Coupling device, kit, and heat transfer arrangement comprising the coupling device and the kit

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a coupling device (300) for fluidly connecting a refrigerant recirculation circuit (134) to a heat exchanger refrigerant port (210a, 210b) of a heat exchanger (200) in a heat pump (130a, 130b, 130c), where the heat exchanger refrigerant port (210a, 210b) extends into the heat exchanger (200) from a refrigerant port open end (212) towards a refrigerant port bottom end (214), a coupling device (300) for a heat exchanger (200) and fluidly connected to an internal heat exchange channel (220) of the heat exchanger (200), the coupling device comprising a body (310) having an inner conduit line (312), and a filter unit (340), where the coupling device (300) is constructed and arranged such that when mounted onto the heat exchanger (200), the body (310) protrudes from a refrigerant port open end (212) towards a refrigerant port bottom end (214) into a heat exchanger refrigerant port (210a, 210b), the filter unit (340) will be disposed near the bottom end of the refrigerant port.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a coupling device for fluidly connecting a refrigerant recirculation circuit to a heat exchanger refrigerant port of a heat exchanger in a heat pump. The present disclosure further relates to a kit comprising the coupling device and the heat exchanger. The present disclosure further relates to a heat transfer arrangement for heating and / or cooling a building, the heat transfer arrangement comprising the coupling device and / or the kit. BACKGROUND

[0002] Almost all large developed cities in the world incorporate at least two types of energy networks in their infrastructure; one network for providing electrical energy and one network for providing space heating and hot tap water production. Today, the commonly used network for providing space heating and hot tap water production is a gas network providing a combustible gas, typically a fossil fuel gas. The gas provided by the gas network is combusted locally for providing space heating and hot tap water. To reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it is planned to replace such a gas network with a more "green" energy saving energy system.

[0003] One such energy saving energy system is a cold heat network. A cold heat network is an evolution of a district heating system and a district cooling system, where a combined district heating and cooling system, by means of using heat pumps for heating and cooling, can simultaneously cool, heat and provide tap water production for buildings.

[0004] To successfully replace a gas network, where the respective gas burners are replaced by heat pumps, the heat pumps used need to have a smaller volume, need to be less costly, need to be easier to control and need to have a lower technical complexity, e.g. a lower number of sensors for measuring space heat and tap water energy consumption and / or a lower complexity compared to the currently used heat pumps. A refrigerant is needed in the heat pump and the high efficiency (COP) of the heat pump depends on a high efficient refrigerant. Many high efficient refrigerants have a large GWP (Global Warming Potential) and therefore the use of low GWP refrigerants is encouraged. Some refrigerants have a low GWP but have other unwanted properties which in turn forces authorities to set requirements for the maximum amount of GWP allowed in a single heat pump in order to allow placement in certain zones, such as non-ventilated areas in a building. A small amount of refrigerant will inevitably limit the COP and thereby the maximum power of the heat pump. An example of such a refrigerant is R290 and the amount of R290 allowed in a heat pump when placed in a non-ventilated area is currently 152 g.

[0005] There is therefore a need in the art to make heat pumps more efficient, in particular regarding the refrigerant utilization therein, in order to be able to provide sufficient heating within the limits set by authorities. SUMMARY

[0006] The aim is to mitigate, alleviate, or eliminate one or more of the aforementioned defects and disadvantages in the art, either alone or in any combination. These and other objectives are achieved, at least in part, by the invention as defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to a first aspect, a coupling device is provided for fluidly connecting a refrigerant recirculation loop to a heat exchanger refrigerant port in a heat pump, wherein the heat exchanger refrigerant port extends from a refrigerant port opening end toward a refrigerant port bottom end into the heat exchanger and is fluidly connected to an internal heat exchange passage of the heat exchanger, the coupling device comprising:

[0008] The main body, having an inner conduit as seen transversely to the refrigerant flow direction, the inner conduit having a constant cross-sectional area, comprises:

[0009] An attachment portion, configured and arranged to be attachable to a heat exchanger at a refrigerant port opening, the attachment portion having a connection port for connection to a fluid conduit system of the refrigerant recirculation loop, the connection port being in fluid communication with an inner conduit line; and

[0010] The dispensing portion has an elongated extension from a first end connected to the attachment portion to a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the internal conduit line opens at the second end.

[0011] The connecting device further includes a filter unit disposed at the second end of the distribution section, wherein the filter unit is arranged in such a way that refrigerant passing through the internal conduit line is filtered by the filter unit.

[0012] The connecting device is constructed and arranged such that, when installed on the heat exchanger, the distribution portion protrudes from the refrigerant port opening towards the bottom of the refrigerant port into the heat exchanger refrigerant port, such that the filter unit is located near the bottom of the refrigerant port, and such that the flow path interconnecting the inner conduit of the connecting device with the internal heat exchange channel of the heat exchanger is limited between the outer wall of the distribution portion and the inner wall of the heat exchanger refrigerant port.

[0013] The connection device according to the first aspect can be advantageous because it allows for a reduction in the amount of refrigerant that, for various reasons, does not contribute to heat transfer in the refrigerant recirculation loop of the heat pump. This is achieved by reducing unnecessary volumes in the fluid duct system that houses the refrigerant recirculation loop. By minimizing these unnecessary volumes, the total amount of refrigerant in the system can be reduced. Furthermore, many of these unnecessary volumes are shaped to cause refrigerant to accumulate there, thereby failing to contribute to the heat transfer process.

[0014] One area where this problem is particularly prevalent in refrigerant recirculation loops is the inlet and / or outlet of (multiple) heat exchangers. A heat pump has two heat exchangers, which function simultaneously as an evaporator and a condenser. The refrigerant must pass through both heat exchangers during the refrigerant cycle. This means the refrigerant must enter twice and exit twice, resulting in a total of four pathways through the inlet and outlet of the heat exchangers. These pathways are particularly susceptible to the aforementioned problem because heat exchangers typically have relatively large inlet and outlet port volumes. Here, refrigerant (especially in pathways where the refrigerant is in liquid form) can accumulate due to wake and turbulence, and thus does not actively contribute to the heat transfer process within the heat pump.

