Heat pump and method for operating a heat pump

Abstract

A heat pump and a method for operating a heat pump are shown. The heat pump is designed for heating a building and / or supplying heat to a hot water exchanger and includes a refrigeration circuit. The refrigeration circuit, which is connected to form a closed loop by refrigerant lines, comprises, in heat generation mode, the following components in sequence: a compressor (10), a first heat exchanger (14) for transferring heat to a heat consumer, an expansion valve (16), and a second heat exchanger (18) for supplying heat to the refrigeration circuit. A vortex tube (12) is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor (10) and the first heat exchanger (14), such that a warm fluid flow (12a) from the vortex tube is supplied to the first heat exchanger (14).

Description

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0001] Heat pumps are already widely used as heat generators for heating buildings and providing hot water. To increase efficiency, the basic principle of the heat pump, which includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and another heat exchanger, has been further developed in many ways.

[0002] JP 2005 164 104 A shows a heat pump equipped with a vortex tube to increase the efficiency of the heat pump and to raise the temperature of a fluid to be heated. A refrigerant compressed by the compressor is fed through a first heat exchanger to a vortex tube. A cold fluid stream from the vortex tube is fed directly to an expansion valve. A warm fluid stream from the vortex tube is fed to a second heat exchanger before this fluid stream is also fed to an expansion valve. The second heat exchanger preheats a medium to be heated before the medium to be heated is heated in the first heat exchanger. PROBLEM STATEMENT

[0003] The application range of a heat pump is often limited by the fact that its efficiency decreases with increasing target temperatures of the heating system or domestic water, or by the difficulty of providing higher flow temperatures with the heat pump. For example, higher flow temperatures may be required due to legal requirements for combating legionella, the functionality of certain radiator types, or for implementing high-temperature applications, etc.

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present patent application is to provide a heat pump and a method for operating a heat pump which make it possible to provide a higher temperature efficiently. DESCRIPTION

[0005] One aspect relates to a heat pump, wherein the heat pump is configured to heat a building and / or the heat pump is configured to supply heat to a hot water exchanger. Heat pump modifications described below relate in particular to the heat generation mode. For a cooling mode, modifications may be necessary by a person skilled in the art. Non-limiting examples of a heat exchanger are a heat exchanger, a boiler, etc. The heat pump comprises a refrigeration circuit connected to a closed circuit by refrigerant lines. In heat generation mode, the refrigeration circuit comprises, in succession: a compressor, a first heat exchanger for dissipating heat to a heat consumer, an expansion valve, and a second heat exchanger for supplying heat to the refrigeration circuit.In the refrigeration circuit, a vortex tube is arranged between the compressor and the first heat exchanger so that a warm fluid flow from the vortex tube is fed to the first heat exchanger.

[0006] A vortex tube, in particular a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube, can be a device without moving parts. Advantageously, the vortex tube, in particular a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube, can divide gas (a gas mass flow) into a hot (warm) and a cold fluid stream (gas mass flow).

[0007] This has the advantage that heat energy can be provided at a higher temperature level with minimal effort using a heat pump. This makes it particularly easy to meet higher temperature requirements, such as those required by legal regulations, different radiator types, etc.

[0008] Advantageously, the heat pump can comprise a third heat exchanger for discharging heat to a heat consumer, wherein the third heat exchanger is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor and the expansion valve, connected in parallel to the line section comprising the vortex tube and the first heat exchanger. As a result, the heat pump can advantageously dissipate heat at a first, particularly high temperature by means of the first heat exchanger and heat at a second, high temperature by means of the third heat exchanger. Thus, two temperature levels, in particular two particularly warm temperature levels, can be efficiently provided particularly easily by means of the heat pump.

[0009] In some embodiments, a fluid to be heated / heated by the first heat exchanger can be preheated by means of the third heat exchanger.

[0010] In some embodiments, the heat pump may comprise a three-way valve configured to control a partial mass flow from the compressor to the first heat exchanger and / or a partial mass flow from the compressor to the third heat exchanger. Controlling a fluid flow may, in some embodiments, comprise switching. In some embodiments, controlling a fluid flow may comprise regulating it (in stages with more than two stages, or continuously). This makes it particularly easy to provide heat at different temperature levels as needed.

