Heat pump power failure and antifreeze system with vertical water sealing section

Abstract

A heat pump power failure antifreeze system with a vertical water-sealing section is disclosed. For the heat pump circulating water circuit, it includes a condition controller, an antifreeze temperature sensor, an inflation and deflation mechanism, a gas-liquid balance mechanism with a vertical water-sealing section, and a flow-stop electric valve. The condition controller identifies the mains power supply status. In the event of a power outage, the flow-stop valve and inflation mechanism activate to force water from the outdoor section of the heat pump circulating water circuit into the indoor section, achieving antifreeze. When the mains power is restored, the deflation mechanism expels air from the heat pump circulating water circuit, allowing the system to resume normal operation. All actions are controlled automatically by the condition controller. The gas-liquid balance mechanism with the vertical water-sealing section transmits pressure identification signals to the condition controller, and, in conjunction with the antifreeze temperature sensor, ensures the correct start and stop of the inflation mechanism. This is the innovative aspect of this invention.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of heat pump antifreeze technology, and more specifically, to a heat pump power failure antifreeze system with a vertical water sealing section in the event of a power outage. Background Technology

[0002] Heat pumps are widely used for clean heating in northern China. When the equipment is running normally, the antifreeze measures for the water system pipes and condensers are generally in place. However, in the event of a sudden power outage, the current practice is simply to manually drain the water from the equipment and pipes, refill the water when power is restored, and restart the equipment. This makes equipment operation and management very troublesome. In the worst-case scenario, unattended equipment may freeze and become unusable. This drawback is becoming increasingly common and prominent, especially with the widespread adoption of small-scale equipment in rural households. Previously, the applicant submitted an invention patent application to the State Intellectual Property Office entitled "Heat Pump Power Outage Antifreeze System" (application number: 2025100516102). This utility model simplifies and improves upon that (the operating mechanism remains unchanged). Summary of the Invention

[0003] The inventors designed an automatic inflation and deflation system to address the issue of freezing of equipment and pipelines after a power outage and shutdown of a heat pump. This system avoids the need for manual drainage and water filling, and ensures that the pipelines and equipment will not freeze and be damaged when unattended. Its key features are:

[0004] An antifreeze temperature sensor, an air inflation / deflation mechanism, a gas-liquid balance mechanism, a flow-stop electric valve, and a condition controller are connected to the heat pump circulating water heating circuit. The main components of the air inflation / deflation mechanism include a DC air pump, a one-way air inlet valve, and an exhaust valve. The gas-liquid balance mechanism introduces a vertical water-sealing section without using an air trap. During a power outage, the condition controller controls the above equipment to automatically inflate the pipeline with air and drain water from the outdoor equipment and pipeline into the water tank and auxiliary containers. Upon power restoration, the air in the system is expelled, and the equipment restarts for normal operation.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is as follows:

[0006] A heat pump power-off antifreeze system with a vertical water-sealing section comprises a condition controller, a heat pump circulating heating water circuit, and an antifreeze temperature sensor, an air-filling and air-filling mechanism, a gas-liquid balance mechanism, and a flow-stopping electric valve installed on the water circuit. Its features include: the air-filling and air-filling mechanism mainly includes a DC air pump, a one-way air inlet valve, an air outlet pressure sensor, an air outlet valve, and an air outlet temperature sensor; the heat pump circulating heating water circuit has at least one hot water tank, one circulating water pump, and one heat pump condenser; at least one flow-stopping electric valve is provided; and the control output of the condition controller is connected to the air-filling and air-filling mechanism, the gas-liquid balance mechanism, and the flow-stopping electric valve.

[0007] The present invention is further characterized in that: when the hot water tank is a closed pressurized water tank, the gas-liquid balance mechanism consists of a vertical sealing section, an internal expansion tank, an inlet and outlet electric valve, and a balance pressure sensor installed on the vertical sealing section; when the hot water tank is an open atmospheric pressure water tank, the gas-liquid balance mechanism is allowed to be without an internal expansion tank and an inlet and outlet electric valve.

[0008] The present invention is further characterized in that: the condition controller is equipped with at least three temperature parameter signal input ports, two pressure parameter signal input ports, and one power supply voltage parameter signal input port, and is equipped with a storage battery and an AC charger, and is allowed to be equipped with a power supply failure alarm.

[0009] The present invention is further characterized in that: the DC air pump in the inflation and deflation mechanism is equipped with a storage battery and an AC charger; the deflation valve can be either manual or electric; and the electric deflation valve can be equipped with an additional deflation water-blocking mechanism.

