Heat pump system, in particular air-to-water heat pump system

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat pump system (10), in particular an air-to-water heat pump system, comprising: a large heat pump (12) with in particular a heating capacity greater than 250 kW, which has a heat pump circuit (14) comprising at least one evaporator (18), one compressor (20), one condenser (22) and one expansion unit (24), an enclosure (16) accommodating the heat pump circuit (14), at least one air duct (30) for guiding an airflow (L) through the enclosure (16), which defines an air inlet (26) and an air outlet (28) on the enclosure (16), and at least one fan (32) arranged along a section of the air duct (30) for generating the airflow (L) guided through the air duct (30).According to the invention, it is proposed that a substantially vertical airflow (L) is defined within the air duct (30) and that at least one damping unit (50) is arranged within the air duct (30) below the fan (32), which is configured to dampen the sound generated by the fan (32), wherein the air inlet (26) is preferably arranged below the air outlet (28).

Description

The invention relates to a heat pump system, in particular an air-to-water heat pump system, with a large heat pump with a heating capacity of, in particular, greater than 250 kW, which has a heat pump circuit comprising at least one evaporator, one compressor, one condenser and one expansion unit, an enclosure accommodating the heat pump circuit, at least one air duct for directing an airflow through the enclosure, which defines an air inlet and an air outlet on the enclosure, and at least one fan arranged along a section of the air duct for generating the airflow directed through the air duct. Heat pumps are a well-established technology and are increasingly used to supply buildings with the necessary thermal energy, such as heating energy to meet hot water and space heating needs, or even cooling energy. Heat pumps are devices that use work to transfer heat from a cooler medium to a warmer medium via a refrigeration cycle. Because they only increase heat by a small temperature difference instead of generating heat, for example through combustion or with the aid of electric heating devices, they are more energy-efficient than conventional heating systems. The heat pump cycle, also known as the refrigeration cycle, generally includes an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion unit, such as an expansion valve. To meet higher heating demands, enabling the simultaneous supply of various heat sinks, several heat pumps are often connected in a heat pump cascade. Multiple heat pumps connected in series require a considerable amount of space, which is often only available on the roof surfaces of relatively large buildings with flat roofs. Such heat pump systems cannot be easily integrated, especially in existing buildings with multiple residential units. Furthermore, such heat pump cascades, with multiple heat pumps, especially 10 or 20 connected in parallel or in series, emit significant noise. While smaller systems are already equipped with soundproof enclosures, these can only effectively reduce the noise level up to a certain output class. For larger outputs in the range of approximately 1 MW, such soundproof enclosures are unsuitable for use in residential areas and do not achieve the desired noise reduction. The invention was therefore based on the objective of providing a heat pump system, in particular an air-to-water heat pump system, with a large heat pump with a heating capacity of 250 kW or more, by means of which a space-saving and, above all, efficient heat supply is possible while complying with the permissible emission limits for residential areas. The invention solves the underlying problem in a heat pump system, in particular an air-to-water heat pump system, with the features of claim 1. In particular, it is provided that a substantially vertical airflow is defined within the air duct and that at least one damping unit is arranged within the air duct below the fan, which is configured to dampen the sound generated by the fan, with the air inlet preferably being arranged below the air outlet. Contrary to the commonly used cascading of smaller heat pumps, the invention proposes the use of preferably a single large heat pump with a heating capacity of more than 250 kW, and in particular with a heating capacity in the range of 250 kW to approximately 1800 kW. This large heat pump and its heat pump circuit are housed in an enclosure. The at least one air duct in the enclosure has an air inlet and an air outlet, the air outlet and the air inlet being located at different heights on the enclosure. As the airflow passes through the air duct, it overcomes a difference in height, and in order to travel from the air inlet to the air outlet, the airflow is guided essentially vertically within the air duct. However, the airflow can also be guided, at least partially, in a horizontal direction, particularly in the area of ​​the air inlet or air outlet.By means of the damping unit within the air duct in the housing, which is arranged below the at least one fan generating the airflow, the noise generated by the fan can be effectively reduced or dampened. This effectively reduces the noise emission of the at least one fan within the air duct, particularly in the direction of the air inlet or outlet located at the bottom of the housing. The noise generated by the fan and present at the air inlet or outlet of the heat pump system is therefore permanently below the permissible immission limits according to the German Technical Instructions on Noise Protection (TA Lärm) for urban areas, preferably with small distances between the heat pump system according to the invention and the surrounding buildings, and is only perceptible as a dampened noise at the air inlets or outlets of the heat pump system. Furthermore, the noise emission of the compressor is also