

With particular reference to Figure 3, the box-shaped members 3, 4 are placed in a mutual spaced-apart relationship and there is defined between them a primary space 11 in which the refrigerating air-fluid heat exchange battery 6 is received as well as an electric fan 20 which is operated by a motor 14 and which is functionally provided to convey an air flow to the battery 6. Preferably, the fan 20 is of the tangential type with variable speed and is supported on the respective box-shaped members 3, 4 by means of bearings 15 in the lower portion of the primary space 11 (with respect to the assembly position of Figure 3).

There is preferably defined in each box-shaped member 3, 4 a respective secondary space 12, in which a compressor 13 of the refrigerating circuit 5 and the hydronic group 7 are mounted, respectively.

According to an aspect of the invention, the compressor and the hydronic group are connected to each other by means of both hydraulic pipes (for the compressed refrigerating fluid) and electrical pipes which are described in greater detail below and which extend through the primary space 11. The separation which is thereby obtained allows arrangements which simplify both the assembly and the maintenance of the heat pump to be adopted.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, at least one but preferably both of the box-shaped members 3, 4 has/have at least two first and second contiguous sides 15, 16 which are arranged substantially in a square. This confers optimum rigidity on the body which is particularly advantageous to contain the noise of the compressor.

In another aspect of the invention, at least one but preferably both of the box-shaped members 3, 4 has/have at least a third side 17 which serves to close the top (still with reference to the assembly position of Figure 3 of the respective box-shaped member).

The box-shaped member 4 further has a fourth side 18 which is contiguous with the side 16. The contiguous sides 15, 16, 17 and 18 are preferably constructed in unitary form in order to press-bend a respective semi-finished product 19.

The semi-finished product 19 which is used to form the box-shaped member 3 has three apertures, a lower, intermediate and upper aperture 21, 22, 23, respectively, and has below the side 15 a lip 24, with which it is fixed where applicable to a base which is not illustrated.

With particular reference to Figure 7, there is fixed to both sides 15, 16 a box-shaped housing 25 which is positioned in the corresponding secondary space 12. The box-shaped housing 25 is attached in a rucksack-like manner to the first side 15 by means of lugs 27, 28 and has a base 2, a back 30 and a roof 31 which are contiguous with each other and preferably unitary and which are preferably constructed by press-bending with edges 32 forming peripheral ribs. Preferably, the back 30 is formed by three contiguous portions 30a, b, c, two of which (30a, c) are parallel with each other. It may be observed that the boxshaped housing is further fixed by means of screws or the like both to the first side and to the second side of the box-shaped element 3, which further contributes to the whole becoming more rigid.

The compressor 13 is in turn provided with a base 34 which has a plurality of lugs 35 which serve to support respective anti-vibration supports 36. The lugs 35 are obtained by plastic deformation of the base 34 in an upward direction or towards the body of the compressor 13 itself, for example, by stamping. This involves, on the one hand, a ribbing effect of the base 34 with a resultant rigidification thereof and, on the other hand, a smaller overall axial dimension of the compressor 13 once it is mounted on the anti-vibration supports. This further contributes to the damping of the vibrations and the rigidification of the assembly.

There is also installed in the secondary space 12 the electronic control unit of the heat pump 1. In particular, one or more controlling circuit boards 37 are received above the roof 31 while power circuits 38 with relevant dissipators 39 are mounted in a ventilation pipe (64) which is defined between the back 30 and a lateral casing 41 of the body. An electric fan 40 is mounted on the lateral casing 41 and is provided with a deflector 42 for directing a forced ventilation flow towards the dissipators 39. In this manner, the structure of the body 2 further performs the function of channelling the cooling air of the electronic power unit of the heat pump 1.

There is installed in the opposite secondary space 12 the hydronic group 7 which comprises a refrigerating water/gas exchanger 43, the water side of which is connected to the delivery pipe and return pipe 9,10 of the primary circuit by means of respective pipes 46,47 and the gas side of which is in turn connected to the compressor 13 and the heat exchange battery 6 by means of pipes 44,45. There is interposed on the line of pipes 44,45 a three-way valve 49 which is used in a manner known per se for reversing the summer/winter operation of the heat pump 1.