[0010] The present invention is further characterized in that: the charger of the condition controller and the charger of the DC air pump are combined into one, and the output is connected to the charging terminal of their respective batteries respectively; the battery of the condition controller and the battery of the DC air pump are combined into one, and the battery output lines are connected to their respective DC power terminals respectively.

[0011] The present invention is further characterized in that: it allows the inflation and deflation mechanism and the condition controller to be integrated into one unit; it allows the inflation and deflation mechanism and the flow-stopping electric valve to be integrated into one unit; it allows the condition controller, the inflation and deflation mechanism and the flow-stopping electric valve to be integrated into one unit; and it allows the condition controller to be integrated into the heat pump operation controller.

[0012] The present invention is further characterized in that: in the gas-liquid balance mechanism, the internal expansion tank and the inlet and outlet water electric valves are allowed to be integrated into one unit; the vertical sealing section, the balance pressure sensor, the expansion tank, and the inlet and outlet water electric valves are allowed to be integrated into one unit.

[0013] A further feature of this invention is that, when the shut-off electric valve is replaced with a normally closed electric valve, it is allowed to operate independently of the condition controller.

[0014] The present invention is further characterized in that the addition of valves, filters, flow meters, temperature measuring ports, pressure measuring ports, crossover lines, sewage outlets, and insulation facilities to the heat pump circulating water heating circuit does not subvert the innovative idea of ​​this design and falls within the scope of this patent.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0016] (1) In the event of a power outage during winter operation of the heat pump, this utility model avoids the trouble of drainage and water injection, simplifies the difficulty of equipment management, frees up manpower, and reduces operating costs.

[0017] (2) This utility model is applied to unattended heat pump heating systems, which can effectively avoid the phenomenon of equipment and pipeline freezing and scrapping caused by sudden power outages, and reduce maintenance rate and maintenance cost.

[0018] (3) Heat pump heating systems can now stop using antifreeze, a high-cost and environmentally unfriendly medium.

[0019] (4) Based on the "heat pump power failure start system", reduce the installation difficulty and cost. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a diagram of a fully automatic, closed-loop pressurized water tank heat pump system with a vertical sealing section, designed for power outages and freeze protection.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a diagram of a semi-automatic open-type atmospheric pressure water tank heat pump with a vertical water sealing section, designed for power outage and freeze protection.

[0022] In the picture:

[0023] 1. Condition controller 2. Shut-off electric valve

[0024] 3. DC air pump 4. One-way valve

[0025] 5. Air vent valve; 6. Vertical water sealing section

[0026] 7. Drainable water system; 8. Water storage system

[0027] 9. Electric inlet / outlet valves; 10. Internal expansion tank

[0028] 11. Valve outlet pressure sensor 12. Balance pressure sensor

[0029] 13. Exhaust port temperature sensor 14. Antifreeze temperature sensor

[0030] 20. Water tank 21. Circulating water pump

[0031] 22. Heat pump condenser

[0032] Thick solid lines describe pipelines;

[0033] The dashed line indicates the boundary between indoor and outdoor areas;

[0034] The dotted line indicates the control relationship between the conditional controller and the target device (accessory);

[0035] The double-dotted line indicates that the condition controller collects data from the device. Detailed Implementation

[0036] A heat pump power-off antifreeze system with a vertical water-sealing section is constructed by adding a gas-liquid balance mechanism, a gas charging and venting mechanism, and a circuit-breaking electric valve to the traditional heat pump circulating water heating circuit. Its basic flow principle is as follows:

[0037] (1) Pressurized heating large circulation system. Closed pressurized water tank → circulating water pump → water storage circuit → gas-liquid balance mechanism → drainable water circuit (including heat pump condenser water circuit) → air charging and venting mechanism → circuit breaker electric valve → water storage circuit → heat dissipation zone → closed pressurized water tank. Anti-freeze temperature sensors are installed at the water inlets of outdoor equipment and the vent valves of the air charging and venting mechanism. Pressure sensors are installed on the vertical sealing section of the gas-liquid balance mechanism and at the one-way valve of the air charging and venting mechanism. Valves, filters, flow meters, temperature measuring ports, pressure measuring ports, crossover lines, sewage outlets, and insulation facilities can be added to the circulation loop.