reduced. Preferably, the air inlet is arranged at a distance below the air outlet. The damping unit is thus positioned within the air duct in the housing, in the direction of airflow, directly in front of the at least one fan generating the airflow. This effectively reduces or dampens the noise generated by the fan on the intake side, making it only faintly perceptible at the air inlet of the heat pump system. Furthermore, by arranging the air outlet on the housing above the air inlet, the formation of a cold air zone in the floor area around the heat pump system according to the invention is preferably avoided. According to a preferred embodiment of the heat pump system, it is designed for monovalent operation down to an outside temperature of at least -10 °C and, depending on the size and design of the large heat pump used in the system, for generating a heating output above 250 kW, in particular for generating a heating output in the range of 300 kW to 1800 kW at an outside temperature of -10 °C. Preferably, flow temperatures of up to 80 °C can also be achieved with the heat pump system according to the invention at outside temperatures down to -10 °C. According to a preferred embodiment, the housing provides for a substantially enclosed installation space for at least the compressor of the heat pump circuit. Preferably, the installation space forms a base or lower section of the housing. The enclosed design of the installation space also ensures that any noise emissions from the compressor(s) located within the installation space, generated during operation of the heat pump, are preferably contained within the installation space by means of sound insulation and sound damping. In particular, the compressor(s) are mounted with vibration damping within the installation space, thereby preventing the transmission of any mechanical vibrations generated during compressor operation into the housing and further into the surrounding environment. Preferably, in one embodiment, the installation room is soundproofed and preferably located below the air duct at ground level, above a foundation for the housing. The soundproofed encapsulation of the installation room, in particular the use of at least sound-insulating or sound-absorbing material on the inner sides of the wall areas bordering the installation room, further reduces the noise emission of the heat pump system from the outside of the housing. The installation room is preferably located at ground level with the surrounding soil. The housing is, in particular, erected above a specially designed foundation. This ensures the reliable transfer of forces from the heat pump system and its housing through the foundation into the adjacent soil. A further development of the heat pump system provides for the installation room to be spatially bounded by a floor slab, several side walls, and a ceiling slab, with the floor slab, the several side walls, and / or the ceiling slab preferably being constructed as precast concrete elements. By providing a floor slab, several (at least three, four, or more) side walls, and a ceiling slab, a comparatively simple soundproof enclosure of the installation room from its surroundings is achieved. In particular, vibrations generated during the operation of the heat pump system, such as structure-borne noise or sound waves propagating through the air, can be dampened by the wall elements bounding the installation room to such an extent that they remain below the permissible immission limits according to the "TA Lärm" (Technical Instructions on Noise Protection), even at close distances to neighboring residential buildings.In a preferred embodiment, the base plate, the several side walls, and / or the ceiling plate of the installation room are made of concrete at the construction site or are designed as precast concrete elements. The use of precast concrete elements represents a structurally simple method for prefabricating the individual wall sections of the enclosure. Preferably, at least one of the following components is additionally arranged within the installation room: the condenser of the heat pump circuit, a control unit for the heat pump, and at least one hydraulic component. Preferably, all other essential components of the heat pump, or any components that facilitate the connection to a piping network for the heat pump, are arranged within the installation room, where they can be accommodated. This allows the emitted noise of the heat pump to be further reduced in a simple manner. Furthermore, integrating the essential components of the large heat pump into the heat pump system designed according to the invention within the installation room, which in particular forms the basis of the heat pump system, allows for simplified access. A hydraulic unit arranged within the installation room is, for example, a pump that can be connected to a distribution network via appropriate piping.The pump directs a heat transfer medium, preferably water, through the condenser to remove the heat generated by the large heat pump. Furthermore, the control system for the large heat pump can be located within the installation room. This system controls, for example, the compressor or a series of control valves associated with the heat pump circuit. The control system is designed to operate the heat pump system according to the required heating output, particularly in a modulating manner. In addition to controlling the heat pump, the control system can also be used for the power-controlled operation of the hydraulic unit, which can be connected to the distribution network. In one version, a transformer / transformer station can also be located in the installation room, the waste heat of which, together with the waste heat of the compressor of the heat pump, can be additionally used at the heat pump with the help of a partial evaporator. According to further training, a door element is provided on at least one side wall of the enclosure