[0011] In some embodiments, the temperature of the heat released from the refrigeration circuit by the first heat exchanger can be higher, in particular by at least 5 Kelvin higher, preferably by at least 10 Kelvin higher, and particularly preferably by more than 20 Kelvin higher, than the temperature of the heat released from the refrigeration circuit by the third heat exchanger. This makes it particularly easy to provide two temperature levels for heat consumers using a heat pump.

[0012] In some embodiments, a cold fluid flow from the vortex tube can be fed to the compressor to cool the compressor. This allows for particularly simple and efficient cooling of the compressor. The cold fluid flow from the vortex tube fed to the compressor can then, in some embodiments, be compressed again by the compressor.

[0013] In some embodiments, a cold fluid flow from the vortex tube can be supplied to the refrigeration circuit downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the compressor and / or to the refrigeration circuit downstream of the third heat exchanger and upstream of the compressor. This has the advantage that the cold fluid flow from the vortex tube can be particularly advantageously integrated into the refrigeration circuit.

[0014] In some embodiments, the heat pump may comprise a three-way valve configured to control a partial mass flow of the cold fluid flow of the vortex tube to the compressor, in particular for cooling the compressor, and / or a partial mass flow of the cold fluid flow of the vortex tube into the refrigeration circuit downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the compressor, and / or into the refrigeration circuit downstream of the third heat exchanger and upstream of the compressor. This allows for efficient, low-effort cooling of the compressor, particularly advantageously, and in particular without impairing the operation of the heat pump.

[0015] In some embodiments, the heat pump can comprise an ejector and an accumulator / collection tank, wherein the ejector is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the first heat exchanger and / or the third heat exchanger and the compressor. A fluid flow from the first heat exchanger and / or from the third heat exchanger to the ejector can form a driving mass flow of the ejector. A fluid flow from the second heat exchanger to the ejector can form a suction flow of the ejector. A fluid flow can lead from the ejector into the accumulator. A fluid flow from the accumulator can lead via the expansion valve to the second heat exchanger. A fluid flow can lead from the accumulator to the compressor. The fluid flow from the accumulator to the expansion valve can have a higher density than the fluid flow from the accumulator to the compressor. This can particularly advantageously increase the pressure level of the fluid flow to the compressor.

[0016] In advantageous embodiments, the heat pump can comprise a further vortex tube and a fourth heat exchanger, wherein the further vortex tube is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the first heat exchanger and / or the third heat exchanger and the expansion valve and / or the ejector, such that the warm fluid flow of the further vortex tube is first fed to the fourth heat exchanger and then to the expansion valve or the ejector, and such that the cold fluid flow of the further vortex tube is fed directly to the expansion valve or the ejector. This has the advantage that any residual heat of the refrigerant, after the refrigerant has given off heat to the first or third heat exchanger, can be used in a particularly collected manner. In some embodiments, a fluid to be heated / heated by the first and / or third heat exchanger can be preheated by means of the fourth heat exchanger.

[0017] In some embodiments, the heat pump can comprise an internal heat exchanger comprising a first line and a second line, wherein the first line is arranged between the first heat exchanger and / or the third heat exchanger and the ejector and / or the expansion valve in the refrigeration circuit, the second line is arranged between the ejector and / or the expansion valve and the compressor, and the internal heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant in the first line to the refrigerant in the second line without mixing the refrigerant in the first line with the refrigerant in the second line. This allows properties of the refrigerant, e.g., a temperature, to be particularly easily adapted to the requirements of the compressor with regard to the refrigerant / fluid flow supplied to the compressor.

[0018] Advantageously, the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit can have such properties, and the heat pump can be configured to operate in such a way that a transcritical and / or supercritical process is achieved. This can ensure that condensation of the refrigerant in the vortex tube is avoided, thus ensuring proper operation of the vortex tube.

[0019] Advantageously, the heat pump can also be configured for cooling a building. For example, the heat pump can include a refrigerant circuit reversal for this purpose. The heat pump can include one or more four-way reversing valves for reversing the refrigerant circuit. Furthermore, the heat pump can include one or more bypasses for this purpose. In particular, a bypass can be arranged in the refrigerant circuit to bypass the vortex tube when the heat pump is operating in cooling mode.