[0038] (2) Atmospheric pressure water tank small circulation system. Open atmospheric pressure water tank → circulating water pump → water storage circuit → gas-liquid balance mechanism → drainable water circuit (including heat pump condenser water circuit) → air charging and exhaust mechanism → circuit breaker electric valve → water storage circuit → open atmospheric pressure water tank. Anti-freeze temperature sensor is installed at the water inlet of outdoor equipment, and pressure sensor is installed on the vertical sealing section of the gas-liquid balance mechanism and at the one-way valve of the air charging and exhaust mechanism. Valves, filters, flow meters, temperature measuring ports, pressure measuring ports, crossover lines, sewage outlets, and insulation facilities can be added to the circulation loop.

[0039] A conventional heat pump circulating water heating circuit. A heat pump circulating water heating circuit shall have at least one hot water tank, one circulating water pump, and one heat pump condenser.

[0040] Gas-liquid balance mechanism. The gas-liquid balance mechanism consists of a vertical sealing section with a balance pressure sensor, an internal expansion tank, and inlet / outlet electric valves. The balance pressure sensor on the vertical sealing section is the boundary between the water storage path and the drainable path. The vertical sealing section, balance pressure sensor, and inlet / outlet electric valves can be integrated into one unit; the internal expansion tank and inlet / outlet electric valves can be integrated into one unit; or the vertical sealing section, balance pressure sensor, expansion tank, and inlet / outlet electric valves can be integrated into one unit. In a small circulation system with an atmospheric pressure water tank, the gas-liquid balance mechanism may not require an internal expansion tank and inlet / outlet electric valves.

[0041] Inflation and deflation mechanism. The main components of the inflation and deflation mechanism include a DC air pump, a one-way intake valve, a valve pressure sensor, an exhaust valve, and an exhaust port temperature sensor. The exhaust valve can be manual or electric. The DC air pump is equipped with a battery and an AC charger. The DC air pump, one-way intake valve, and exhaust valve can be integrated into one unit.

[0042] Circuit-breaking electric valve. As the dividing point between the water storage circuit and the drainable water circuit, the circuit-breaking electric valve can be installed independently on the pipeline or integrated with the air filling and air venting mechanism.

[0043] Condition Controller. The condition controller is DC driven and equipped with a battery and AC charger. It controls the inlet and outlet electric valves, the DC air pump, and the electric exhaust valve. The condition controller offers both manual and automatic control modes. The condition parameters monitored by the condition controller include at least five indicators across three categories: outdoor pipeline temperature, water tank (internal expansion tank) temperature, equilibrium pressure, pressure at the one-way valve outlet, and power voltage. The condition controller can be integrated with the inflation / exhaust mechanism, or it can be integrated with both the circuit breaker electric valve and the inflation / exhaust mechanism. The battery and AC charger of the condition controller can be combined with those of the DC air pump to power the condition controller, DC air pump, and electric valve.

[0044] When the heat pump circulating water circuit is operating normally, the inlet and outlet electric valves are closed, the internal expansion tank does not receive water, and the condition controller, air charging and venting mechanism, and circuit breaker electric valve are not working. The power supply is the condition controller battery and the DC air pump battery, which charge the battery and then stop when fully charged. In the event of a power outage, the condition controller starts working, detecting the outdoor pipeline temperature and the internal system pressure. When the outdoor pipeline temperature drops to the antifreeze set value, it controls the flow-stopping electric valve to activate, blocking the water circuit. The DC air pump starts to inject air into the circulating water circuit. When the pressure value of the balance pressure sensor approaches the pressure value of the air valve outlet pressure sensor, the inlet and outlet electric valves open, allowing some water in the drainable water circuit to enter the internal expansion tank, until no water remains in the drainable water circuit. At this time, the pressure values ​​of the balance pressure sensor and the valve outlet pressure sensor are the same as those of the pump, and the DC air pump stops. When the power supply is restored, the exhaust valve is opened manually or automatically through the condition controller to expel the air inside the system. The water entering the inner expansion tank is discharged into the pipeline. When the temperature value of the exhaust port temperature sensor reaches or approaches the water temperature value of the water tank, it indicates that the air in the water circuit has been completely removed. At this time, the electric exhaust valve automatically closes, the inlet and outlet electric valves close again, the flow cut-off electric valve stops working again, the pipeline is unobstructed, and the heat pump circulation heating water circuit restarts and operates normally.