to provide access to the installation room. This door element allows easy access to the components of the heat pump system located in the installation room for maintenance and / or repair purposes. In addition to the door element providing access to the installation room, the floor slab, the ceiling slab, and / or the side walls each have one or more openings for sections of electrical wiring or pipes carrying fluids. In one possible embodiment of the heat pump system, the air inlet is arranged on at least one side wall of the enclosure, preferably above the installation space within the enclosure. By providing an air inlet on a side wall of the enclosure, which preferably runs substantially vertically, it is possible to position the air inlet relatively low on the enclosure to create a long flow path for the airflow passing through the air duct. In combination with the damping unit arranged on the suction side of the fan(s), the resulting noise emission at the air inlet is barely perceptible. Preferably, the air inlet on the enclosure is located directly above the installation space within the enclosure.In one embodiment, ambient energy is absorbed directly from the airflow by an evaporator, which can be located in a section of the air duct between the air inlet and the air outlet, preferably between the air inlet and the damping unit in the air duct. The evaporator used here is generally a heat exchanger that absorbs ambient energy. In a possible embodiment, an air / brine heat exchanger is arranged in the air duct instead of the evaporator, absorbing the ambient energy. The energy is then transferred via a brine circuit connected to the air / brine heat exchanger to a brine evaporator, located, for example, in the installation room, as part of the heat pump circuit. According to a preferred embodiment, the air inlet is formed on several, in particular all, of the side walls bounding the enclosure, wherein the center of the air inlet is located at least 2 m, preferably more than 3 m, above the ground level surrounding the enclosure. By forming the air inlet on several, in particular all, of the side walls bounding the enclosure, a comparatively large surface area of ​​the enclosure is available that can be used as an air inlet for the airflow to be guided through the air duct. Due to the large surface area of ​​the air inlet, low flow velocities occur in this area, which further has a beneficial effect on reducing the noise emission generated by the heat pump system according to the invention.Preferably, the air inlet on at least one side wall has a height of at least 1 m and extends across the entire width of the side wall. In an embodiment where the air inlet is formed on all side walls, it creates an intake area that completely surrounds the side walls. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one evaporator arranged in the heat pump circuit is positioned immediately downstream of the air inlet and above the installation room in the direction of airflow through the air duct. Preferably, the evaporator runs substantially parallel to the air inlet along a side wall of the housing. By directly arranging the evaporator(s) substantially parallel to the air inlet along a side wall or sections of two approximately perpendicular side walls of the housing, a structurally simple and thermally efficient connection of the evaporator within the air duct is achieved. Preferably, the evaporator is arranged vertically. Preferably, the evaporator's inlet and outlet surfaces are positioned vertically on the housing. In one embodiment, the evaporator can also be designed as a V-shaped evaporator.In a preferred circumferential design of the air inlet on the housing, the evaporator(s) also have a large surface area as a passage area for the airflow guided by the air duct. This ensures efficient heat transfer from the airflow to the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator of the heat pump circuit. Preferably, one evaporator is assigned to each corner of the housing, with each evaporator being designed as a corner unit with two heat exchanger elements running approximately perpendicular to each other. Instead of the evaporators being arranged parallel to the air inlet, the evaporators can be arranged approximately in the central area within the housing and preferably above the installation space formed therein for at least the compressor. The evaporator is then preferably designed as a V-shaped evaporator with two heat exchanger elements running at an acute angle to each other. According to an alternative embodiment of the heat pump system, the evaporator is arranged within the air duct between the fan and the air outlet on the housing. Positioning the evaporator downstream of the fan results in at least a slight reduction in the noise level on the pressure side of the fan, i.e., the airflow towards the air outlet. Preferably, the evaporator(s) arranged above the fan(s) are designed as a V-shaped evaporator with at least two heat exchanger elements arranged at an acute angle to each other, thus increasing the heat transfer surface area compared to an arrangement parallel to the free cross-section of the air duct. According to a preferred embodiment of the heat pump system, the air outlet of the air duct is located at an open end of the housing. The air outlet, which is positioned particularly in the upper region of the housing and is directed upwards, ensures a directed propagation of the sound generated on the pressure side by the fans. With the sound level preferably directed vertically upwards by the heat pump system, the noise pollution in the surrounding area at ground level is reduced. According to a preferred embodiment, the side walls of the enclosure define the air outlet at their upper end, with its substantially horizontal discharge surface. The enclosure, which houses parts of the large heat pump and / or forms the air duct, is also formed above the installation room by