Water module and heat pump system

Abstract

The utility model relates to a water module and a heat pump system. The water module includes a housing. The shell comprises a front plate and a back plate which are opposite in the thickness direction of the shell. An expansion tank, a plate heat exchanger assembly and an electric fitting box are arranged in the shell. The plate heat exchanger assembly comprises a plate heat exchanger. The plate heat exchanger is connected with a refrigerant pipe. The expansion tank and the plate heat exchanger are fixedly connected to the back plate. The electric component box is arranged between the expansion tank and the front plate. The plate heat exchanger comprises a water inlet connector and a water outlet connector for water circulation. The water inlet connector and the water outlet connector are connected with a main water inlet pipe and a main water outlet pipe respectively. The electric fitting box forms a first projection area on the back plate. The projections of the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe on the back plate are located on the area outside the first projection area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of heat exchange, and in particular to a water module and a heat pump system. Background Technology

[0002] A heat pump system is a system that uses air as a low-temperature heat source to obtain heat, such as for producing hot water. Typically, a heat pump system includes an outdoor unit, a water module, and user terminals. The outdoor unit includes an evaporator, compressor, and four-way valve, while the water module includes a heat exchanger, expansion tank, and electrical control box. The outdoor unit and water module are connected via refrigerant piping to form a refrigerant circuit. The water module and user terminals are connected via water piping to form a water circuit. The refrigerant in the heat pump system flows in the refrigerant circuit connecting the outdoor unit and water module, while the water in the heat pump system flows in the water circuit connecting the water module and user terminals. At the outdoor unit, the refrigerant exchanges heat with the air, and then exchanges heat with water in the water module. The water, after heat exchange, flows to the user terminals.

[0003] The water heat exchanger inside the water module is connected to the inlet and outlet water pipes. The electrical component box is usually located in front of the water heat exchanger and water piping and is fixed by the side wall of the casing. The overall thickness of the unit is large. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a water module and a heat pump system, which is beneficial for the miniaturization of the water module.

[0005] This application provides a water module, including a housing. The housing includes a front plate and a back plate opposite each other along its thickness direction. An expansion tank, a plate heat exchanger assembly, and an electrical component box are disposed within the housing. The plate heat exchanger assembly includes a plate heat exchanger. The plate heat exchanger is connected to refrigerant piping. The expansion tank and the plate heat exchanger are connected and fixed to the back plate. The electrical component box is disposed between the expansion tank and the front plate. The plate heat exchanger includes an inlet port and an outlet port for water supply. The inlet port and the outlet port are respectively connected to a main inlet pipe and a main outlet pipe.

[0006] The electrical component box forms a first projection area on the back panel. The projections of the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe on the back panel are located outside the first projection area.

[0007] In the water module of this application embodiment, the main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe do not interfere with each other with the electrical component box in the thickness direction of the shell. This is beneficial to reducing the distance between the electrical component box and the front panel, reducing the space occupancy of the front panel, electrical component box and expansion tank in the thickness direction of the shell, and reducing the size of the front panel, electrical component box and expansion tank in the thickness direction of the shell. This is beneficial to achieving a design that minimizes the thickness dimension of the shell, reducing the overall size of the water module in the thickness direction of the shell, reducing the overall volume of the machine, making the water module meet the market demand for miniaturization, and improving the installation flexibility of the water module so that it can be installed in various small spaces, such as under an outdoor window sill, or installed indoors (such as in a kitchen cabinet).

[0008] In some feasible implementations, the shell is rectangular, the plate heat exchanger is rectangular, and the length direction of the plate heat exchanger is the same as the width direction of the shell.

[0009] The plate heat exchanger is arranged laterally along the width of the shell. The main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe extend towards the bottom plate, and are respectively located at both ends of the plate heat exchanger. This facilitates the simple arrangement of the main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe, and minimizes their lengths. This helps to reduce pressure loss and heat loss in the water circuit, improve the overall performance of the water module, and enhance the circulation efficiency and overall efficiency of the water module.

[0010] In some feasible configurations, the expansion tank is aligned with the length of the plate heat exchanger, and along the length of the shell, the expansion tank is positioned above or below the plate heat exchanger.

[0011] The length of the plate heat exchanger is the same as the width of the shell, and the length of the expansion tank is the same as the length of the plate heat exchanger, thus utilizing the space in the width direction of the shell. The plate heat exchanger and expansion tank are arranged laterally relative to the length of the shell, and their respective dimensions in the length direction of the shell are relatively small. This helps to reduce the overall space occupancy of the water module in the length direction of the shell, reducing the overall size of the water module and making it suitable for the market demand for miniaturization. It also improves the installation flexibility of the water module, allowing it to be installed in spaces with limited height, such as under outdoor windowsills or indoors (e.g., in kitchen cabinets).

[0012] In some feasible configurations, the shell is rectangular, the plate heat exchanger is rectangular, the length direction of the plate heat exchanger is the same as the length direction of the shell, the length direction of the expansion tank is the same as the length direction of the plate heat exchanger, and the plate heat exchanger and the expansion tank are spaced apart along the width direction of the shell.

[0013] The plate heat exchanger and expansion tank are each vertically arranged along the length of the shell. Along the width of the shell, the plate heat exchanger and expansion tank are spaced apart. Other components (such as pipelines) can be installed in the gap between the plate heat exchanger and the expansion tank to reuse the gap and improve space utilization.

[0014] In some feasible implementations, the shell is rectangular. The plate heat exchanger is also rectangular. The length direction of the plate heat exchanger is the same as the length direction of the shell. The length direction of the expansion tank is the same as the width direction of the shell, and the plate heat exchangers and expansion tanks are spaced apart along the width direction of the shell.

[0015] The expansion tank is positioned laterally relative to the length of the shell, resulting in a relatively small size in the length direction of the shell. This helps to reduce the overall space occupancy of the water module in the length direction of the shell and thus reduce the overall size of the water module in the length direction of the shell.

[0016] In some feasible configurations, both the inlet and outlet water interfaces are oriented towards the front panel. Along the thickness direction of the housing, the main inlet pipe is located on the side of the inlet water interface facing the front panel, and along the thickness direction of the housing, the main outlet water interface is located on the side of the outlet water interface facing the front panel.

[0017] The main water inlet pipe is located directly in front of the water inlet interface, which helps to reduce the length of the pipeline connecting the main water inlet pipe and the water inlet interface, reduce water pressure loss and heat loss, and improve the performance of the water module. When the front panel is opened for observation, the main water inlet pipe obstructs the water inlet interface.

[0018] The main water outlet pipe is located directly in front of the water outlet interface, which helps to reduce the length of the pipeline connecting the main water outlet pipe and the water outlet interface, reduce water pressure loss and heat loss, and improve the performance of the water module. When the front panel is opened for observation, the main water outlet pipe obstructs the water outlet interface.

[0019] In some feasible configurations, at least a portion of the electrical component box is positioned between the main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe along the width of the housing.

[0020] There is no positional interference between the main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe and the electrical component box. The main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe do not need to bypass or avoid the electrical component box by increasing the length of the pipeline. This is beneficial to shorten the pipeline length of the main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe, and to reduce pressure loss and heat loss.

[0021] In some feasible ways, the orthographic projection of at least one of the main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe overlaps with the orthographic projection of the electrical component box along the width direction of the housing. This can help reduce the space occupied by the electrical component box in the thickness direction of the housing, reduce the size of the water module in the thickness direction of the housing, and facilitate the miniaturization of the water module.

[0022] In some feasible implementations, the water module also includes refrigerant piping connected to the plate heat exchanger, with at least a portion of the refrigerant piping located within the space formed between the main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe and the backplate, respectively.

[0023] Refrigerant piping can include refrigerant inlet pipes and refrigerant outlet pipes. Refrigerant piping can reuse the space formed between the main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe and the back panel, improving space utilization and reducing the space occupied by refrigerant piping in the thickness direction of the casing. This helps to reduce the size of the casing in the thickness direction and the overall size of the water module in the thickness direction of the casing.

