Heat pump system

Abstract

Heat pump system comprising a heat pump (1) and a heat sink (2), wherein the heat pump (1) is configured in a first operating mode, designated as normal operation, to supply ambient heat to the heat sink (2) and a buffer storage tank (3) which can be charged with heat by the heat pump (1) is configured in a second operating mode, designated as defrost operation, to supply heat to the heat pump (1), wherein the buffer storage tank (3) is integrated into the heat pump (1), wherein the heat pump system has a heat exchanger (6) operating as a condenser and through which a heating circuit medium flows, characterized in that a switching device (4) integrated into the heat pump (1) and conducting the heating circuit medium is provided for switching between the operating modes.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a heat pump system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A heat pump system of the type mentioned above is known from patent document US 2012 / 0304677A1.

[0003] She is also from the Fig. A heat pump system is known from Section 2 of patent document DE 10 2015 114 474 A1. This system consists of a heat pump and a heat sink. In a first operating mode, designated as normal operation, the heat pump supplies ambient heat to the heat sink, while in a second operating mode, designated as defrost operation, a buffer storage tank, which can be charged with heat by the heat pump, supplies heat to the heat pump. In this solution, the heat pump is configured as a so-called split unit with an outdoor and an indoor unit (i.e., two system components), and the heat sink is configured as a heating circuit. In the solution according to the invention described below, this configuration is also possible; however, it is equally possible for the heat pump to be configured as a purely indoor unit and for the heat sink to be configured either as a heating circuit and / or as a hot water storage tank.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of improving a heat pump system of the type mentioned above. In particular, the efficiency of such a heat pump system is to be further increased.

[0005] This problem is solved with a heat pump system of the type mentioned at the outset by the features listed in the characterizing portion of claim 1.

[0006] According to the invention, a switching device integrated into the heat pump, which conducts the heating circuit medium, is provided for switching between the operating modes.

[0007] In other words, the solution according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the heat pump now has an integrated buffer storage tank to enable defrosting operation. The integration according to the invention has the advantage that flow through the pipes to the heat sink is prevented during defrosting, thus ultimately avoiding heat losses. Furthermore, a switching device integrated into the heat pump is provided for switching between the operating modes.

[0008] Other advantageous developments arise from the dependent patent claims.

[0009] For the sake of completeness, reference is also made to the documents CH 607 719 A5, AU 2013 245 437 A1, US 2011 / 0 214 444 A1, EP 2 733 437 A1 and DE 31 27 635 A1.

[0010] The heat pump system according to the invention, including its advantageous further developments according to the dependent claims, is explained in more detail below with reference to the graphic representation of a preferred embodiment.

[0011] It shows Fig. 1 schematically the heat pump system according to the invention with buffer storage tank as well as with heating circuit and hot water storage tank.

[0012] The in Fig. The heat pump system shown in Figure 1 consists, in a known manner, of a heat pump 1 and a heat sink 2. The heat sink 2 is optionally designed as a heating circuit 2.1 and / or as a hot water storage tank 2.2. Fig. Figure 1 shows the variant in which both a heating circuit 2.1 and a hot water storage tank 2.2 are provided. Furthermore, the heat pump 1 is configured in a first operating mode, designated as normal operation, to supply ambient heat to the heat sink 2, and a buffer storage tank 3, which can be charged with heat by the heat pump 1, is configured in a second operating mode, designated as defrost operation, to supply heat to the heat pump 1.

[0013] Furthermore, it is provided that the buffer storage tank 3, which preferably has a capacity for heating circuit medium of up to 40 liters, is integrated into the heat pump 1. As shown in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, it is particularly preferred that the heat pump 1 has a cuboid-shaped housing and that the buffer storage tank 3 is arranged in this housing.

[0014] Furthermore, a switching device 4, integrated into the heat pump 1 and conducting the heating circuit medium, is provided for switching between the operating modes. This device preferably comprises a valve, in particular, as shown, a preferably electrically actuated three-way valve (optionally a diverter or mixing valve).

[0015] Thanks to the switching device 4, it is possible to allow flow through the buffer tank 3 independently of the heat sink 2. This means that the buffer tank 3 can be charged with precisely the amount of energy required for the defrosting process. The temperature level in the buffer tank 3 is thus optimized for the defrosting process. Temperature fluctuations caused by heating circuits, pipes, intermediate hot water storage tanks, or similar components are avoided, thereby improving the system's efficiency.

[0016] Should the heat pump system, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, which includes both a heating circuit 2.1 and a hot water storage tank 2.2, it is particularly preferred that an inlet 5.1 of a preferably electrically actuated valve 5 is connected downstream of a first outlet 4.1 of the switching device 4 in the flow direction of the heating circuit medium for selectively supplying the heating circuit medium to the heating circuit and / or to the hot water storage tank. The valve 5 is also preferably designed as a three-way valve (either a diverter or a mixing valve). Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that the valve 5 and the switching device 4 are identical in construction, i.e., the same component is used twice.

[0017] Furthermore, it is initially provided, in a manner known per se, that the heat pump system has a heat exchanger 6 functioning as a condenser and through which a heating circuit medium flows. Particularly preferred in this case, according to the invention, is that the switching device 4, viewed in the flow direction of the heating circuit medium, is configured with its input 4.3 connected to an output 6.1 of the heat exchanger 6 downstream and with a second output 4.2 connected to an input 3.1 of the buffer storage tank 2 upstream.

[0018] Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that an output 3.2 of the buffer storage tank 3 is arranged upstream of an input 6.2 of the heat exchanger 6 in the direction of flow of the heating circuit medium.