substantially vertical side walls. These side walls run substantially parallel to the respective side walls that define the installation room for at least the compressor. The side walls of the enclosure formed above the installation room constitute at least a section of the air duct extending from the air inlet on the enclosure towards the air outlet on the enclosure. The upper ends of the side walls of the enclosure terminate at the same height and, above them, form the air outlet with a substantially horizontal discharge surface.The horizontally extending outlet surface preferably achieves an essentially vertically upward directed air outlet at the air outlet of the housing. A further development of the heat pump system incorporates several fans within the air duct at the housing, particularly near the air outlet. These fans are arranged parallel to each other in the direction of airflow, forming a matrix of m * n fans within the air duct. The use of multiple fans in the air duct ensures a uniformly distributed airflow across its cross-section. Furthermore, the multiple fans within the air duct allow for a greater adjustment range with respect to the mass flow rate passing through the air duct. In particular, a more uniform flow through the heat exchanger element of the evaporator is achieved at one or more evaporators located directly adjacent to the air inlet at the housing, or at an evaporator positioned in a section downstream of the fan in the air duct.Preferably, several fans are provided in a matrix of m * n fans in the air duct. The matrix of fans includes at least a number of 2 * 2 fans in the air duct. According to a further development of the invention, the damping unit is designed as a baffle silencer. This baffle silencer design achieves efficient sound absorption within the damping unit for the airflow. Preferably, an absorption material is arranged within the baffle silencer, by which the sound waves are absorbed as they flow through the damping unit. Such a baffle silencer exhibits a high efficiency in reducing the noise of an airflow permeated with sound, so that the permissible noise emission limits of less than 55 dB(A) during the day or 40 dB(A) at night can be met during operation of the heat pump system according to the invention, even at close distances to residential buildings. In one possible embodiment, in addition to the damping unit located upstream of the fan, at least one damping unit is arranged downstream of the fan or fan matrix in the air duct. This additional sound attenuation unit further reduces the noise emission of the heat pump system. In particular, it simplifies compliance with the stricter noise emission limits that must be met at night, allowing the heat pump system according to the invention to be installed in residential areas, even in close proximity to a residential building. According to a further development of the invention, the damping unit is adjustably mounted on the housing within the air duct. In particular, the baffle silencers within the air duct can be moved, preferably shifted, or positioned so that possible maintenance and / or repair work within the air duct can be carried out more easily. After maintenance / repair, the silencer elements or bodies equipped with sound-absorbing material are then moved back to their corresponding predetermined positions. Preferably, areas with a substantially constant free flow cross-section are also provided in the area of ​​the baffle silencer across the cross-section of the air duct. Preferably, the additional sound attenuation unit is also designed as a baffle silencer. A further development of the heat pump system provides that the housing has a base area in the shape of a polygon, preferably a regular polygon, with an edge length of at least 2.5 m, preferably depending on the heating output to be generated by the large heat pump, ranging from 4 m to 8 m². Compared to a multitude of heat pumps with the same heating output arranged in cascade, the heat pump system designed according to the invention requires significantly less space, so that such a heat pump system can be relatively easily installed even in an existing development between two residential buildings, albeit with a corresponding distance from them. The base area has the shape of a polygon with at least three, four, or more sides.The choice of floor area can, for example, depend on the given architectural conditions of the existing buildings around the heat pump system to be installed. Preferably, the enclosure is designed as a tower-like structure with a height of at least 6 m, preferably between 8 m and 12 m. Similar to the size of the base area, the height of the enclosure is also adjustable, particularly, for example, to the heating output generated by the heat pump system. However, the height of the enclosure is preferably chosen to be such that the upper, and especially the open, end of the enclosure terminates above the neighboring residential buildings. This ensures that the sound emission from the upper end of the tower structure exits above the residential buildings and thus does not impair the sound immission measurable at the neighboring buildings. Furthermore, providing a minimum height for the tower-like structure counteracts undesirable recirculation of the cooler air exiting the upper, open end of the enclosure towards the lower-lying air inlets. In a preferred embodiment, a tower structure is created by means of the enclosure surrounding the various components, which has a rectangular or square base area of ​​10 m² to 80 m². Preferably, the height of the tower-like structure corresponds to at least twice the edge length of one of the long sides defining the base area, with the height being primarily chosen such that the enclosure extends above the adjacent residential buildings. The side walls of the tower structure are formed in one or more sections in the vertical direction. In a particularly multi-section design, a lower