[0024] In some feasible ways, the electrical component box is fixed to at least one of the plate heat exchanger and the expansion tank.

[0025] The electrical component box is fixed in place by at least one of the plate heat exchanger and the expansion tank, which allows at least one of the plate heat exchanger and the expansion tank to be reused. The water module does not need to set up an additional fixing structure for fixing the electrical component box, which helps to reduce the number of parts, save installation space, and thus facilitates the miniaturization of the water module in the thickness direction, and also improves the ease of disassembly and assembly of the electrical component box.

[0026] In some feasible implementations, the water module also includes a water pump, which has an inlet and an outlet, arranged along the width of the housing, with the main inlet pipe connected to the outlet.

[0027] The water pump's inlet and outlet are positioned opposite each other along the width of the casing, allowing water to flow from the inlet to the outlet along the width of the casing in a roughly straight path, which helps reduce pressure and heat loss.

[0028] In some feasible configurations, the main inlet pipe and the main outlet pipe are straight pipe sections, both located on the side of the plate heat exchanger closest to the front plate. The axes of the inlet, the outlet, the main inlet pipe, and the main outlet pipe are all located in the same plane.

[0029] The main inlet pipe does not need to be connected to the pump outlet via a pipeline extending along the thickness of the casing, which helps reduce pressure and heat loss. Along the thickness of the casing, the inlet, outlet, main inlet pipe, and main outlet pipe are approximately at the same height, allowing the water to flow roughly in a single plane. This reduces the number of bends the flowing water makes along the thickness of the casing, further minimizing pressure and heat loss.

[0030] In some feasible implementations, the water pump includes a body and a volute, the volute being detachably connected to the body, the volute including an inlet and an outlet, and the volute being positioned facing the front panel.

[0031] When the water pump needs to be inspected or replaced, the volute and main inlet pipe can be directly observed after opening the front panel, which makes it easy to inspect the water pump directly or to separate the main inlet pipe from the volute. This reduces the difficulty of inspecting the water pump and removing it from the water module, and improves maintenance convenience.

[0032] This application provides a heat pump system, which includes a water module and an outdoor unit. The water module is connected to the outdoor unit through refrigerant piping. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The features, advantages, and technical effects of exemplary embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0035] Figure 2 This application provides structural schematic diagrams of water modules with the front panel removed, based on some embodiments of the present application.

[0036] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a water module with the front panel, left side panel, and right side panel removed, provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0037] Figure 4 A partial structural schematic diagram of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0038] Figure 5 A partial structural schematic diagram of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0039] Figure 6 A partial structural diagram of a water module with the front panel removed, provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0040] Figure 7 A partial structural schematic diagram of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0041] Figure 8 A partial structural schematic diagram of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0042] Figure 9 A partial structural schematic diagram of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0043] Figure 10 A partial structural schematic diagram of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0044] Figure 11 A partial structural schematic diagram of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0045] Figure 12A partial structural schematic diagram of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0046] Figure 13 A partial structural schematic diagram of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0047] Figure 14 A partial structural schematic diagram of a water module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0048] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of the water circuit of a heat pump system provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0049] Figure 16 A circuit diagram illustrating the circuit structure of a heat pump system provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0050] Figure 17 A circuit diagram illustrating the circuit structure of a heat pump system provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0051] The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0052] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0053] 1. Heat pump system;

[0054] 10. Shell; 11. Front panel; 12. Back panel; 13. Top panel; 14. Bottom panel; 15. Left side panel; 16. Right side panel;

[0055] 20. Expansion tank; 21. Inlet and outlet;

[0056] 30. Electrical component boxes;

[0057] 40. Water pump; 41. Inlet; 42. Outlet; 401. Volute; 402. Main body;

[0058] 50. Main water inlet pipe;

[0059] 60. Main water outlet pipe;

[0060] 70. Refrigerant outflow pipe;

[0061] 80. Refrigerant inlet pipe;

[0062] 90. External water pipe;

[0063] 91. First branch pipe;

[0064] 92. Second branch pipe;

[0065] 93. First fixing frame;

[0066] 94. Second fixing frame;

[0067] 95. Cable tray;

[0068] 96. Seam clamp;

[0069] X, the length direction of the shell;

[0070] Y, the width direction of the shell;

[0071] Z, the thickness direction of the shell;

[0072] 100. Outdoor unit;

[0073] 110. Compressor;

[0074] 120. Outdoor heat exchanger;

[0075] 130. Liquid storage tank;

[0076] 140. Outdoor air supply device;

[0077] 200. Indoor unit;

[0078] 210. First indoor heat exchanger;

[0079] 220. Second indoor heat exchanger;

[0080] 230. Indoor air supply device;

[0081] 300, Water Module;

[0082] 310. Plate heat exchanger; 311. Water inlet; 312. Water outlet; 313. Refrigerant outlet; 314. Refrigerant inlet;

[0083] 400. Underfloor heating water circuit;

[0084] 510. Domestic water supply terminals;

[0085] 600. Fan coil unit circuit;

[0086] 700 First Ball Valve;

[0087] 800, Second ball valve;

[0088] 900. Water supply valve;

[0089] a. First port;

[0090] b. Second port;

[0091] c. Third port;

[0092] d. Fourth port;

[0093] P1, First connecting pipe;

[0094] P101, First outdoor piping;

[0095] P102, Second outdoor piping;

[0096] P2, Second connecting pipe;

[0097] P201, First indoor piping;

[0098] P202, Second indoor piping;

[0099] P3, third connecting pipe;

[0100] P301, Refrigerant piping;

[0101] P302, water piping;

[0102] P3021, Main Road;

[0103] P3022, Branch piping;

[0104] P4, fourth connecting pipe;

[0105] P401, Heating water piping;

[0106] P501, Water inlet pipe;

[0107] P502, Domestic water piping;

[0108] P601, Water piping for circuits;

[0109] Pi, compressor suction pipe;

[0110] Po, compressor discharge pipe;

[0111] SH, water circuit;

[0112] SX, water tank;

[0113] VC1, First shut-off valve;

[0114] VC2, second shut-off valve;

[0115] VC3, third shut-off valve;

[0116] VC4, fourth shut-off valve;

[0117] VF1, four-way switching valve;

[0118] VF2, three-way valve. Detailed Implementation

[0119] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0120] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used in the description of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the description, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the description, claims, or accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order or hierarchy.

[0121] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0122] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "attachment" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0123] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals denote the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components are omitted in different embodiments. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of various components in the embodiments of this application shown in the accompanying drawings, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device, are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0124] In this application, "multiple" means two or more (including two).

[0125] See Figures 1 to 5As shown, this application embodiment provides a water module 300, including a housing 10, an expansion tank 20, a plate heat exchanger assembly, and an electrical component box 30. The housing 10 includes a front plate 11 and a back plate 12 opposite each other along the thickness direction Z of the housing 10. The expansion tank 20, the plate heat exchanger assembly, and the electrical component box 30 are disposed inside the housing 10. The plate heat exchanger assembly includes a plate heat exchanger 310. The plate heat exchanger 310 is connected to water piping and refrigerant piping. The expansion tank 20 and the plate heat exchanger 310 are connected and fixed to the back plate 12. The electrical component box 30 is disposed between the expansion tank 20 and the front plate 11. The plate heat exchanger 310 includes an inlet port 311 and an outlet port 312 for water supply. The inlet port 311 and the outlet port 312 are respectively connected to a main inlet pipe 50 and a main outlet pipe 60.

[0126] The electrical component box 30 forms a first projection area on the back plate 12. The projections of the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60 on the back plate 12 are located outside the first projection area. In the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60 do not overlap with the electrical component box 30.