[0015] The coupling device can be advantageous because it proactively minimizes the problem by reducing the volume of the heat exchanger ports through its shape. By allowing the distribution section to protrude into the refrigerant ports of the heat exchanger, the effective volume of the heat exchanger ports available for refrigerant can be significantly reduced. The internal conduit of the coupling device can be designed to be relatively narrow, and since it does not have a constant cross-sectional area as seen laterally to the refrigerant flow direction, the risk of refrigerant buildup within the coupling device can be essentially zero. Once the refrigerant leaves the coupling device, it enters a flow path formed between the outer wall of the distribution section and the inner wall of the refrigerant ports of the heat exchanger. This flow path interconnects the internal conduit of the coupling device with the internal heat exchange channels of the heat exchanger. Through design choices, the volume and shape of this flow path can be selected to further reduce the risk of any refrigerant buildup. If some refrigerant still accumulates, the amount of such refrigerant is expected to be significantly reduced compared to prior art solutions due to the significant reduction in the effective volume of the heat exchanger refrigerant ports as detailed above.

[0016] Another advantage of the connected device is that it includes a filter unit. In existing systems, filtration typically occurs in a separate filter unit connected in series with the refrigerant recirculation loop. To accommodate filters (such as mesh filters) with a sufficiently large effective area to provide acceptable pressure loss in the refrigerant recirculation loop, the filter unit typically also defines unnecessarily large internal volumes that tend to create additional volumes in the refrigerant recirculation loop where refrigerant can accumulate, thus hindering heat transfer. By placing the filter unit at the second end of the distribution section, the refrigerant in the inner duct of the distribution section is allowed to pass through the filter unit within the refrigerant port of the heat exchanger on its way toward the internal heat exchange passages of the heat exchanger, where heat transfer subsequently occurs.

[0017] The term "refrigerant recirculation loop" in this document refers to a closed loop through which a constant volume of refrigerant circulates. The refrigerant recirculation loop includes a first heat exchanger unit, a second heat exchanger unit, a compressor, and an expander. These units are connected in series with each other by means of a fluid conduit system to define the refrigerant recirculation loop. This fluid conduit system includes pipes. The pipes are typically made of metal (such as copper).

[0018] According to some embodiments, as viewed transversely to the refrigerant flow direction, the cross-sectional area of ​​the distribution portion is 50% to 90% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant port of the heat exchanger. As viewed transversely to the refrigerant flow direction, the cross-sectional area of ​​the distribution portion may be 70% to 90%, or 75% to 85%, or about 80% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant port of the heat exchanger.

[0019] This can be advantageous because it offers a good trade-off between achieving refrigerant flow with an acceptable pressure drop and a significantly reduced overall volume to reduce the degree of quiescent, passive refrigerant in the refrigerant recirculation loop.

[0020] As used herein, the term "cross-sectional area" should be interpreted as the total cross-sectional area defined by an element or part. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of ​​a hollow cylinder should be interpreted as the area of ​​the circle defined by the enclosing surface, rather than the area of ​​the annulus that may define such a hollow cylinder.

[0021] According to some embodiments, the elongated extension of the dispensing portion is 70% to 95% of the longitudinal extension of the flow passage.

[0022] This can be advantageous because it offers a good trade-off between achieving sufficient space for the filter unit and a significant reduction in overall volume to reduce the degree of static, passive refrigerant in the refrigerant recirculation loop.

[0023] As used herein, the longitudinal extension of the flow path is defined as an elongated extension parallel to the distribution portion.

[0024] According to some embodiments, the body is integrally formed from a single material.

[0025] This can be advantageous because it makes the connecting device easier to manufacture. Alternatively, the body can be made of two or more components attached to each other. The body can be made of metal, such as brass, stainless steel, or copper.

[0026] According to some embodiments, the connection port is constructed and arranged to receive the fluid conduit system of the refrigerant recirculation loop, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the connection port is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the inner conduit line.

[0027] This can be advantageous because it allows for a relatively uniform transition between the piping and the internal conduit lines, thus further helping to minimize the risk of stagnant or passive refrigerant in the refrigerant recirculation loop.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the attachment portion has a threaded portion that is configured and arranged to thread into an associated threaded portion of the heat exchanger when the attachment device is attached to the heat exchanger.

[0029] This can be advantageous because it provides an efficient and robust attachment between the connecting device and the heat exchanger, and further allows for easier replacement of the connecting device. However, other attachment methods are also conceivable. Alternatively, the attachment can be achieved by soldering or gluing. For such attachments, the attached portion may not have a threaded section.

[0030] According to some embodiments, the filter unit includes a mesh filter.

[0031] According to some embodiments, the connecting device has a cylindrical geometry. The refrigerant port of the heat exchanger can be substantially cylindrical. This means that the flow passage formed between the outer wall of the distribution section and the inner wall of the refrigerant port of the heat exchanger can be substantially in the shape of a hollow cylinder. However, other shapes are conceivable.

[0032] According to some embodiments, the coupling device further includes an expansion valve that is directly attached to the attachment portion. The expansion valve may be an electronic expansion valve or a thermal expansion valve. The expansion valve can be attached to the attachment portion by soldering.

[0033] This can be advantageous because it allows for further reduction of unnecessary volume in the fluid duct system of the refrigerant recirculation loop. Furthermore, it simplifies the assembly of heat pumps that include such coupling devices.