side wall section forms part of the installation space, which at least accommodates the compressor, and the upper side wall section defines part of the air duct. The lower and upper side wall sections preferably lie in the same plane relative to each other. Preferably, at least one further component, such as a refrigerant collector, medium-pressure vessel or the like, is arranged above the installation room in a flow-stabilized area of ​​the air duct. Preferably, at least one section of the enclosure bounding the air duct and at least one of the system components arranged in the air duct, such as a part of the damping unit attached to it, are designed as identical and interconnectable sector sections. By designing, in particular, a section of the enclosure located above the installation room and defining the air duct, consisting of several identical sector sections, a structurally simplified design of the tower structure is achieved. The identically designed sectors of the tower section can be prefabricated cost-effectively and simply need to be connected at the installation site of the heat pump system. Preferably, such a sector section of the enclosure comprises two side wall sections extending at a predetermined angle to each other and, in particular, integrally connected to one another. Each side wall section forms areas of two mutually angled side walls of the enclosure. Preferably, the lower section of each side wall section has air inlets formed thereon for the airflow to be guided through the air duct. Furthermore, such a sector section has a damping unit arranged on the inner side of each side wall section, which, viewed in the vertical direction of the sector section, is positioned at a distance from the air inlet located below it. Each sector section also comprises a fan or a matrix of m * n fans arranged above the damping unit, which are likewise arranged as a fixed structure on the inner side of the mutually angled side wall sections.The multiple sector sections, four of which are identical in one embodiment, are brought into contact with each other and then connected. Preferably, each damping unit and each of the fans arranged above the damping unit is sealedly coupled to its adjacent damping unit or fan during assembly. In a further embodiment of the invention, the sector sections are provided to form, in particular, four aerodynamically separated air duct segments. Each sector section thus defines its own air duct, within which a partial airflow is guided. A partition is provided in the connection area of ​​each pair of sector sections, thereby aerodynamically dividing or separating the sector sections from one another. Each partition extends from the lower end of the sector sections to at least the level of the at least one fan in the air duct, in particular the multiple fans arranged on the sector section. Preferably, a separate air duct is formed on each sector section by means of the air-side separation. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant flowing in the heat pump circuit is carbon dioxide, propane, butane, or ammonia. Using such environmentally friendly refrigerants ensures the future-proof operation of the heat pump. In the event of a leak in the heat pump circuit and the associated escape of refrigerant, adverse effects on the environment are largely avoided. When using a refrigerant, particularly a flammable one, it is proposed to monitor the air concentration within the installation room, which at least houses the compressor of the heat pump circuit, using a suitable sensor. This allows, for example, the detection of a critical ratio of ambient air to refrigerant in the installation room. Preferably, the heat pump control system is configured to defrost the evaporator as needed, particularly using energy from a subcooling process implemented via the heat pump cycle. At air temperatures between approximately 5°C and -5°C, the humidity contained in the airflow can condense and freeze on the evaporator as it passes through. This poses a risk of air-side blockage of the evaporator, which is made operational again for efficient operation of the heat pump system by means of targeted defrosting. For example, the evaporator is defrosted using a so-called hot gas defrosting process, in which the refrigerant vapor present after the compression process is not fed to the condenser, but directly to the evaporator inlet, where it condenses. Preferably, the energy for the defrosting process is obtained from the subcooling of the condensate.The heat is obtained from the supercritical pressurized gas downstream of the heat extraction point, particularly downstream of the condenser or gas cooler, as described for example in DE 32 09 761 C2. For particularly energy-efficient defrosting, it is provided that the evaporator in the heat pump circuit is defrosted only partially, or that the multiple evaporators are defrosted sequentially. Partial defrosting of an evaporator assigned to a sector of the heat pump is made possible, in particular, by fluidically dividing the sector sections from one another. This allows for preferably continuous operation, although with a partially reduced heating output for a predetermined period. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat pump is configured to provide cooling energy. The usual methods known from the prior art for generating cooling with a heat pump can be used for this purpose.According to a preferred embodiment of the heat pump system, a buffer storage tank is provided that is coupled to the heat pump, at least by means of heat transfer. Such a buffer storage tank, coupled to the heat pump system according to the invention, represents a simple means of storing thermal energy, particularly in conjunction with existing surplus electricity, which can be used effectively over a longer period by continuously operating the heat pump. Such a buffer storage tank has, for example, a storage volume of approximately 100 m³ and an outer diameter of approximately 4.5 m and a height of 10–12 m. Such a buffer storage tank can be installed, for example, in the immediate vicinity of a climate tower according to the invention or at some distance from it. Preferably, such a buffer storage tank is equipped with appropriate thermal insulation.Within the buffer storage tank, the storage medium maintains a temperature of up to 90°C. Preferably, the storage volume is heated and cooled with a hysteresis of ΔT = 40 K. With fluctuating electricity prices, and the buffer storage tank being heated primarily during periods of low or negative electricity prices, storage costs are less than one cent per kWh, thus ensuring the economic viability of such a buffer storage system. Another configuration of the heat pump system involves equipping the buffer storage tank with a heating element. In the event that temperatures exceeding those achievable with a heat pump are required at short notice, or if electricity prices are particularly favorable, especially negative electricity prices, the storage medium in the buffer tank can be heated to a temperature of approximately 95°C. According to one embodiment, the center of the air inlet is located at least 4 meters below the upward-facing air outlet. Preferably, the air outlet is located at least 6 meters above ground level. In another embodiment, the height of the housing and / or tower structure is greater than that of the adjacent buildings at the installation site. Preferably, the heat pump system has a weather hood, particularly in the area of ​​the air inlet, which prevents excessive moisture from entering the air duct and thus from contacting the evaporator(s). The weather hood is preferably movable. The invention is described in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and the accompanying figures. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a heat pump system according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a partial perspective view of the heat pump system according to Figure 1 with part of a heat pump circuit housed in an enclosed installation space; Figure 3 shows a partial perspective view of the heat pump system according to Figure 1 with its air duct formed from parts of the housing for directing the airflow; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a buffer storage tank that can be coupled to the heat pump system according to Figure 1 for heat transfer. Fig. 1 shows a heat pump system 10, in particular an air-to-water heat pump system. The heat pump system 10 comprises a large heat pump 12 (Fig. 2) with a heating capacity greater than 250 kW, wherein the large heat pump 12 has a heat pump circuit 14 which is enclosed in a housing 16. The heat pump circuit 14 shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 comprises at least one evaporator 18, one compressor 20, one condenser 22 and an expansion unit 24, in particular an expansion valve. The enclosure 16 has an air inlet 26 and an air outlet 28. The air inlet 26 defines the beginning and the air outlet 28 the end of an air duct 30 spatially delimited by the enclosure (Fig. 3). The air duct 30 is designed to guide an airflow L through corresponding interior areas of the enclosure 16. At least one fan 32 is arranged along a section of the air duct 30 to generate the airflow L guided through the enclosure 16. In the embodiment shown, the air inlet 26 is arranged on a side wall 34 bounding the enclosure 16, which runs essentially vertically to a ground level B surrounding the enclosure 16. In this case, the air inlet 26 is formed on several, in particular all, of the side walls 34, 34' bounding the enclosure 16. The surface center of the air inlet 26 is located at least three meters above ground level B. The air outlet 28 of the air duct 30 shown in Fig. 3 is formed at the upper, open end 36 of the housing 16. In the embodiment shown, all side walls 34, 34' of the housing 16 define the air outlet 28 at their upper end 36, which has a substantially horizontally extending discharge surface FA. The enclosure 16 comprises a base area FG, which has the shape of a polygon, preferably a regular polygon, such as a rectangle or square. The base area FG has an edge length lK of at least 2.5 m, preferably 4–6 m. The enclosure 16 is designed as a tower structure 38 with a height h of at least 6 m, preferably 8–12 m. As can be seen further in Fig. 1, several fans 32 are arranged within an air duct 30 at the housing 16, in particular near below the air outlet 28. The fans 32 are arranged parallel to each other within the air duct 30 and form a matrix M of m * n fans in the air duct 30. Fig. 2 shows a lower section of the housing 16, which forms a substantially enclosed installation space 40 for at least the compressor 20 of the heat pump circuit 14. The installation space 40 is soundproofed and located above a foundation for the housing 16 (not shown in detail). The installation room 40 is spatially bounded by a base slab 42, sections of the side walls 34, 34', and a ceiling slab 44. The base slab 42, the sections of the side walls 34, 34' bounding the installation room 40, and the ceiling slab 44 can be designed as precast concrete elements in the embodiment shown here. In addition to the compressor 20, at least the condenser 22, a control unit 46 for the large heat pump 12, and at least one further hydraulic component 48, such as a pump for circulating a heat transfer medium passed through the condenser 22, can also be arranged within the installation room 40. The heat pump circuit 14 is shown here without any connecting pipes for conveying the refrigerant. A refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide, propane, butane, or ammonia, flows through the pipes (not shown) and the components 18-24 of the heat pump circuit 12 shown. Furthermore, the illustration of all electrical lines for the power supply and / or control of the various components 18-24 of the heat pump circuit 14 is