[0127] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the expansion tank 20 is a slender cylindrical structure, and the diameter of the expansion tank 20 is approximately equal to the thickness of the plate heat exchanger 310. Along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, the electrical component box 30 is located in front of the expansion tank 20 and the plate heat exchanger 310. Along the width direction Y of the shell 10, the electrical component box 30 is located between the inlet port 311 and the outlet port 312 along the length direction of the plate heat exchanger 310, specifically embedded within the space enclosed by the plate heat exchanger 310, the main inlet pipe 50, the main outlet pipe 60, the first branch pipe 91, and the second branch pipe 92. The first branch pipe 91 extends along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, and the main inlet pipe 50 is connected to the plate heat exchanger 310 through the first branch pipe 91. The second branch pipe 92 extends along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, and the main outlet pipe 60 is connected to the plate heat exchanger 310 through the second branch pipe 92. The electrical component box 30 does not interfere with the water piping and refrigerant piping, making full use of the space in the thickness direction Z of the casing 10, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the whole machine.

[0128] The electrical component box 30 is secured using fasteners on the expansion tank 20 and the plate heat exchanger mounting bracket, eliminating the need for additional mounting supports. This simple structure facilitates miniaturization. Alternatively, fasteners can be used on either the expansion tank 20 or the plate heat exchanger mounting bracket for securing.

[0129] See Figure 3As shown, along the length X of the housing 10, the electrical component box 30 covers the upper half of the plate heat exchanger 310, and a cable holder 95 is also provided at the lower end of the plate heat exchanger 310 (see...). Figure 7 As shown), it is used to fix the wires extending from the electrical component box 30. The wire fixing bracket is set by using the plate heat exchanger fixing bracket, so there is no need to set up an additional wire fixing structure. The structure is simple and conducive to miniaturization.

[0130] In some feasible ways, the shell 10 can protect the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20, reducing the possibility of damage to the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 due to impact or compression.

[0131] The housing 10 can provide an installation base for the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20. When the water module 300 needs to be fixed to the installation platform, the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 can be pre-fixed to the housing 10, and then the housing 10 can be fixed to the installation platform. This helps to reduce the installation difficulty of the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 and improve the installation and fixing efficiency of the water module 300.

[0132] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the housing 10 includes a top plate 13, a bottom plate 14, and a back plate 12, a front plate 11, a left side plate 15, and a right side plate 16 connected to the top plate 13 and the bottom plate 14. In some examples, the top plate 13, bottom plate 14, front plate 11, back plate 12, left side plate 15, and right side plate 16 can all be metal plates. For example, the top plate 13, bottom plate 14, front plate 11, back plate 12, left side plate 15, and right side plate 16 can all be steel plates or aluminum plates.

[0133] The plate heat exchanger assembly includes a plate heat exchanger 310, an insulation component (not shown) disposed around the outer periphery of the plate heat exchanger 310, and a plate heat exchanger mounting bracket for fixing the plate heat exchanger 310. The plate heat exchanger 310 can be fixed to the back plate 12 by the plate heat exchanger mounting bracket.

[0134] The plate heat exchanger 310 includes multiple layers of alternating heat exchange plates, with adjacent heat exchange plates alternately forming water flow channels and refrigerant channels. Heat exchange can occur between the water flow channels and the refrigerant channels. The plate heat exchanger 310 has a refrigerant inlet port 314 and a refrigerant outlet port 313 connected to the refrigerant channels. The refrigerant inlet port 314 and the refrigerant outlet port 313 are respectively connected to refrigerant piping, and are connected to the outdoor unit through the refrigerant piping to form a refrigerant circulation loop. The plate heat exchanger 310 has a water inlet port 311 and a water outlet port 312 connected to the water flow channels. The water inlet port 311 and the water outlet port 312 are respectively connected to the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60, and are connected to the water terminal through the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60 to form a water circulation loop.

[0135] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 5 As shown, the water flow channel of the plate heat exchanger 310 is at the top and the refrigerant flow channel is at the bottom. Along the length of the plate heat exchanger 310, the water and refrigerant flow channels intersect and flow in opposite directions, which helps improve the heat exchange efficiency of the plate heat exchanger 310 and facilitates the arrangement of water piping (including the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60) and refrigerant piping (including the refrigerant inlet pipe 80 and the refrigerant outlet pipe 70). In some examples, the main outlet pipe 60 is located below the plate heat exchanger 310, which helps reduce pressure loss and heat loss.

[0136] See Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the length direction of the plate heat exchanger 310 is consistent with the width direction Y of the shell 10, that is, the plate heat exchanger 310 is arranged laterally inside the shell 10, and the plate heat exchanger 310 adopts a cross-corrugated flow channel inside. That is, on the plate heat exchanger 310, the refrigerant outlet 313 and the refrigerant inlet 314 are located at the two corners of one diagonal, and the water inlet 311 and the water outlet 312 are located at the two corners of the other diagonal. This can improve the heat exchange efficiency of the plate heat exchanger 310.

[0137] In some feasible configurations, the water flow channel of the plate heat exchanger 310 can be bottom inlet and top outlet, and the refrigerant channel can be top inlet and bottom outlet.

[0138] In some implementations, the water module 300 includes a water pump 40. The water pump 40 has an inlet 41 and an outlet 42. In the water circulation loop, the water pump 40 is located upstream of the plate heat exchanger 310 to drive the water flow in the water circulation loop. In some examples, the water pump 40 may also be located outside the housing 10 or downstream of the plate heat exchanger 310.

[0139] The water pump 40 is fixed in the following way: the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 are respectively located on both sides of the water pump 40. The main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 are fixed to the back plate 12 by fixing brackets, thereby fixing the water pump 40. In some examples, a separate fixing bracket can also be provided for the water pump 40.

[0140] In some feasible ways, the expansion tank 20 is secured to the back plate 12 by fasteners.

[0141] In some feasible implementations, the expansion tank 20 is positioned above the plate heat exchanger 310, and the inlet / outlet 21 is on the same side as the inlet port 311 of the plate heat exchanger 310, facilitating connection of the inlet / outlet 21 to the main inlet pipe 50 of the plate heat exchanger 310. See also some examples. Figure 5As shown, the extension section of the main inlet pipe 50 extending upward toward the top plate 13 can be connected to the inlet and outlet ports 21 of the expansion tank 20 via connecting pipes. An air vent valve is installed at the end of the extension section to ensure that the vent port is higher than the inlet and outlet ports 21 of the expansion tank 20. The connecting pipe structure between the expansion tank 20 interface and the main inlet pipe 50 is simple, and the pipe length is relatively short. The air vent valve also has a simple design.

[0142] See Figure 5 As shown, the pipe joints of water pipes and refrigerant pipes are fixed on the back plate 12, or through holes can be opened on the bottom plate 14 or side plate to directly pass through the bottom plate 14 or side plate.

[0143] In some feasible ways, the water module 300 can be installed vertically. When the water module 300 is fixed to the mounting platform, the length direction X of the housing 10 can be the same as the vertical direction, and the width direction Y of the housing 10 can be the same as the horizontal direction.

[0144] Water pipes and refrigerant pipes extend toward the base plate 14 and out of the housing 10 to connect with water terminals (such as underfloor heating). Alternatively, they can extend toward the left side plate 15 or the right side plate 16 and out of the housing 10. Different pipe outlet methods can be used for different installation scenarios.

[0145] In some feasible configurations, the water module 300 can also be installed horizontally. When the water module 300 is fixed to the mounting platform, the width direction Y of the housing 10 can be the same as the vertical direction, and the length direction X of the housing 10 can be the same as the horizontal direction.

[0146] Water pipes and refrigerant pipes extend toward the base plate 14 and out of the housing 10 to connect with water terminals (such as underfloor heating). Alternatively, they can extend toward the left side plate 15 or the right side plate 16 and out of the housing 10. Different pipe outlet methods can be used for different installation scenarios.

[0147] When the water module 300 is installed horizontally, the orientation of the vent hole of the vent valve can be adjusted or the position of the vent hole can be adjusted by means of a pipe to ensure that the vent hole is higher than the inlet and outlet 21 of the expansion tank 20.