[0020] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor can be directed directly from the compressor into the vortex tube. In some embodiments, the heat pump can be configured such that no heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the refrigeration circuit to a heat consumer is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor and the vortex tube. In some embodiments, the heat pump can be configured such that no heat exchanger is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor and the vortex tube. As a result, a temperature that is higher than the temperature generated by the compression of the compressor can be provided particularly advantageously by means of the heat pump.

[0021] In advantageous embodiments, the vortex tube can be configured such that a temperature level of the warm fluid flow of the vortex tube is higher than a temperature level of the refrigerant at the compressor outlet, in particular by at least 5 Kelvin higher, preferably by at least 10 Kelvin higher, and particularly preferably by more than 20 Kelvin higher. At the compressor outlet, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor is advantageously provided by the compressor. This has the advantage that, thanks to the efficiency of the vortex tube, particularly high temperatures can be provided very easily and advantageously by the heat pump.

[0022] In some embodiments, the vortex tube and / or the additional vortex tube can be a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube. This results in the properties of a vortex tube being particularly advantageous, thus significantly increasing the aforementioned positive effects of the heat pump.

[0023] Another aspect relates to a method for operating a heat pump. The method comprises the following process steps: compressing a refrigerant in a refrigeration circuit of the heat pump; separating the compressed refrigerant into a cold fluid stream and a warm fluid stream by means of a vortex tube, such that a temperature of the warm fluid stream of the vortex tube is above the temperature of the compressed refrigerant; and transferring heat from the warm fluid stream of the vortex tube to a heat consumer by means of a first heat exchanger.

[0024] This allows the heat pump to efficiently deliver a particularly high temperature to a heat exchanger. Advantageously, the method can be carried out using a heat pump as described above.

[0025] In summary, heat at a particularly high temperature can be provided very easily and efficiently using the heat pump described above and the method described above. DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0026] Fig. 1 shows schematically a heat pump according to various embodiments. Fig. 2 shows schematically a heat pump according to various embodiments based on the Fig. 1 shown heat pump. Fig. 3 shows schematically a heat pump according to various embodiments based on the Fig. 1 shown heat pump. Fig. 4 shows schematically an ejector according to an embodiment. Fig. 5 shows schematically a vortex tube according to an embodiment. Fig. 6 schematically shows a method according to an embodiment.

[0027] The following describes embodiments of a heat pump in a heat generation mode. In some embodiments, a corresponding heat pump can include a refrigerant circuit reversal, which, through appropriate conversion options, allows for cooling generation by means of the heat pump. For this purpose, the heat pump can also include appropriate valves and line sections that enable the addition and removal of units in the refrigerant circuit.

[0028] Fig. 1 schematically shows a heat pump according to various embodiments. The heat pump is configured to heat a building and / or to supply heat to a hot water exchanger. A hot water exchanger may be configured to provide hot drinking water and / or domestic water by means of a heat exchanger. As shown in Fig. 1 As shown, the heat pump comprises a refrigeration circuit. A refrigerant, which can advantageously be a fluid, in particular a gas and / or a liquid, can circulate in the refrigeration circuit. The refrigeration circuit, which is connected to a closed circuit by refrigerant lines, comprises, in heat generation mode, a compressor 10, a vortex tube 12, a first heat exchanger 14, an expansion valve 16, and a second heat exchanger 18. The second heat exchanger is configured to supply heat to the refrigeration circuit.

[0029] The first heat exchanger can advantageously be configured to transfer heat for heating the building and / or for supplying a hot water exchanger. In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger can comprise a hot water exchanger for this purpose. The warm fluid stream 12a of the vortex tube is fed to the first heat exchanger 14.

[0030] For example, a pressurized gas can be blown tangentially into a vortex chamber of the vortex tube, thereby causing it to rotate rapidly. The gas can then exit the chamber through differently designed outlets, particularly axial outlets. For example, a cold fluid stream 12b can exit through one opening, and a warm fluid stream 12a can exit through an opposite opening.