[0034] According to the second aspect, a kit for a heat pump is provided, the kit comprising:

[0035] A heat exchanger comprising a first heat exchanger refrigerant port and a second heat exchanger refrigerant port for fluidly connecting the heat exchanger to a refrigerant recirculation loop of a heat pump, wherein each of the first heat exchanger refrigerant port and the second heat exchanger refrigerant port extends from a respective heat exchanger port opening end toward a respective heat exchanger port bottom end into the heat exchanger and is fluidly connected to an internal heat exchange passage of the heat exchanger; and

[0036] According to any one of the preceding claims, the connecting device is constructed and arranged such that, when installed on a heat exchanger at one of the first and second heat exchanger refrigerant ports, a dispensing portion protrudes from the opening end of the respective heat exchanger port toward the bottom end of the respective heat exchanger port into said one of the first and second heat exchanger refrigerant ports, such that a filter unit is disposed near the bottom end of the heat exchanger port, and such that a flow path interconnecting the inner conduit of the connecting device with the internal heat exchange channel of the heat exchanger is defined between the outer wall of the dispensing portion and the inner wall of the heat exchanger refrigerant port.

[0037] According to a third aspect, a heat transfer arrangement for heating and / or cooling a building is provided, the heat transfer arrangement including at least one heat pump, the at least one heat pump comprising:

[0038] At least one connection device according to the first aspect, and / or

[0039] At least one kit according to the second aspect.

[0040] According to some embodiments, the at least one heat pump is at least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump, wherein each of the at least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump is constructed and arranged to be individually detachable from the heat transfer arrangement.

[0041] According to some embodiments, the at least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump is a plurality of modular liquid-liquid heat pumps operating in parallel.

[0042] According to some embodiments, the total amount of refrigerant contained in each of the at least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump is less than 400g, or less than 300g, or less than 200g.

[0043] For one type of heat pump, the permissible amount of refrigerant in a refrigerant recirculation loop using refrigerant R290 is currently 152g, without requiring that area to be a ventilated zone. For another type of heat pump, the permissible amount of refrigerant in a refrigerant recirculation loop using refrigerant R290 is currently 334g, without requiring that area to be a ventilated zone. Other refrigerants may have different predetermined thresholds.

[0044] The refrigerant can be selected from a group consisting of R290, R32, R410A, R470C and R134A.

[0045] The effects and features of the second and third aspects are largely similar to those described above in conjunction with the first aspect. The embodiments mentioned with respect to the first aspect are largely compatible with the second and third aspects. It should also be noted that, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the inventive concept involves all possible combinations of features.

[0046] The further applicability of this disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that while the detailed description and specific examples indicate preferred embodiments of this disclosure, they are given in an illustrative manner only, as various variations and modifications within the scope of this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on this detailed description.

[0047] Therefore, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific components of the described device or the steps of the described method, as such device and method can be modified. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be restrictive. It must be noted that, unless the context clearly specifies otherwise, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “described” are intended to mean the presence of one or more elements, as used in this specification and the appended claims. Thus, for example, references to “unit” or “the unit” can include several devices, etc. Furthermore, the words “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and similar wording do not exclude other elements or steps. Attached Figure Description

[0048] This disclosure will be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the [illustrative] accompanying drawings, which illustrate currently preferred embodiments of this disclosure.

[0049] FIG. 1A A modular liquid-liquid heat transfer arrangement for supplying heat and / or cooling and / or providing tap water to a building, according to example embodiments of this disclosure, is shown.

[0050] FIG. 1B Showing FIG. 1A A modular liquid-liquid heat transfer arrangement in which one of the heat pump modules is detached from the arrangement.

[0051] FIG. 2A An exploded perspective view shows a heat exchanger according to an example embodiment of this disclosure.

[0052] FIG. 2B Demonstrates when assembled FIG. 2A The heat exchanger.

[0053] FIG. 3 This demonstrates the effect of connecting to a refrigerant recirculation loop according to the prior art. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B The heat exchanger.

[0054] FIG. 4 This demonstrates the effect when connected to a refrigerant recirculation loop using a coupling device according to an embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2BThe heat exchanger.

[0055] FIG. 5A yes FIG. 4 A 3D view of the connecting equipment.

[0056] FIG. 5B yes FIG. 4 Side view of the connecting device.

[0057] FIG. 5C It is a connecting device along the FIG. 5B A cross-sectional view of the section intercepted by line X1-X1.

[0058] FIG. 5D yes FIG. 5A The connecting device along the FIG. 5C A cross-sectional view of the section intercepted by line X2-X2.

[0059] FIG. 5E yes FIG. 5A The connecting device along the FIG. 5C A cross-sectional view of the section intercepted by line X3-X3.

[0060] FIG. 6A This is a side view of a connected device according to another example embodiment of this disclosure.

[0061] FIG. 6B yes FIG. 6A The connecting device along the FIG. 6A A cross-sectional view of the section cut by line X4-X4. Detailed Implementation

[0062] This disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated. However, this disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to achieve thoroughness and completeness and to fully communicate the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0063] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate, by way of example, a modular liquid-liquid heat transfer arrangement 100 for supplying heat and / or cooling and / or providing tap water, etc., to a building. In the following text, the modular liquid-liquid heat transfer arrangement 100 may also be referred to as “heat transfer arrangement 100” or “arrangement 100”.

[0064] The heat transfer arrangement 100 includes a cold side and a hot side. The heat transfer arrangement 100 is configured to transfer heat energy from the cold side to the hot side. The cold side includes a first inlet connection pipe 111 and a first outlet connection pipe 112. The cold side is connected to the cold liquid side 101 via the first inlet connection pipe 111 and the first outlet connection pipe 112, thereby forming a cold-side liquid recirculation path 103. The hot side includes a second inlet connection pipe 122 and a second outlet connection pipe 121. The hot side is connected to the hot liquid side 102 via the second inlet connection pipe 122 and the second outlet connection pipe 121, thereby forming a hot-side liquid recirculation path 104.

[0065] The first inlet connection 111 is configured to supply cold-side liquid (commonly referred to as brine) from the cold liquid side 101 to the heat transfer arrangement 100. The first outlet connection 112 is configured to return the cold-side liquid from the heat transfer arrangement 100 to the cold liquid side 101, thereby forming a cold-side liquid recirculation path 103. During heating, the cold-side liquid has a higher temperature when supplied to the heat transfer arrangement 100 than when it returns from the heat transfer arrangement to the cold liquid side 101.