[0148] In some feasible ways, the mounting platform can be, but is not limited to, a wall or a vertical panel.

[0149] In some feasible configurations, the water module 300 can be floor-mounted if it is installed vertically and both the water piping and refrigerant piping extend toward the left side panel 15 or the right side panel 16 and protrude from the housing 10. Alternatively, the water module 300 can be floor-mounted if it is installed horizontally and both the water piping and refrigerant piping extend toward the base plate 14 and protrude from the housing 10. Alternatively, the water module 300 can be floor-mounted if it is connected and fixed using mounting brackets.

[0150] The plate heat exchanger 310 is a structural component with a length-to-width ratio. The length-to-width ratio of the plate heat exchanger 310 is greater than 1. The dimension of the plate heat exchanger 310 along the length direction X of the shell 10 is smaller than the dimension of the plate heat exchanger 310 along the width direction Y of the shell 10. The plate heat exchanger 310 has a major axis and a minor axis. The major axis of the plate heat exchanger 310 is arranged along the width direction Y of the shell 10. The width direction of the plate heat exchanger 310 is the same as the length direction X of the shell 10. The minor axis of the plate heat exchanger 310 is arranged along the length direction X of the shell 10.

[0151] The plate heat exchanger 310 includes multiple layers of alternating heat exchange plates, with adjacent plates alternately forming water flow channels and refrigerant channels, allowing heat exchange between them. For example, heat from the refrigerant is transferred to the water, thereby heating the water and producing hot water. After being heated in the plate heat exchanger 310, the water is discharged and flows through the main outlet pipe 60.

[0152] The expansion tank 20 can buffer pressure fluctuations in the entire fluid system, preventing the fluid system pressure from rising or falling too quickly, so that the fluid system can maintain operation at a relatively stable pressure.

[0153] In some feasible ways, the expansion tank 20 can be used with components such as safety valves and vent valves to keep the fluid system operating at a relatively stable pressure.

[0154] In some feasible ways, the expansion tank 20 can be cylindrical (airbag type) or flat (diaphragm type), and this application does not specifically limit it in this regard.

[0155] In some examples, the expansion tank 20 is an air-bladder type expansion tank. The air-bladder type expansion tank has good anti-freeze and corrosion resistance. The expansion tank 20 adopts a slender cylindrical structure, which optimizes the volume, ensuring the heat exchange performance of the water module 300 as a whole, and also facilitates the miniaturization of the water module 300.

[0156] The main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 can each extend along the length X of the housing 10 toward the base plate 14. See also [link to other implementation details]. Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, both the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 are straight pipe sections. The axial direction of each of the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 is the same as the length direction X along the casing 10. The main outlet pipes 60 and 60 are arranged in parallel. Alternatively, see... Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the axial direction of the main inlet pipe 50 is the same as the length direction X along the housing 10, and the axial direction of the main outlet pipe 60 intersects the length direction X of the housing 10. The main outlet pipe 60 is inclined relative to the main inlet pipe 50.

[0157] In the water module 300 of this application embodiment, the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 do not interfere with each other with the electrical component box 30 in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10. This is beneficial to reducing the distance between the electrical component box 30 and the front panel 11, reducing the space occupied by the front panel 11, the electrical component box 30 and the expansion tank 20 in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, and reducing the size of the front panel 11, the electrical component box 30 and the expansion tank 20 in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10. This is beneficial to achieving a design that minimizes the size of the housing 10 in the thickness direction Z, reducing the overall size of the water module 300 in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, making the water module 300 meet the market demand for miniaturization, and improving the installation flexibility of the water module 300 so that it can be installed in various small spaces, such as under an outdoor window sill, or indoors (such as in a kitchen cabinet).

[0158] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the shell 10 is rectangular. The plate heat exchanger 310 is also rectangular. The length direction of the plate heat exchanger 310 is the same as the width direction Y of the shell 10.

[0159] The plate heat exchanger 310 is arranged laterally along the width direction Y of the shell 10. The main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 extend toward the bottom plate 14 respectively, and the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 are respectively located at both ends of the plate heat exchanger 310. This facilitates the simple piping layout of the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60, and minimizes the length of the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60. This helps to reduce the pressure loss and heat loss of the water circuit, improve the overall performance of the water module 300, and improve the circulation efficiency and overall efficiency of the water module 300.

[0160] The length direction of the plate heat exchanger 310 is the same as the width direction Y of the shell 10, thus utilizing the space in the width direction Y of the shell 10. The plate heat exchanger 310 is arranged laterally relative to the length direction X of the shell 10, resulting in a relatively small dimension in the length direction X. This helps reduce the overall space occupancy of the water module 300 in the length direction X of the shell 10, reducing the overall size of the water module 300 in this direction. This makes the water module 300 meet the market demand for miniaturization and improves its installation flexibility, allowing it to be installed in spaces with limited height, such as under outdoor windowsills or indoors (e.g., in kitchen cabinets).

[0161] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the length direction of the expansion tank 20 is the same as that of the plate heat exchanger 310, and along the length direction X of the shell 10, the expansion tank 20 is located above the plate heat exchanger 310, or the expansion tank 20 is located below the plate heat exchanger 310.

[0162] The length direction of the plate heat exchanger 310 is the same as the width direction Y of the shell 10, and the length direction of the expansion tank 20 is the same as the length direction of the plate heat exchanger 310, thus utilizing the space in the width direction Y of the shell 10. The plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 are arranged laterally relative to the length direction X of the shell 10, and their respective dimensions in the length direction X of the shell 10 are relatively small. This helps to reduce the overall space occupancy of the water module 300 in the length direction X of the shell 10, reducing the overall size of the water module 300 in the length direction X of the shell 10. This makes the water module 300 meet the market demand for miniaturization, improves the installation flexibility of the water module 300, and allows it to be installed in spaces with various height dimensions, such as under outdoor windowsills, or indoors (e.g., in kitchen cabinets).

[0163] See in some examples Figure 8 As shown, along the length direction X of the shell 10, the expansion tank 20 is located above the plate heat exchanger 310. Along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, the expansion tank 20 is located on the side of the electrical parts box 30 opposite to the front panel 11. Along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, after the front panel 11 is opened, the electrical parts box 30 shields the expansion tank 20.

[0164] See in some examples Figure 9As shown, along the length direction X of the shell 10, the expansion tank 20 is located above the plate heat exchanger 310. Along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, both the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 are located on the side of the electrical parts box 30 opposite to the front plate 11. Along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, after the front plate 11 is opened, the electrical parts box 30 shields the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20.

[0165] For example, the expansion tank 20 can be an air-filled expansion tank with a slender cylindrical structure. The expansion tank 20 has a small pipe diameter. Along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, the electrical component box 30 is located at the front of the expansion tank 20. The main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 are respectively located at the front of the plate heat exchanger 310 via the first branch pipe 91 and the second branch pipe 92. Viewed along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, the expansion tank 20 is located above the plate heat exchanger 310, and the electrical component box 30 is located above the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60. Because the electrical component box 30 avoids the various interfaces on the plate heat exchanger 310, the electrical component box 30 can maximize space utilization in the width direction Y of the shell 10.

[0166] See in some examples Figure 10 As shown, along the length direction X of the shell 10, the expansion tank 20 is located below the plate heat exchanger 310. Along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, both the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 are located on the side of the electrical parts box 30 opposite to the front plate 11. Along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, after opening the front plate 11, the electrical parts box 30 shields the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20.

[0167] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 1 and Figure 11 As shown, the shell 10 is rectangular. The plate heat exchanger 310 is also rectangular. The length direction of the plate heat exchanger 310 is the same as the length direction X of the shell 10. The length direction of the expansion tank 20 is the same as the length direction of the plate heat exchanger 310. Provided that the size of the expansion tank 20 meets the internal space requirements of the shell 10, the length direction of the expansion tank 20 can also be set to be the same as the width direction Y of the shell 10. The plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 are spaced apart along the width direction Y of the shell 10.