omitted. The control unit 46 is configured to control the large heat pump 12 as required, particularly by modulating, depending on the heating output. In one version, the heat pump system 10 is configured not only to generate heating energy but also to provide cooling energy. The control unit 46 of the large heat pump 12, arranged in the enclosed installation room 40, is designed to defrost the evaporator, in particular the four evaporators 18 designed as corner versions in the air duct 30, at predetermined time intervals during the operation of the heat pump 12. As can be seen from Fig. 3 in conjunction with Fig. 1, at least one damping unit 50 is arranged within the air duct 30 in the direction of airflow L upstream of the fan to dampen the noise generated on a suction side S of the at least one fan 32. The evaporator 18 is arranged directly downstream behind the air inlet 26 and above the installation space 40. The evaporator(s) 18 are oriented essentially vertically and preferably parallel to the inlet surface FE of the air inlet 26. In an embodiment not shown, the evaporator can also be designed as a V-shaped evaporator. The air inlet 26, with its inlet area FE, is located above the installation space 40 formed in the housing 16 for at least the compressor 20 of the heat pump circuit 14. Instead of the evaporator(s) 18 being arranged directly adjacent to their respective air inlet 26, in an embodiment not shown here, the evaporator 18 can also be arranged within the air duct 30 between the fan 32 or the matrix M of m * n fans 32 and the air outlet 28 of the housing 16. In an alternative embodiment not shown, an air / brine heat exchanger is arranged in the air duct instead of the evaporator 18, which absorbs the ambient energy. The energy is transferred via a brine circuit connected to the air / brine heat exchanger to a brine evaporator, for example, located in the installation space 40, as part of the heat pump circuit 14. In an embodiment not shown in detail, at least one side wall 34, 34' of the enclosure 16 has a door element as access to the installation room 40 and / or the air passage 30 in the upper section of the enclosure 16. As shown in Fig. 3, the damping unit 50 is designed as a baffle silencer 52. In an embodiment not shown in detail, a further damping unit is arranged in the air duct 30 downstream of the fan 32 in addition to the damping unit 50. The damping unit 50 arranged within the air duct 30 is adjustable relative to the housing 16, in particular adjustable in the horizontal direction. As can be seen from Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, at least one further component 54, such as a refrigerant collector, medium pressure vessel or the like, is arranged above the installation space 40 in a flow-calmed area of ​​the air duct 30, which is located approximately at the level of the air inlet 40 on the upper section of the enclosure. As further illustrated in Fig. 3, in at least one embodiment of the heat pump system 10, at least one section of the housing 16 bounding the air duct 30 and at least one of the components 32, 50 of the heat pump system 10 arranged therein can be designed as identically constructed and interconnectable sector parts 60, 60'. As the arrows 62 shown in Fig. 3 illustrate, the identically constructed sector parts 60, 60' are joined together by bringing their mutually facing partition surfaces 64, 64' into contact and formed a sealed air duct 30. The sector parts 60, 60' are connected to each other using conventional connecting means. In one embodiment, the sector sections 60, 60' are designed as aerodynamically separated air duct segments. In the connection area between the sector sections 60, 60', particularly at their dividing surfaces 64, 64', partitions 70 are provided, separating each sector section 60, 60' from the other sector sections 60, 60'. Only three of the four partitions 70 are shown here. Each partition 70 extends from the lower end of the sector sections 60, 60' to at least the level of the several fans 32 arranged on the sector section 60, 60'. To defrost the four laterally mounted corner evaporators 18, the airflow must be stopped by switching off the fans 32 in the respective sector section 60, 60' designed as an air duct segment.With the configuration described above, the four corner evaporators 18 in conjunction with the described configuration of the housing 16 consisting of four separate sector parts 60, 60' (air guide segments) can be defrosted one after the other. In one possible embodiment, the heat pump system 10 comprises a buffer storage tank 66, shown in Fig. 4, which is coupled to the large heat pump 12, at least by means of heat transfer, and which is designed separately from the large heat pump 12, which is configured as a tower structure 38. The buffer storage tank 66 has a storage volume of approximately 100 m³. The buffer storage tank 66 may also include an internal heating element, not shown in detail. The buffer storage tank 66 is fluidly coupled to the large heat pump 12 (Fig. 1) and / or a distribution network, not shown in detail, via at least one connection 68 on its underside. Reference sign 10 Heat pump system 12 Large heat pump 14 Heat pump circuit 16 Housing 18 Evaporator 20 Compressor 22 Condenser 24 Expansion unit 26 Air inlet 28 Air outlet 30 Air duct 32 Fan 34, 34' Side wall 36 Top end 38 Tower structure 40 Installation room 42 Base plate 44 Ceiling plate 46 Control unit 48 Hydraulic component 50 Damping unit 52 Baffle silencer 54 Component 60, 60' Sector section 62 Arrow 64, 64' Contact surface 66 Buffer tank 68 Connection 70 Partition wall B Floor level FA Outlet area FE Inlet area FG Base area L Airflow M Matrix S Suction side H Height LK Edge length QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature DE 32 09 761 C2

[0035]

Claims