[0031] As in Fig. 1 In some embodiments, a cold fluid flow (12b) from the vortex tube (12) can optionally be supplied to the refrigeration circuit downstream of the first heat exchanger (14) and upstream of the compressor (10). In the present case, the cold fluid flow (12b) from the vortex tube (12) is supplied to the refrigeration circuit, for example, downstream of the first heat exchanger (14) and upstream of the expansion valve (16).

[0032] Fig. 2 shows schematically a heat pump according to various embodiments based on the Fig. 1 shown heat pump. Fig. 3 also shows schematically a heat pump according to various embodiments based on the in Fig. 1 and 2 shown heat pump. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are based on the Fig. 1 Therefore, the same features will not be described again, but reference will be made to Fig. 1 in the corresponding descriptions. Therefore, various heat pump designs are described below based on the Figuren 1 bis 3 explained, whereby in the Figuren 1 bis 3 The features shown are not limited to the respective figures, but can be combined with each other.

[0033] As in Fig. 2 In some embodiments, a cold fluid stream 12c of the vortex tube 12 can optionally be supplied to the compressor for cooling purposes.

[0034] In addition, in some embodiments, the heat pump may comprise a third heat exchanger 24 for discharging heat to a heat consumer, wherein the third heat exchanger 24 is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor 10 and the expansion valve 16 or between the compressor 10 and an ejector 34 (see Fig. 3 ) is arranged in parallel to the line section comprising the vortex tube 12 and the first heat exchanger 14.

[0035] In some embodiments, the heat pump may optionally include a three-way valve 22 configured to control a partial mass flow from the compressor to the first heat exchanger and to the third heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the heat pump may include a three-way valve 22 configured to control a partial mass flow (fluid flow) from the compressor to the first heat exchanger and / or a partial mass flow (fluid flow) from the compressor to the third heat exchanger.

[0036] Like the Fig. 2 and 3 can be removed, in some embodiments the heat pump can optionally comprise an internal heat exchanger 26. The internal heat exchanger 26 comprises a first line 26a and a second line 26b. The first line 26a is connected between the first heat exchanger 14 and / or the third heat exchanger 24 and the ejector (see Fig. 3 ) and / or the expansion valve 16 (see Fig. 2 ) in the refrigeration circuit. The second line 26b is between the ejector 34 (see Fig. 3 ) and / or the expansion valve 16 (see Fig. 2 ) and the compressor 10. In addition, the internal heat exchanger 26 is designed to transfer heat from the refrigerant in the first line 26a to the refrigerant in the second line 26b without mixing the refrigerant in the first line 26a with the refrigerant in the second line 26b. With the internal heat exchanger, heat can be transferred from a high-pressure side to a low-pressure side of the refrigerant circuit. This allows thermodynamic processes to be optimized, which can lead to an increase in the efficiency of the heat pump. If an embodiment does not include a Fig. 2 and 3 shown internal heat exchanger, the line sections 26a and 26b can be arranged such that, in particular substantially, no heat transfer takes place between the line sections 26a and 26b, or such heat transfer is prevented.

[0037] In some embodiments, the fluid flows from the first heat exchanger 14 and the third heat exchanger 24 and the cold fluid flow 12b of the vortex tube can be fed via the line section 26a of the internal heat exchanger 26 to the ejector 34 (see Fig. 3 ) or the expansion valve (see Fig. 2 ) are supplied.

[0038] In some embodiments, one or two fluid streams and / or one or more sub-streams of the fluid streams from the first heat exchanger 14 and from the third heat exchanger 24 and from the vortex tube 12 (namely the cold fluid stream 12b) can be supplied to the ejector 34 (see Fig. 3 ) or the expansion valve 16 (see Fig. 2 ) via a line section (not shown in the figures) connected in parallel to the first line 26a, so that the corresponding fluid flow or partial fluid flow is not fed to the line section 26a of the internal heat exchanger.

[0039] In some embodiments, a cold fluid stream 12b, 12c of the vortex tube 12 can be divided into two cold fluid streams 12b and 12c, for example by means of a three-way valve 32, see Fig. 3 . Corresponding further configurations of the routing of the fluid flows 12b and 12c have already been described previously based on the Fig. 1 , 2 and 3 explained. The three-way valve 32 can then be configured to control a partial mass flow of the cold fluid flow 12c to the compressor for cooling the compressor and / or a partial mass flow of the cold fluid flow 12b. In some embodiments, a partial mass flow of the cold fluid flow 12c can be controlled and / or regulated as a function of one or more temperatures, in particular one or more temperatures of the heat pump, in particular one or more temperatures of the refrigeration circuit and / or the compressor, for example by means of a control device of the heat pump.