[0045] The present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0046] Example 1: A fully automatic power-off and anti-freeze system for heat pumps with a closed-loop pressurized water tank and a vertical sealing section. For example... Figure 1As shown in the diagram. The water circuit of the heat dissipation area is omitted from the diagram, but this does not affect the description of the overall system function. The closed-loop pressurized water tank heat pump fully automatic power-off antifreeze system is a typical structure. The system is pressurized, and the water tank 20 is a closed pressurized water tank. Its gas-liquid balance mechanism consists of a vertical sealing section 6, a balance pressure sensor 12, an internal expansion tank 10, and inlet / outlet electric valves 9. Its air-charging and air-discharging mechanism consists of a DC air pump 3, a one-way air inlet valve 4, an air outlet pressure sensor 11, an exhaust valve 5, and an exhaust port temperature sensor 13. The exhaust valve 5 is an electric exhaust valve, controlled by a condition controller 1. The condition controller 1 establishes a control relationship with the flow-stopping electric valve 2, the exhaust valve 5, the DC air pump 3, and the inlet / outlet electric valves 9. The antifreeze temperature sensor 14 is installed at the outdoor condenser outlet of the drainable water circuit 7. When the heat pump circulating water circuit is running normally, driven by the circulating water pump 21, the inlet and outlet electric valves 9 are closed, the inner expansion tank 10 does not receive water, and the condition controller 1, the air charging and venting mechanism, and the circuit breaker electric valve 2 are not working. The power supply is the battery of the condition controller 1 and the DC air pump 3, which charges the battery until fully charged and then stops. In the event of a power outage, the condition controller 1 starts working and detects the temperature value of the antifreeze temperature sensor 14. When the temperature value of the antifreeze temperature sensor 14 drops to the antifreeze set value, it controls the flow-stopping electric valve 2 to operate, blocking the water circuit. The DC air pump 3 starts to inject air into the drainable water circuit 7. When the pressure value of the balance pressure sensor 12 is close to the pressure value of the valve outlet pressure sensor 11, the inlet and outlet electric valves 9 open, and some water in the drainable water circuit 7 enters the inner expansion tank 10 until there is no water left in the drainable water circuit 7. At this time, the pressure value of the balance pressure sensor 12 and the pressure value of the valve outlet pressure sensor 11 are equal, and the DC air pump 3 stops. Under stable conditions, the pressure sensor 12 on the vertical sealing section 6 becomes the gas-liquid boundary point, preventing water in the water storage channel 8 from entering the drainable water channel 7 through the vertical sealing section 6, thus ensuring that the outdoor water channel will not freeze or even crack. When the power supply is restored, the condition controller 1 detects that the power voltage is up to standard, and controls the vent valve 5 to open and vent, expelling the air inside the pipeline. The water that entered the inner expansion tank 10 is then discharged back into the drainable water channel 7. When the temperature sensor 13 at the vent outlet reaches or approaches the water tank temperature, it indicates that the air has been completely expelled. At this time, the electric vent valve 5 is closed, the inlet and outlet electric valves 9 are closed again, the flow-stopping electric valve 2 returns to its initial state, and the pipeline is unblocked again. The heat pump circulating heating water circuit restarts and operates normally.

[0047] Example 2: A semi-automatic power-off and anti-freeze system for a heat pump with an open atmospheric pressure water tank and a vertical sealing section, such as... Figure 2As shown. Water tank 20 is an open-type atmospheric pressure water tank; its gas-liquid balance mechanism does not have an internal expansion tank or inlet / outlet electric valves, but only consists of a vertical sealing section 6 and a balance pressure sensor 12; its inflation and deflation mechanism consists of a DC air pump 3, a one-way air inlet valve 4, an air outlet pressure sensor 11, and an exhaust valve 5, which is a manual valve; the condition controller 1 controls the flow-off electric valve 2 and the DC air pump 3. The antifreeze temperature sensor 14 is installed at the outlet of the outdoor condenser of the drainable water circuit 7. When the heat pump circulating heating water circuit is driven normally by the circulating water pump 21, the condition controller 1, the inflation and deflation mechanism, and the flow-off electric valve 2 do not work, and the power supply is the battery of the condition controller 1 charging the battery of the DC air pump 3, which stops when fully charged. In the event of a power outage, the condition controller 1 activates, detecting the temperature value of the antifreeze temperature sensor 14. When the outdoor pipeline temperature drops to the antifreeze set value, it controls the flow-stopping electric valve 2 to operate, blocking the water circuit. The DC air pump 3 starts, injecting air into the drainable water circuit 7, allowing water to enter the water tank 20 until no water remains in the drainable water circuit 7. At this point, the pressure value of the balance pressure sensor 12 equals the pressure value of the air valve outlet pressure sensor 11, and the DC air pump 3 stops. Under stable conditions, the balance pressure sensor 12 at the vertical sealing section 6 becomes the gas-liquid boundary point, preventing water in the water storage circuit 8 from entering the drainable water circuit 7 through the vertical sealing section 6, thus ensuring that the outdoor water circuit does not freeze or even crack. When power is restored, the condition controller 1 detects that the power voltage is up to standard, manually opens the vent valve 5 to release air from the pipeline, the flow-stopping electric valve 2 stops operating again, and the pipeline is reopened. The heat pump circulating water circuit restarts and operates normally.