Heat pump system (10), in particular an air-to-water heat pump system, comprising: - a large heat pump (12) with, in particular, a heating capacity greater than 250 kW, which has a heat pump circuit (14) comprising at least one evaporator (18), one compressor (20), one condenser (22) and one expansion unit (24), - an enclosure (16) accommodating the heat pump circuit (14), - at least one air duct (30) for directing an airflow (L) through the enclosure (16), which defines an air inlet (26) and an air outlet (28) on the enclosure (16), and - at least one fan (32) arranged along a section of the air duct (30) for generating the airflow (L) guided through the air duct (30), characterized in that a substantially vertical airflow (L) is defined within the air duct (30) and within the air duct (30) at least one damping unit (50) is arranged below the fan (32),which is designed to dampen the sound generated by the fan (32), wherein the air inlet (26) is preferably arranged below the air outlet (28). Heat pump system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (16) has a substantially enclosed installation space (40) for at least the compressor (20) of the heat pump circuit (16). Heat pump system (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the installation room (40) is soundproofed and is preferably arranged below the air duct (30) and above a foundation for the housing (16). Heat pump system (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the installation room (40) is spatially limited by a base plate (42), several side walls (34, 34') and a ceiling plate (44), wherein preferably the base plate (42), the several side walls (34, 34') and / or the ceiling plate (44) are designed as a precast concrete element. Heat pump system (10) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least one of the following components is additionally arranged within the installation room (40): the condenser (22) of the heat pump circuit (14), a control / regulation (46) for the heat pump (12) and at least one hydraulic component (48). Heat pump system (10) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that a door element is provided on at least one side wall (34, 34') of the enclosure (16) as access to the installation room (40). Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air inlet (26) is arranged on at least one side wall (34, 34') bounding the enclosure (16), preferably above one / the installation room (40) on the enclosure (16). Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air inlet (26) is formed on several side walls (34, 34') bounding the enclosure (16), wherein the surface center of the air inlet (26) is arranged at least 2 m, preferably more than 3 m, above a ground level (B) surrounding the enclosure (16). Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaporator (18) is arranged substantially vertically, preferably parallel to the inlet surface (FE) immediately downstream of the air inlet (26). Heat pump system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the evaporator (18) is arranged within the air duct (30) between the fan (32) and the air outlet (28) on the housing. Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air outlet (28) of the air duct (30) is formed at an open end (36) of the housing (16). Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls (34, 34') of the enclosure (16) define the air outlet (28) at its upper end (36) with its substantially horizontally extending outlet surface (FA). Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein several fans (32) are provided within the air duct (30) on the housing (16), which are preferably arranged parallel to each other in the direction of the airflow (L) and form a matrix (M) of m * n fans (32) in the air duct (30). Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping unit (50) is designed as a baffle silencer (52), wherein preferably at least one further damping unit is arranged in the direction of flow behind the fan (32) in the air duct (30). Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping unit (50) is adjustably mounted within the air passage (30) on the housing (16). Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (16) has a base area (FG) which has the form of a polygon, preferably a regular polygon, with an edge length (lK) of at least 2.5 m, preferably of 4 to 6 m. Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (16) is designed as a tower structure (38) with a height (H) of at least 6 m, preferably a height (H) of 8 to 12 m. Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one further component (54), such as a refrigerant collector, medium pressure vessel or the like, is arranged above the installation room (40) in a flow-calmed area of ​​the air duct (30). Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one section of the enclosure (16) limiting the air passage (30) and at least one of the components (32, 50) of the system (10) arranged in the air passage (30) are designed as identically designed and mutually connectable sector parts (60, 60'). Heat pump system (10) according to claim 19, characterized in that the sector parts (60, 60') in particular form four air guide segments separated from each other in terms of flow technology. Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a refrigerant flowing in the heat pump circuit (14) is carbon dioxide, propane, butane or ammonia. Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control (46) of the heat pump (12) is configured to defrost the evaporator (18) as required, in particular with energy from a subcooling process implemented by means of the heat pump circuit (14). Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat pump (12) is configured to provide cooling energy. Heat pump system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a buffer storage tank (66) is provided which is coupled to the heat pump (12) at least in a heat transfer capacity, wherein preferably the buffer storage tank (66) has a storage volume of about 100 m3 and / or is equipped with a heating element.

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