[0040] Fig. 3 shows a configuration in which the heat pump includes an ejector 34 and an accumulator 36 as a possible option. The ejector 34 is then arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the first heat exchanger 14 and / or the third heat exchanger 24 and the compressor 10. A fluid flow from the first heat exchanger 14 and / or from the third heat exchanger 24 to the ejector 34 forms a driving mass flow 34a of the ejector 34. A fluid flow from the second heat exchanger 18 to the ejector 34 forms a suction flow 34b of the ejector 34. A fluid flow from the ejector 34 then leads to the accumulator 36. A fluid flow from the accumulator 36 leads via the expansion valve 16 to the second heat exchanger 18. A fluid flow from the accumulator 36 leads to the compressor 10. The fluid flow from the accumulator 36 to the expansion valve 16 has a higher density than the fluid flow from the accumulator 36 to the compressor 10.Advantageously, the accumulator / collection tank 36 can be arranged such that the fluid, in particular liquid refrigerant, can be guided to the expansion valve 16 at its underside and, at the same time, the fluid, in particular gaseous refrigerant, can be sucked off by the compressor at an upper side of the accumulator / collection tank 36.

[0041] In some embodiments, a previously described heat pump may comprise a further vortex tube and a fourth heat exchanger (not shown in the figures), wherein the further vortex tube is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the first heat exchanger and / or the third heat exchanger and the expansion valve and / or the ejector, so that the warm fluid flow of the further vortex tube is first fed to the fourth heat exchanger and then to the expansion valve and so that the cold fluid flow of the further vortex tube is fed directly to the expansion valve.

[0042] In some embodiments, a fluid to be heated / heated by the first and / or third heat exchanger can be preheated by means of the fourth heat exchanger.

[0043] In some embodiments, a fluid to be heated / heated by the first heat exchanger can be preheated by means of the third heat exchanger.

[0044] A heat exchanger may be a device that transfers thermal energy from a first fluid to a second fluid without mixing the first fluid with the second fluid. A heat exchanger may be a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, a heat exchanger may be configured to transfer heat from one fluid stream to one or more second fluid streams without mixing the different fluid streams with each other.

[0045] A three-way valve can be configured, in particular, to divide a first fluid flow into a second and a third fluid flow. Depending on the setting of the three-way valve, the second or third fluid flow can be interrupted. In some embodiments, the second and / or third fluid flow can be controlled by means of the three-way valve. In the present case, a valve, in particular a three-way or four-way valve, is a component for shutting off, regulating, and / or controlling the flow of fluids, particularly regardless of the specific technical design of the valve.

[0046] Advantageously, by means of the first, third and / or fourth heat exchanger 14, 24, heat from the refrigeration circuit for heating the building and / or for a hot water supply can be transferred to a medium to be heated / heated.

[0047] Advantageously, the temperature of the heat released from the refrigeration circuit by the first heat exchanger 14 can be higher than the temperature of the heat released from the refrigeration circuit by the third heat exchanger 24. This can be achieved in particular by avoiding heat release in the line section between the compressor 10 and the vortex tube 12.

[0048] Accordingly, at least a portion, in particular the entire fluid flow of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor can be directed directly from the compressor into the vortex tube. "Directly" in this context can mean, for example, "while avoiding heat loss to a heat consumer." In some embodiments, the compressed fluid (refrigerant) can be directed directly from the compressor 10 via the three-way valve 22 to the vortex tube 12.

[0049] In particularly advantageous embodiments, no heat exchanger configured to transfer heat to a heat consumer may be arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor 10 and the vortex tube 12. In some embodiments, no heat exchanger may be arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor 10 and the vortex tube 12.

[0050] Advantageously, the refrigerant (fluid) in the refrigeration circuit has such properties, and the heat pump is configured to operate in a transcritical and / or supercritical process. It can be particularly advantageous if the refrigerant does not condense in the vortex tube and / or the further vortex tube. Non-limiting examples of refrigerants include carbon dioxide (R-744), propane, air, and nitrogen, and especially a combination of these.