[0066] The second outlet connection 121 is configured to supply hot-side liquid (typically water) from the heat transfer arrangement 100 to the hot liquid side 102. The second inlet connection 122 is configured to return hot-side liquid from the hot liquid side 102 to the heat transfer arrangement 100, thereby forming a hot-side recirculation path 104. During heating, the hot-side liquid has a lower temperature when supplied to the heat transfer arrangement 100 than when it returns from the heat transfer arrangement to the hot liquid side 101.

[0067] The liquid-liquid heat transfer arrangement 100 may be a liquid-liquid heat pump arrangement configured to provide heat to the hot-side liquid to heat it. The liquid-liquid heat transfer arrangement 100 may also be a liquid-liquid cooling pump arrangement configured to remove heat from the cold-side liquid to cool it.

[0068] For a typical heating application of arrangement 100, the cold liquid side 101 can be an evolution of a district heating system and a district cooling system, wherein a combined district heating and district cooling system, by means of a heat pump, can simultaneously provide heating, cooling, and hot water preparation for a building. The cold liquid side 101 can be connected to a downhole heat exchanger or a buried pipe heat exchanger. For a typical heating application of arrangement 100, the hot liquid side 102 can be a heating system within the building, such as radiators or a hot water system. The hot liquid side 102 will be described in detail later.

[0069] The heat transfer arrangement 100 further includes three heat pump modules 130a, 130b, and 130c. However, it should be noted that, although not shown, the heat transfer arrangement 100 may include fewer than three heat pump modules 130a, 130b, and 130c or more than three heat pump modules 130a, 130b, and 130c. Each heat pump module 130a, 130b, and 130c includes a first inlet port 131a and a first outlet port 131b, as well as a second inlet port 132b and a second outlet port 132a. The first inlet port 131a and the first outlet port 131b are respectively connected to a first inlet connecting pipe 111 and a first outlet connecting pipe 112. The second inlet port 132b and the second outlet port 132a are respectively connected to a second inlet connecting pipe 122 and a second outlet connecting pipe 121.

[0070] When using heat transfer arrangement 100, the three heat pump modules 130a, 130b, and 130c are connected in parallel. This is achieved by connecting the three heat pump modules to the corresponding first inlet ports 131a and 131b of the first inlet connecting pipe 111 and the first outlet connecting pipe 112, respectively, and connecting the three heat pump modules to the corresponding second inlet ports 132b and 132a of the second inlet connecting pipe 122 and the second outlet connecting pipe 121, respectively.

[0071] Each heat pump module 130a, 130b, 130c further includes a refrigerant recirculation loop 134. The refrigerant recirculation loop 134 includes a first heat exchanger unit 135 and a second heat exchanger unit 137, as well as a compressor 136 and an expander 138. The aforementioned units 135, 136, 137, and 138 are connected in series with each other by means of a fluid conduit system 133 to define the refrigerant recirculation loop 134. The fluid conduit system 133 includes pipes 139, 139' (see...). FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 Pipes 139 and 139' are typically made of metal (e.g., copper). Expander 134 can be an expansion valve, such as an electronic expansion valve or a thermal expansion valve. Such example embodiments will be described further later. A first heat exchanger unit 135 is fluidly connected to a first inlet port 131a and a first outlet port 131b. Therefore, the first heat exchanger 135 is connected to a first inlet connector 111 and a first outlet connector 112 via the first inlet port 131a and the first outlet port 131b, respectively. A second heat exchanger unit 137 is fluidly connected to a second inlet port 132b and a second outlet port 132a. Therefore, the second heat exchanger unit 137 is connected to a second inlet connector 122 and a second outlet connector 121 via the second inlet port 132b and the second outlet port 132a, respectively.

[0072] The refrigerant circulation loop 134 circulates the refrigerant through a first heat exchanger unit 135, a compressor 136, a second heat exchanger unit 137, and an expander 138. In the first heat exchanger unit 135, the refrigerant, primarily in a liquid phase, and the cold-side liquid are configured to exchange heat energy with each other, causing the refrigerant temperature to rise, the refrigerant to vaporize into a gas phase, and the cold-side liquid temperature to decrease. Therefore, the first heat exchanger unit 135 is commonly referred to as an "evaporator." The refrigerant circulates from the first heat exchanger unit 135 via its heat exchanger refrigerant port 110b to the compressor 136, which is configured to increase the refrigerant pressure and thereby increase the refrigerant temperature before supplying the refrigerant to the second heat exchanger unit 137 via its heat exchanger refrigerant port 110d. In the second heat exchanger unit 137, the refrigerant, still in the gaseous phase, and the hot-side liquid are configured to exchange heat energy with each other, causing the temperature of the refrigerant to decrease and the refrigerant to condense into a liquid phase, thereby transferring heat to the hot-side first liquid, whereby the temperature of the hot-side first liquid increases. Therefore, the second heat exchanger unit 137 is commonly referred to as a “condenser.” The refrigerant then circulates from the second heat exchanger unit 137 through its heat exchanger refrigerant port 110c to the expander 138, which is configured to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant. As the pressure decreases, the refrigerant begins to evaporate, and the heat of evaporation is absorbed from the refrigerant itself, causing the temperature of the refrigerant to decrease, resulting in a low-temperature, low-pressure mixture of liquid and vapor. This mixture then circulates through its heat exchanger refrigerant port 110a back to the first heat exchanger unit 135, where the cycle begins again.

[0073] As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the refrigerant cycle can be reversed, causing the refrigerant recirculation loop 134 to flow counterclockwise instead of clockwise. FIG. 1A The refrigerant flows clockwise. The option to reverse the refrigerant cycle allows the heat pump to both cool and heat a specific area. To allow the refrigerant cycle to reverse, a valve system (not shown) is required to allow switching between the input and output of compressor 136. Such valve systems are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further here.