[0168] The plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 are each arranged vertically along the length direction X of the shell 10. Along the width direction Y of the shell 10, the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 are spaced apart. Other components (such as pipelines) can be installed in the gap between the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 to reuse the gap and improve space utilization.

[0169] In the width direction Y of the casing 10, the electrical component box 30 is located between the water inlet 311 and the water outlet 312 in the length direction of the plate heat exchanger 310, specifically embedded within the space enclosed by the plate heat exchanger 310, the main water inlet pipe 50, the main water outlet pipe 60, the first branch pipe 91, and the second branch pipe 92. The electrical component box 30 does not interfere with the water piping or refrigerant piping, making full use of the space in the thickness direction Z of the casing 10, which is beneficial to the miniaturization of the entire unit.

[0170] The relatively small dimensions of the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 in the width direction Y of the shell 10 are beneficial to reducing the overall space occupancy of the water module 300 in the width direction Y of the shell 10, thus reducing the overall size of the water module 300 in the width direction Y of the shell 10. This makes the water module 300 meet the market demand for miniaturization and improves the installation flexibility of the water module 300, so that it can be installed in various spaces with small width directions, such as under outdoor windowsills, or indoors (such as in kitchen cabinets).

[0171] In some possible implementations, the shell 10 is cuboid in shape. The plate heat exchanger 310 is also cuboid in shape. The length direction of the plate heat exchanger 310 is the same as the length direction X of the shell 10. The length direction of the expansion tank 20 is the same as the width direction Y of the shell 10.

[0172] The expansion tank 20 is arranged laterally relative to the length direction X of the housing 10. Its size in the length direction X of the housing 10 is relatively small, which helps to reduce the overall space occupancy of the water module 300 in the length direction X of the housing 10 and reduce the overall size of the water module 300 in the length direction X of the housing 10.

[0173] In some feasible configurations, the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 are both located on the side of the electrical parts box 30 facing away from the front panel 11, along the thickness direction Z of the shell 10. When the front panel 11 is opened, the electrical parts box 30 shields the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20.

[0174] In some feasible configurations, the inlet 311 and outlet 312 of the plate heat exchanger 310 are both oriented towards the front plate 11. Along the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, the main inlet pipe 50 is located on the side of the inlet 311 facing the front plate 11. When the front plate 11 is open for observation, the main inlet pipe 50 obstructs the inlet 311. Along the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, the main outlet pipe 60 is located on the side of the outlet 312 facing the front plate 11. When the front plate 11 is open for observation, the main outlet pipe 60 obstructs the outlet 312.

[0175] Along the width Y direction of the shell 10, the plate heat exchanger 310 is provided with an inlet port 311 and an outlet port 312 at both ends. The main inlet pipe 50 and the inlet port 311 can be located near the right side plate 16, and the main outlet pipe 60 and the outlet port 312 can be located near the left side plate 15, so that the space between the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 is larger, forming a larger operating space and improving the convenience of assembly or maintenance.

[0176] In the thickness direction Z of the shell 10, the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 occupy the space between the plate heat exchanger 310 and the front plate 11, and the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 can each reuse the space between the plate heat exchanger 310 and the front plate 11 with the electrical component box 30.

[0177] The main water inlet pipe 50 is located directly in front of the water inlet interface 311, which helps to reduce the length of the pipeline connecting the main water inlet pipe 50 and the water inlet interface 311, reduce water pressure loss and heat loss, and improve the performance of the water module 300. When the front panel 11 is opened for observation, the main water inlet pipe 50 blocks the water inlet interface 311.

[0178] For example, see Figure 5 As shown, the main water inlet pipe 50 can be connected to the water inlet interface 311 via a first branch pipe 91 extending along the thickness direction Z of the housing 10. The main water inlet pipe 50 is positioned directly in front of the water inlet interface 311, which allows the first branch pipe 91 to be shortened in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, thereby helping to reduce water pressure loss and heat loss.

[0179] The main water outlet pipe 60 is located directly in front of the water outlet interface 312, which helps to reduce the length of the pipeline connecting the main water outlet pipe 60 and the water outlet interface 312, reduce water pressure loss and heat loss, and improve the performance of the water module 300. When the front panel 11 is opened for observation, the main water outlet pipe 60 obstructs the water outlet interface 312.

[0180] For example, see Figure 5 As shown, the main outlet pipe 60 can be connected to the outlet interface 312 via a second branch pipe 92 extending along the thickness direction Z of the housing 10. The arrangement of the main outlet pipe 60 directly in front of the outlet interface 312 allows the second branch pipe 92 to be shortened in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, thereby helping to reduce water pressure loss and heat loss.

[0181] The main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 are positioned facing the front panel 11, so that the plate heat exchanger 310 does not obstruct the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60. After opening the front panel 11, the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 can be directly observed.

[0182] When it is necessary to inspect the plate heat exchanger 310, after opening the front panel 11, the inlet port 311 and the outlet port 312 can be observed relatively easily, and it is convenient to check the connection between the inlet port 311 and the outlet port 312 and the corresponding pipelines, which helps to reduce the difficulty of inspection work.

[0183] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, along the width direction Y of the housing 10, at least a portion of the electrical component box 30 is disposed between the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60. Viewed along the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, along the width direction Y of the housing 10, the orthographic projections of the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60 on the back plate 12 are respectively located on both sides of the orthographic projection of the electrical component box 30 on the back plate 12.

[0184] The electrical component box 30 can reuse the space between the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60, improving space utilization. This helps to reduce the space occupied by the front panel 11, electrical component box 30 and expansion tank 20 in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, and reduce the size of the front panel 11, electrical component box 30 and expansion tank 20 in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10. This helps to achieve the design of minimizing the size of the housing 10 in the thickness direction Z, and reduce the size of the water module 300 in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10.

[0185] There is no positional interference between the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60 and the electrical component box 30. The main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60 do not need to bypass or avoid the electrical component box 30 by increasing the length of the pipeline. This is beneficial to shortening the pipeline length of the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60, and to reducing pressure loss and heat loss.

[0186] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 12 As shown, along the width direction Y of the housing 10, the orthographic projection of at least one of the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60 overlaps with the orthographic projection of the electrical component box 30. This can help reduce the space occupied by the electrical component box 30 in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, reduce the size of the water module 300 in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, and facilitate the miniaturization of the water module 300.

[0187] In some examples, the orthographic projection of the main water inlet pipe 50 and the orthographic projection of the electrical accessory box 30 overlap along the width direction Y of the housing 10. Exemplarily, when viewed along the width direction Y of the housing 10, a portion of the main water inlet pipe 50 may obstruct the electrical accessory box 30.

[0188] In some examples, the orthographic projection of the main water outlet pipe 60 and the orthographic projection of the electrical accessory box 30 overlap along the width direction Y of the housing 10. Exemplarily, when viewed along the width direction Y of the housing 10, a portion of the main water outlet pipe 60 may obstruct the electrical accessory box 30.

[0189] In some examples, along the width direction Y of the housing 10, the orthographic projections of the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 overlap with the orthographic projection of the electrical accessory box 30. For example, when viewed along the width direction Y of the housing 10, a portion of the main outlet pipe 60 or a portion of the main outlet pipe 60 may obscure the electrical accessory box 30.

[0190] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 5 and Figure 12 As shown, the water module 300 also includes refrigerant piping connected to the plate heat exchanger 310. At least a portion of the refrigerant piping is located within the space formed between the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 and the back plate 12, respectively. A portion of the refrigerant piping can pass through the space formed between the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 and the back plate 12, respectively.

[0191] The refrigerant piping may include a refrigerant inlet pipe 80 and a refrigerant outlet pipe 70. The refrigerant piping can reuse the space formed between the main water inlet pipe 50 and the main water outlet pipe 60 and the back panel 12, thereby improving space utilization and reducing the space occupied by the refrigerant piping in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10. This is beneficial for reducing the size of the housing 10 in the thickness direction Z and the overall size of the water module 300 in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10.