Preferably, the pipes 46,47 flow together with respective pipe unions 48 in an environment 49a of the secondary space 12 which is provided under the hydronic group in order to receive respective connectors of the primary circuit 8. Similarly, an environment 49b is symmetrically formed in the body 2 under the compressor 13. In this manner, the heat pump is identically able to be installed with the connectors of the primary circuit positioned at one side of the body or at the opposite side or even with a connector of the primary circuit in each environment 49a, b. In these last two cases, however, there is provision for respective transfer tubes 50 which connect the pipes 46, 47 of the hydronic group 7 to the connectors of the primary circuit 8 to be used, travelling from a secondary space 49a to the opposite space 49b passing through the primary space 11. These transfer tubes 50 (which can be seen in Figure 10) can advantageously be received in respective passages 51 which are formed in an adapter 52 which is preferably made from an insulating, expanded material which is provided in the lower portion of the primary space 11, immediately above the fan 20.

Preferably, a housing 54 for the adapter 52 is in the form of a diffusor 55 of the fan behind a delivery opening 56. The same delivery opening 56 has an end lip 57 which is curved so as to form a first deflector for the air being delivered towards the battery 6. A second deflector 58 is positioned in front of the delivery opening 56 a short distance therefrom with the purpose of conveying a fraction of the delivery air towards the lower portion of the battery 6.

Finally, the structure is provided with external cladding walls which constitute the external appearance of the apparatus with a lower opening 59 and an upper opening 60, the upper opening 60 being provided with a grill 61. A basin 62 for receiving condensation is placed under the battery 6 and is connected to a condensation discharge line 63.

Claims

1. A heat pump for a waterloop plant, in which the heat pump is arranged with a hydronic group for exchanging heat with a primary circuit of the waterloop plant, in which a heat exchange liquid is circulated, the pump including:

- a carrier body (2),

- a refrigerating circuit (5) which is received in the body and which includes an air-fluid heat exchange battery (6),

- and the hydronic group (7) which is provided for heat exchange connection to the primary circuit (8), characterized in that the body comprises at least a first box-shaped member and a second box-shaped member (3, 4) which are placed in a mutual spaced-apart relationship and between which there is defined a primary space (11), and in that the air-fluid heat exchange battery is received in the primary space, in each of the box-shaped members there being defined a respective secondary space (12), in which there are mounted a compressor (13) and the hydronic group, respectively, the compressor and the hydronic group being connected to each other by means of pipes extending through the primary space.

2. A heat pump according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the box-shaped members has at least two first and second contiguous sides (15, 16) which are arranged substantially in a square.

3. A heat pump according to claim 2, wherein the box-shaped member is unitary along the contiguous sides.

4. A heat pump according to claim 3, wherein the box-shaped member is unitary and obtained by press-bending.

5. A heat pump according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the box-shaped member comprises a third side (17) which joins the contiguous first and second sides.

6. A heat pump according to claim 5, wherein the third side is unitary with one of the contiguous first and second sides.

7. A heat pump according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the compressor is fixed in the respective secondary space by means of a box-shaped housing (25) which is fixed to the respective box-shaped member.

8. A heat pump according to claim 7, wherein the box-shaped housing comprises a base (29), a back (30) and a roof (31) which is opposite the base, the base and the roof being secured at both contiguous sides of the respective box-shaped member.

9. A heat pump according to claim 8, wherein the box-shaped housing is unitary and obtained by press-bending.

10. A heat pump according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the base, back and roof of the boxshaped housing are bounded by peripheral ribs (32).

11. A heat pump according to one or more of claims 7 to 10, wherein the box-shaped housing delimits a ventilation pipe (64).

12. A heat pump according to claim 11, wherein a heat dissipator (39) is received in the ventilation pipe.

13. A heat pump according to claim 11 or 12, wherein forced ventilation means (40) are associated with the ventilation pipe.

14. A heat pump according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the hydronic group (7) comprises a water/gas refrigerating exchanger (43), the water side of which is connected to the delivery and return pipes (9, 10) of the primary circuit by means of respective pipes (46, 47) and the gas side of which is in turn connected to the compressor (13) and the heat exchange battery (6), the pipes flowing together in an environment (49a) of the secondary space (12) which is provided below the hydronic group in order to receive respective connectors of the primary circuit (8).

15. A heat pump according to the preceding claim, wherein a second environment (49b) is symmetrically constructed in the body (2) underthe compressor (13) so that the heat pump can be installed in an identical manner with the connectors of the primary circuit positioned at one side of the body or at the opposite side or with a connector of the primary circuit in each environment (49a, b).