[0051] Advantageously, the heat pump, the individual components of the heat pump and / or the vortex tube can be configured such that a temperature level of the warm fluid flow 12a of the vortex tube 12 is higher than a temperature level of the refrigerant at the compressor outlet, in particular at least 5 Kelvin higher, preferably at least 10 Kelvin higher, and particularly preferably more than 20 Kelvin higher.

[0052] In some embodiments, a heat pump as described above can be configured additionally for cooling a building. For this purpose, the heat pump can, in particular, comprise means for reversing the refrigeration circuit (in particular, four-way reversing valves).

[0053] In some embodiments, the vortex tube and / or the further vortex tube may be a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube.

[0054] In some embodiments, two or more fluid streams can be combined to form one fluid stream, in particular toward the ejector 34, toward the first line 26a of the internal heat exchanger 26, and / or toward the expansion valve 16. Combining two or more fluid streams can be achieved, for example, by means of one or more branches, one or more multiple branches, one or more three-way valves, one or more four-way valves, and / or one or more five-way valves, etc., with corresponding components and / or line sections, etc., consequently being arranged in a manner that combines the fluid streams. In some embodiments, one or more three-way valves, four-way valves, and / or five-way valves, etc., can be controllable, so that a mass flow of the individual fluid streams can be controlled accordingly.

[0055] Fig. 4 schematically shows an ejector according to one embodiment. The ejector can utilize expansion work present in the refrigerant of the driving mass flow 34a to suck in a partial mass flow of the suction flow 34b and convey it to a higher pressure level. The mass flow driving at the high-pressure level is accelerated in a driving nozzle 43 of the ejector. As a result, the static pressure drops, and the flow exiting the driving nozzle 43 has a lower pressure than the suction pressure of the suction flow 34b. As a result, a fluid from the suction flow 34b can be drawn in via the suction chamber 45. Both partial flows mix in a mixing chamber 47 of the ejector. In a diffuser 49, the flow 46 is decelerated again, which causes a pressure increase to a medium-pressure level.

[0056] Fig. 5 schematically shows a vortex tube according to one embodiment. A compressed fluid stream 51 is fed from the compressor 10 to the vortex tube 12. The compressed fluid stream is rotated in the vortex tube 12, so that a warm fluid stream 12a leaves the vortex tube through a first opening and a cold fluid stream 12b, 12c leaves the vortex tube through a second opening. A mandrel 52 may be located at the first opening.

[0057] In advantageous embodiments, the mass flow of the cold fluid stream 12b, 12c of the vortex tube can be greater than the mass flow of the warm fluid stream 12a of the vortex tube. This allows a particularly high temperature level to be achieved in the warm fluid stream 12a.

[0058] In some configurations, one can use the Figuren 1 bis 5 Heat pump units shown can be added, omitted, combined and / or divided into several units without leaving the core of the teaching. In some embodiments, one can be Figuren 1 bis 5 The heat pump lines shown can be added, omitted, combined and / or divided into several lines without leaving the core of the teaching.

[0059] Fig. 6 schematically shows a method for operating a heat pump according to one embodiment. The method comprises the steps of: compressing S61 a refrigerant of a refrigeration circuit of the heat pump; separating S62 the compressed refrigerant into a cold fluid stream and a warm fluid stream by means of a vortex tube, such that a temperature of the warm fluid stream of the vortex tube is above the temperature of the compressed refrigerant; and transferring S63 heat of the warm fluid stream of the vortex tube to a heat consumer by means of a first heat exchanger.

[0060] Advantageously, this can be done using the Fig. 6 The method shown is based on the Fig. 1 bis 5 described heat pumps.

[0061] Steps can be added, omitted, combined or divided into several sub-steps in the procedure without affecting the core of the teaching.