[0192] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, the electrical component box 30 is connected and fixed to at least one of the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20.

[0193] The electrical component box 30 is fixed in position by at least one of the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20, so that at least one of the plate heat exchanger 310 and the expansion tank 20 can be reused. The water module 300 does not need to be provided with an additional fixing structure for fixing the electrical component box 30, which helps to reduce the number of parts, save installation space, and thus facilitates the miniaturization of the water module 300 in the thickness direction, and also helps to improve the ease of assembly and disassembly of the electrical component box 30.

[0194] In some examples, the water module 300 includes a first mounting bracket 93 and a second mounting bracket 94. The first mounting bracket 93 is connected to the expansion tank 20. The plate heat exchanger 310 may be connected to the second mounting bracket 94. The electrical component box 30 is connected to at least one of the first mounting bracket 93 and the second mounting bracket 94.

[0195] For example, the electrical component box 30 is connected to the first mounting bracket 93. The electrical component box 30 is fixedly connected to the expansion tank 20 to secure the position of the electrical component box 30. For example, the electrical component box 30 can be detachably connected to the first mounting bracket 93 by fasteners such as screws.

[0196] For example, the electrical component box 30 is connected to the second mounting bracket 94. Both the plate heat exchanger 310 and the electrical component box 30 are connected to the second mounting bracket 94, allowing both the plate heat exchanger 310 and the electrical component box 30 to share the second mounting bracket 94 to fix their positions, thus improving the utilization rate of the second mounting bracket 94. For example, the electrical component box 30 can be detachably connected to the second mounting bracket 94 using fasteners such as screws.

[0197] For example, the electrical component box 30 is connected to the first mounting bracket 93 and the second mounting bracket 94.

[0198] In some examples, the plate heat exchanger mounting bracket secures the plate heat exchanger 310 to the back plate 12 by partially enclosing the upper and lower sides and the front side of the plate heat exchanger 310. The second mounting bracket 94 can be integrally formed with the plate heat exchanger mounting bracket (folded forming) or fixedly connected to the plate heat exchanger mounting bracket (riveting, welding, etc.).

[0199] See Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, the plate heat exchanger mounting bracket is also equipped with a wire fixing bracket 95, and the wire fixing bracket 95 is equipped with a wire clamp 96, which facilitates the fixing of the wires led out from the electrical component box 30. The plate heat exchanger mounting bracket has multiple functions, a simple structure, and is convenient for wiring, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the whole machine.

[0200] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the water module 300 also includes a water pump 40. The water pump 40 includes an inlet 41 and an outlet 42. The inlet 41 and the outlet 42 are arranged along the width direction Y of the housing 10. The main inlet pipe 50 is connected to the outlet 42.

[0201] The outlet 42 of the water pump 40 can be connected to the plate heat exchanger 310. The water pump 40 can deliver water to the plate heat exchanger 310.

[0202] The water pump 40 is relatively large in size from the inlet 41 to the outlet 42. The long axis of the water pump 40 can be arranged along the width Y direction of the housing 10. The way in which the inlet 41 and the outlet 42 are arranged opposite each other along the width Y direction of the housing 10 makes full use of the space in the width Y direction of the housing 10, which helps to reduce the overall space occupancy of the heat exchange device in the length X direction of the housing 10, and reduces the overall size of the water module 300 in the length X direction of the housing 10, so that the water module 300 meets the market demand for miniaturization.

[0203] The arrangement of the water pump 40's inlet 41 and outlet 42 relative to each other along the width Y direction of the housing 10 allows for a relatively large operating space in the inlet and outlet 42 areas. This facilitates the connection of the main inlet pipe 50 and outlet 42, as well as the connection of the external water pipe 90 to the water pump 40's inlet 41, reducing connection difficulty. The external water pipe 90, connected to the water pump 40's inlet 41, is used to deliver external water to the water pump 40.

[0204] The water pump 40 has its inlet 41 and outlet 42 arranged opposite each other along the width direction Y of the housing 10, so that water flows from the inlet 41 to the outlet 42 along the width direction Y of the housing 10. The water flow path is roughly straight, which helps to reduce pressure loss and heat loss.

[0205] In some feasible configurations, the main inlet pipe 50 is a straight section. The main outlet pipe 60 is a straight section. Both the main inlet pipe 50 and the main outlet pipe 60 are located on the side of the plate heat exchanger 310 closest to the front plate 11. The axes of the inlet 41, the outlet 42, the main inlet pipe 50, and the main outlet pipe 60 are located in the same plane.

[0206] The main inlet pipe 50 does not need to be connected to the outlet 42 of the water pump 40 via a pipeline extending in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, which helps to reduce pressure loss and heat loss. In the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, the inlet 41, outlet 42, main inlet pipe 50, and main outlet pipe 60 are approximately at the same height, and the water in the water path flows in approximately a single plane, which helps to reduce the number of bends of the flowing water in the thickness direction Z of the housing 10, thus further reducing pressure loss and heat loss.

[0207] See also some of the possible implementation methods. Figure 5 and Figure 12 As shown, the water pump 40 includes a body 402 and a volute 401. The volute 401 is detachably connected to the body 402. The volute 401 includes an inlet 41 and an outlet 42. The volute 401 is positioned facing the front plate 11. The body 402 is located between the volute 401 and the back plate 12.

[0208] Since the water pump 40 is located inside the housing 10, a silent water pump can be selected (especially when the water module 300 is installed indoors), which can reduce the operating noise of the water pump 40.

[0209] When it is necessary to inspect or replace the water pump 40, after opening the front panel 11, the volute 401 and the main water inlet pipe 50 can be directly observed, which makes it easy to directly inspect the water pump 40 or to separate the main water inlet pipe 50 from the volute 401. This reduces the difficulty of inspecting the water pump 40 and removing the water pump 40 from the water module 300, and improves the convenience of maintenance.

[0210] This application provides a heat pump system 1. The heat pump system 1 includes a water module 300 and an outdoor unit. The water module 300 is connected to the outdoor unit via refrigerant piping.

[0211] See Figure 15 As shown, a water supply valve 900 is installed on the water pipe P302 of the water circuit SH, and it is connected to the underfloor heating water circuit 400, the water tank SX, and the fan coil circuit 600. Here, the water pipe P302 includes a main pipe P3021 and a branch pipe P3022, which is connected to the main pipe P3021 via a three-way valve VF2. The underfloor heating water circuit 400 includes an underfloor heating water pipe P401, whose two ends are respectively connected to the main pipe P3021 of the water pipe P302. The branch pipe P3022 passes through the water tank SX, and an inlet pipe P501 and a domestic water pipe P502 connected to domestic water terminals 510 such as faucets and showers are installed on the water tank SX. The fan coil circuit 600 includes a coil circuit water pipe P601, whose two ends are respectively connected to the main pipe P3021 of the water pipe P302. Additionally, this illustration shows a floor heating water circuit 400 consisting of only one floor heating water pipe P401, but it is not limited to this; the floor heating water circuit 400 may also include multiple floor heating water pipes P401 connected in parallel. Similarly, this illustration shows a fan coil unit circuit 600 consisting of only one coil circuit water pipe P601, but it is not limited to this; the fan coil unit circuit 600 may also include multiple coil circuit water pipes P601 connected in parallel. Of course, in Figure 15 In the structure shown, the water circuit SH of the water module 300 may also be connected to any one or both of the following: the underfloor heating water circuit 400, the water tank SX (including the inlet pipe P501 (the inlet in the figure is the inlet of the water tank SX), the domestic water piping P502 and the domestic water terminal 510), and the fan coil unit circuit 600.