[0074] Although not shown, it should be noted that arrangement 100 may include one or more sensors (such as temperature sensors and / or pressure sensors), one or more control valves (such as check valves), and one or more flow controllers (such as pumps, etc.). However, this is well known in the art and is therefore excluded from the figures in this context.

[0075] Besides already combined FIG. 1A Beyond the content of the discussion, and as FIG. 1BAs best shown, each of the heat pump modules 130a, 130b, and 130c is removably arranged in arrangement 100, or in other words, they are detachable from arrangement 100. Therefore, as FIG. 1B As shown, the heat pump module 130c can be disconnected from the first inlet connection pipe 111 and the first outlet connection pipe 112, and from the second inlet connection pipe 122 and the second outlet connection pipe 121, so that the heat pump module 130c can be removed from arrangement 100. In this way, the heat pump module 130c can be removed or replaced if needed. Although in FIG. 1B Not shown, but all heat pump modules 130a, 130b, 130c of this arrangement may be removably arranged in or detachable from arrangement 100. At least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump 130a, 130b, 130c may be multiple modular liquid-liquid heat pumps 130a, 130b, 130c operating in parallel.

[0076] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B A heat exchanger 200 according to an example embodiment of this disclosure is shown. The heat exchanger 200 is suitable for use within the previously described heat transfer arrangement 100, and within each of the heat pump modules 130a, 130b, 130c. Specifically, either the first heat exchanger unit 135 or the second heat exchanger unit 137 can be the heat exchanger 200. The heat exchanger 200 includes a first heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a and a second heat exchanger refrigerant port 210b for fluidly connecting the heat exchanger 200 to a refrigerant recirculation loop 134 of the heat pumps 130a, 130b, 130c. Each of the first heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a and the second heat exchanger refrigerant port 210b extends from the respective heat exchanger port opening end 212 toward the respective heat exchanger port bottom end 214 into the heat exchanger 200 and is fluidly connected to an internal heat exchange passage 220 of the heat exchanger 200. This is in FIG. 2B The illustration is shown in the middle, and in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 A more detailed description is provided below.

[0077] Heat exchanger 200 is a type commonly referred to as a plate heat exchanger and consists of multiple plate members 202a, 202b, which are stacked one on top of the other and then sealed relative to each other, typically by brazing or by providing sealing members (such as gaskets) between adjacent plate members 202a, 202b. Each plate member 202a, 202b is provided with four port holes 204 and optionally with a surface shape pattern 250 provided, for example, by corrugations. Fluid channels 220, 221 are formed between each plate member 202a and the adjacent plate member 202b. When multiple plate members 202a, 202b are assembled, heat channels 220 and 221 are provided alternately by designing the plate members 202a differently from the plate members 202b and stacking them alternately, or by designing different gaskets and providing them alternately. The resulting thermal aisle 220 will allow fluid communication between heat exchanger refrigerant ports 210a and 210b. Similarly, the thermal aisle 221 thus formed will allow fluid communication between heat exchanger secondary fluid ports 215a and 215b. The heat exchanger is provided with external connectors 230a and 230b for connecting the heat exchanger 200 to the refrigerant recirculation loop 134, and external connectors 235a and 235b for connecting the heat exchanger 200 to a secondary fluid (e.g., brine on the cold side or water on the hot side). FIG. 2A The diagram schematically illustrates fluid movement within heat exchanger 200, where solid black lines represent the movement of secondary fluid through internal heat exchange channels 221, and dashed lines represent the movement of refrigerant through internal heat exchange channels 220. As will readily be understood by those skilled in the art, the stacked assembly as described above will create multiple overlapping port holes 204 at each corner of heat exchanger 200. It is these overlapping port holes 204 that together define the shape of the heat exchanger ports (e.g., heat exchanger refrigerant ports 210a and 210b).

[0078] It should be understood that heat exchanger 200 is provided herein as an example among many heat exchangers according to this disclosure. (Except for reference...) FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B In addition to the heat exchanger described, there are many alternative example embodiments of heat exchangers that may have heat exchanger refrigerant ports 210a, 210b that extend from the refrigerant port opening end 212 toward the refrigerant port bottom end 214 into the heat exchanger and are fluidly connected to the internal heat exchange passage 220 of the heat exchanger, and the coupling device according to this disclosure is equally well suited to any of these alternative example embodiments of the heat exchanger.

[0079] heat exchangers (e.g.) FIG. 2A and FIG. 2BThe problem with heat exchanger 200 is that the total volume of the refrigerant ports 210a and 210b tends to become quite large due to structural constraints in the manufacture of heat exchanger 200. For example, in FIG. 2B As can be seen, the refrigerant ports 210a and 210b of the heat exchanger can extend from one side of the heat exchanger to the opposite side. Furthermore, the diameter of the port orifice 204 can be quite large, typically 1.5 cm to 5 cm. The relatively large volume of the refrigerant ports 210a and 210b may create unnecessary volume in the fluid conduit system defining the refrigerant recirculation loop 134, thus requiring a larger total refrigerant weight to completely fill the fluid conduit system 133 of the refrigerant recirculation loop 134. Moreover, the unnecessary volume is shaped such that refrigerant may tend to accumulate there, thus failing to effectively contribute to the heat transfer process. This is particularly problematic when a narrower section of the fluid conduit system of the refrigerant recirculation loop 134 communicates with a wider / larger volume.