[0019] Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that the heating circuit 2.1 is hydraulically connected on one side to a first outlet 5.1 of the valve 5 and on the other side to an inlet 6.2 of the heat exchanger 6. It is also preferred that the hot water storage tank 2.2 is hydraulically connected on the one hand to a second outlet 5.2 of the valve 5 and on the other hand to an inlet 6.2 of the heat exchanger 6.

[0020] Should the heat pump system, as in Fig. If the system shown in 1 consists of two interconnected parts, one of which is located inside a building and the other outside the building, then, as shown, it is particularly preferred that the buffer storage tank 3 is located in the part of the system located inside the building.

[0021] Finally, it is particularly preferred that a heating circuit pump 7 is arranged between the outlet 6.1 of the heat exchanger 6 and the switching device 4 for circulating the heating circuit medium.

[0022] The heat pump system according to the invention works as follows:

[0023] In normal operation, a refrigerant from heat pump 1 is absorbed via the outdoor unit (in Fig. Figure 1 (schematically depicts the evaporator with fan) absorbs ambient heat at a comparatively low temperature level. The refrigerant is then heated with the in Fig. The refrigerant is transported by a recognizable circulation pump to the heat exchanger 6, which acts as a condenser, in order to transfer the heat, which is then at a higher temperature level thanks to compression, to the heating circuit medium. The refrigerant is then further distributed in a known manner via the Fig. The throttle shown in the diagram relaxes before returning to the evaporator.

[0024] The heating circuit medium is circulated by pump 7. From the heat exchanger 6, it first passes to the diverter valve 4, which, under normal operating conditions, directs the heating circuit medium directly to valve 5. Depending on demand, the heating circuit medium is then routed via outlets 5.1 and 5.2 to heating circuit 2.1 and / or to the hot water storage tank 2.2. From there, the cooled heating circuit medium returns to the heat exchanger 6 via inlet 6.2, thus completing the circuit.

[0025] Since the outdoor unit of such a heat pump system tends to ice up under certain weather conditions, it is necessary to defrost it from time to time. This is done in a known manner, firstly by reversing the heat pump cycle, i.e., the evaporator is now used as a condenser and the heat exchanger 6 as an evaporator.

[0026] Essential for the heat pump system according to the invention is that the heat for the defrosting process is not extracted from the heat sink 2, i.e., in particular from the heating circuit 2.1 and / or the hot water storage tank 2.2, but from the buffer storage tank 3, which is integrated into the housing of the heat pump 1 according to the invention and to which warm heating circuit medium has already been supplied during normal operation, preferably at the end of normal operation. In other words, a reservoir of warm heating circuit medium is created during normal operation, which is then available as a heat source for defrosting the evaporator, which then acts as a condenser, during defrosting operation. Reference symbol list 1 heat pump 2 heat sinks 2.1 Heating circuit 2.2 Hot water storage tank 3 buffer storage tanks 3.1 Entrance 3.2 Exit 4 Switching device 4.1 First Exit 4.2 second exit 4.3 Entrance 5 valve 6.1 First Exit 5.1 5.2 second exit 5.3 Entrance 6 heat exchangers 6.1 Exit 6.2 Entrance 7 Heating circuit pump

Claims

[1] Heat pump system comprising a heat pump (1) and a heat sink (2), wherein the heat pump (1) is configured in a first operating mode, referred to as normal operation, to supply ambient heat to the heat sink (2) and a buffer storage tank (3) which can be charged with heat by the heat pump (1) is configured in a second operating mode, referred to as defrost operation, to supply heat to the heat pump (1), wherein the buffer storage tank (3) is integrated into the heat pump (1), wherein the heat pump system has a heat exchanger (6) operating as a condenser and through which a heating circuit medium flows, characterized by , that a switching device (4) integrated into the heat pump (1), which conducts the heating circuit medium, is provided for switching between the operating modes. [2] Heat pump system according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink (2) is designed as a heating circuit (2.1) and as a hot water storage tank (2.2), characterized by, that a valve (5) for selectively supplying the heating circuit medium to the heating circuit and / or to the hot water storage tank is connected downstream of a first output (4.1) of the switching device (4) in the direction of flow of the heating circuit medium. [3] Heat pump system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the switching device (4) is configured upstream of an output (6.1) of the heat exchanger (6) in the direction of flow of the heating circuit medium and with a second output (4.2) upstream of an input (3.1) of the buffer storage tank (2). [4] Heat pump system according to claim 3, characterized by , that an output (3.2) of the buffer storage (3) is arranged upstream of an input (6.2) of the heat exchanger (6) in the direction of flow of the heating circuit medium. [5] Heat pump system according to claims 2 and 3, characterized by, that the heating circuit (2.1) is hydraulically connected on the one hand to a first outlet (5.1) of the valve (5) and on the other hand to an inlet (6.2) of the heat exchanger (6). [6] Heat pump system according to claims 2 and 3, characterized by , that the hot water storage tank (2.2) is hydraulically connected on the one hand to a second outlet (5.2) of the valve (5) and on the other hand to an inlet (6.2) of the heat exchanger (6). [7] Heat pump system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein it consists of two interconnected system parts, one of which is located inside a building and the other outside the building, characterized by , that the buffer storage tank (3) is located in the part of the system located in the building. [8] Heat pump system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the buffer storage tank (3) has a maximum capacity of 40 liters. [9] Heat pump system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the heat pump (1) has a cuboid-shaped housing and the buffer storage tank (3) is arranged in this housing.

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