[0212] On the water circuit SH, a first ball valve 700 is installed on the water pipe P302 on the inlet side of the plate heat exchanger 310, and a second ball valve 800 is installed on the main pipe P3021 on the outlet side of the plate heat exchanger 310. The first ball valve 700 and the second ball valve 800 are used to regulate the flow of water between the water module 300 and the underfloor heating system.

[0213] A filter assembly can also be installed on the inlet water pipe P302 to purify and filter the water entering the plate heat exchanger 310.

[0214] A drain valve can also be installed on the water inlet side water pipe P302 and / or the main outlet side water pipe P3021, and the drain valve can be opened to drain water when the water module 300 needs to drain water.

[0215] The aforementioned filter assembly can be integrated into the valve body of the first ball valve 700, and the drain valve can also be integrated into the valve body of the second ball valve 800. This integration of multiple components results in overall miniaturization and fewer joints, simplifying the water circuit.

[0216] See Figure 16 As shown, the heat pump system 1 of this embodiment includes an outdoor unit 100, an indoor unit 200 (e.g., a three-pipe indoor unit) and a water module 300. These outdoor units 100, indoor units 200 and water modules 300 are interconnected by multiple (e.g., four) connecting pipes.

[0217] The aforementioned multiple connecting pipes include a first connecting pipe P1, a second connecting pipe P2, a third connecting pipe P3, and a fourth connecting pipe P4.

[0218] In this specification, a three-pipe indoor unit refers to an indoor unit that can be connected to three of the multiple connecting pipes (first connecting pipe P1 to fourth connecting pipe P4) of the heat pump system 1. For example, in this embodiment, the indoor unit 200 can be connected to the first connecting pipe P1, the second connecting pipe P2, and the third connecting pipe P3 of the heat pump system 1 to allow refrigerant to flow between the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200.

[0219] (Outdoor Unit 100)

[0220] Additionally, the outdoor unit 100 includes a compressor 110, an outdoor heat exchanger 120, a valve V11, a liquid storage tank 130, and a four-way switching valve VF1. Furthermore, the outdoor unit 100 also includes an outdoor air supply device 140, which supplies air to the outdoor heat exchanger 120.

[0221] Specifically, the discharge side of compressor 110 is connected to one end of compressor discharge pipe Po, and the other end of compressor discharge pipe Po is located at... Figure 16 Point K10 is connected to one end of the first outdoor pipe P101, midway through the compressor discharge pipe Po (located in...). Figure 16 At point K11, the second outdoor piping P102 branches off. One end of the second outdoor piping P102 is located at... Figure 16 Point K11 is connected to the compressor discharge pipe Po mentioned above.

[0222] Additionally, the other end of the first outdoor piping P101 is connected to the first port a of the four-way switching valve VF1, and the other end of the second outdoor piping P102 is connected to the fourth port d of the four-way switching valve VF1. Furthermore, the second port b of the four-way switching valve VF1 is connected to one end of the second connecting piping P2, and the third port c of the four-way switching valve VF1 is connected to one end of the third connecting piping P3. The aforementioned four-way switching valve VF1 can switch between a first switching state and a second switching state. In the first switching state, the four-way switching valve VF1 is switched to connect the first port a to the second port b and the third port c to the fourth port d, thereby connecting the first outdoor piping P101 to the second connecting piping P2 and the second outdoor piping P102 to the third connecting piping P3. In the second switching state, the four-way switching valve VF1 is switched to connect the first port a to the fourth port d and the second port b to the third port c, thereby connecting the first outdoor piping P101 to the second outdoor piping P102 and the second connecting piping P2 to the third connecting piping P3. Additionally, in the middle of the second outdoor piping P102 (located at...) Figure 16 At point K12, the branch has a fourth connecting pipe P4.

[0223] On the other hand, the suction side of compressor 110 is connected to one end of compressor suction pipe Pi, and the other end of compressor suction pipe Pi (located in...) Figure 16 The compressor suction pipe Pi is connected to one end of the first connecting pipe P1 at point K13. A liquid storage tank 130 is provided in the middle of the compressor suction pipe Pi. In addition, an outdoor heat exchanger 120 and a valve V11 are provided in the middle of the first connecting pipe P1, more specifically, in the middle of the portion of the first connecting pipe P1 located in the outdoor unit 100.

[0224] For ease of description, the first connecting pipe P1, second connecting pipe P2, third connecting pipe P3, and fourth connecting pipe P4 referred to in this application embodiment all include a portion of the corresponding piping located within the outdoor unit 100. Unless otherwise specified, in this embodiment, the first connecting pipe P1 includes an outdoor unit-side connecting pipe and an external connecting pipe. The outdoor unit-side connecting pipe and the external connecting pipe of the aforementioned first connecting pipe P1 are separated by a first shut-off valve VC1. Hereinafter, the first shut-off valve VC1 is sometimes also referred to as... Figure 16 The pipe section between point K13 is called the outdoor unit side connecting pipe of the first connecting pipe P1, and the first shut-off valve VC1 is connected to... Figure 16 The pipe section between point K30 is referred to as the external connection pipe of the first connecting pipe P1. Similarly, the second connecting pipe P2 includes an outdoor unit-side connecting pipe and an external connection pipe. The outdoor unit-side connecting pipe of the second connecting pipe P2 is the pipe section between the second port b of the four-way switching valve VF1 and the second shut-off valve VC2. The external connection pipe of the second connecting pipe P2 is the pipe section between the second shut-off valve VC2 and... Figure 16 The pipe section between point K21. The third connecting pipe P3 includes outdoor unit-side connecting pipe and external connecting pipe. The outdoor unit-side connecting pipe of the third connecting pipe P3 is the pipe section between the third port c of the four-way switching valve VF1 and the third shut-off valve VC3. The external connecting pipe of the third connecting pipe P3 is the pipe section between the third shut-off valve VC3 and... Figure 16 The pipe section between point K23. The fourth connecting pipe P4 includes outdoor unit-side connecting pipe and external connecting pipe. The outdoor unit-side connecting pipe of the fourth connecting pipe P4 is... Figure 16 The pipe section between point K12 and the fourth shut-off valve VC4, and the external connection pipe of the fourth connecting pipe P4 is the pipe between the fourth shut-off valve VC4 and... Figure 16 The pipe section between point K31.

[0225] In other words, the first shut-off valve VC1 is used to connect the portion inside the outdoor unit 100 of the first connecting pipe P1 to the portion outside the outdoor unit 100, the second shut-off valve VC2 is used to connect the portion inside the outdoor unit 100 of the second connecting pipe P2 to the portion outside the outdoor unit 100, the third shut-off valve VC3 is used to connect the portion inside the outdoor unit 100 of the third connecting pipe P3 to the portion outside the outdoor unit 100, and the fourth shut-off valve VC4 is used to connect the portion inside the outdoor unit 100 of the fourth connecting pipe P4 to the portion outside the outdoor unit 100.

[0226] Under normal circumstances, the first shut-off valve VC1, the second shut-off valve VC2, the third shut-off valve VC3, and the fourth shut-off valve VC4 are in the normally open state. However, in certain situations, any one or more, or even all of the first shut-off valves VC1 to the fourth shut-off valve VC4, can be omitted.

[0227] (Indoor Unit 200)

[0228] The indoor unit 200 is equipped with a valve V21, a first indoor heat exchanger 210, a valve V22, a second indoor heat exchanger 220, and an indoor air supply device 230 for delivering heat or cold energy from the indoor unit 200 into the room.

[0229] Specifically, in the middle of the first connecting pipe P1 (located in...) Figure 16 At point K20, a first indoor piping P201 branches off. Midway through this first indoor piping P201, one end of the first indoor piping P201 (located at...) Figure 16 Starting from point K20, valve V21 and the first indoor heat exchanger 210 are sequentially installed. One end of the first indoor piping P201 (located at...) Figure 16 The first indoor pipe P201 (located at point K20) is connected to the external connecting pipe of the first connecting pipe P1 (the part located outside the outdoor unit 100), and the other end of the first indoor pipe P201 (located at point K20) is connected to the external connecting pipe of the first connecting pipe P1 (the part located outside the outdoor unit 100). Figure 16 The second connecting pipe (located outside the outdoor unit 100) is connected to the external connecting pipe of the second connecting pipe P2 (at point K21 in the middle).