[0080] To better understand this issue, FIG. 3 The heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a of the heat exchanger 200 connected to the refrigerant recirculation loop 134' according to the prior art is shown. FIG. 3 Only a portion of the refrigerant recirculation loop 134' is shown. The refrigerant first passes through filter unit 340' so that unwanted materials, such as particles, can be removed by mesh filter 342'. FIG. 3 As clearly shown, as seen transversely to the refrigerant flow direction L, the prior art filter unit 340' has a much larger cross-sectional area than the conduit 139' used to deliver refrigerant to the filter unit 140'. Besides the unnecessary large overall volume of the fluid conduit system 133' that creates the refrigerant recirculation loop 134', this fluid conduit system also defines recesses where refrigerant can accumulate, thus providing recesses for stagnant refrigerant that cannot contribute to the heat transfer process. This is in FIG. 3 The recess 30, representing stagnant refrigerant, is schematically shown. Downstream of the filter unit 340', the refrigerant recirculation loop 134' includes a conduit 139' connected via an external connector 230a' to the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a of the heat exchanger 200. In a similar manner, as seen transversely to the refrigerant flow direction L, the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a is much larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the conduit 139' used to deliver refrigerant thereto, creating another recess 32 of stagnant refrigerant at the bottom of the flow passage 350', which in the prior art is defined as the entire volume of the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a. Note that... FIG. 3Regions 30 and 32 are intended to mark the volume of stationary refrigerant. The white area above regions 30 and 32 is also filled with refrigerant, but this volume of refrigerant flows primarily through the system as indicated by the arrows and therefore does not accumulate. In a typical refrigerant recirculation loop of a heat pump filled with R290 as the refrigerant, this stationary and thus passive refrigerant can be 15 to 20 grams, which can be as much as 10% to 15% of the total mass of refrigerant in the refrigerant recirculation loop. The highest content is typically found for heat pumps or heat pump modules located in non-ventilated areas, where the permissible amount of R290 is currently 152 g.

[0081] To mitigate this problem, a connection device is provided. (See reference...) FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A to FIG. 5E The connection device is described in detail, and these figures illustrate an example embodiment: connection device 300.

[0082] A coupling device 300 is provided herein for fluidly connecting the refrigerant recirculation loop of the heat pump to the heat exchanger refrigerant port of the heat exchanger. In this example embodiment, the coupling device 300 is used to connect the refrigerant recirculation loop 134 to the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a of the heat exchanger 200 in any of the heat pumps 130a, 130b, and 130c. As previously described, the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a extends from the refrigerant port opening end 212 toward the refrigerant port bottom end 214 into the heat exchanger 200 and is fluidly connected to the internal heat exchange passage 220 of the heat exchanger 200.

[0083] The connecting device 300 includes a body 310 having an inner conduit line 312. As seen transversely to the refrigerant flow direction L, the inner conduit line 312 has a constant cross-sectional area A1 (see...). FIG. 5D Preferably, the constant cross-sectional area A1 of the inner conduit 312 is close to or equal to the cross-sectional area of ​​the pipe 139 (see...). FIG. 4 The connecting device 200 preferably has a cylindrical geometry. In an example embodiment, the body 310 is integrally formed from a single material. The body 310 can be made of metal, such as steel, brass, stainless steel, or copper.

[0084] The main body 310 includes an attachment portion 320, which is configured and arranged to be attachable to the heat exchanger 200 at the refrigerant port opening end 212. (As in...) FIG. 4 As can be seen in the example embodiment, the attachment portion 320 is attached to the external connector 230a of the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a. The attachment can be implemented in many alternative ways. As a non-limiting example, the attachment can be implemented via a threaded engagement, which is... FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A to FIG. 5EThis is the case of an example embodiment. For this purpose, the attachment portion 320 has a threaded portion 324 (see example...). FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B The threaded portion is constructed and arranged such that when the connecting device 200 is attached to the heat exchanger 200, it can be associated with the threaded portion 213 of the heat exchanger (see [link]). FIG. 4 Threaded engagement. The attachment portion 230 further has a connection port 322 for connection to the fluid conduit system 133 of the refrigerant recirculation loop 134. The connection port 322 is in fluid communication with the inner conduit line 312. The connection port 322 is constructed and arranged to receive the conduit 139 of the fluid conduit system 133 of the refrigerant recirculation loop 134. The cross-sectional area A4 of the connection port 322 (see...) FIG. 5E Preferably, the cross-sectional area A4 of the inner conduit 312 is larger than that of the inner conduit 312. In a preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional area A4 of the connection port 322 is determined such that the cross-sectional area A1 of the inner conduit 312 will match the cross-sectional area of ​​the pipe 139 (see [reference]). FIG. 4 Connection port 322 can be provided by drilling. By providing connection port 322 with a diameter only slightly larger than that of pipe 139, pipe 139 can be attached to connection port 322 by soldering in a manner well known in the art.

[0085] The main body 310 further includes a dispensing portion 330 having an elongated extension E1 from a first end 331 to a second end 332 opposite to the first end 331, at which the dispensing portion is connected to an attachment portion 320. An inner conduit line 312 opens at the second end 332. The coupling device 200 further includes a filter unit 340 disposed at the second end 332 of the dispensing portion 330 in such a way that refrigerant passing through the inner conduit line 312 is filtered by the filter unit 340. The filter unit 340 includes a mesh filter 342 and an optional attachment device 341. In an example embodiment, the attachment device 341 is an outer ring 341 pressed against the main body 310 to attach the mesh filter 342 to the main body 310. However, it is also conceivable to attach the mesh filter 341 by welding, preferably laser welding, or by soldering. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C As can be seen, the filter unit 340 is arranged such that the mesh filter 342 is substantially coaxial with the connecting device 300 and the inner duct line 312. This ensures that all refrigerant leaving the inner duct line 312 will be filtered by the filter unit 340. The heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a can be substantially cylindrical. This means that the flow passage formed between the outer wall 333 of the distribution section 330 and the inner wall 211 of the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a can have a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. However, other shapes are conceivable.