Claims

1. A heat pump, wherein the heat pump is designed to heat a building and / or the heat pump is designed to supply a hot water exchanger with heat, comprising a refrigeration circuit, wherein the refrigeration circuit, which is connected by refrigerant lines to form a closed circuit, comprises in heat generation mode successively: a compressor (10), a first heat exchanger (14) for discharging heat to a heat consumer, an expansion valve (16), a second heat exchanger (18) for supplying heat to the refrigeration circuit, characterized in that a vortex tube (12) is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor (10) and the first heat exchanger (14), so that a warm fluid flow (12a) of the vortex tube is fed to the first heat exchanger (14).

2. The heat pump according to claim 1 comprising: a third heat exchanger (24) for transferring heat to a heat consumer, wherein the third heat exchanger is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor (10) and the expansion valve (16) in parallel with the line section comprising the vortex tube (12) and the first heat exchanger (14).

3. The heat pump according to claim 2, comprising a three-way valve (22) which is designed to control a partial mass flow from the compressor (10) to the first heat exchanger (14) and to the third heat exchanger (24).

4. The heat pump according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the temperature of the heat released from the refrigeration circuit by the first heat exchanger (14) is higher than the temperature of the heat released from the refrigeration circuit by the third heat exchanger (24).

5. The heat pump according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a cold fluid stream (12c) of the vortex tube (12) is supplied to the compressor (10) for cooling the compressor.

6. The heat pump according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a cold fluid flow (12b) of the vortex tube (12) is supplied to the refrigeration circuit after the first heat exchanger (14) and before the compressor (10) and / or to the refrigeration circuit after the third heat exchanger (24) and before the compressor (10).

7. The heat pump according to one of claims 1 to 6 comprising: a three-way valve (32) which is arranged to control a partial mass flow of the cold fluid flow (12c) of the vortex tube (12) to the compressor (10).

8. The heat pump according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: an ejector (34), and an accumulator (36), wherein the ejector (34) is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the first heat exchanger (14) and / or the third heat exchanger (24) and the compressor (10), a fluid flow from the first heat exchanger (14) and / or from the third heat exchanger (24) to the ejector (34) forms a driving mass flow (34a) of the ejector (34), a fluid flow from the second heat exchanger (18) to the ejector (34) forms a suction flow (34b) of the ejector (34), a fluid flow from the ejector (34) leads into the accumulator (36), a fluid flow from the accumulator (36) leads via the expansion valve (16) to the second heat exchanger (18), a fluid flow from the accumulator (36) to the compressor (10), wherein the fluid flow from the accumulator (36) to the expansion valve (16) has a higher density than the fluid flow from the accumulator (36) to the compressor (10).

9. The heat pump according to one of claims 1 to 7, comprising: an internal heat exchanger (26) comprising a first line (26a) and a second line (26b), wherein the first line (26a) is arranged between the first heat exchanger (14) and / or the third heat exchanger (24) and the ejector (34) and / or the expansion valve (16) in the refrigeration circuit, the second line (26b) is arranged between the ejector (34) and / or the expansion valve (16) and the compressor (10), and the internal heat exchanger (26) is configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant in the first line (26a) to the refrigerant in the second line (26b) without mixing the refrigerant in the first line (26a) with the refrigerant in the second line (26b).

10. The heat pump according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit has such properties and the heat pump is designed to be operated in such a way that a transcritical and / or supercritical process control is present.

11. The heat pump according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the heat pump is additionally configured to cool a building.

12. The heat pump according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least a portion of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor (10) is conducted directly from the compressor (10) into the vortex tube (10); and / or no heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the refrigeration circuit to a heat consumer is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor (10) and the vortex tube (12); and / or no heat exchanger is arranged in the refrigeration circuit between the compressor (10) and the vortex tube (12).

13. The heat pump according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the vortex tube (12) is arranged such that a temperature level of the warm fluid flow (12a) of the vortex tube is above a temperature level of the refrigerant at the compressor outlet.

14. The heat pump according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the vortex tube (12) is a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube.

15. A method for operating a heat pump, comprising the process steps of: compressing (S11) a refrigerant of a refrigeration circuit of the heat pump; separating (S12) the compressed refrigerant into a cold fluid stream and a warm fluid stream by means of a vortex tube, such that a temperature of the warm fluid stream of the vortex tube is above the temperature of the compressed refrigerant; and transferring (S13) heat of the warm fluid stream of the vortex tube to a heat consumer by means of a first heat exchanger.

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