[0230] Midway through the aforementioned first indoor interior piping P201, located between point K20 and the aforementioned valve V21 (located in... Figure 16 At point K22, a second indoor piping P202 branches off. Midway through the second indoor piping P202, from one end (located at...) Figure 16 Starting from point K22, valve V22 and the second indoor heat exchanger 220 are installed sequentially. One end of the aforementioned second indoor piping P202 (located at...) Figure 16 The point K22 in the middle) is connected to the first indoor side piping P201 and is located between the valve V21 and one end of the first indoor side piping P201. The other end of the second indoor side piping P202 (located at...) Figure 16 The external connecting pipe (located outside outdoor unit 100) of the third connecting pipe P3 is connected at point K23 in the middle.

[0231] Here, the first indoor heat exchanger 210 and the second indoor heat exchanger 220 are arranged in the flow path of the airflow formed by the indoor air supply device. Furthermore, electric valves or solenoid valves can be used as valves V21 and V22.

[0232] (Water Module 300)

[0233] The water module 300 includes a refrigerant piping P301, a water circuit SH consisting of a water piping P302, and a plate heat exchanger 310 for heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant piping P301 and the water flowing through the water piping P302. Specifically, one end of the refrigerant piping P301 (located in...) Figure 16 At point K30 in the middle, it is connected to the external connecting pipe (located outside the outdoor unit 100) of the first connecting pipe P1, and on the above-mentioned refrigerant pipe P301, from one end (located at...) Figure 16 Starting from point K30, valve V31 and plate heat exchanger 310 are sequentially installed. Furthermore, the other end of the aforementioned refrigerant piping P301 (located at...) Figure 16 The external connection pipe (located outside the outdoor unit 100) of the fourth connection pipe P4 is connected at point K31 in the middle.

[0234] (First connecting pipe P1 to fourth connecting pipe P4)

[0235] The first connecting pipe P1 connects one end of the first indoor side pipe P201 of the indoor unit 200 (located in...). Figure 16 (at point K20 in the middle) and the other end of the compressor suction pipe Pi (located at...) Figure 16 The second connecting pipe P2 connects to the other end of the first indoor side pipe P201 of the indoor unit 200 (located at point K13). Figure 16 The third connecting pipe P3 connects the other end of the second indoor side pipe P202 of the indoor unit 200 (located at K21) to the second port b of the four-way switching valve VF1. Figure 16 Point K23 in the middle) is connected to the third port c of the four-way switching valve VF1, and the fourth connecting pipe P4 connects the other end of the refrigerant pipe P301 of the water module 300 (located at point K23 in the middle) to the third port c of the four-way switching valve VF1. Figure 16 The middle section between point K31 and the second outdoor external piping P102 (located at point K31) and point P102. Figure 16 Connect point K12 in the middle.

[0236] In addition, the heat pump system 1 in this embodiment also includes a control unit (not shown), which is used to control the operation of components such as the compressor 110, outdoor air supply device 140, valve V11, valve V21, valve V22, indoor air supply device 230, valve V31 and four-way switching valve VF1 of the heat pump system 1.

[0237] Other advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, more broadly, the embodiments of this application are not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Thus, modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the overall concept of the application embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

[0238] For example, in the heat pump system 1 of this application embodiment, see Figure 16 As shown, the indoor unit 200 is illustrated using a three-pipe indoor unit as an example, but the embodiments of this application are not limited to this, and may also be as follows: Figure 17 The diagram shows a two-pipe indoor unit, with the outdoor unit 100, indoor unit 200, and water module 300 interconnected via three connecting pipes.

[0239] Furthermore, in the water module 300 of this application embodiment, the water supply valve 900 installed on the water pipe P302 is located outside the housing 10 of the water module 300. However, this application embodiment is not limited to this and may also be located inside the housing 10 of the water module 300. In this case, the water supply valve 900 may not have a handle to rotate the valve core, but may be connected to a control unit (not shown) to control the rotation of the valve core, thus becoming an electric three-way valve.

[0240] Additionally, in the water module 300 of this application embodiment, see... Figure 16 As shown, the above-mentioned water supply valve 900 is provided on the pipe section of the water pipe P302 located inside the housing 10 (indicated by dashed lines) of the water module 300 before the water circuit SH enters the plate heat exchanger 310 (also known as the "inlet side"). However, the embodiments of this application are not limited to this. The water supply valve 900 can also be provided on the pipe section located outside the housing 10 (indicated by dashed lines) of the water module 300.

[0241] Although this application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications can be made thereto and components can be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of this application. In particular, the technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any manner, provided there is no structural conflict. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A water module comprising a housing including a front plate and a back plate opposing each other in a thickness direction of the housing, an expansion tank, a plate heat exchanger assembly including a plate heat exchanger connected to a refrigerant pipe, and an electric component box are provided in the housing, the expansion tank and the plate heat exchanger assembly are fixed to the back plate, the electric component box is provided between the expansion tank and the front plate, the plate heat exchanger includes a water inlet port and a water outlet port through which water flows, the water inlet port and the water outlet port are respectively connected to a main water inlet pipe and a main water outlet pipe, characterized in that: the electric component box forms a first projection area on the back plate, the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe each project on an area on the back plate other than the first projection area.

2. The water module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the housing is a rectangular parallelepiped, the plate heat exchanger is a rectangular parallelepiped, the length direction of the plate heat exchanger is the same as the width direction of the housing.

3. The water module according to claim 2, characterized in that: the length direction of the expansion tank is the same as the length direction of the plate heat exchanger, and the expansion tank is located above the plate heat exchanger or below the plate heat exchanger in the length direction of the housing.

4. The water module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the housing is a rectangular parallelepiped, the plate heat exchanger is a rectangular parallelepiped, the length direction of the plate heat exchanger is the same as the length direction of the housing, the length direction of the expansion tank is the same as the length direction of the housing, and the plate heat exchanger and the expansion tank are spaced apart in the width direction of the housing; or the length direction of the expansion tank is the same as the width direction of the housing, and the plate heat exchanger and the expansion tank are spaced apart in the width direction of the housing.

5. The water module according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: the water inlet port and the water outlet port are each provided toward the front plate, in the thickness direction of the housing, the main water inlet pipe is located on the side of the water inlet port facing the front plate, in the thickness direction of the housing, the main water outlet pipe is located on the side of the water outlet port facing the front plate.

6. The water module according to claim 1, characterized in that: at least a portion of the electric component box is provided between the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe in the width direction of the housing.

7. The water module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the orthographic projection of at least one of the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe overlaps with the orthographic projection of the electric component box in the width direction of the housing.

8. The water module according to claim 1, characterized in that: at least a portion of the refrigerant pipe is located in the space formed between the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe and the back plate, respectively.

9. The water module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the electric component box is fixed to at least one of the plate heat exchanger and the expansion tank.

10. The water module according to claim 1, wherein the water module further comprises a water pump including a water inlet and a water outlet, the water inlet and the water outlet are arranged along a width direction of the housing, and the main water inlet pipe is connected to the water outlet.

11. The water module according to claim 10, wherein the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe are straight pipe sections, the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe are arranged on a side of the plate heat exchanger close to the front plate, the axis of the water inlet, the axis of the water outlet, the axis of the main water inlet pipe, and the axis of the main water outlet pipe are arranged on the same plane.

12. The water module according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the water pump includes a body and a volute, the volute is detachably connected to the body, the volute includes the water inlet and the water outlet, the volute is arranged towards the front plate. An outdoor unit and a water module according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the water module being connected to the outdoor unit by the refrigerant pipe. ​ ​ 13. A heat pump system, characterized by ​

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