[0086] like FIG. 4 and FIG. 5C As best illustrated, the connecting device 300 is constructed and arranged such that, when installed on the heat exchanger 200, the distribution portion 330 protrudes from the refrigerant port opening end 212 toward the refrigerant port bottom end 214 into the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a, such that the filter unit 340 is positioned near the refrigerant port bottom end 214. This forms a flow passage 350 that interconnects the inner conduit line 312 of the connecting device with the internal heat exchange channel 200 of the heat exchanger 200. The flow passage 350 is defined between the outer wall 333 of the distribution portion 330 and the inner wall 211 of the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a. FIG. 3 Existing technical solutions and FIG. 4 When compared with the new solutions proposed in [the text], it is obvious that flow path 350 will have [the following advantages]: FIG. 3 The flow passage 350' in the prior art solution has a much smaller effective volume because the latter corresponds to (or is close to) the total volume of the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a. As seen transversely to the refrigerant flow direction L, the cross-sectional area A2 of the distribution portion 330 can be 70% to 90% of the cross-sectional area A3 of the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a. The elongated extension E1 of the distribution portion 330 can be 70% to 95% of the longitudinal extension E2 of the flow passage 350. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the details described herein with reference to the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a also apply to the heat exchanger refrigerant port 210b.

[0087] FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B A coupling device 400 according to another example embodiment of this disclosure is shown. The coupling device 400 is similar to the coupling device 300 already described in detail above, and the same reference numerals mark the same features, which will not be described further herein. The coupling device 400 differs from the coupling device 300 in that it further includes an expansion valve 438 directly attached to the attachment portion 420. (As shown in...) FIG. 6B As can be seen, the connection port 422 of the attachment portion 420 is short and constructed and arranged to receive the conduit 442. The connection port 422 is fluidly connected to the inner conduit line 412. For the example embodiment, the expansion valve 438 is an electric expansion valve, but a thermal expansion valve is also conceivable. The expansion valve 438 in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6BOnly a partial illustration is shown. Those skilled in the art will readily understand how an electric expansion valve works, and therefore only a brief description of expansion valve 438 is provided herein. Expansion valve 438 includes a valve body 444 attached to a conduit 442 at its opposite end. A displaceable shaft 448 is axially arranged within the valve body 444 and configured to be displaceable to control the size of an opening 450 formed between expansion valve 438 and conduit 442. A second conduit 446 is arranged within the valve body 444 to allow refrigerant to enter expansion valve 438. Expansion valve 438 is directly attached to attachment portion 420 by means of attachment structure 440, which in the example embodiment is in the form of a steel ring. Attachment can be made by soldering, but other attachment methods, such as threaded attachment, are also conceivable. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the coupling device 400 will constitute an integral component having both a filter and an expansion valve. This simplifies the assembly of the heat pump because it reduces the number of individual components. Furthermore, this can help to further reduce unnecessary volume in the fluid duct system that houses the refrigerant recirculation loop. Those skilled in the art will recognize that for a heat pump with more than one connection device, each refrigerant recirculation loop 134 may only require one connection device with an integrated expansion valve.

[0088] The coupling device disclosed herein may be supplied together with the heat exchanger disclosed herein. Therefore, for example, coupling device 300 may be supplied together with heat exchanger 200. These two entities may be supplied as a kit. This is in FIG. 4 The figure shows a portion of a kit 500 including a heat exchanger 200 and a connecting device 300. In other words, kit 500 includes: a heat exchanger 200 comprising a first heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a and a second heat exchanger refrigerant port 210b for fluidly connecting the heat exchanger 200 to a refrigerant recirculation loop 134 of heat pumps 130a, 130b, and 130c, wherein each of the first heat exchanger refrigerant port 210a and the second heat exchanger refrigerant port 210b extends from a corresponding heat exchanger port opening end 212 toward a corresponding heat exchanger port bottom end 214 into the heat exchanger 200 and is fluidly connected to an internal heat exchange passage 220 of the heat exchanger 200; and

[0089] According to any one of the preceding claims, the connecting device 300 is constructed and arranged such that when installed on the heat exchanger 200 at one of the first heat exchanger refrigerant ports 210a and 210b, the dispensing portion 330 protrudes from the corresponding heat exchanger port opening end 212 toward the corresponding heat exchanger port bottom end 214 into one of the first heat exchanger refrigerant ports 210a and 210b, such that the filter unit 340 is disposed near the heat exchanger port bottom end 214, and such that the flow passage 350 interconnecting the inner conduit line 312 of the connecting device with the internal heat exchange channel 200 of the heat exchanger 200 is defined between the outer wall 333 of the dispensing portion 330 and the inner wall 211 of the heat exchanger refrigerant ports 210a, 210b.

[0090] As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the kit may include any heat exchanger unit and coupling device within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the kit may include coupling device 400 and heat exchanger 200.

[0091] Turning again FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B The features of the heat transfer arrangement 100 will be further described below. As previously mentioned, the heat transfer arrangement 100 includes at least one heat pump 130a, 130b, 130c, and one or more of the at least one heat pump 130a, 130b, 130c may include at least one coupling device 300 according to this disclosure. In other words, one or more of the at least one heat pump 130a, 130b, 130c may include at least one kit 500 according to this disclosure. FIG. 4 It is conceivable that a connection device 300, 400 according to this disclosure would be provided for any of the heat exchanger refrigerant ports 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d. However, the arrangement of the connection device achieves optimal effect when it is arranged on the side where the heat exchanger units 135, 137 are interconnected via the expander 138 (i.e., at one or more of the heat exchanger refrigerant ports 110a and 110c). This is because the refrigerant is at least partially in the liquid phase on this side of the refrigerant recirculation loop 134, and the benefit of reducing unnecessary volume in the refrigerant recirculation loop 134 is greater than on the other side where the refrigerant is in the gas phase.

[0092] By providing connection devices 200, 300, or kit 500, the total amount of refrigerant contained in each of at least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump 130a, 130b, 130c can be less than 400g, or less than 300g, or less than 200g. This can be beneficial because legislation limits the permissible amount of R290 refrigerant that can be used in a single heat pump. Specifically, for one type of heat pump, the permissible amount of R290 refrigerant that can be used in the refrigerant recirculation loop is currently 152g, without requiring that area to be a ventilated area. For another type of heat pump, the permissible amount of R290 refrigerant in the refrigerant recirculation loop is currently 334g, without requiring that area to be a ventilated area. Other refrigerants can have different predetermined thresholds.