[0048] In this system, due to the presence of manual operation, the flow-stopping electric valve 2 can be selected as a 220V "power-on to open, power-off to cut off" product, which can achieve the purpose of system antifreeze without the need for control by the condition controller 1. This structure also falls within the scope of the claims of this utility model.

[0049] The integration methods and control modes of different components of heat pump power failure and antifreeze systems with vertical water sealing sections are not detailed here.

Claims

1. A heat pump power-off antifreeze system with a vertical water-sealing section, comprising a condition controller, a heat pump circulating heating water circuit, an antifreeze temperature sensor installed on the water circuit, an air-filling and air-discharging mechanism, a gas-liquid balance mechanism with a vertical water-sealing section, and a flow-stopping electric valve, characterized in that: The main components of the inflation and deflation mechanism include a DC air pump, a one-way air inlet valve, an air outlet pressure sensor, an exhaust valve, and an exhaust port temperature sensor; the heat pump circulating heating water circuit has at least one hot water tank, one circulating water pump, and one heat pump condenser; at least one flow-stop electric valve is provided; the control output of the condition controller is connected to the inflation and deflation mechanism, the gas-liquid balance mechanism, and the flow-stop electric valve.

2. The heat pump power failure and antifreeze system with a vertical water sealing section according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the hot water tank is a closed pressurized water tank, the gas-liquid balance mechanism with a vertical sealing section consists of the vertical sealing section, an internal expansion tank, inlet and outlet electric valves, and a balance pressure sensor installed on the vertical sealing section. When the hot water tank is an open atmospheric pressure water tank, it is permissible to omit the internal expansion tank and inlet and outlet electric valves, and it consists only of the vertical sealing section and the balance pressure sensor installed on the vertical sealing section.

3. The heat pump power-off antifreeze system with a vertical water-sealing section according to claim 1, characterized in that: The condition controller shall be equipped with at least three temperature parameter signal input ports, two pressure parameter signal input ports, and one power supply voltage parameter signal input port. It shall also be equipped with a battery and an AC charger, and may be equipped with a power supply failure alarm.

4. The heat pump power-off antifreeze system with a vertical water-sealing section according to claim 1, characterized in that: The DC air pump in the inflation and deflation mechanism is equipped with a battery and an AC charger; the deflation valve can be either manual or electric; the electric deflation valve can be equipped with an additional water-blocking mechanism.

5. The heat pump power-off antifreeze system with a vertical water-sealing section according to claim 1, characterized in that: The charger for the condition controller and the charger for the DC air pump are combined into one unit, with their outputs connected to the charging terminals of their respective batteries. The battery for the condition controller and the battery for the DC air pump are combined into one unit, with their battery output lines connected to their respective DC power terminals.

6. The heat pump power-off antifreeze system with a vertical water-sealing section according to claim 1, characterized in that: It allows the inflation / deflation mechanism and condition controller to be integrated into one unit; it allows the inflation / deflation mechanism and shut-off electric valve to be integrated into one unit; it allows the condition controller, inflation / deflation mechanism and shut-off electric valve to be integrated into one unit; it allows the condition controller to be integrated into the heat pump operation controller.

7. The heat pump power failure and antifreeze system with a vertical water sealing section according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the gas-liquid balance mechanism, it is permissible to integrate the internal expansion tank and the inlet / outlet electric valves into one unit; it is permissible to integrate the vertical sealing section, the balance pressure sensor, the expansion tank, and the inlet / outlet electric valves into one unit.

8. The heat pump power-off antifreeze system with a vertical water-sealing section according to claim 1, characterized in that: When a shut-off electric valve is converted to a normally closed electric valve, it is permissible for it not to be associated with a condition controller.

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