[0093] Those skilled in the art will recognize that this disclosure is by no means limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, those skilled in the art can understand and implement variations of the disclosed embodiments when practicing the claimed invention based on a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

Claims

1. A coupling device (300, 400) for fluidly connecting a refrigerant recirculation loop (134) to the refrigerant ports (210a, 210b) of a heat exchanger (200) in a heat pump (130a, 130b, 130c), wherein, The refrigerant ports (210a, 210b) of the heat exchanger extend from the refrigerant port opening end (212) toward the refrigerant port bottom end (214) into the heat exchanger (200) and are fluidly connected to the internal heat exchange passage (220) of the heat exchanger (200). The connecting device includes: A body (310) having an inner conduit (312) as seen transversely to the refrigerant flow direction (L), the inner conduit having a constant cross-sectional area (A1), the body (310) comprising: An attachment portion (320, 420) configured and arranged to be attachable to the heat exchanger (200) at the refrigerant port opening (212), the attachment portion having connection ports (322, 422) for connection to a fluid conduit system (133) of the refrigerant recirculation loop (134), the connection ports (322, 422) being in fluid communication with the inner conduit line (312, 412); and The dispensing portion (330) has an elongated extension (E1) from a first end (331) connected to the attachment portion (320) to a second end (332) opposite to the first end (331), wherein the internal conduit line (312, 412) opens at the second end (332). The connection device further includes a filter unit (340) disposed at the second end (332) of the distribution section (330) in such a way that refrigerant passing through the inner conduit lines (312, 412) is filtered by the filter unit (340). The connecting device (300, 400) is constructed and arranged such that when installed on the heat exchanger (200), the distribution portion (330) protrudes from the refrigerant port opening end (212) toward the refrigerant port bottom end (214) into the heat exchanger refrigerant port (210a, 210b), such that the filter unit (340) is disposed near the refrigerant port bottom end (214), and such that the flow passage (350) interconnecting the inner conduit line (312, 412) of the connecting device with the internal heat exchange channel (220) of the heat exchanger (200) is defined between the outer wall (333) of the distribution portion (330) and the inner wall (211) of the heat exchanger refrigerant port (210a, 210b).

2. The connecting device (300, 400) according to claim 1, wherein, Viewed transversely to the refrigerant flow direction (L), the cross-sectional area (A2) of the distribution portion (330) is 50% to 90% of the cross-sectional area (A3) of the refrigerant ports (210a, 210b) of the heat exchanger.

3. The connecting device (300, 400) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The elongated extension (E1) of the distribution section (330) is 70% to 95% of the longitudinal extension (E2) of the flow passage (350).

4. The connecting device (300, 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The main body (310) is integrally formed from a single material.

5. The connecting device (300, 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The connection port (322, 422) is constructed and arranged to receive the fluid conduit system (133) of the refrigerant recirculation loop (134) via a conduit (139), wherein the cross-sectional area (A4) of the connection port is larger than the cross-sectional area (A1) of the inner conduit line (312).

6. The connecting device (300, 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The attachment portion (320, 420) has a threaded portion (324) which is constructed and arranged to engage threadedly with the associated threaded portion (213) of the heat exchanger when the attachment device is attached to the heat exchanger (200).

7. The connecting device (300, 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The filter unit (340) includes a mesh filter (342).

8. The connecting device (300, 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The connecting device has a cylindrical geometry.

9. The connecting device (300) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The connection device further includes an expansion valve (438) that is directly attached to the attachment portion (320).

10. A kit (500) for a heat pump (130a, 130b, 130c), the kit comprising: A heat exchanger (200) comprising a first heat exchanger refrigerant port (210a) and a second heat exchanger refrigerant port (210b) for fluidly connecting the heat exchanger (200) to a refrigerant recirculation loop (134) of the heat pump (130a, 130b, 130c), wherein each of the first heat exchanger refrigerant port and the second heat exchanger refrigerant port (210a, 210b) extends from the respective heat exchanger port opening end (212) toward the respective heat exchanger port bottom end (214) into the heat exchanger (200) and is fluidly connected to an internal heat exchange passage (220) of the heat exchanger (200); and According to any one of the preceding claims, the connecting device (300, 400) is constructed and arranged such that when installed on the heat exchanger (200) at one of the first heat exchanger refrigerant port and the second heat exchanger refrigerant port (210a, 210b), the distributing portion (330) protrudes from the respective heat exchanger port opening end (212) toward the respective heat exchanger port bottom end (214) to the first heat exchanger refrigerant port and the second heat exchanger refrigerant port. In one of the two heat exchanger refrigerant ports (210a, 210b), the filter unit (340) is disposed near the bottom end (214) of the heat exchanger port, and the flow passage (350) connecting the inner conduit line (312, 412) of the connecting device to the internal heat exchange channel (200) of the heat exchanger (200) is defined between the outer wall (333) of the distribution portion (330) and the inner wall (211) of the heat exchanger refrigerant port (210a, 210b).

11. A heat transfer arrangement (100) for heating and / or cooling a building, the heat transfer arrangement comprising at least one heat pump (130a, 130b, 130c), the at least one heat pump comprising: At least one connecting device (300, 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and / or At least one kit (500) according to claim 10.

12. The heat transfer arrangement (100) according to claim 11, wherein, The at least one heat pump (130a, 130b, 130c) is at least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump (130a, 130b, 130c), wherein each of the at least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump (130a, 130b, 130c) is constructed and arranged to be individually detachable from the heat transfer arrangement (100).

13. The heat transfer arrangement (100) according to claim 12, wherein, The at least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump (130a, 130b, 130c) is a plurality of modular liquid-liquid heat pumps (130a, 130b, 130c) operating in parallel.

14. The heat transfer arrangement (100) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, The total amount of refrigerant contained in each of the at least one modular liquid-liquid heat pump (130a, 130b, 130c) is less than 400g, or less than 300g, or less than 200g.

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